Breaking injury report: Tony Parker, LaMarcus Aldridge, Rudy Gay out Dec. 3
San Antonio has added Tony Parker, LaMarcus Aldridge and Rudy Gay to the list of players who won’t suit up versus OKC Thunder on Sunday, December 3.
It won’t be the first time Gregg Popovich has taken a different view to the rest of the league regarding resting players. Yet, news Tony Parker, LaMarcus Aldridge and Rudy Gay would not participate in this evenings game is surprising.
The trio join Kawhi Leonard who has yet to suit up this season for the Spurs. The small forward has been dealing with quad tendinopathy. His return date is still a mystery as Rob Wolkenbrod confirmed in the TIP3 column today. Some sites are suggesting Leonard will return in two to three weeks time, but Popovich has been elusive. While others are suggesting Leonard’s return could be imminent.
Kawhi Leonard pregame pic.twitter.com/cn2oh4pS5B
— Brady Trantham (@BradyDoesSports) December 3, 2017
Parker has just recently returned from his own quad injury and is listed as injury management as the reason he won’t play.
Rudy Gay has been nursing a sore heel, so his absence is understandable.
For #Spurs vs #Thunder tonight...no Aldridge, Parker or Gay. pic.twitter.com/BrvzzbbMDP
— Jabari Young (@JabariJYoung) December 3, 2017
The shocking addition is LaMarcus Aldridge also being held out for rest. Gregg Popovich will likely have the players on the bench to avoid a massive fine from the League office. Then again, Pops is the guy who first understood limiting players minutes throughout the season led to healthier stars in April, when it matters.
Several injury report sites confirm the news:
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The one player addition may be Derrick White who has been out healing from a wrist fracture. White has been upgraded to probable.
Still, this is rather shocking news for the OKC Thunder. The trick will be not to fall into the trap game where the team plays down to the talent on the court. Coming off the clutch time victory over the T-Wolves this game was viewed as an opportunity for the Thunder to continue the momentum and conquer another Western upper tier team.
With Leonard, Parker, Aldridge and Gay all out, the OKC Thunder must use this as ammunition. The trio of Parker, Leonard and Gay are understandable. But, for Aldridge to be sat on the same night it should be seen as a message the Spurs are looking at the Thunder like a bottom tier squad.
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Do I believe that’s the case? Not really — the truth is, if the trio of players are going to miss the game anyway, it kind of makes sense to also rest Aldridge and bring the trio back for the next game.
But, in sports motivation is key so if I”m Billy Donovan that’s my message to the squad.
Further more with news now trickling in Kawhi Leonard is closer (though the video above doesn’t show him jumping) it sure would make more sense why Pops is is resting the trio with him. San Antonio play at home tomorrow versus the Pistons, so perhaps he’s planning on having Kawhi make his debut at home and wants everyone rested to send the NBA a message.