Make Way for the Bad Guys
May 26, 2015Cavs, Cleveland radio, and comedy with Chad Zumock – WFNY Podcast – 2015-05-26
May 26, 2015Kevin Love has raised a few eyebrows over the last few weeks as the power forward has not been present for Cleveland Cavalier away games despite the presence of fellow injured teammates Kyrie Irving and Anderson Varejao. As it turns out, all of the consternation and rumor generating was (surprise!) all for naught as Love had not been cleared to travel—at least until today.
From ESPN.com’s Dave McMenamin:
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love can travel with the team for the remainder of the postseason after having his left shoulder re-evaluated, general manager David Griffin confirmed to ESPN.com.
Love traveled to New York to have the shoulder looked at by Dr. David Altchek last week while the Cavs were in Atlanta for Games 1 and 2 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Hawks, Griffin said.
Love, who averaged 18.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists for the Cavaliers, fell victim to a dislocated shoulder in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. He had been mysteriously absent from road games despite the Cavaliers saying that Love would not only rehabilitate in Cleveland, but would be with the team as they attempt to obtain the first championship in the city of Cleveland since 1964. Cleveland has gone 8-2 since Love’s injury, sweeping the Boston Celtics, beating the Chicago Bulls in six games and taking a 3-0 lead on the Atlanta Hawks heading into Tuesday night’s Game 4.
Love can opt out of his current deal this summer, leading many to read into every move (except the quotes where he says he’s staying—those can be ignored). His lack of traveling had, of course, led to many wondering if his absence was indicative of any unhappiness. And while Love may not be happy (what with his arm just being removed from a sling while his teammates are vying for an NBA title), he wasn’t taking it out on his frequent flyer miles. If and when the Cavaliers make it to the NBA Finals, Love should be right alongside them.
11 Comments
DID THE DOCTORS CLEAR HIM TO SMILE?
Godddddd, people obsess about players leaving teams. It’s like who is your bestie on the playground when we were all 9 years old. He’s a great player, he has the chance to win it all in Cleveland. He’s gonna get paid anywhere he goes, and it will be 2 years min until his shoulder really rehabs. What else is there to know?
He will be good next year. Doesn’t take two years.
Wrong, 2 to 3 years minimum Recovery.
wrong, full recovery shoulder destruction to three-year process minimum
Ok bud. I had the surgery and was lifting weights in 30 days. He will be fine. Wish I could take some money from you in a bet.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/cavaliers/2015/04/29/kevin-love-shoulder-surgery-out-four-to-six-months/26616159/
4-6 MONTHS. That is at most 1/2 a year, not 2-3 years (24-36 months). I think you added an extra 2 and 3 in the months
Sorry, my bad. Didn’t realize I was speaking to an orthopedic surgeon.
USA today isn’t my usual go-to resource for health information.
But, my year working in an ortho clinic told me that shoulders are more delicate and complicated than you’d think. And I never believe 4-6 months. That’s what surgeons want you to think.
Reality: Post-shoulder surgery, it will be tough to manage the pain and the risk of re-injury in a sport that requires a lot of overhead movements.
You can pull recovery info from anywhere. I had the same surgery and was playing softball 6 months later. Yes it was a little sore, but nothing unbearable, or that noticeable when I was playing. They have good trainers and he should be fine next year. I agree that shoulders are complicated, but it also takes force at an odd angle for them to get disclocated. If his arms are above his head, it would have to be an awfully weird hit for him to re-dislocate it. Dislocations occur with force downward on bicep area pushing the arm towards the core of the body. Not just any hit to the shoulder.
We shall see. I’m not sure how you know you had the exact same surgery as Kevin Love. Or what the damage to his shoulder was.
What I know is that my clinical experience from working in an ortho center for 1 year tells me that it takes time and luck to heal well from shoulders. Scar tissue, instability, limits of PT, restrengthening, and all of this by training camp? We shall see.
And for us weekend athletes, it’s one thing to occasionally put some strain on the injured joint. For a full time athlete, the needs, challenges, etc are different. I hope he heals and can come back 97-100% as before. But I’m also quite realistic about injury, and know that shoulders are prone to reinjury, redislocation, soreness, pain. Especially if you are asked to go full-tilt for 4-5 days a week.