Carlos Boozer and the 10 Most Anticipated NBA Players Returning From Injuries
When a pivotal and important player (like Carlos Boozer of the Chicago Bulls) gets injured it is never a good sign of things to come.
The fans and the players wait in anticipation for the player to return so that their victories will increase and for some, they will be given more rest.
Well, let us look at those for whom we have waited and those for whom we still wait.
10. Udonis Haslem
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Yes, I know he is out until April and that he has only recently got injured, but can you deny his importance?
He is an emotional leader and rebounder who the Heat need desperately. While they have been able to put together five wins in a row, down the road they will long for the high energy rebound-grabbing machine that is Udonis Haslem.
I realize this might be a bit of a stretch, but so was the idea of the Miami Thrice.
9. Yao Ming
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Why am I putting the seemingly always injured Yao Ming this low? Well, just for that reason.
Many are waiting for Yao to come back and return to his old form. However, with his history, he could easily be out as soon as he enters the league.
I would hope that's not the case, but Houston fans hope every year, and it does not work out too often.
8. Gilbert Arenas
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Did you all know this was coming? Don't deny it!
Well, it is hard to believe a whole year has passed since the now infamous gun scandal headed by former All-Star Gilbert Arenas.
While he lost a lot of fan support, the fact still remains that he makes the Wizards a much better unit and many Wizards fans were counting down the days for his return so that maybe they will see the Hibachi of old.
Well, he is back. While his play has been somewhat inconsistent, he does not look as bad as some might have predicted, and he is still a scoring threat in this league.
7. Blake Griffin
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This guy is a beast!
Oh, and it just so happens that Griffin missed his first year in the league due to an injury.
He looks to be cruising to the Rookie of the Year award many predicted was going to be his last year.
While there is still a lot of season left to play and his style is known to cause injury, he will still finish this season off barring a fluke.
6. Carlos Boozer
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Here is the namesake of my article.
Heading into the season, many thought Chicago would be one of the top teams in the league, but then Carlos Boozer went down with an injury.
Luckily it was not very serious, and he is now back in action.
In fact, not too long ago he finished a great 29-12 game against the Thunder, and looks to be making a nice recovery.
Hopefully for the Bulls, this will continue. Now we finally get a glimpse of what this team is capable of and whether or not our expectations will be met.
5. Joe Johnson
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Yes, even one of the most overpaid players of our era managed to get on this slideshow.
While many fans around the league are not very fond of Joe Cool after this summer, there is no denying that he remains one of the top shooting guards in the league when playing his best.
Hawks fans will soon be begging for his return when they realize how much of their offense truly revolves around him.
I am sure he wants to come back as well in order to silence the critics who were not very happy about his new contract.
4. Robin Lopez
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How could I not put him on here? My Suns side can only get hidden for so long before it is unleashed on some poor, unsuspecting article.
Well, no matter what you think of Lope, I assure you everyone in Arizona is waiting for this guy to come back.
Currently the Suns' best rebounder is Channing Frye, who is averaging just above five RPG.
Wow, talk about embarrassing.
Our defense also ranks dead last in the league, so God knows we need some presence in the paint.
Lopez showed some flashes of brilliance last year and hopefully he will only grow in Phoenix. I would love to see him become a consistent, solid starter.
3. Every Single Injured Player on the Timberwolves
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I am not kidding.
The Wolves have four players injured, with two making a comeback soon.
Nonetheless, they need every one of those players back. I don't care if the waterboy goes down with the flu; he needs to get healthy!
Or, maybe not...
I would love to be signed by them (how much worse can they be?).
2. Michael Redd
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Oh, hey there Michael Redd!
You're still around? Wow, I would love to get paid to wear expensive suits and sit and watch games. Actually scratch that; we are talking about Milwaukee here.
Well, at this point, I don't even know what I can say about him. He was a great player when he was healthy and then the injury bug caught on.
Oh, and by the way Mike, Tracy McGrady called and he says you stole his gimmick! Any idea what he was talking about there?
1. Andrew Bynum
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Man, looks like Christmas just came early for me! On this slide I get to take shots at a Laker player. Thank you Santa! Just what I wanted!
What can I say about Mr. Andrew Bynum? Well, he has an annual "sit on the bench in a suit" playoff series, but most of you probably know that.
Well, on a serious note, the Lakers do need him back in order to lock up the middle and take some minutes off Gasol, as well as allowing Odom to return to the bench unit.
Hopefully for Laker fans, he comes back strong and plays well.
Only time will tell if this injury streak will end.
Please comment and share your thoughts!
