The Bernstein Brief: Injury-Riddled NBA Playoffs Are Unfortunate
By Dan Bernstein--
CBSChicago.com senior columnist
(CBS) It was Pau Gasol missing for the Bulls at a critical time against the Cavaliers, who themselves were without Kevin Love and then later Kyrie Irving.
Elsewhere, the Clippers' Chris Paul's bad hamstring had him dragging at times against the Rockets, Grizzlies guard Mike Conley needed surgery for a broken face and Wizards point guard John Wall was a shell of himself while playing with five fractures in his left hand, allowing the Hawks an easier trip to the conference finals.
It's Atlanta's turn now after DeMarre Carroll suffered what appeared to be a serious knee injury Wednesday night, removing the Hawks' primary individual defender of LeBron James. In the other series out west, Houston center Dwight Howard has a sprained knee and may not play Thursday night.
Debate causality all you want -- the length of the regular season, how the game is played or officiated, the role of dumb luck or some combination -- but it's just too bad that one of the most exciting times on the sports calendar has turned into a hospital drama.
Dan Bernstein is a co-host of 670 The Score's "Boers and Bernstein Show" in afternoon drive. Follow him on Twitter @dan_bernstein and read more of his columns here.