At one point, he was talking about getting back for the end of the season. The Finals aren't til June. If he could even play 5-7 minutes and throw down a couple dunks, it could be a huge lift for the team. Shouldn't he be ready by June?
I'm sure he can and will! ...either that or he can't and won't... or there is also the unlikely event that we might not make the finals... not sure which is most likely..
When you factor in that he's not in game shape, not even close, he'd be a massive liability even if he were healthy.
I think he might be able to play in game 7 of the Finals. We'll be down by 1 with 4 seconds left, and the Chicago crowd will be whipped up into a frenzy, shouting "DEFENSE! DEFENSE!" in time with the piped-in audio. Nate will draw up the perfect play for Camby -- a play that only someone of his size and power could possibly hope to run successfully. But Travis Diener will raise his little hand. "Coach," he'll say, "Marcus has already fouled out." The entire Blazer team will slump in defeat. Without a big man, they know that they'll never be able to score the winning bucket against the mighty Bulls. But then, from the locker room will come a triumphant Blazer trumpet. Greg! Off his crutches! He'll be walking slowly at first, tentatively. But as the crowd hushes, in awe of the moment, Greg will build in both momentum and confidence, until he is making enormous, powerful strides to the Blazer bench. Nate will shake his head, tight-lipped. No way can he risk the franchise center like this! We need him for the long haul, not just for a single measly NBA championship! But Greg will not be denied. With a steady gaze, he will study Nate's intricate final play. Then, without a word, he will take his place at the top of the key in preparation for play to resume. With no other choice, Nate will nod his assent. Rudy will bring the ball to the sideline, and the team will go purposefully into action. The Bulls, brimming with confidence only moments before, will be hesitant and unsure. Brandon will peel off an LA screen and take the pass, only to be quickly double teamed. He will pull back and launch an off-balance 3-pointer... NO! IT WAS A PASS TO GREG, WHO POUNDS THE BALL INTO THE HOOP WITH BOTH HANDS AS TIME EXPIRES! THE ENTIRE CITY OF PORTLAND ERUPTS IN A BASKETBALL FRENZY! That is what will happen.
If you have to state in the title of your thread, that you question is serious, I think that should answer your question!
No, he is way behind schedule on his rehab. He can't run and has trouble sitting. He is not anywhere close and the finals will be over in 2 months.
I doubt he'd be available for the finals, but I really hope he's available to be our representative at the draft -- this would be a huge lift.
Did I forget to mention? Before the Finals begin the national sports media will decide that since Portland HAS to be an underdog, 10 of our wins will be considered losses from that point forward. Most analysts will confess that they never actually SAW those wins anyway, since tipoff occurred after their respective bedtimes. All of them will pick Chicago in 5 or 6 games.
