Roy uncertain he'll play against Lakers (with video)
TUALATIN, Ore. — Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy said he is still feeling pain due to his strained right hamstring. As a result, Roy is uncertain whether he will be healthy enough to play tonight against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Rose Garden.
Asked to give an official update about his status, Roy said he was “questionable.”
“It’s frustrating to me,” said Roy, following a Friday morning workout at the team’s practice facility. “Trust me: It’s very frustrating, especially being in this (playoff) race.”
Roy, who leads the Blazers in average points (23.1) and ranks second in assists (5.0), practiced with the team and ran hard through three-on-three drills. But he still felt pain from a hamstring that has forced him to miss 11 of Portland’s last 12 games.
“We don’t want to say for sure I’m playing (tonight),” Roy said. “There’s a chance I’ll play. But there’s also a chance that I’ll wake up and it’s a little sore. So, we’re just going to keep it open.”
Roy stated that he did not feel his hamstring pull while running. But there were moments of tightness when he was trying to “explode,” which let him know that he is not yet 100 percent.
Roy said that if he does not take the court during the Blazers’ three games prior to the 2010 NBA All-Star break — scheduled Feb. 12-14 in Arlington, Tex. — he will not play in the All-Star game. Roy was selected last week as a Western Conference reserve.
The three-time All-Star underwent a platelet-rich plasma infusion Jan. 22. The state-of-the-art medical procedure injected Roy’s blood directly into his injured hamstring, in the attempt to serve as a catalyst for healing while shortening rehabilitation time.
At the time, the Blazers announced Roy would likely be out at least a week and miss five games.
However, he has been forced to sit out nine games since the infusion.
“I’m surprised that I personally haven’t healed as fast,” Roy said.
Roy first aggravated his hamstring Jan. 13 during a victory over Milwaukee. He then sat out two games before playing Jan. 20 versus Philadelphia. But Roy tweaked his hamstring against the 76ers, and has not played
since.
The Blazers are 7-6 since Roy originally aggravated his hamstring during a 120-108 victory over the Bucks — a game in which he sat out the entire fourth quarter as a precautionary measure.
Portland coach Nate McMillan acknowledged that the team will have to consider whether Roy should sit out the All-Star game if his injury does not show signs of healing.
“We’ll see where we are,” McMillan said. “I think if he doesn’t play (tonight) or doesn’t play next week, yeah, you have to talk about that.”
But McMillan added that the Blazers have yet to confront the situation, mainly because they are focusing on Roy’s health in regards to tonight’s contest against the Lakers.
Notes
Blazers guard Jerryd Bayless (left quadriceps bruise) did not practice Friday. Bayless is listed as questionable for tonight’s game. … Portland center Greg Oden, who is recovering from season-ending knee surgery, shot free throws following practice. … Blazers center Joel Przybilla, also recovering from season-ending knee surgery, walked around for the first time without crutches or a leg brace.
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