Chandler Parsons just cannot seem to get right.
The Dallas Mavericks swingman has struggled at points this season as he continues to work his way back from arthroscopic surgery. His minutes and appearances have been closely monitored, and his effective field-goal percentage is the lowest of his career. The Mavericks’ starting lineup has also fared better when subbing out Parsons for, wait for it, Raymond Felton, according to NBA.com.
Now Parsons’ up-and-down-mostly-down season is getting even more complicated. He was forced out of Dallas’ 117-116 victory over the Sacramento Kings with an injury that, at first, was shrouded in a bit of mystery, per the Dallas Morning News‘ Brad Townsend:
Chandler Parsons limping to locker room with trainer. Can't tell if it's leg or hip related or what.
— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) December 17, 2015
Afterward, though, Parsons confirmed it was his hip, not another knee injury, per Shehan Jeyarajah of the Dallas Morning News:
Chandler Parsons: "Hit my hip, kinda like a hip flexor. Tried to keep playing but it kept getting stiff. Bruised, for sure."
— Shehan Jeyarajah (@ShehanJeyarajah) January 6, 2016
A bruise isn’t a break or brain, so that’s good news.
Unless you’re a fan of the Mavericks’ performance without Parsons.
Then, of course, you have an incentive to hope that Dallas gets a chance to play protracted basketball without him.
But displaying gratitude for injuries is distasteful. Parsons has a player option and can become a free agent this summer, and he’s a big part of what the Mavericks plan to do, so it’s best if he’s healthy and on the floor and given adequate chance to regain the shooting stroke that prompted Dallas to heavily invest in him not two years ago.
