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2011 NBA Playoffs: Did the Indiana Pacers Risk Tyler Hansbrough's Health?

Kelly ScalettaApr 16, 2011

In Game One of the NBA Playoff series between the Chicago Bulls and the Indiana Pacers, Tyler Hansbrough took an elbow to the head and then his head appeared to hit the knee of his teammate as he was going down. 

Hansbrough stayed on the ground for a couple of minutes and after getting up and heading for the dressing room he had to stop halfway and sit down as he appeared to lose his legs from under him. 

After some "testing" he was returned to the game. Playing in the game he showed no ill side effects and played well. 

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However, he also was out for seven months with some vertigo issues, possibly related to inner concussion. Now granted it's possible it had nothing to do with a concussion then either, but it was initially diagnosed as one. 

With the array of new  issues regarding concussions and the long-term effects of them it's questionable whether the Pacers should have returned a player with a previous history.

Clearly Hansbrough wanted to return, but whether he should have or not shouldn't have been up to him. I don't mean to suggest that the Pacers forced him into the game. I do think if this were a football game he would not have been allowed to return by league rules though. 

I just have to ask, given the nature of the injury and the history, and what I imagine would a lack of the adequate equipment in the locker room to adequately surmise the situation whether the Pacers should  be questioned for possibly putting winning ahead of their players health.  

For a complete recap  of Game One click here:  2011 NBA Playoffs: Chicago Bulls Come Back to Beat Indiana Pacers 104-99

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