Finger injury could keep James out of tonight's game
LeBron James isn't any better, but more important to the Cavaliers, he isn't any worse.
Doctors at the Cleveland Clinic Toronto performed an MRI on Thursday on James' left index finger. The results confirmed their diagnosis that he suffered a sprain Wednesday in Detroit.
Other than the sprain, which by definition means there was some ligament damage, the Cavs said there is no significant structural problems with the finger.
The team is listing him as ''day to day'' and calling him a game-time decision for tonight's road game against the Toronto Raptors. The Cavs are expected to show extreme caution with their superstar.
This is an injury that could linger with James for the next couple of months.
James suffered the injury in the second quarter, when he wasfouled by Detroit Pistons center Nazr Mohammed while driving to the basket. James sat out the game's second half.
He might not be the only star who will miss the game. Raptors forward Chris Bosh, who scored 41 points on the Cavs last weekend, strained his groin and left a game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday. His status for tonight also is undetermined.
The Raptors also are missing point guard T.J. Ford with an arm injury and center Andrea Bargnani, who has a bruised knee.
If James does not play, Sasha Pavlovic probably will start in his place at small forward, with Devin Brown starting at shooting guard instead of Pavlovic.
The Cavs are 9-3 over the past four seasons with James out of the lineup, but this would be an extreme challenge. With Larry Hughes, Donyell Marshall and Cedric Simmons all out, the Cavs already are thin in the frontcourt and backcourt. Not to mention James is the NBA's leading scorer at 31 points a game.
Some Cavs, however, resent the implication they cannot win without James.
''At the end of the day, we have other guys that can play,'' Damon Jones said. ''Regardless if anybody gives us credit for what we do. We've shown in the past when he's missed a game we can be formidable.''
Brian Windhorst can be reached at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs/.
LeBron James isn't any better, but more important to the Cavaliers, he isn't any worse.
Doctors at the Cleveland Clinic Toronto performed an MRI on Thursday on James' left index finger. The results confirmed their diagnosis that he suffered a sprain Wednesday in Detroit.
Other than the sprain, which by definition means there was some ligament damage, the Cavs said there is no significant structural problems with the finger.
The team is listing him as ''day to day'' and calling him a game-time decision for tonight's road game against the Toronto Raptors. The Cavs are expected to show extreme caution with their superstar.
This is an injury that could linger with James for the next couple of months.
James suffered the injury in the second quarter, when he wasfouled by Detroit Pistons center Nazr Mohammed while driving to the basket. James sat out the game's second half.
He might not be the only star who will miss the game. Raptors forward Chris Bosh, who scored 41 points on the Cavs last weekend, strained his groin and left a game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday. His status for tonight also is undetermined.
The Raptors also are missing point guard T.J. Ford with an arm injury and center Andrea Bargnani, who has a bruised knee.
If James does not play, Sasha Pavlovic probably will start in his place at small forward, with Devin Brown starting at shooting guard instead of Pavlovic.
The Cavs are 9-3 over the past four seasons with James out of the lineup, but this would be an extreme challenge. With Larry Hughes, Donyell Marshall and Cedric Simmons all out, the Cavs already are thin in the frontcourt and backcourt. Not to mention James is the NBA's leading scorer at 31 points a game.
Some Cavs, however, resent the implication they cannot win without James.
''At the end of the day, we have other guys that can play,'' Damon Jones said. ''Regardless if anybody gives us credit for what we do. We've shown in the past when he's missed a game we can be formidable.''
LeBron James isn't any better, but more important to the Cavaliers, he isn't any worse.
Doctors at the Cleveland Clinic Toronto performed an MRI on Thursday on James' left index finger. The results confirmed their diagnosis that he suffered a sprain Wednesday in Detroit.
Other than the sprain, which by definition means there was some ligament damage, the Cavs said there is no significant structural problems with the finger.
The team is listing him as ''day to day'' and calling him a game-time decision for tonight's road game against the Toronto Raptors. The Cavs are expected to show extreme caution with their superstar.
This is an injury that could linger with James for the next couple of months.
James suffered the injury in the second quarter, when he wasfouled by Detroit Pistons center Nazr Mohammed while driving to the basket. James sat out the game's second half.
He might not be the only star who will miss the game. Raptors forward Chris Bosh, who scored 41 points on the Cavs last weekend, strained his groin and left a game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday. His status for tonight also is undetermined.
The Raptors also are missing point guard T.J. Ford with an arm injury and center Andrea Bargnani, who has a bruised knee.
If James does not play, Sasha Pavlovic probably will start in his place at small forward, with Devin Brown starting at shooting guard instead of Pavlovic.
The Cavs are 9-3 over the past four seasons with James out of the lineup, but this would be an extreme challenge. With Larry Hughes, Donyell Marshall and Cedric Simmons all out, the Cavs already are thin in the frontcourt and backcourt. Not to mention James is the NBA's leading scorer at 31 points a game.
Some Cavs, however, resent the implication they cannot win without James.
''At the end of the day, we have other guys that can play,'' Damon Jones said. ''Regardless if anybody gives us credit for what we do. We've shown in the past when he's missed a game we can be formidable.''
Brian Windhorst can be reached at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs/.
LeBron James isn't any better, but more important to the Cavaliers, he isn't any worse.
Doctors at the Cleveland Clinic Toronto performed an MRI on Thursday on James' left index finger. The results confirmed their diagnosis that he suffered a sprain Wednesday in Detroit.
Other than the sprain, which by definition means there was some ligament damage, the Cavs said there is no significant structural problems with the finger.
The team is listing him as ''day to day'' and calling him a game-time decision for tonight's road game against the Toronto Raptors. The Cavs are expected to show extreme caution with their superstar.
This is an injury that could linger with James for the next couple of months.
James suffered the injury in the second quarter, when he wasfouled by Detroit Pistons center Nazr Mohammed while driving to the basket. James sat out the game's second half.
He might not be the only star who will miss the game. Raptors forward Chris Bosh, who scored 41 points on the Cavs last weekend, strained his groin and left a game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday. His status for tonight also is undetermined.
The Raptors also are missing point guard T.J. Ford with an arm injury and center Andrea Bargnani, who has a bruised knee.
If James does not play, Sasha Pavlovic probably will start in his place at small forward, with Devin Brown starting at shooting guard instead of Pavlovic.
The Cavs are 9-3 over the past four seasons with James out of the lineup, but this would be an extreme challenge. With Larry Hughes, Donyell Marshall and Cedric Simmons all out, the Cavs already are thin in the frontcourt and backcourt. Not to mention James is the NBA's leading scorer at 31 points a game.
Some Cavs, however, resent the implication they cannot win without James.
''At the end of the day, we have other guys that can play,'' Damon Jones said. ''Regardless if anybody gives us credit for what we do. We've shown in the past when he's missed a game we can be formidable.''
By Brian Windhorst Beacon Journal sportswriterPublished on Friday, Nov 30, 2007
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