MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – John Wall hopes to test his broken left hand and wrist by trying to dribble a basketball.
“You have to be able to dribble,” the Wizards’ All-Star guard said Friday. “It’s basically taping my hand behind my back and saying dribble with one hand. It’s not happening in this league. It’s just something I have to deal with. It’s frustrating. It’s tough.”
Injuries continue to have a major impact on the conference semifinals with Washington replacing Memphis as the team waiting to see if its point guard can or should try to play with broken bones.
Sure, Mike Conley played eight days after surgery to repair broken bones in his left cheek, but the Grizzlies’ guard missed three games until swelling eased enough in his face to wear a mask. Even the Clippers’ Chris Paul took off a couple games to rest his strained left hamstring.
Memphis was able to close out Portland without Conley, and he returned in time to help the Grizzlies split with the Warriors in the first two games in the Western Conference semifinals. The Clippers split both games Paul sat out in Houston, giving him time to rest up for Game 3.