With the NBA being just a few games into the 2017-2018 regular season, many of the teams in the NBA are already being affected by key injuries in their starting lineups. Simply look across the NBA rosters and you will see many of the all-stars have either missed games or are currently nursing major injuries. A few of these injuries will absolutely affect the outcome of this year’s playoff picture and we are only a few games in.
Hayward Fractured Tibia
You didn’t have to be watching the Boston Celtics opening-night to know that there was a major injury that will affect the rest of their season. Social media blew up on Tuesday night as Gordon Hayward suffered a gruesome ankle injury on national TV. Hayward’s dislocated and fractured left tibia was set back in place while Hayward laid on the court.
The injury occurred on Tuesday night as the Celtics took on the Cleveland Cavaliers. Kyrie Irving threw up an alley oop to Hayward when Lebron James went up to contest the dunk. James and Hayward met in the air and when Hayward landed the injury occurred. The Boston Celtics confirmed on Wednesday that he will need surgery to repair the injury and Dr. David J Chao stated that there is a slim chance that Hayward could return late in the season.
Jeremy Lin Ruptured Patella Tendon
If you are a Brooklyn Nets fan, you have also been affected this week major injury. On Wednesday night Brooklyn Nets guard Jeremy Lin sustained a ruptured patella tendon in his right knee that will force him to miss the rest of the 2017-2018 regular-season. The 8 year veteran of the NBA could be visibly seen saying, “I’m Done” and crying in tears after sustaining the injury on the court.
Lin was the lone bright spot for the Net’s this year and now will be hard to convince Brooklyn fans that the Net’s have any chance of competing in the conference. Unlike Hayward, Lin has no chance to return this year and that leaves the Brooklyn Nets searching for a replacement. The nets only have about $3.4 million and practical salary-cap room but can apply for that to be increased to $6 million by January 15.
CP3 Bruised Knee
For Houston fans, the anticipation coming into the season was filled with mixed reviews as everyone question whether CP3 and the beard could coexist on the court together. That decision still remains in limbo as Chris Paul will miss at least the next 3 weeks with a bruised left knee. Of all the injuries, Houston will be affected the least. The Rockets will do fine with James Harden running the offense.
Odds Shift Due To Injuries
With these major injuries around the league, it has caused a shift in the odds at most of our top sportsbooks on who will win the 2017-2018 NBA Championship Finals. The Golden State Warriors have benefited the most with the recent injuries. The Warriors opened up at +100 what this week dropped to -165 with the recent string of injuries.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have also seen a sudden plunge in their odds as they opened up at +5000 and have now dropped to +1600 at Bovada with the recent injuries.
One of the odds that shifted, that really doesn’t have any explanation is the fact that the Houston Rockets, even with the injury to CP3, have gone from +2500 to +1000 to win 2017-2018 NBA Championship Finals. Part of the reason that their odds may have dropped is due to the fact that Chris Paul only miss approximately 15 games if he misses an entire month of play. The Rockets are 2-0 right now in a very young season.
It Remains to be seen how these injuries play out and how far the odds will be affected. There is a lot of basketball left be played as we have only began the 2017- 2018 NBA season.
