Tests Say McLeod's Heart Is Normal.
- From: sports@xxxxxxxx (Sports Fan)
- Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2006 17:12:20 -0600
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,635183983,00.html
Tests say McLeod's heart is normal
Monday, February 13, 2006
By Tim Buckley
Deseret Morning News
LOS ANGELES -- Rookie forward Ronny Turiaf underwent surgery last July to repair an enlarged aortic root and preserve his aortic valve but signed with the Los Angeles Lakers last month and made his NBA debut with a one-minute performance last Wednesday at Houston.
Minnesota shooting guard Fred Hoiberg had open-heart surgery last June, also to repair an enlarged aortic root. He reportedly is contemplating a possible return to the NBA sometime later this season.
Free agent Robert "Tractor" Traylor was going to sign with New Jersey last summer but failed his physical exam because of an enlarged aorta and wound up undergoing surgery as well.
Then there was Atlanta Hawks big man Jason Collier, good friend and former Georgia Tech schoolmate of Jazz forward Matt Harpring. Collier died last Oct. 15, at the age of 28, after experiencing a sudden heart rhythm disturbance caused by an abnormally enlarged heart.
It's with all that in mind, and mostly out of pure precaution, that Jazz starting guard Keith McLeod did not play Saturday at Houston and won't play tonight against the Lakers.
After complaining Saturday of what the team called "indigestion-like chest discomfort," McLeod was taken Saturday afternoon to a Houston hospital for a battery of cardio-related tests.
"With the strain of the league with heart problems and that type of thing," Jazz trainer Gary Briggs said, "even though it was just discomfort, more like an indigestion kind of thing, you want to get it checked."
An electrocardiogram (EKG) performed Saturday on McLeod was "normal," Briggs said.
McLeod traveled on the Jazz's Sunday charter flight from Houston to Los Angeles, but he then continued on to Salt Lake. That's because the team, exercising an abundance of caution, wants him to undergo additional examination in Utah.
McLeod is averaging 6.9 points per game but scored 13 in Friday's win at Minnesota and 17 in last Monday's victory over Chicago.
DECISIONS, DECISIONS: Rather than pair points Milt Palacio and Deron Williams in Utah's starting backcourt to make up for McLeod's absence Saturday -- an option he did consider -- Jazz coach Jerry Sloan went with Devin Brown at shooting guard and brought Williams off the bench behind Palacio.
Brown wound up with 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting, and Palacio made up for an 0-of-11 night at Minnesota by going 9-for-16 from the field and matching his career scoring high with 20 points.
"I thought he (Palacio) was trying to do everything he could," Sloan said. "He's not a great shooter. I think he knows that. But he pushed the ball and got on top of the basket about as hard as you can."
NICE KNACK: On Friday, the Jazz faced Minnesota All-Star Kevin Garnett. On Saturday, they saw Houston All-Stars Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming. Tonight, at the end of a three-game trip, they must deal with Lakers All-Star Kobe Bryant, who missed Utah's two wins over L.A. last month while serving a league-imposed disciplinary suspension.
The Jazz have no All-Stars of their own this season. But one from the past, Andrei Kirilenko, is drawing praise for his All-Star quality defense.
"He's so tall and long. He has a great knack for the ball," said McGrady, who had one of his jumpers Saturday blocked into the stands by Kirilenko. "His timing is so great that when you go up to shoot, he makes you change your shot....He's a tough guy to match up against."
Kirilenko made his only All-Star Game appearance in 2004 at L.A.
MISC.: The Lakers are listing would-be starting center Chris Mihm, who has missed the past three games with a sprained right shoulder, as "doubtful" for tonight. Multiple Southern California newspapers, however, reported Sunday that Mihm hopes to play tonight....Kwame Brown, starting for Mihm, tied his season-high with 18 points the Lakers' Saturday loss to Memphis....The Lakers also list starting forward Lamar Odom (sprained rib cartilage) as "probable."...Gordan Giricek (Achilles tendinitis), Robert Whaley (arthroscopic knee surgery) and Andre Owens (tibia stress fracture) all will not play tonight for Utah, as expected.
.
- Prev by Date: Re: Home Is No Help To Lakers.
- Next by Date: L.A. Has To Make Its Breaks.
- Previous by thread: Lakers Seeking Second Option.
- Next by thread: L.A. Has To Make Its Breaks.
- Index(es):
Relevant Pages
|
Loading
