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Agree, there's no way he's 100%. Question is whether he's at risk to further injure, my assumption is that if he were they'd hold him out.To me....
"Monitor some ability" means he is not 100%
I would hope so.Agree, there's no way he's 100%. Question is whether he's at risk to further injure, my assumption is that if he were they'd hold him out.
That goes without questionAgree, there's no way he's 100%. Question is whether he's at risk to further injure, my assumption is that if he were they'd hold him out.
Agree. I thought he played OK today and obviously tough as hell just to be out there, but in my opinion, he didn’t look like himself. Not nearly as explosive. I suspect he’ll look better by next Friday and if this team can make it through next weekend hopefully he’s close to 100% by the sweet 16It was obvious after he came back in last game he was less than 100%. He was struggling.
Hopefully he’s closer to 100% than he was yesterday, but if it’s not there, not opposed to him just sitting and resting up for the NCAAT.
Abso-friggin-lutely! The man is a Boiler!Braden Smith is a warrior.
Hard for me to say it but by any objective measure he was the second-best point guard on the floor yesterday. Not saying Hepburn is the better player but yesterday he was.Agree. I thought he played OK today and obviously tough as hell just to be out there, but in my opinion, he didn’t look like himself. Not nearly as explosive. I suspect he’ll look better by next Friday and if this team can make it through next weekend hopefully he’s close to 100% by the sweet 16
Leg injuries cost quickness. He couldn't get away from Hepburn nor stop him. Step slow.Agree. I thought he played OK today and obviously tough as hell just to be out there, but in my opinion, he didn’t look like himself. Not nearly as explosive. I suspect he’ll look better by next Friday and if this team can make it through next weekend hopefully he’s close to 100% by the sweet 16
Hard for me to say it but by any objective measure he was the second-best point guard on the floor yesterday. Not saying Hepburn is the better player but yesterday he was.
Only if sitting out is better than not. I do not know that to be true or not. I do know Braden being less than 100% can still be the player needed to play. What percent of Braden is still better than the options? Matt and the trainer will do what is best for Braden first and the team second. Even if no worries of further harm, it may be possible that he is not 100% for a while? As I wrote elsewhere he played 16 months with a stress fracture in his foot in high school. It is easy to see how valuable he is to this team when healthy.It was obvious after he came back in last game he was less than 100%. He was struggling.
Hopefully he’s closer to 100% than he was yesterday, but if it’s not there, not opposed to him just sitting and resting up for the NCAAT.
One slight piece missing for Purdue is a true backup point guard. Jones is ok, but someone off the bench who is fresh and can run the offense would help. Ours would be Morton, and that’s a stretch.Only if sitting out is better than not. I do not know that to be true or not. I do know Braden being less than 100% can still be the player needed to play. What percent of Braden is still better than the options? Matt and the trainer will do what is best for Braden first and the team second. Even if no worries of further harm, it may be possible that he is not 100% for a while? As I wrote elsewhere he played 16 months with a stress fracture in his foot in high school. It is easy to see how valuable he is to this team when healthy.
Only if sitting out is better than not. I do not know that to be true or not. I do know Braden being less than 100% can still be the player needed to play. What percent of Braden is still better than the options? Matt and the trainer will do what is best for Braden first and the team second. Even if no worries of further harm, it may be possible that he is not 100% for a while? As I wrote elsewhere he played 16 months with a stress fracture in his foot in high school. It is easy to see how valuable he is to this team when healthy.
I think it is obvious how important Braden's play is as you state. Purdue has what it has. It has weaknesses as does every team. Braden sees every square inch of the court and is directly responsible many times for good shots. Lance gives that other ball handler, but can't control a game the same way. Lance helps against a press and typically brings good D, but an elite or very good PG is not he. Purdue can win games with Lance at PG, but the variety of scoring will be either Lance on his own or inside the offensive structure and its limitationsOne slight piece missing for Purdue is a true backup point guard. Jones is ok, but someone off the bench who is fresh and can run the offense would help. Ours would be Morton, and that’s a stretch.
I don't believe he had a quick twitch muscle torn and I know what one in each leg did to me. He is in incredible shape and so you hope the athlete he is handles it better than most of us wouldI doubt that playing competitive basketball can ever be good for a leg injury. When I have been in PT for a leg injury, they got me back to exercising right away but stressed “no impact!”
There is a greater chance of injury if you are already injured. It is possible Braden’s calf injury was in part caused by his already having an ankle injury.
Let’s hope his injuries are the type a physical therapist can do miracles with.
I was in PT with a knee injury. After about a 20-minute evaluation, the therapist said the first thing was to restore my range of motion. Which she did in about 15 minutes. It was amazing.
I don't believe he had a quick twitch muscle torn and I know what one in each leg did to me. He is in incredible shape and so you hope the athlete he is handles it better than most of us would
I agree. With the emergence of sports medicine the past few decades, PT has come a long way. Can't know for sure, but based on the video and the very brief verbal description provided, I assume he hyperextended his knee, causing strain to the upper calf muscle/tendon. It can take a while to fully heal, but if they can keep the swelling down and keep it flexible, he should be good to go. Maybe not 100% Braden, but 90% Braden is better than all but a handful of PGs. The rest of the team must know they will have to step up.I doubt that playing competitive basketball can ever be good for a leg injury. When I have been in PT for a leg injury, they got me back to exercising right away but stressed “no impact!”
There is a greater chance of injury if you are already injured. It is possible Braden’s calf injury was in part caused by his already having an ankle injury.
Let’s hope his injuries are the type a physical therapist can do miracles with.
I was in PT with a knee injury. After about a 20-minute evaluation, the therapist said the first thing was to restore my range of motion. Which she did in about 15 minutes. It was amazing.
Agree. IMO Chucky is a hack but he outplayed Braden yesterday. As others pointed out, I don’t think he has the athleticism to do that if Braden is healthy.Hard for me to say it but by any objective measure he was the second-best point guard on the floor yesterday. Not saying Hepburn is the better player but yesterday he was.
Agree that even in a limited state Braden is valuable to this team. My concern is that if Braden and Zach are less than 95% two weeks from now I don’t see this team making it past the second weekend.Only if sitting out is better than not. I do not know that to be true or not. I do know Braden being less than 100% can still be the player needed to play. What percent of Braden is still better than the options? Matt and the trainer will do what is best for Braden first and the team second. Even if no worries of further harm, it may be possible that he is not 100% for a while? As I wrote elsewhere he played 16 months with a stress fracture in his foot in high school. It is easy to see how valuable he is to this team when healthy.
Due to Smith's injury.Hard for me to say it but by any objective measure he was the second-best point guard on the floor yesterday. Not saying Hepburn is the better player but yesterday he was.
You hope it’s something that gets incrementally better over the next ten days. This team is good enough to get through next weekend if they don’t have the type of lazy pass turnovers they had against Wisconsin, even with Braden as he was yesterday. Not sure about beyond that.Braden played yesterday and not too bad, he did have 10 assists, but it was not 100% Braden. He did not have his normal burst and quickness. I think his rebounding and defense suffered because of it. It also caused the pushoff he made on their guard and end of game to compensate for his lack of juice. I attribute all that to the injury. Braden is a warrior and wanted to compete and be out there for his team, but he was not near 100%. I said yesterday it would be better to rest him for the bigger prize, but understand that is a tough decision. I am very worried this is something that may not be better by Friday. We could not win yesterday without him(which I did not care about, though am sure the players did), and we can not go very far in the tourney without him at full strength.
Hoping I am wrong and he can get right in next 5 days or near right.
I'll add that in the MSU game towards the end...he got pushed and caused a travel. It may not be better by Friday, but win that and the next game and you hope he is 100% the next week. Wisconsin put more pressure on him than usual sensing he wasn't 100% and Hepburn bodied him up more for more of the courtBraden played yesterday and not too bad, he did have 10 assists, but it was not 100% Braden. He did not have his normal burst and quickness. I think his rebounding and defense suffered because of it. It also caused the pushoff he made on their guard and end of game to compensate for his lack of juice. I attribute all that to the injury. Braden is a warrior and wanted to compete and be out there for his team, but he was not near 100%. I said yesterday it would be better to rest him for the bigger prize, but understand that is a tough decision. I am very worried this is something that may not be better by Friday. We could not win yesterday without him(which I did not care about, though am sure the players did), and we can not go very far in the tourney without him at full strength.
Hoping I am wrong and he can get right in next 5 days or near right.
I see nothing in Zach that tells me he is moving different as a result of his ankle. I'm more concerned he has his head focused. Braden, I did see problems due to his injuryAgree that even in a limited state Braden is valuable to this team. My concern is that if Braden and Zach are less than 95% two weeks from now I don’t see this team making it past the second weekend.
Purely IMO with the recognition that I'm wrong all the time, there have been a number of plays the last few games that in real time I thought Zach would have dunked or come up with the block if healthy. I don't think he has quite the lift that he normally would. Agree that he's playing well regardless and that Braden's injury is having a significantly greater impact.I see nothing in Zach that tells me he is moving different as a result of his ankle. I'm more concerned he has his head focused. Braden, I did see problems due to his injury
Could be, but I don't see any difference in his running or moving through the lane. Purdue needs a well focused Zach on catching the ball, passing the ball, getting deep and and hitting his Fts. I do not like his stare downs because I believe the following: I prefer a choir boy on offense that nothing gets to him. He reads and reacts, but nothing upsets him. Foul him...shove him...he just plays on, totally focused on what he is doing and needs to do.Purely IMO with the recognition that I'm wrong all the time, there have been a number of plays the last few games that in real time I thought Zach would have dunked or come up with the block if healthy. I don't think he has quite the lift that he normally would. Agree that he's playing well regardless and that Braden's injury is having a significantly greater impact.
I wrote before and wish Zach was more impactful in is one man zone WHEN a shooter stops just inside the FT line. He did a great job on Wahl yesterday, but Hepburn had a field day in his mid range game. Shooting 9/12 Hepburn was on fire stopping short of Zach. I really think Zach can contest better and still not jump high so he can move his feet.Purely IMO with the recognition that I'm wrong all the time, there have been a number of plays the last few games that in real time I thought Zach would have dunked or come up with the block if healthy. I don't think he has quite the lift that he normally would. Agree that he's playing well regardless and that Braden's injury is having a significantly greater impact.