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Cosmic
Posts: 26570
Alba Posts: 27
Joined: 3/17/2006
Member: #1115
USA
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Posted by earthmansurfer:
Posted by Cosmic:
Posted by Paladin55:
Has to go the basket more often. He can finish with both hands and knows how to draw a foul. He got to the line a lot in Europe I would like to see him be a little selfish sometimes, like Harrington.
It did seem to me that MDA probably told him to look for his shot more often last night.
I am still constantly impressed by his D in terms of positioning, awareness, and yes, footwork. He even had a nice block on Smith (a foul, though).
I'm not sure if you're inferring it, yet, the last thing you want a guy with a bad back to do is DUNK. It's one of the worst things you can do. Remember Scottie Pippen and his bad back? I think it was in the playoffs they finally got him back, he was balling, he decided to dunk, and he turned into trash for the rest of those playoffs.
I think Gallo is still clearly hurting, you could see him wincing in the 2nd half last night, only to wave off the bench. Yet, he came out, and was clearly stiff.
We don't need to be overextending him. Keep his minutes low no matter the production. There is next year to think about.
Meanwhile, the Wizards' DeShawn Stevenson, has opted for surgery to correct, yep you guessed it, a bulging disc in his back. Why has Gallo refused to do the same? It's clear it has not healed. These things heal on their own over YEARS of inactivity and proper health. Not a few months.
That's the biggest concern with the kid. It's not going to magically disappear. So what now, he plays 20 minutes a game in pain for the rest of his career? I don't get it.
Cosmic,
I don't think Gallo ever refused surgery, rather it wasn't recommended by any of the many doctors he went to. Also, since I've studied back problems due to having had one (and recovered), there is a 50% correlation (I believe that is what Dr. Sarno said) with back surgery and then pain going away. Now a bulging disk is rarely operated on, it is the ruptured ones that involve most surgeries. Basically, surgery does not cure back pain, ESPECIALLY when it does not appear to be needed. So, in Gallo's case, I'd bet the farm that his bulging disk is not pushing on his nerve (or they would have recommended surgery). My guess is that his muscle spasms are somehow connected to the symptoms. Also, the muscle spasms or contractions are often responsible for the bulging disk, this I believe is where the "in your head" comments comes from (As anger, nerves, etc. often cause muscle tension, which then can aid in disk compression by pulling across the disk). So in the end, before one goes cutting (especially with just a bulging disk) it's better to really investigate the injury. Speaking from experience, I feel confident they chose the right path with Gallo. That said, he does need to be careful, cause a bulging disk can rupture if undue pressure is placed on it. (But so can a surgically corrected and thus weakened disk).
It's really too bad to hear that he is still experiencing pain. I hope he settles down here in America as I have a feeling that the stress of being in new country on a new team is partly responsible for his pain. (Ever hear of the expression "Your a pain in my neck"? Well, there is some truth to where that phrase came from. Reminds me of a Cheers episode, where Diane says to Sam, "How are you, Love of my life?" and Sam replies, "Just fine, pain in my neck"...) Well, the thing I'm worried about is, eventually he's going to need it. It just doesn't sound like it will take care of itself. Now, if it is, and rest is what he needs, why is he playing? Just a little scary here that's all and I think his back issue is overly played down by himself, the Knicks, and even the media to a degree. I don't see how that does him any service. Danilo Gallinari's English improves by the week. His back does not.
Although the Knicks rookie has not missed a game due to injury since his return in mid-January and scored a career-high 17 points to key Wednesday night's 109-105 win over Atlanta, the level of pain in his back and leg hasn't subsided.
MORE: Complete Knicks Coverage
MORE: Knicks Blog
Diagnosed with a bulging disc, Gallinari has had his minutes limited each game to under 25. Before the Italian Stallion checks into games late in the first quarter, he stays in the tunnel to perform back exercises or to just lie down. He avoids sitting on the bench, which puts pressure on the lower back and can leak disc fluid.
"It doesn't change much," Gallinari said of the pain. "It is still there. I feel always the same discomfort for all the games. It's not changing." Just not a good thing. What if he takes a bad fall or takes on a solid hit or tries to dunk and puts undue pressure on his back? Right back on the IR that's what happens. Other players seem to get surgery right away for bulging or slipped discs. Why not Gallo? Average everyday people may not because they're able to rest those 2-3 years to let it heal on it's own. Athletes don't have that luxury. Doesn't sound like it would take much to be back at square one with this guy if he happens to repeat what caused it in the first place this summer. Then what? Another completely lost year? Just don't have a good feeling about this. If rest heals it then why is he playing? If rest isn't healing it then why isn't he getting it corrected? Seems to be a bit too much grey area regarding this doesn't it? http://popcornmachine.net/ A must-use tool for NBA stat junkies!
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3/5/2009 5:05 PM