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Sims: Breaking Down Tyson Chandler And The Knicks' Injury Woes

By Abby Sims
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On Wednesday, Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire added Tyson Chandler to their knee support group. Three of the team's highest-paid players have knees that are not providing an adequate return on investment. Iman Shumpert is a 2012-13 alum who serves on the group's advisory board, while Rasheed Wallace, sidelined because of his foot long before he succumbed to surgery, undoubtedly offers his guidance. The table is full, and the court is not.

Chandler, the latest to fall, was reported to have a contusion from a second-quarter collision that sent him sprawling. Who knows if it is actually just a contusion or if there is also a mild sprain. The story is remarkably similar to that from last October. Only this go-round, there won't be an MRI -- at least for now.

It seems that the Knicks often take awhile to decide on a diagnosis, or at least release information so we know what it may be. They repeatedly seem to err on the side of conservative management (reasonable in some cases), only to resort to surgery later, prolonging total recovery time (see Wallace).

Or, they delay minor procedures, like draining the fluid from Anthony's knee, though that becomes the eventual course of action. Playing him on Wednesday night when he obviously wasn't able to handle being out there was a curiosity. What was the point -- to see if it would get even worse? And wqhat is the underlying cause of the fluid that is plaguing him? It seems probable that there is some underlying pathology -- synovitis, a Bakers cyst, a meniscal tear or possibly even patellofemoral issues. It won't be a surprise if he has arthroscopic surgery at season's end.

Though it is said that Chandler may even play on Thursday night against Portland, that seems unlikely and, in light of recent history, unwise.

Yes, they need his points, but at what cost and how effective is he going to be?

How concerned are you about Chandler going forward, Knicks fans? Sound off with your thoughts and comments below...

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