NBA Playoff Injury Update – Mutombo’s Career Ends

Injuries cause major concern not only for teams and fans, but for sports bettors as well. They represent an element of chance that even a good sports bettor has no control over. However, a savvy gambler knows that you have to react quickly, and that injuries can even present opportunities. In this NBA Playoff Injury update and the other one on Leon Powe’s injury, I’ll break down the effect that I expect the injuries to have on the Rockets and Celtics. Then I’ll let you know what lines are affected, and some bets that might now have unexpected added value.

Mutombo Out For Season – Career Over – Rockets Without A Backup Center

Before I get into anything about what this means for the Rockets and related NBA playoff betting action, I want to just take a moment to look back at Mutombo’s career and what he has meant to the NBA and a generation of its fans.

Mutombo went down in last game after an innocuous looking collision with Greg Oden while fighting for a rebound. Mutombo collapsed in extreme pain, and was tended to by trainers before being removed from the court by stretcher. He was officially diagnosed with a “knee sprain,” but the much more serious reality was evident to everyone watching live or on TV. One doctor who was in contact with the Rockets said it looked like a ruptured tendon. The significance was immediately clear to Mutombo, who made a statement after the game. “It’s over for me for my career … For me, basketball is over” said a clearly disappointed Mutombo.

Mutombo, a 7’2 defensive-minded center played 18 NBA seasons, he was the league’s oldest player at 42. He played for six NBA teams: Denver, Atlanta, Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York and Houston. In over 1000 career games he posted averages of 9.8 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocks. He most enduring legacy will definitely his signature finger wag, which would come out after many of his 3289 blocks (2nd best all time in the Association). Another enduring image will be Mutombo clutching the ball on the ground after his Denver Nuggets, the 8 seed, upset the top seeded Seattle Supersonics in the first round. Dikembe was also well known for his philanthropy off the court. His Dikembe Mutombo Foundation opened a hospital in his native Congo, along with many other projects.

It was a sad way to see an all-time NBA great end his career, but his legacy on and off the court will soon replace this difficult moment in our memories and his own.

At this point in his career, Mutombo was a bit-player for the Rockets, but he was still Yao’s primary backup. In game one he collected 9 rebounds in only 18 minutes of play. The Rockets will now have to go small with either Landry or maybe even Hayes playing center when Yao is on the bench. The Blazers’ two centers, Oden and Pryzbilla are not accomplished low post scorers, but expect to see a major impact of this injury on the rebounding totals.

Relevant NBA playoff betting lines at the BetOnline sportsbook:

Series Price:

Houston Rockets -700

Portland Trail Blazers +450

Game 5 Lines:

Portland Trail Blazers – Point spread: -5.5 -110 Moneyline: -250

Houston Rockets – Point spread +5.5 -110 Moneyline: +210

Pick: Portland Trail Blazers +450 To Win Series