Latest news with #Achilles
San Francisco Chronicle
16 hours ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Warriors face challenges with aging roster against younger West powers
The NBA must have a secret burial ground for hints. They come in waves this time of year, all about shortening the season, relaxing the postseason scheduling and prioritizing the players' health. It all sounds so smart and overdue, only to learn that every suggestion gets buried under the same pile of greed. Consequence for the Golden State Warriors: Good luck holding out hope for an NBA title next season. Nothing's going to change as the majority of owners hoard every last penny and the buttoned-up players' union balks at a widespread salary reduction. Consider how much relief it would bring to Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green if there were no more back-to-backs, a schedule trimmed to 58 games (home-and-home against every team), and at least two off-days for playoff travel. (It was just a single day for the weary and banged-up Warriors for Games 5 and 7 of the first round in Houston, and again before they were eliminated in Game 5 at Minnesota.) Nothing says those decorated stars can't last a full regular season, then find a second gear for the playoffs. But would you bet on that, when you examine what oppressive fatigue has done to the NBA elite? Butler and Curry were forced to miss playoff time when it mattered most, and two of the past four seasons found Green playing just 46 and 55 games. Here's your starting five for the ruptured Achilles, among the worst of all injuries: Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton, Damian Lillard (all three lost for the coming season), Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson. Right behind them: Kyrie Irving, out indefinitely in the wake of knee surgery, and Joel Embiid, whose knees always turn to sawdust around playoff time. The list may yet include Luka Doncic, who has a long history of calf injuries, and those can be a prelude to Achilles disaster. Two certainties emerge from the swirl of opinions in the medical community: The Achilles tendon is under constant tension, rendering it vulnerable from overuse, and proper rest is essential to recovery from all lower-body ailments. Armed with that knowledge, the NBA talks a good game but does nothing — so let's move on. In the wake of the draft, and developments through Friday evening, these are the scariest Western Conference teams from the Warriors' standpoint: Oklahoma City: By all measures, from the eye test to the analytics, the Thunder should repeat. They won the conference by 16 games, they're the youngest team (averaging a bit over 24) to win a title since Bill Walton's Portland Trail Blazers in 1977, they have the MVP (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander), they play stifling defense without mercy, they have avoided all luxury-tax restrictions (thus free to keep the entire roster intact), they have four first-round draft picks over the next two years, and they are selfless to the core, invariably gathering as a fun-loving group when one of them gets interviewed on television. This is a team that not only survived Chet Holmgren's fractured hip, losing the elite center for 50 games, but made a look-to-the-future selection in Thursday's first round: Georgetown's 6-foot-10 Thomas Sorber, a master of hand-eye coordination and highly capable as a lob-threat dunker, rebounder, passer and shot blocker. Add Isaiah Hartenstein, and this team has it covered around the paint. Houston: It's easy to say 'same old vagabond' about Durant, about to join his fifth NBA team, but things could be very different with the Rockets. For the first time, he will unquestionably be the go-to scorer at all times. He has deep respect through a longtime relationship with coach Ime Udoka, and for heaven's sake, he's Kevin Durant — still one of the greatest shooters of all time. As the Warriors learned in the playoffs, the Rockets were a bit too young and didn't have a clear option for that crucial shot. Now they add Durant to fast-rising rising center Alperen Sangun, rugged backup Steven Adams, heady guard Fred VanVleet, ever-improving forward Jabari Smith and Amen Thompson, said to have a future as the best two-way player in the league. The Warriors most likely believe this Phoenix trade was a steal. Dillon Brooks brings a lot of confidence and energy, but as the playoffs conclude, he's just a guy who talks too much. Jalen Green should be among the league's best players, but he looked painfully young against Golden State (just 48 points total over the last five games) and stamped himself as a clown when he was asked about Draymond Green after Game 3. 'Just talking,' said Jalen. 'He can't really do much of anything else, so talking is his only way.' San Antonio: On his path to taking over the league — that seems to be the consensus opinion — Victor Wembanyama faced a major setback in late February when a blood clot was diagnosed in his right shoulder, forcing him out for the season. As he grinds through the stages of recovery, all seems well — and whenever (if) he returns to full strength, the Spurs will be can't-miss theater. In the crowd of envious teams, the Warriors can only dream of a 7-foot-3 center destined to be a dominant force in every phase of the game. Once painfully limited in the backcourt, San Antonio picked up Chris Paul last season, traded for clutch-time ace De'Aaron Fox and watched the electric Stephon Castle win Rookie of the Year. Now they've added No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper, who needs work only on his shot, and another first-round pick in 6-foot-7 wing Carter Bryant, who came off the bench at Arizona but showed huge potential with his defense and 3-point range. Scouts say both are high-character guys, and it all adds up to this: The Spurs are coming. In a hurry. Dallas: If the Mavericks get the timing just right — Irving's midseason return to good health (he recently signed up for three more years) and Cooper Flagg instantly cashing in on his mind-blowing potential — they could be a force at playoff time with Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson and frontcourt mainstays Dereck Lively, P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford. One thing we know about Flagg: With his high-powered endurance, all-around brilliance and a competitive nature that frowns upon complainers, he's the anti-Doncic. We'll discover soon enough what that actually means. Sleepers: The Lakers, if new owner Mark Walter spends as freely as he does with the Dodgers. (This proud franchise has been a bit too thrifty in recent off-seasons.) And Denver, if Nikola Jokic is fully invested in the franchise. He's expected to reject a three-year contract extension in the coming weeks, and he couldn't have been thrilled when Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke took the podium last week. Asked about avoiding the dreaded 'aprons' of the NBA's salary-cap restrictions, Kroenke said, 'The wrong person gets injured and very quickly you're into a scenario that I never want to have to contemplate — and that's trading No. 15 (Jokic). So we're very conscious of that.' Whoa. Perhaps the Nuggets should let others do the talking. Bruce Jenkins writes the 3-Dot Lounge for the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: jenksurf@ Twitter: @Bruce_Jenkins1
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Armagh GAA star reveals Aussie Rules-inspired fitness hack to avoid injury hell as he admits ‘there were dark days'
ROCKING some imported footwear from Australia, Oisín O'Neill is hoping to help Armagh put the boot into another pretender to their All-Ireland throne this weekend. For O'Neill, ankle reconstruction in 2019 was just the beginning of an injury-plagued period that left him fearing for his career. Advertisement 2 Oisin O'Neill with the All-Ireland trophy Credit: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile 2 Oisin O'Neill missed games against Dublin and Galway due to a calf problem Credit: Ben McShane/Sportsfile He went under the knife again as consecutive Achilles injuries saw him miss most of the 2022 season and the entirety of 2023. When O'Neill excelled in a January 2024 win over jersey in 21 months. The season culminated in the ultimate glory for the Crossmaglen Rangers ace, who played a vital role in the last quarter of the All-Ireland final. Having been introduced in place of Rory Grugan, his fingerprints were all over Armagh's final two scores as the Orchard prevailed to Advertisement Read More on GAA O'Neill's sublime pass set up Niall Grimley to give Kieran McGeeney's men a badly needed boost that ended their 15-minute dry spell. With five minutes of normal time remaining, he then landed a brilliant — and ultimately decisive — score in his side's one-point win over O'Neill was back at He said: 'They're serious injuries to come back from. When you get days like we got here last year, it's all worth it. But I'd be lying if I didn't say there were dark days in there. Advertisement Most read in GAA Football 'That's why last year I was so grateful just to be back and to be able to contribute in some part to the squad. 'I'm very grateful that Kieran and all the management team in Armagh showed a lot of faith in me, because probably for a while no one knew if I was going to get back.' 'So much integrity' - RTE viewers hail Stephen Cluxton for 'principled stand' Dublin GAA icon took during Parnells saga Used as an impact sub throughout last season, O'Neill featured off the bench in every game of Armagh's triumphant campaign. When he was given the nod for this year's Championship start in four years. Advertisement He retained his place for the provincial decider, kicking 0-7 in the Nevertheless, O'Neill admits that there were lingering doubts about his chances of returning to this level of the game when luck seemed to abandon him on the injury front. The business studies teacher said: 'That rehab process can be difficult at times. It's not a linear, straight line. You have setbacks and niggles and maybe you don't know what the end result is going to be. 'But maybe something that Kieran has put in probably every player in that Armagh squad as a whole is that perseverance. Advertisement 'We don't like to quit or we don't like to cry about what we can't have, so you just try and push on as best you can and hope that those better days will come. 'I'm just delighted to be part of the group. It's a great time for Armagh football . Seeing the joy and the buzz, especially in the young people in Armagh, even in school , at St Colman's College in Newry where I teach, there's a bit of craic with Armagh and the Down lads as well. 'But the Armagh boys have one up at the minute.' KEEPING CAUTIOUS A calf injury sustained in last month's All-Ireland group-stage win over the games against Advertisement The 28-year-old said: 'I actually wear Asics football boots from Australia that a lot of the Aussie Rules players wear, just to give an extra little bit of support to my Achilles. 'They reckon they're the best boots for Achilles. 'It's something that hasn't bothered me since the second operation in 'Once I got back on the pitch that summer , I've been lucky enough with the Achilles and I'm happy with how they are. Advertisement 'Anyone who I see is in O'Neill's long-range kicking ability is evidenced by the six two-pointers he kicked while racking up 0-16 in three games in this year's Ulster Championship. Like his brother Rian, he is well equipped to avail of the bonus points now on offer. The new rules have 'definitely improved the game as a spectacle', O'Neill insists. But he also notes that the physical toll has significantly increased. Advertisement He said: 'I think probably players need a little bit more breathing room through the Championship. It's incredibly demanding on players, especially those in the middle eight who maybe don't get the opportunity to stay in the three-up. 'The players would notice that it's much more intense. I think the biggest example of it was extra-time in the Ulster final, where it was a really warm day in Clones and I think nearly every player on the pitch was down with cramp. 'Maybe that's something that the BOUNCING BACK Another failed attempt to win a first Anglo-Celt Cup since 2008 notwithstanding, the manner of Armagh's response was emphatic. Advertisement Despite again being placed in the so-called Group of Death, their place in the last eight was booked with a game to spare. In a rematch of the thrilling 2024 semi-final, Still, O'Neill explained that their status as Sam Maguire holders did not cushion the blow of a third Ulster final loss on the spin. He said: 'It definitely wasn't easier. The only thing is unfortunately we're used to it now at this stage. 'We've bounced back really well. That was a Saturday evening and we all gathered on the Sunday evening, had a bite to eat and said that we were going to go fully after the group stage. Advertisement 'I think that first game against Derry was crucial for us. 'We knew we were at home and we knew there'd be a big crowd there to support us. 'In those first ten, 15 minutes, I think you could tell that we had got the Ulster final out of our system really well and that we were pushing really hard. 'That comes from the competition in our squad. Every night you go to training, you know that you're under pressure to perform or else you might lose your spot in the 15 or in the 26 on a match day. Advertisement 'No player wants that, so we're very lucky that we have that squad that can keep standards high and drive the thing on.'
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Adam Silver confirms bombshell AI plan to tackle soaring Achilles injuries in NBA
Adam Silver confirms bombshell AI plan to tackle soaring Achilles injuries in NBA (Image Source: Getty Images) Something new is unfolding in the NBA this season. Comments from the league office hint at a fresh approach to a worrying trend. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said there have been too many Achilles injuries lately. Because of that, the league is trying something new. Instead of just doing more check-ups, they're now using AI to help spot injury risks early. But what does that really mean for players? And how will AI make a difference? NBA introduces AI tracking after rise in Achilles tears NBA boss Adam Silver spoke to the media and talked about a serious rise in Achilles injuries. And he revealed that to help stop these injuries, the NBA is now using AI technology. The AI looks at how players move, how much they train, and how they rest. It spots warning signs early. This helps teams give players more rest before they get hurt. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ColorsTV (@colorstv) Silver said too many players have had these injuries lately. One big name is Tyrese Haliburton from the Indiana Pacers. The league believes AI can find risks faster than humans. It can give alerts for each player, so teams can act in time. How AI, players and teams will use this to prevent serious injury The new AI platform gathers data from multiple sources. It tracks wearable sensor readings, performance stats during games, and medical imaging like MRIs. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Live Comfortably: 60m2 prefabricated bungalow for the elderly in El Mouradia Pre Fabricated Homes | Search Ads Search Now Undo Teams upload this data into a machine learning model developed with Stanford University researchers, though the researchers' names were not mentioned. AI then flags early warning signs. For example, if a player's ankle motion changes or recovery time slows, teams get alerted. This can happen days or weeks before a tear might occur. Coaches and trainers receive a dashboard with colored risk levels and can tailor practice workloads accordingly. Many coaches and general managers have welcomed the move. San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said, 'If this keeps our best players healthy, I'm all in.' Adam Silver confirms bombshell AI plan to tackle soaring Achilles injuries in NBA (Image Source: Instagram) Now, with AI in place, the hope is these injuries can be caught before they sideline a star player or end a career. Also Read: Tyrese Haliburton's injury during Game 7 of the NBA Finals broke his father John Haliburton's heart Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Ben Roethlisberger believes Steelers will get a better version of Aaron Rodgers in 2025
Ben Roethlisberger retired in 2022 and the Pittsburgh Steelers are still trying to replace him. Next up on the list is Aaron Rodgers, a Super Bowl champion and four-time NFL MVP. The Steelers signed the quarterback to a one-year deal earlier this offseason, for what appears to be one final ride. The four-time NFL MVP revealed that the upcoming season is likely to be his last, indicating he will retire following a 21-year career. It comes on the heels of two seasons with the New York Jets, but Roethlisberger said he thinks this year will be a better one for Rodgers – since he won't be worried about the Achilles injury this time around. "I think you'll get a better Aaron this year," Roethlisberger said on the "Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger" podcast on June 25. "Just because the thought process of the Achilles, 'what can I do, what can I not do?' I don't think he'll think about it at all." The former Steeler suggested that fans will flock to the stadium each week in an attempt to see greatness one last time, adding that we'll see what Rodgers has left in the tank. Rodgers will have the chance to take on the NFC North in his final year – the division he played in for 18 seasons. While the Green Bay Packers will travel to Pittsburgh, he will have the opportunity to play a game at Soldier Field in Chicago against the Bears. Rodgers has famously suggested he owns the team, as evidenced by his 25-5 record against the Packers' rivals. However, Roethlisberger believes Bears fans will have a mixed reaction. "I think he comes in, at the beginning of the game, it's boos," Roethlisberger said. "At the end of the game, win, lose or draw, I think there's respect shown. Should be, that's the way it should be for a player like that. You can hate him, and I'll say sports hate him, all you want, but you still gotta respect what he's done and his legacy." It's been a rocky past two seasons for Rodgers, who battled injuries and regression. Regardless, the hope from Pittsburgh is that he will be an upgrade for a team that has been built to win right now in recent years – outside of the quarterback spot. The Steelers have gone through three seasons since Roethlisberger's retirement, starting five quarterbacks during that time: Kenny Pickett, Mitchell Trubisky, Mason Rudolph, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Roethlisberger said he also knew that it would be his final season in 2022, adding that his goal was to make every week special. Rodgers won't have the same experience as the former Steelers legend since Pittsburgh is his third team; however, winning has a way of fixing things. With a return to form, perhaps the Steelers can make some noise in 2025. And that could be the best swan song of all.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Dr Tom Naylor's tips for Tendonitis
Here's everything you need to know about managing your Tendonitis:Tendonitis is when a tendon swells (becomes inflamed) after an injury. It can cause joint pain and stiffness, and affect how a tendon may hear medical professionals refer to tendon issues as 'Tendinopathy', and that includes the early painful inflammatory stages known as Tendonitis, but also the later, niggling, annoying pains that are more difficult to are four places where we see it most often: the Elbow, Achilles, knees, and elbow - excessive strain and repetition in wrist extensor tendons, causes irritating and often quite debilitating pain around the lateral side of the elbow (think a "back-hand" movement).Golfer's elbow - the same, but on the opposite side of the elbow, from strain in wrist flexor tendonsAchilles tendonitis - from pushing off and lunging. Very common movement in padel, also common to get from runningPatellar tendonitis - from squatting, jumping and lunging external is a link to some more information on treating Tendonitis. Here, external is a link to some stretches to help manage Achilles Tendinopathy. Here, external is a link to some stretches to help with Tennis Elbow.
