As if the Los Angeles Clippers struggles could not get any worse.
Point guard Patrick Beverley will miss the rest of this season after his right knee surgery. The procedure repaired a microfracture and meniscus tear in that right knee.
Patrick Beverley to Miss Remainder of Season
Clippers guard Patrick Beverley will miss the rest of the season, league sources tell ESPN. His surgery required a repair of a microfracture and meniscus injury to his right knee.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 22, 2017
His timetable for a return is approximately nine months, which is near the end of August 2018. His 2017-18 season is over, but how will this affect his 2018-19 season? With a 100 percent clear by October 1st, he would only have two weeks to prepare at full strength for the season. Granted, he may be able to practice before that point, but to what extent. The possibility of a setback or re-injuring the knee can also lead down a road many players have traveled down.
Beverley was traded from the Houston Rockets late in June in a deal involving numerous players to acquire former Clipper Chris Paul. His presence in Los Angeles had high expectations after shutting down Los Angeles Laker rookie Lonzo Ball. The absence of a veteran like Beverley is an addition to the growing list of concerns the Clippers organization has moving forward.
Adding to the Clippers Struggles
Beverley had missed five games recently due to soreness in that knee before making a comeback Monday night versus the New York Knicks. The Clippers have also been without guard Milos Teodosic, the European rookie, who has missed most of the season thus far. As of now, the backcourt consists of Austin Rivers, Lou Williams and Sindarius Thornwell.
Nobody in the NBA, sports media or fan viewership wants to see such a tenacious player off the court. Beverley provides a level of intensity and excitement on each possession. That level is hard to reproduce and the other players on the team have a massive hole to fill this season.
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