Year of the quasi-healthy center

Hawks' Ratliff exemplifies many teams' plight

By John Hollinger, CNNSI.com

The Atlanta Hawks are playing a five-on-five scrimmage at the end of practice at Philips Arena. A quick pass to training camp invitee Paul Shirley results in an opening down the lane. Shirley goes up for a short flip, only to find Theo Ratliff’s hand materializing a foot above the rim, directly in the path of his shot.

Defensive stops like that are what Ratliff brings to the table -- when he’s healthy.

Aye, there's the rub. Ratliff played just three games last season, as a hip problem kept him in his civvies on the bench. The year before, he was on his way to an All-Star season in Philadelphia before a broken wrist ended his campaign after just 50 games. The 29-year-old center missed only 13 games during his first four years in the league, but over the past three, he's missed a staggering 136.

Center Stage Some other oft-injured big men whose teams are counting on a run of good health: Shaquille O'Neal, Lakers The best player in the game underwent offseason toe surgery and won't be ready to start the season. Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Cavs A force in the post when he's healthy, but a plague of broken feet has knocked him out of 155 games the past three years. Calvin Booth, Sonics The fly-swatter signed a 6-year, $34 million contract last offseason, but played in just 15 games due to ankle problems. Todd MacCulloch, 76ers He's got great hands and a soft touch, but he was beset by plantar fasciitis problems last year that are still giving him trouble. Arvydas Sabonis, Trail Blazers He's coming back after taking a year off, but a spate of knee and ankle injuries make him questionable on a nightly basis. Lorenzen Wright, Grizzlies A force on the boards, he played just 43 games last year and has missed at least five in each of his six NBA seasons. David Robinson, Spurs Heading into his final season, the Admiral has to hope his balky back won't give out like it did in last year's playoffs. And four who are already out: Hakeem Olajuwon, Raptors Back trouble forced him to retire; the official announcement will come Nov. 9. Marcus Camby, Nuggets He's out until at least January, but probably much longer, after his hip required additional surgery. Antonio McDyess, Knicks A broken kneecap will keep the Knicks' stellar big man on the sidelines all year. Alonzo Mourning, Heat He was forced to take the year off due to a setback in treating his kidney condition.

Ratliff isn't alone. There's a whole slew of NBA teams counting on injury-prone centers this year. The list begins on the west coast with Shaquille O'Neal and the world champion Lakers, and runs all the way back to Atlanta and Ratliff, with many stops in between (see table at right). In fact, just in the last six weeks, four different starting centers have been KO'd for the season by injuries.

Call it the year of the quasi-healthy center, if you will. But nobody is counting on their quasi-healthy big guy more than the Hawks are counting on Ratliff.

After struggling to a 33-49 record last season, the Hawks are so confident in their improvement that they have made a playoff guarantee, offering to refund $150 to season-ticket holders if the team falls short of the goal. They're taking the promise quite seriously: Call the Hawks' offices and you'll be informed you've reached the "playoff-bound Atlanta Hawks."

A defensive sieve last season, the Hawks are in such a boastful mood not only because an offseason trade for Glenn Robinson gives them another scorer, but also because of Ratliff's presence. He showed why during a preseason game Tuesday night, scoring 16 points and, more importantly, blocking six shots in just 24 minutes of action during Atlanta's 95-87 win over New Orleans.

For such a weak defensive club, his impact is obvious. "We know defensively that he’s got our back," said guard Jason Terry. "He looks great."

However, both Ratliff and his coach, Lon Kruger, are careful not to overdose on optimism. The nature of Ratliff's hip injury last year means it will be an ongoing concern.

"I’ll be 100 percent, but I’m not gonna be 100 percent of what I was as far as my health, because it’s a bone injury. It’s something that will constantly be there," said Ratliff. "I just have to make sure I take care of it, don’t overexert myself and know my limitations as far as what I can do out on the floor."

And while he's looking good now, the Hawks know it's an ongoing battle. "He’s worked awfully hard at the rehab, but that will be an ongoing thing for the rest of his career," said Kruger.

Still, the Hawks are glad he's back among the healthy and know they can make good on their playoff guarantee if Ratliff stays off the injured list. As for Ratliff, he wasn't able to take advantage of his one All-Star selection two years ago because a broken wrist knocked him out of the game. Does he have thoughts of coming back and playing for the Eastern squad in front of the home fans in Atlanta?

"If God is willing," Ratliff says.

And there are a number of NBA teams with injury-prone centers saying the same thing this year.

 

Related information

Multimedia

Visit Video Plus for the latest audio and video