Candace Parker

[swok34]

I have several thoughts and questions on just Parker.

I thought she looked terrible last night, not at all like herself. But a 50% Parker is better than many 100% players.

After playing last night, will the injury take it's toll and tomorrow night's game be even that more difficult? Is is legal for a player to receive a cortisone shot? Would it even help for a dislocated shoulder?

The announcers made a comment at one point, "why isn't Parker in the game?" "you have to have your best player in the game"......

and my thought was:

just yank both her arms off?
:rolleyes:

How does this injury affect her for the WNBA and even more so, how would it affect her game in the Olympics?

[CowgirlsFreak]

I think tomorrow nights game is going to be another tough one for her. She also hurt her right shoulder in the game last night. :( And as far as the future goes, I would guess it would depend on what doctors say. If it can be helped and prevented in the future with rehab then I think she will be fine for the olympics and WNBA. If it is going to require surgery, then she would probably miss the olympics and rehab and get ready for the WNBA.

[wwi_flying_ace_17]

I haven't been following it very much, but I hope that she isn't risking any permanent structural or ligament damage. I know she is competitive, but I would like to think she wouldn't put her future at risk by continuing to play.

[MsProudSooner]

They mentioned last night that she had been having problems with both shoulders and seemed to reinjure the right one (not the one she injured in OKC) during the game.

If she needs surgery, she could well miss the WNBA season and the Olympics.

[BearLady]

After seeing her during the game last night, I thought the shoulder injury was bothering her more than perhaps I had expected. Seems she just couldn't get back to her normal shooting form. Maybe the different type of brace had something to do with it. I believe the reason why she wore the long sleeve t was to cover up the brace entirely so that no one could see and then possibly further speculate on the condition of her shoulder.

That being said, I give her high marks for hanging tough and making the play when it was most needed. She had many clutch rebounds throughout the game. I especially liked the fact that she gave credit to her teammates for the team being able to pull out a victory.

I didn't realize that she had hurt her right shoulder earlier in the year, until the play during last night's game when she clutched at it. So both shoulders may be in need of further medical attention. I'll speculate that she may well be less than at top condition than Tennessee cares to admit for tomorrow night's game. But she won't let it stop her from trying.

As for the future, I think she'll try to give it a go for the Olympics. After that, then maybe she'll opt for surgery if that would help stabilize and strengthen her shoulder(s). I also think the Sparks will still take her as #1, even if she doesn't get to play at all this year.

[Dale8R]

As to questioning why she wasn't in the game, put it down as just another clueless announcer making a clueless pronouncement.

[swok34]

Tennessee forward Candace Parker was named winner of the 2008 Naismith Trophy on Monday.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncw/news/story?id=3334239

[tx4OU]

Congrats to Parker......she's a very outstanding athlete.

[CowgirlsFreak]

Way to go Candace! Congratulations on a great season and Career!

[jcarter]

I think the shoulder did bother her some
but she's tough rember she hurt her knee and played the next game
I think she be better in this Stanford game