Injuries have always hindered the New Orleans Pelicans in past seasons and this time, it’s Ryan Anderson with the injury this year, yet to play at all this season. The 25-year old forward still has no timetable for his return, as he has been sidelined after breaking his toe, just prior to the start of the regular season.
(NBA.com)
Pelicans head coach Monty Williams is very uncertain of his return.
"“It could be tomorrow, it could be a week.”"
Anderson said he recently had an X-ray that revealed the crack in the toe is still present and stated,
"“I’m taking it a bit easier. I was trying to go hard on it during rehabilitation. One day I tried to run up and down and played a bit of three-on-three in practice and it just started to really hurt a lot. I just needed to stop and take it a bit easier.”"
For Anderson’s career, he has averaged 16.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 0.4 blocks per game with a player efficiency rating of 18.17. Entering his second season with New Orleans, Anderson has always come off the bench for the team, contributing with his solid scoring ability. Last season with the Pelicans, he played in 81 games, starting 22 of them, averaging 30.9 minutes. He averaged 16.2 points, 1.2 assists and 6.4 rebounds. Once Anderson does eventually return, he will be expected to come off the bench as usual, and be a key piece to the team. Not only is he a spark off the bench in regards to his shooting and scoring, but he adds more depth, which is extremely important when the Pelicans face tough opponents.
Hopefully Anderson will make his return shortly, because if the Pelicans want to make the playoffs this season, they will desperately need him all season.