Wesley Matthews heard a 'pop' and now a streak, & a team's heartbeat are in jeopardy

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by SlyPokerDog, Dec 8, 2012.

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  1. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    The man who once brought an Iron Man mask to a game, and then wore it in the Trail Blazers locker room, couldn’t mask his pain Saturday night.

    Wesley Matthews was hurt. That Matthews would let anyone see that, let alone write it, says a lot about the status of the Blazers’ starting shooting guard and resident Iron Man.

    Matthews, who has never missed an NBA game in his four years, said he heard his left hip flexor pop during the fourth quarter of Saturday’s 99-80 home loss to Sacramento. That came after the same hip was hobbled a quarter earlier when John Salmons kneed him.

    He said if the Blazers had to play Sunday, he would have to sit out, ending his string of 250 consecutive appearances. It’s the second longest active streak in the NBA to Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook (332 games).

    The Blazers next play Monday at home against Toronto. Matthews said he would get electric stimulation throughout the night, rest during Sunday’s practice, then try to play Monday.

    While he admits his streak of games played means something to him - he even has the game operations staff play Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man” during his introduction - he says his desire to play through pain is for more than a note in his bio.

    “It’s done not only out of stubborness, but out of sacrifice for the team,’’ Matthews said. “It’s not just an individual thing,I’m doing this so my team knows I’m going to fight for them regardless. As long as I can compete, I’m going to compete.’’

    On Saturday night, though, Matthews struggled to put on his socks, unable to stifle a whimper of pain as he bent down to start the sock over his toes. While some athletes are not only willing, but like to promote, how beat up they are, Matthews rarely, if ever, lets on that he is hurting. After the 2010-2011 season, Matthews secretly had surgery after playing three months on a swollen and aching right ankle. And this year, after injuring ligaments in his right thumb, he quickly diverted questions and refused to associate his shooting woes to the injury.

    It wasn’t until many of his teammates had showered and left that Matthews hobbled back into the locker room with a gait more like Hersey Hawkins or Fred G. Sanford than that of a 26-year-old. He begrudgingly admitted it was the most painful injury he has had since joining the NBA.

    “But I’m more concerned about us losing,’’ Matthews said after scoring 14 points in 29 minutes.

    In the big picture, I’m sure fans this season can get over a loss to the Kings sooner than they could get over a long-term loss of the Blazers’ heart-and-soul. If you don’t believe that, you should ask coach Terry Stotts about Matthews. I would be $100 that at some point Stotts says “Wes plays his butt off.” And that’s the kind of stuff that rubs off on teammates.

    So it will be an interesting couple of days leading into Monday’s game against Toronto. A streak is in jeopardy. And so is a team’s heartbeat.

    How will it turn out?

    “I can’t give you an honest answer,’’ Matthews said.

    http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/i...sider_wesley_matthews_heard_a_pop_and_no.html
     
    SlyPokerDog, Dec 8, 2012
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  2. Lanny

    Lanny Original Season Ticket Holder "Mr. Big Shot"

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    Re: Wesley Matthews heard a 'pop' and now a streak, & a team's heartbeat are in jeopa

    Matthews wasn't the only one hurting. Batum was wincing pretty much the whole game, also.

    Matthews had his head buried in a towel so no one could see him wince in pain. And he was in plenty of pain. He tried to huddle up with the guys but finally gave up before the end of the timeout and headed for the locker room with Jensen following quickly behind.

    But I don't think many saw the kind of pain that Batum was in, also. He was clearly in pain pretty much the whole time he was out there.

    With a paper thin bench, it doesn't look good, fans.
     
    Lanny, Dec 8, 2012
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  3. Further

    Further Guy

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    Re: Wesley Matthews heard a 'pop' and now a streak, & a team's heartbeat are in jeopa

    It's not worth the damage. Give both guys a week off to rest and then start limiting their god damn minutes!
     
    Further, Dec 9, 2012
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  4. Blazinaway

    Blazinaway Well-Known Member

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    Re: Wesley Matthews heard a 'pop' and now a streak, & a team's heartbeat are in jeopa

    unfortunately the only thing that might "look good" are the chances of a better lotto pick
     
    Blazinaway, Dec 9, 2012
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  5. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    Re: Wesley Matthews heard a 'pop' and now a streak, & a team's heartbeat are in jeopa

    Wesley Matthews ‏@wessywes2 Lol so the body can only take so much pain, with that being said my thumb feels amazing lmao
     
    SlyPokerDog, Dec 9, 2012
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  6. Sinobas

    Sinobas Banned User BANNED

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    Re: Wesley Matthews heard a 'pop' and now a streak, & a team's heartbeat are in jeopa

    Dude, fuck this season. Why the hell should Batum and Matthews play through pain and potentially make things worse? This team is not making the playoffs, and why would we want to attain that goal anyway? Bring Barton and Claver back from D-league and let the suckage begin!!
     
    Sinobas, Dec 9, 2012
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  7. HailBlazers

    HailBlazers RipCity

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    Re: Wesley Matthews heard a 'pop' and now a streak, & a team's heartbeat are in jeopa

    [video=youtube;zniDzLLhcjg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zniDzLLhcjg[/video]
     
    HailBlazers, Dec 9, 2012
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  8. BBert

    BBert Weasels Ripped My Flesh

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    Re: Wesley Matthews heard a 'pop' and now a streak, & a team's heartbeat are in jeopa

    It was only a matter of time. Barely into the season and our three best players have already had to play hurt. Just play the freaking bench and take your lumps.
     
    BBert, Dec 9, 2012
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  9. THE HCP

    THE HCP NorthEastPortland'sFinest

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    Re: Wesley Matthews heard a 'pop' and now a streak, & a team's heartbeat are in jeopa

    Why are you so angry bro? What did you think would happen this season?
     
    THE HCP, Dec 9, 2012
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  10. BrianFromWA

    BrianFromWA Editor in Chief Staff Member Editor in Chief

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    Re: Wesley Matthews heard a 'pop' and now a streak, & a team's heartbeat are in jeopa

    I'm not angry, but even for the people who thought they'd win "only" 25 games or so...did you think losing by 19 to the Kings at home was going to be the norm?
     
    BrianFromWA, Dec 9, 2012
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  11. jlprk

    jlprk The ESPN mod is insane.

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    Re: Wesley Matthews heard a 'pop' and now a streak, & a team's heartbeat are in jeopa

    This comes from only playing our starters 45 minutes a game. They just need to run off their little pains.
     
    jlprk, Dec 9, 2012
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  12. HailBlazers

    HailBlazers RipCity

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    Re: Wesley Matthews heard a 'pop' and now a streak, & a team's heartbeat are in jeopa

    Well the Kings did come out hard, gotta give them credit. The Blazers were kinda caught in a trap game after a road trip that left them battered.
     
    HailBlazers, Dec 9, 2012
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  13. PapaG

    PapaG Banned User BANNED

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    Re: Wesley Matthews heard a 'pop' and now a streak, & a team's heartbeat are in jeopa

    Yep. It's a built-in excuse to start Operation Tank, and Lillard and LMA will at the very least allow the team to stay in some games so it isn't blow-out after blow-out.
     
    PapaG, Dec 9, 2012
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  14. handiman

    handiman Well-Known Member

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    Re: Wesley Matthews heard a 'pop' and now a streak, & a team's heartbeat are in jeopa

    That's freakin' awesome. If that doesn't perfectly capture a true team player and all-around iron man, I don't know what does.
     
    handiman, Dec 9, 2012
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  15. magnifier661

    magnifier661 B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

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    Re: Wesley Matthews heard a 'pop' and now a streak, & a team's heartbeat are in jeopa

    And on the positive side. Resting Matthews and Batum will give more burn for Stotts to play the bench and find out which players are truly worth more burn.
     
    magnifier661, Dec 10, 2012
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  16. blue9

    blue9 Well-Known Member

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    Re: Wesley Matthews heard a 'pop' and now a streak, & a team's heartbeat are in jeopa

    I have a feeling that both players went out and attempted to perform to lead by example, since LMA certainly won't.
    I also thought the same thing about Lillard's huge dunk the other night - the one that came not too long after LMA botched a dunk because he was trying to throw it down with authority. Lillard had to have been thinking "THIS is how you dunk the ball, you pansy!".
    Of course, I may just be looking for anything to criticize LMA for...
     
    blue9, Dec 10, 2012
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  17. jlprk

    jlprk The ESPN mod is insane.

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    Re: Wesley Matthews heard a 'pop' and now a streak, & a team's heartbeat are in jeopa

    You don't have to look for examples. They swat you in the face all game long.
     
    jlprk, Dec 10, 2012
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  18. Eastoff

    Eastoff But it was a beginning.

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    Re: Wesley Matthews heard a 'pop' and now a streak, & a team's heartbeat are in jeopa

    It's funny he mentions his thumb. Right before he hurt his knee, he hit his thumb in a foul and was holding it pretty hard.
     
    Eastoff, Dec 10, 2012
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  19. BigGameDamian

    BigGameDamian Well-Known Member

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    Re: Wesley Matthews heard a 'pop' and now a streak, & a team's heartbeat are in jeopa

    Time to move Batum to SG!!:ghoti:
     
    BigGameDamian, Dec 10, 2012
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  20. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    Re: Wesley Matthews heard a 'pop' and now a streak, & a team's heartbeat are in jeopa

    Jason Quick ‏@jwquick This is first NBA game of his 4-year career that Wesley Matthews will not play. String of 250 consecutive was 2nd longest active (Westbrook)
     
    SlyPokerDog, Dec 10, 2012
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