Miles: My Knee Will Never Be 100 Percent?

[pp34isthe1]

Celtics forward Darius Miles doesn't believe that his right knee will ever be one-hundred percent again, according to Boston Globe.

Miles was diagnosed with a career-ending knee injury while with Portland, but is attempting to make a comeback with Boston.

"I am ready to go, but I just need to get in better shape. It's about maintaining the strength in my legs and getting my timing," Miles said. "I'm excited and anxious and ready to go and play. I don't think my leg will ever be 100 percent again, but I feel like I'm 90-95 percent."

However, Tim Grover, a fitness specialist, thinks that Miles could be back to one-hundred percent by the end of December.

"From an explosiveness and quickness standpoint, he is 80-85 percent from where he used to be, and my guess is he should be back to 100 percent by Christmas," Grover said.

http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/54392/20080914/miles_my_knee_will_never_be_100_percent/


I hope he makes the roster. If he can truly be 100% or close to that by December or even playoffs. Just think about how great of an option it will be to have this guy coming off the bench

[Donoghus]

I find it extremely doubtful that he'll ever be 100% again. The effects of career ending (or supposed career ending) injuries just never go away. Miles even says it. I'm not sure how professionally renown this "fitness specialist" is but his comments do spark a cause for optimism.

[Byrdman]

Tim Grover is pretty high up there in the fitness/basketball training world.  He runs a program in Chicago that always gets top NBA talent in for at least a couple weeks in the summer and he used to be Jordan's personal trainer.  That said if Miles's knee actually returns to 100% there are some doctors out there who should lose their medical license.

[soap07]

If I'm not mistaken, Grover was (is?) also Walker's personal trainer.

[Champzilla]

Just cut him now.

[gar]

I think people are underestimating the value of another shot blocker to go alongside Garnett. The idea that you can always have two shot blockers on the floor is going to be huge if Miles can get healthy. I believe that is also why they brought in POB.

[Roy Hobbs]

I think people are underestimating the value of another shot blocker to go alongside Garnett. The idea that you can always have two shot blockers on the floor is going to be huge if Miles can get healthy. I believe that is also why they brought in POB.

Miles block shots, but he's often out of position defensively to do so.  Blocked shots aren't indicative of good defense, and I doubt teams are going to be overly intimidated, even should Miles become completely healthy (which isn't likely.)

[cdif911]

here's a guy who in his last season before the knee injury averaged 14 ppg, 4.6 rpg, almost 2 assists, 1 block, 1 steal and 2.5 turnovers per game on 32 minutes per game.

He's not gonna get those minutes here, I think that's pretty clear - if he fills Posey's minutes (24 mpg) and he is at 75% of what he was productivity wise in his last year (reasonable to expect given injuries) (but also remember he's only 26, will be 27 in a few weeks - near the prime of many players career on the early end) we could see a guy who would be about 56% as effective as he was at his most productive given the minutes (75% of minutes * 75% health) - thats still 8 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1 apg, 0.5 blocks/steals, 1.4 turnovers - very very similar numbers to James Posey last year....

Now I know numbers aren't the only thing, and a guy like D. Miles has relied on athleticism which he may or may not have, but to think if he can be 3/4 of what he was before, he'll still contribute here

[gar]

I think people are underestimating the value of another shot blocker to go alongside Garnett. The idea that you can always have two shot blockers on the floor is going to be huge if Miles can get healthy. I believe that is also why they brought in POB.

Miles block shots, but he's often out of position defensively to do so.  Blocked shots aren't indicative of good defense, and I doubt teams are going to be overly intimidated, even should Miles become completely healthy (which isn't likely.)

I agree, Perk is a great defender but not a great shot blocker, he needs to protect the basket. The nice thing about a SF who is a shot blocker is that you don't expose the basket. You may be vulnerable from outside; but is nice to be able to help from the weak side. Concern about Miles' ability to recover or get back into position with his injury are an issue though.

[Tradetime]

I'll wait 'til camp starts and goes before deciding where he is at. Would like to see him make the team based on good performance.

[Vermont Green]

here's a guy who in his last season before the knee injury averaged 14 ppg, 4.6 rpg, almost 2 assists, 1 block, 1 steal and 2.5 turnovers per game on 32 minutes per game.

He's not gonna get those minutes here, I think that's pretty clear - if he fills Posey's minutes (24 mpg) and he is at 75% of what he was productivity wise in his last year (reasonable to expect given injuries) (but also remember he's only 26, will be 27 in a few weeks - near the prime of many players career on the early end) we could see a guy who would be about 56% as effective as he was at his most productive given the minutes (75% of minutes * 75% health) - thats still 8 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1 apg, 0.5 blocks/steals, 1.4 turnovers - very very similar numbers to James Posey last year....

Now I know numbers aren't the only thing, and a guy like D. Miles has relied on athleticism which he may or may not have, but to think if he can be 3/4 of what he was before, he'll still contribute here

I think this is a fair approach to get a rough estimate of maybe what we can get out of this guy.  No one knows of course and there isn't any formula that can figure it out but I suspect that it will be tough for him to average 24 minutes on that knee.  On the other hand, there were many times where he played better than the 14 points, 4.5 rebounds so maybe your numbers will turnout to be in the range (as good a guess as any).  It would be a miracle if he gave us what Posey did I think in terms of minutes or overall contribution.  It may even take some divine intervention to get him through camp and preseason.  He says his knee is 90% right now but he is just not in shape overall.  The big question is if his knee stays at 90% after a few days or weeks of NBA work.  I am actually thinking he gives us something just about in the middle of Pollard and Posey in terms of overall contribution, measured however you want.  If he does that, I think it will be a very valuable albeit limit contribution.

[Roy Hobbs]

Now I know numbers aren't the only thing, and a guy like D. Miles has relied on athleticism which he may or may not have, but to think if he can be 3/4 of what he was before, he'll still contribute here

I think you understate this.  It's more than numbers not being the only thing; in this case, the numbers are massively misleading, as they ignore Posey's contributions for 50% of the game, as well as his other intangibles.  Even if Miles can give us the same minutes and same stats as Posey (minus the outside shooting, which Miles has never had), there's no way he's going to match Posey in terms of defense, clutch shooting, toughness and leadership.

People do Posey a disservice if they boil his contribution down to 7.4 points in 24.6 minutes.   He was worth so much more than that.

[bucknersrevenge]

Now I know numbers aren't the only thing, and a guy like D. Miles has relied on athleticism which he may or may not have, but to think if he can be 3/4 of what he was before, he'll still contribute here

I think you understate this.  It's more than numbers not being the only thing; in this case, the numbers are massively misleading, as they ignore Posey's contributions for 50% of the game, as well as his other intangibles.  Even if Miles can give us the same minutes and same stats as Posey (minus the outside shooting, which Miles has never had), there's no way he's going to match Posey in terms of defense, clutch shooting, toughness and leadership.

People do Posey a disservice if they boil his contribution down to 7.4 points in 24.6 minutes.   He was worth so much more than that.

Well I don't think anyone here is silly enough to expect Miles coming from where he is coming from to have Posey's impact or leadership. I do think the previous poster was talking productivity-wise only which is fine. If Miles can get back to a place where his athleticism is close to what it was then I believe he can contribute to this team. I don't think anybody is sure yet how those contributions will play out but he can be a finisher on the break, he can play some decent team defense. And with all due respect to Posey who's intangibles are beyond reproach, his actual tangible contributions on the floor are still nothing to write home about and his defense was by no means all-world.

[nickagneta]

So let me see if I got this right.

Darius Miles says he's not 100% and might never be.

Three orthopedic specialists look at his injury, one calls it the worst microfracture he has ever seen, and all three concur it is a career ending injury.

But because he's working with a physical therapist who thinks he can come back, we as fans should be optimistic? Sure as hell if I have major knee problems I'm always going to listen to the physical therapist and not three orthopedic surgeons. Hell, what do they know? They're only doctors. They aren't a trainer.

Miles doesn't make this club and that will be a good thing. Just my opinion.

[JBcat]

So let me see if I got this right.

Darius Miles says he's not 100% and might never be.

Three orthopedic specialists look at his injury, one calls it the worst microfracture he has ever seen, and all three concur it is a career ending injury.

But because he's working with a physical therapist who thinks he can come back, we as fans should be optimistic? Sure as hell if I have major knee problems I'm always going to listen to the physical therapist and not three orthopedic surgeons. Hell, what do they know? They're only doctors. They aren't a trainer.

Miles doesn't make this club and that will be a good thing. Just my opinion.

Tim Grover isn't just any physical therapist though.  He has extensive experience in sports specific training  and rehabilitative medicine.  He's had major success with his clients over the years and some of his biggest clients have been Olajuwon, Barkley, ARod and Jordan so he has the respect of some of the biggest stars.

He has been around a long time and if he think Miles is about 85% now with a chance to be around 100% by Christmas you can't totally discount his opinion. 

It seems fishy now doctors said his injury was career ending when Miles thinks he could have tried playing a little bit last year.