Dunleavy's Return Delayed a Month

[PR07]

Pacers forward Mike Dunleavy's return from knee surgery has been delayed one month because of a ligament strain.

The club had expressed optimism that Dunleavy could be ready for the team's Oct. 28 season opener, but an MRI revealed a "Grade 2 strain" of a ligament behind Dunleavy's knee that likely will keep him off the court more than a month.

Asked when Dunleavy will practice, O'Brien told Pacers.com, "not in October."

"It's different from the standpoint he has a grade two strain on the back of his ligament that could only show up in an MRI," O'Brien said, "and it's going to take some time for that to heal before he can get out on the basketball court."

The Head signing looks pretty smart now.

[bravesatl]

so what the depth chart to start the season:

ford/watson/diener/price
rush/head
granger/jones
murphy/hansbrough/mcroberts
hibbert/foster/jones

not bad, not great, low playoff team probably if we can stay healthy...

[Dunthreevy]

I still think we have a good chance of being a .500 team by the time Mike comes back. Our schedule in the first month isn't exactly the toughest in the league. We should be able to at least stay afloat until his return.

[Miller4ever]

I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Start of the season seemed too good to be true. Either way, I'd rather him get as healed as possible before playing.

[Gremz]

Tbh, it's what I expected. While I was enamored with talks of him returning before the season began, something did make me think it would take a little bit longer.

[DougInOz]

Healthy Dun in Nov-Dec > Rushed back Dun going down again on Nov-Dec.

The original thought was supposedly January anyway, so November is still a bonus.