Nic Claxton's Hamstring Issue Adds to the Bulls' Early-Season Misery
Nic Claxton (hamstring) listed questionable for Wednesday. (via Underdog NBA)
The are currently sitting at a majestic 1-6, and the basketball gods have decided that is simply not enough punishment. According to Underdog NBA, starting center is now listed as questionable for Wednesday’s matchup with a hamstring issue.
Hamstring injuries are the check-engine lights of the NBA. You can try to ignore them, but eventually, the whole car is going to stop working on the highway. For a team already fighting for their lives at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, losing their primary rim protector is an absolute disaster.
Claxton was supposed to be the defensive anchor for Chicago this season. Instead, the are giving up points in bunches, and now they have to travel to Madison Square Garden to face the without knowing if their big man can even lace them up.
If you are looking at the board for Wednesday night, Claxton’s official status is the only thing standing between a normal basketball game and a complete rebounding clinic for the Knicks. New York is sitting at 3-4 and desperate to get back to .500, making this a prime spot for them to bully a depleted frontcourt.
Trying to stop a physical Knicks rotation without your starting center is like trying to bail out a sinking boat with a pasta strainer. The math just does not work in your favor, and the mess is only going to get worse the longer you try.
We will likely get a final update on Claxton after shootaround on Wednesday morning. If he sits, expect the Knicks to hammer the paint relentlessly, while the try to figure out how to salvage a season that is already slipping down the drain.