DeMarre Carroll’s injury isn’t as bad as it originally seemed. Carroll’s knee has no structural damage which many feared because it was a non-contact injury. This is great news for the Atlanta Hawks.
MRI reveals no ligament or structural damage to Hawks’ DeMarre Carroll’s knee. He is listed as questionable. (via ESPN & multiple reports)
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 21, 2015
Carroll is listed ad day-to-day and questionable to play in Game 2. This is the major reason why DeMarre Carroll is crucial in this series.
ATL can’t afford to lose DeMarre Carroll for much time. He’s the only Hawks player who’s been able to limit LeBron. pic.twitter.com/hJ0TxV25P7
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 21, 2015
Either Kyle Korver, Paul Millsap, or Kent Bazemore will need to cover LeBron James if Carroll is out of the lineup. Carroll has been the best defensive player on the Hawks all season and the best offensive player since the playoffs started. Carroll averaged 16.2 points per game and has been the best and most consistent scorer on the Hawks throughout the playoffs. Kent Basemore, Kyle Korver, and Dennis Schreoder will need to step up offensively. Each of them struggled in Game 1 scoring 10, 9, and 6 respectively. They all need to score in double figures.
The Atlanta Hawks will wait until tomorrow to see how Carroll’s knee is feeling. Having so structural damage is the best possible news the Hawks could hear. The Hawks need to win a game in Atlanta before the series moves to Cleveland. We are hopeful Carroll will be ready for Game 2. The Hawks are praying for a second morning of good news.