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Post by John on Dec 18, 2006 10:25:46 GMT -4
From the AP...
New Orleans guard Peja Stojakovic had a disc fragment removed from his lower back Sunday, a move the Hornets hope will help speed the three-time All-Star's return to the lineup.
The Hornets, who also announced that forward David West will have surgery on a bothersome right elbow, provided no timetable for Stojakovic's return. He has missed nine games already, with what initially was diagnosed as back spasms.
West has missed 15 games since straining his right forearm Nov. 10 against Portland, and New Orleans also has been without top reserve Bobby Jackson with a cracked rib.
"We will evaluate Peja and David once they have recovered from their surgeries before we make a determination on their status," Hornets general manager Jeff Bower said. "Although our team has been slowed by injuries as of late, we don't want to rush their returns to the detriment of their health."
Stojakovic was averaging 17.8 points and shooting 41 percent from 3-point range as the Hornets jumped out to a strong start. He had a career-high 42 points in a win against Charlotte and hit the game-winning 3-pointer in a victory at Minnesota.
West, the team's top scorer last season, averaged 17.4 points and 8.3 rebounds in New Orleans' first seven games.
The Hornets started the season 8-3, but have lost nine of their last 11 as injuries have piled up.
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Post by John on Dec 19, 2006 10:53:17 GMT -4
From the news services at ESPN...
Hornets coach Byron Scott told reporters Monday that Peja Stojakovic will miss a large portion of the season after undergoing major back surgery Sunday.
The rest of the Hornets weren't sounding too optimistic about the team's biggest offseason free agent acquisition, either.
"That's a tough surgery dealing with your back,'' said backup point guard Bobby Jackson, who is expected to return to action in a week or so after missing the past seven games with a cracked left rib. "Can he [Stojakovic] be the same player, 'Yes.' But it's not going to be over the amount of time that we want it to be. It won't be this season, so that's probably going to be the frustrating thing for him and this team. But you have to take the bad with the good. We've got to step up as players."
The Hornets will also have to deal with the loss of starting forward David West, who will undergo arthroscopic surgery to remove inflammation in the joint membrane in his right elbow Wednesday.
West could be sidelined anywhere from two to eight weeks.
"Once they clean it out, my elbow will be fine," said West, who signed a five-year, $43 million contract extension in October. "Then it will be just a matter of how soon I heal. I was trying to avoid surgery, hoping that the medication and stuff would work. But this way now, I know exactly my elbow will be healed and I won't have to worry about it anymore."
With both Stojakovic and West out, the Hornets have lost eight of 10 games.
Stojakovic was averaging 17.8 points and shooting 41 percent from 3-point range as the Hornets jumped out to a strong start. He had a career-high 42 points in a win against Charlotte and hit the game-winning 3-pointer in a victory at Minnesota.
West, the team's top scorer last season, averaged 17.4 points and 8.3 rebounds in New Orleans' first seven games.
The Hornets started the season 8-3, but have lost nine of their last 11 as injuries have piled up.
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Post by John on Dec 22, 2006 8:30:29 GMT -4
From the New Orleans Times Picayune... 2-8 week timeframe? Are they sure the surgery was a success?
West had successful arthroscopic surgery performed on his right elbow Wednesday morning in Oklahoma City, Hornets officials said.
West had synovitis, the inflammation of the joint membrane, and his recovery time is expected to be two to eight weeks.
"They've got to send it (surgical results) in and see what the cause was, but other than that, they said the surgery went well," Scott said.
West's injury occurred Nov. 10 at the Portland Trail Blazers, but West could not remember if he got hit on his elbow. Despite playing two days later against the Los Angeles Clippers, West could not extend his middle and pinky fingers on his right hand when the Hornets returned from the road trip. He had to be fitted with a special cast to help extend both fingers.
"I actually talked to him last night (Tuesday), and he was ready for the surgery," Paul said. "They say it's going to take him two to eight weeks."
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