It looks like a fairly innocent play. Portland sharpshooting big man Meyers Leonard is pushing for rebound position on a free throw attempt and tries to get between San Antonio’s David West and Kawhi Leonard, and their arms get tangled. Suddenly Leonard is grabbing his shoulder in pain.
Leonard suffered a complete dislocation and is going to miss some time — maybe more than a month, an expert told Jason Quick at CSNNW.com.Dr. Brian Schulz, an orthopedic surgeon at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles, said it would be “shocking” if Leonard came back quickly from a full dislocation. Dr. Schulz said typical recovery time for a dislocated shoulder is 4-to-6 weeks, but that usually entails a high risk for re-injury.
“Typically, when the shoulder fully comes out, there is damage to the labrum and capsule, which means it can happen again, and require less force for it to occur,’’ Schulz said.
Portland has given no official timetable for Leonard’s return.
Leonard has averaged 8.4 points a game and played more than 26 minutes a night for the Blazers (both career highs), helping space the floor with his outside shooting. The Trail Blazers’ offense jumps 4.9 points per 100 possessions when he is on the floor (although the defense suffers nearly an equal amount).
Without him expect to see more Ed Davis, Moe Harkless, and Al-Farouq Aminu with Leonard out.
Portland has lost three in a row and his heading out of a four-game road trip that includes Memphis, San Antonio, and Houston.