Back injury could sideline Williams for rest of season

¹²³ · Mar 10, 2009

Marvin Williams can’t remember exactly what happened. However, if a back injury costs the Hawks’ starting small forward significant time, you can bet he’ll go over one play in his mind again and again.

“I remember getting up off the floor and coming back down on defense and my back just locked up,” Williams said about a play Saturday against Detroit.

Williams, who is listed as out indefinitely, is scheduled to see specialists at Duke University Wednesday. A final decision on his status could come by the end of the week. Surgery could be an option.

Williams missed Monday’s win over New Orleans. He’ll sit out Wednesday’s game against Utah at Philips Arena. He could potentially miss many more games.

Still, there he was at practice today, standing under the basket smiling as his teammates went through shooting drills. Even if the prospects for a return before the end of the season look grim, Williams is holding out hope.

“You always want to be on the court,” he said. “Our team is having a great season and I’ve been a part of this so far. So, of course, you want to continue to contribute and to help out in any way you can.”

The Hawks have the second toughest remaining schedule in the NBA — only Houston faces more winning teams down the stretch — and will examine every option.

The Hawks already have 15 players on their roster, so if Williams is out for an extended period they’ll have to tap into the bench for his replacement. Another option would be to cut a player and search the free-agent market for a replacement.

“There’s nothing we can do until he gets the proper examinations that allow him to feel good about making a decision about which way he wants to go,” Hawks coach Mike Woodson said. “He’s still walking gingerly but at least he’s up and on his feet. That’s always a good sign. A back injury is one of those things that’s really tricky. The most important thing is for Marvin to make the decision that’s best for him.”

No one knows that better than Woodson. Twenty-nine years ago a back injury derailed his senior season at Indiana. He had a ruptured disc that ultimately required surgery and sat out eight weeks.

“I didn’t want to have any surgery because I was projected to go in the top 10 of the draft and didn’t want to mess that up,” Woodson said. “But I couldn’t hide the pain. I started having neurological problems with this pain shooting down my leg. I ended up having a procedure that my doctor told me beforehand would give me a 50-50 chance of coming back and playing.

“I took those odds. Eight weeks later I was back playing and it never affected my pro career.”

Compared to Woodson, Williams’ injury could require only rest. If it did require surgery, advances in technology would likely reduce the risk and shorten his recovery time.

The dilemma, however, remains the same.

“I hope by the end of this week I’ll have a definite answer of what’s going on and what my next move is,” Williams said. “Because this season has the potential to be our best since I’ve been here and our best in a long time. It’s tough, but we’ve lost guys to injuries this season and guys have stepped up and played. So these guys will have to do the same until I’m able to get back out there.”
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¹²³ · Mar 12, 2009

Hawks forward Marvin Williams out indefinitely but passing on surgery

ATLANTA — Atlanta Hawks forward Marvin Williams has decided not to have surgery on his ailing back, opting for a more conservative treatment program.

Williams is back in Atlanta after meeting with a specialist in Durham, N.C. The fourth-year player, averaging 14.0 points and 6.4 rebounds, has missed two straight games with lower back pain.

The Hawks said Thursday that Williams is out indefinitely but will try to resolve his problem with rest and treatment. Atlanta is undefeated without Williams in the lineup, winning all five games he's missed this season.
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