Hurt

 

The Golden State Warriors tore off an eight game winning streak, and Steph Curry was at the center of it. He averaged more than 30 points, with high accuracy of 3s and foul shots.  Then a Houston Rockets player pulled him down, resulting in a torn abdominal muscle which will keep him out of the lineup for two to four weeks or more.  The Warriors battled back and almost won that game, but not quite.

The next impact was for the following game in San Antonio.  It was to be a marquee game, with one of the hottest players in the league, Steph Curry, and one of the hottest young players, Victor Wembyama. It was a hot ticket, and NBA games are not cheap.  But when Curry was scratched, the Spurs were forced to reduce ticket prices.  The game was so lopsided that those who came for Wemby only saw him for 12 minutes.

Curry's injury was just the latest in this year's epidemic of hurt.  For once again the story of sports in the NBA is the story of injuries.  The Cleveland Cavaliers were so depleted by injuries this week that one of their players suggested their game in Dallas be postponed.  But the league wouldn't do it (and the Cavs improbably won.)  

The targeting of star players has been allowed if not encouraged for decades, but the extent of time lost to injuries seems at an all time high.  I don't think causing injuries, inflicting that kind of pain, has any place in sports, or at least it doesn't in sports I would want to watch.  But in today's high financial stakes NBA, with an intense media environment, the time that star players aren't playing is getting to be expensive.  People are going to be turned off by not being able to see their favorite stars.  They are going to be turned off by seeing their heroes subjected to painful injuries, because they know them more intimately now.  

The NBA has responded so far with its characteristic greed.  There are too many games, too close together, too many back to backs, too much travel time, and too much targeting of star players, or of any bullying on the court.  But the NBA has not responded to call for change.  They have not responded with more sensible and humane scheduling, better officiating and tightened rules.  Apparently it's not costing them enough yet.  Maybe it will.  It certainly turns me off.