CJ McCollum has a lower back fracture and has been playing through it in the last 3 games of the NBA Bubble. How will Blazers cope with the injury?
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The Blazers have things in their hands as far as getting into the NBA play-in tournament is concerned. With 1 seeding game remaining, the Damian Lillard led team needs a win to get a chance to fight for the NBA playoffs.
Damian Lillard has been instrumental in bringing the Blazers this far, and has been ably supported by CJ McCollum. McCollum is so committed to taking the Blazers to the playoffs, that he has been putting his body on the line.
CJ McCollum fractured back
Blazers star has been battling a fractured lower back in the last 3 games, but has refused to sit out in order to take the Blazers into the playoffs.
According to a report by NBC Sports, CJ has a non-displaced L3 vertebral transverse process fracture and has sustained the injury for 3 long games.
No wonder he was hobbling a little towards the end of the 4th quarter tonight and did not look his normal energetic self.
The problem here though is that the extent of the injury is still unknown and how much it is affecting his game play. More importantly, with his back being in question, there are concerns about this maybe affecting his career long term.
Playing through a fractured back can permanently damage stuff and possibly end CJ McCollum’s career prematurely. Is that a risk he is willing to take for one season worth of glory?
McCollum vs Mavericks
McCollum came up with the goods against Mavs when needed by sinking two clutch free throws and guiding his side to an important win vs the highly talented Mavs.
Damian Lillard dropped 61 points and was absolutely sensational in the battle of the guards tonight. The Blazers duo have brought their team this far and would love to sneak into the playoffs and set up that spicy 1st round encounter with the Lakers.
However, they will now need to assess CJ McCollum’s fractured back and if he is in a condition to continue playing in the Bubble.
