Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Green to miss at least two weeks with calf injury
The 76ers are going to be without guard Danny Green for a while.
“An MRI confirmed that Green suffered a right calf strain. He will be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks,” the team announced in a statement Saturday.
Green will miss the rest of the Eastern Conference semifinal series with the Atlanta Hawks, which resumes with Game 4 Monday night (7:30 p.m.) in Atlanta, with the Sixers holding a 2-1 series lead.
Green also is likely to miss the conference championship series, provided the Sixers get that far. The NBA Finals are slated to begin July 8.
The 33-year-old Green suffered the injury four minutes into Friday’s 127-111 victory in Game 3. He
left the game and did not return, and was spotted wearing a protective boot.
After the game Sixers coach Doc Rivers was not sure of the severity of the injury or low long Green would be sidelined but he did not sound optimistic for a quick return.
“I have no idea,” Rivers said. “It’s a calf injury. Just with my ‘doctor’s’ degree, I would tell you that calf injuries are not great.”
The 6-6 Green averaged 9.5 points and shot 40.5 percent from 3-point range in 69 regular-season games. Those numbers have fallen to 7.0 points and 37.8 percent in the playoffs. He is just 2-for-14 from 3-point land in his last three games and did not attempt a shot in Game 3. While his offensive numbers are down he has been part of a starting lineup with Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris and Seth Curry that is 32-6 overall, 27-5 in the regular season and 5-1 in the playoffs.
The question is who starts in Green’s place? Matisse Thybulle entered the game when Green went out and would be the likely replacement because of his defensive ability. Thybulle has started nine times this season, eight during the regular season and once in the playoffs. Thybulle, though, is not the greatest shooter, especially from 3-point range. While
he is averaging 5.5 points in the postseason, he is shooting just 30.4 percent from behind the arc.
Another option is Furkan Korkmaz, who made 11 starts in the regular season. While the 6-7 Korkmaz is not the greatest defender, he is a better shooter. He’s connected on 45.2 percent of his attempts overall and 37.5 percent from deep in the playoffs. In 27 minutes off the bench Friday, Korkmaz scored 14 points
on 4-for-8 shooting overall and 3-for-6 from 3-point range.
Whoever the choice, Rivers is confident the Sixers have the personnel to fill the void.
“We’ve done it all year,” he said. “The next guy just has to step up. I’m not sure who that is going to be yet. We’ll go back and watch film and decide who that will be.”