Tobias Harris Sidelined for Spurs Season Opener with Calf Strain
Underdog NBA relayed that Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said Harris won't be ready for the start of the regular season and that the team will not rush him.
The NBA season hasn't even tipped off yet, and the are already dealing with the kind of veteran injury news that makes you sigh heavily at your phone.
According to Underdog NBA, Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson has confirmed that Tobias Harris will not be ready for the start of the regular season. The veteran forward is dealing with a left calf strain he picked up during training camp.
A calf strain on a 30-something forward is basically the check-engine light on a high-mileage sedan. You can try to drive through it, but you are absolutely going to end up stranded on the side of the highway if you push it too hard.
Johnson made it clear the team has zero interest in rushing Harris back onto the floor. That means he will officially miss the October 20 season opener against the , which happens to be a heavy-hitting rematch of last year's playoff battle.
Harris put up 13.3 points and five rebounds across 63 last season. Losing that kind of steady, middle-of-the-road production is not the end of the world, but it immediately tests the ' wing depth against a loaded Thunder roster.
Anyone looking at early-season lines or player props for will have to factor in those missing minutes. Someone else is going to have to absorb those shots, and OKC is not exactly a forgiving defense to figure out your rotation against.
For now, expect Harris to be watching from the bench in a very expensive suit on opening night. The will have to survive the without him, and we will wait to see just how long this training camp tweak actually lingers.