Danilo Gallinari to the Celtics

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He obviously thinks he can buck the odds and get back. I'm pretty skeptical, but it looks like he is going to give it a real try.
He was out the whole next season last time he injured his ACL, and he was 10 years younger. I can imagine the opportunity to join this particular Celtics team could be strong motivation, but it’s not like guys who make it to the NBA aren’t generally pretty self-motivated already.
 

Smokey Joe

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He obviously thinks he can buck the odds and get back. I'm pretty skeptical, but it looks like he is going to give it a real try.
He has done this before. On his first acl injury, his repair was Jan 27th and he was an opening day starter for the Nuggets the next season.
 

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He has done this before. On his first acl injury, his repair was Jan 27th and he was an opening day starter for the Nuggets the next season.
Am I missing something?

60145

I mean, I kinda hope so, to be honest.
 

Smokey Joe

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He was out the whole next season last time he injured his ACL, and he was 10 years younger. I can imagine the opportunity to join this particular Celtics team could be strong motivation, but it’s not like guys who make it to the NBA aren’t generally pretty self-motivated already.
They did a meniscus repair and rehab for months prior to the real acl surgery. The 8 years younger does not mean that much in terms of actual ability to heal (at least age 26 vs. 34, if you are talking about age 16 vs. 24 it’s a big deal) and the fact that he did it before and came back is huge in terms knowing what to expect and confidence.
 

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They did a meniscus repair and rehab for months prior to the real acl surgery. The 8 years younger does not mean that much in terms of actual ability to heal (at least age 26 vs. 34, if you are talking about age 16 vs. 24 it’s a big deal) and the fact that he did it before and came back is huge in terms knowing what to expect and confidence.
I am so delighted to have been mistaken! Thank you.
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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Am I missing something?

View attachment 60145

I mean, I kinda hope so, to be honest.
Just to add some details to what SJW said, DG injured his knee in early April 2013. He underwent his 1st surgery in the same month but it was to repair the meniscus, not the ACL. From what I am seeing. I think the thinking was that ACL + meniscus surgery in April would have basically cost DG the season so they hoped the ACL would respond with the repair of the meniscus, rest, and rehab. It did not so in January 2014, they did the ACL so DG woyld be back for the next season.

https://www.si.com/nba/2014/01/21/danilo-gallinari-knee-surgery-denver-nuggets
 

Smokey Joe

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Joe Ingles just returned last month after 299 days. Which was a super quick return in today's game.

299 days puts Gallinari at July 18th
Gallinari played 15 minutes in a preseason game on October 13th, 2014, 265 days after his ACL repair on January 21st, 2014 (I misremembered January 27th). 265 days after September 22, 2022 is Wednesday June 14th, 2023.
 
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Smokey Joe

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This was in The Athletic last week.

An ACL (anterior cruciate ligament – the main ligament through the centre of the knee which keeps the joint stable) injury used to be viewed as the dreaded curse for footballers, as a return to the game was not always guaranteed.
Advancements in technology mean it is not the career death knell it once was, but there is still a 10 per cent re-injury rate and some players still don’t get back to the level they were at before.
Recovery time was around a minimum of nine months to get back to playing, but former Aberdeen and Dundee United defender Mark Reynolds’ return was reduced to just four-and-a-half months courtesy of Mackay’s IB repair in 2018, while now-Rangers winger Scott Wright was fully recovered in the same timeframe after an ACL tear playing for Aberdeen the following year.

https://theathletic.com/4076512/2023/01/11/gordon-mackay-internal-brace/

The guy who did Gallinari's knee was Dr. Anthony Schena. Dr. Schena did all of his training in MA and I doubt that he has done anything with IB, but you never know.
 

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This was in The Athletic last week.

An ACL (anterior cruciate ligament – the main ligament through the centre of the knee which keeps the joint stable) injury used to be viewed as the dreaded curse for footballers, as a return to the game was not always guaranteed.
Advancements in technology mean it is not the career death knell it once was, but there is still a 10 per cent re-injury rate and some players still don’t get back to the level they were at before.
Recovery time was around a minimum of nine months to get back to playing, but former Aberdeen and Dundee United defender Mark Reynolds’ return was reduced to just four-and-a-half months courtesy of Mackay’s IB repair in 2018, while now-Rangers winger Scott Wright was fully recovered in the same timeframe after an ACL tear playing for Aberdeen the following year.

https://theathletic.com/4076512/2023/01/11/gordon-mackay-internal-brace/

The guy who did Gallinari's knee was Dr. Anthony Schena. Dr. Schena did all of his training in MA and I doubt that he has done anything with IB, but you never know.
“IB”?
 

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Video of him taking shots and running on a treadmill are all well and good, but the movements associated with playing on the defensive end would, I expect, put much more strain on the knee. I'd love to seem him come back after the all-star break, but that seems unlikely; and if he comes back later, there's very little opportunity to get back into the flow.
 

chilidawg

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I just can't picture a less than fully mobile Gallinari being playable defensively in the playoffs. His D was suspect to begin with, working back from ACL I can't imagine it being even that level.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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Its great if he can make it back but its hard to see the Celtics assuming anything other than him being lost for the year. This team is built for one purpose and they will likely look for a Gallinari replacement/Hauser upgrade in the next few weeks.

Whether they can get someone is another story altogether.
 

The Mort Report

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At this point in his career I don’t think playing in the tournament he got hurt in was smart, but I have this weird rooting interest in him to return and hit a big, important 3. I feel like he’s been on the bench every game, home or away. How often does a guy that hasn’t played a minute with a new team done that?
 

the moops

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At this point in his career I don’t think playing in the tournament he got hurt in was smart
I think at this point in his career it makes even more sense. He wants to play for his country. His NBA career is winding down. I think any dude who wants to play for their country should. Injuries happen. It could have happened in practice.

Giannis is playing for Greece. Clarkson is playing for the Philippines. Zubac, Bogdanovic, and Saric. for Croatia. Gobert for France. Markkanen for Finland. Porzingis for Latvia. Doncic for Slovenia. SGA and Olynyk for Canada.

I think it's great
 

128

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At this point in his career I don’t think playing in the tournament he got hurt in was smart, but I have this weird rooting interest in him to return and hit a big, important 3. I feel like he’s been on the bench every game, home or away. How often does a guy that hasn’t played a minute with a new team done that?
I know it's a bottom-line business, and if dealing Gallo improves the C's chances of winning it all this year, they should do it. But I'm struck by how much he loves being part of this organization, and I'm hoping for a storybook comeback.
 

The Mort Report

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I think at this point in his career it makes even more sense. He wants to play for his country. His NBA career is winding down. I think any dude who wants to play for their country should. Injuries happen. It could have happened in practice.

Giannis is playing for Greece. Clarkson is playing for the Philippines. Zubac, Bogdanovic, and Saric. for Croatia. Gobert for France. Markkanen for Finland. Porzingis for Latvia. Doncic for Slovenia. SGA and Olynyk for Canada.

I think it's great
I get it, but a dude like Gallo has never won a title, and he joined a team that's a favorite. All those guys have years prove otherwise or already have won. Plus, for most of those national teams he'd still probably be good enough for a year or 3 after he retires from the NBA to make the team. I'd also imagine winning an NBA title trumps any of those tournaments. I get you don't plan on an injury, but staring at what might be his last, best chance at the title I think taking that tournament off would have been smarter.

And yeah, @128 I'm definitely all for trading him if it helps the team even if him somehow impacting the team in the playoffs seems like such a cool story
 

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Nobody imagines him working his way back and playing in the playoffs and bricking that clutch three in the finals, tho.
 

HomeRunBaker

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I get it, but a dude like Gallo has never won a title, and he joined a team that's a favorite. All those guys have years prove otherwise or already have won. Plus, for most of those national teams he'd still probably be good enough for a year or 3 after he retires from the NBA to make the team. I'd also imagine winning an NBA title trumps any of those tournaments. I get you don't plan on an injury, but staring at what might be his last, best chance at the title I think taking that tournament off would have been smarter.
When a player comes to camp out of shape we complain. When a player injures himself staying in shape in the offseason we complain. Can’t have it both ways.

Basketball players play basketball. It’s what they do. If Gallo wasn’t playing EuroBasket last summer he’d be training and playing pickup ball in a less controlled environment where there would also be risk of injury and if he got hurt doing this then people would complain about that as well. Shit happens.
 

lovegtm

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Danny Green is currently playing 5-on-5, 8 months after tearing his ACL and LCL. Gallo did surgery in September, so his dream/aggressive return date is probably around mid to late May.

If he's not traded, and the Celtics are still in it, I think he'll give it a try. He could probably get in enough cardio shape to be useable, and the main issues would be lack of chemistry with the team, and risk of further injury.

If a bet were phrased as "if the Celtics play to the end of May, and Danilo Gallinari is still on the team, will he play NBA minutes?", I'd take the positive side of that one. Doesn't mean I think he'll be particularly useful in that state.
 

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Danny Green is currently playing 5-on-5, 8 months after tearing his ACL and LCL. Gallo did surgery in September, so his dream/aggressive return date is probably around mid to late May.

If he's not traded, and the Celtics are still in it, I think he'll give it a try. He could probably get in enough cardio shape to be useable, and the main issues would be lack of chemistry with the team, and risk of further injury.

If a bet were phrased as "if the Celtics play to the end of May, and Danilo Gallinari is still on the team, will he play NBA minutes?", I'd take the positive side of that one. Doesn't mean I think he'll be particularly useful in that state.
I think that a 6'10" spot up shooter could be useful. I guess we'll see how easy it is to abuse him on defense, which is where he would already have been a bit of a liability.

By DARKO, he's been a negative player on defense for like 500 games now and was trending down before the injury. But he's another tool in the toolbox. It wouldn't be the strangest thing in the world to see him turn around a fourth quarter in the right situation by burying a few threes. PJ Brown's biggest game in the 08 playoffs was 10 points, but those baskets mattered too.
 

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I think that a 6'10" spot up shooter could be useful. I guess we'll see how easy it is to abuse him on defense, which is where he would already have been a bit of a liability.

By DARKO, he's been a negative player on defense for like 500 games now and was trending down before the injury. But he's another tool in the toolbox. It wouldn't be the strangest thing in the world to see him turn around a fourth quarter in the right situation by burying a few threes. PJ Brown's biggest game in the 08 playoffs was 10 points, but those baskets mattered too.
The interesting question is what he'll offer us at this juncture that Grant/Hauser don't. I imagine it would be quite hard to work him into the playoff rotation, given (1) how his matador defense would probably put them in perpetual rotation and (2) that the team is already so deep, but that doesn't mean the team won't try.

There's no doubt he has a much better ability to get his shot off and to score at different levels than either of them, but there's also no doubt in my mind that he'll give most of it back on defense. For shot creation he would be useful in those minutes where Jaylen is on the floor and Tatum isn't... on the other hand, Brogdon already offers a great deal of that to this team. The Celtics are already one of the best offenses in the league. I'm not sure Gallinari offers them much other than depth in the playoffs, and it would be questionable depth, given that he would probably be playing himself into game shape.

Still and all, I laud the guy for being a competitor and wanting to get back in time for the playoffs. It would have been a lot of fun to watch him out there this year.
 

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The interesting question is what he'll offer us at this juncture that Grant/Hauser don't. I imagine it would be quite hard to work him into the playoff rotation, given (1) how his matador defense would probably put them in perpetual rotation and (2) that the team is already so deep, but that doesn't mean the team won't try.

There's no doubt he has a much better ability to get his shot off and to score at different levels than either of them, but there's also no doubt in my mind that he'll give most of it back on defense. For shot creation he would be useful in those minutes where Jaylen is on the floor and Tatum isn't... on the other hand, Brogdon already offers a great deal of that to this team. The Celtics are already one of the best offenses in the league. I'm not sure Gallinari offers them much other than depth in the playoffs, and it would be questionable depth, given that he would probably be playing himself into game shape.

Still and all, I laud the guy for being a competitor and wanting to get back in time for the playoffs. It would have been a lot of fun to watch him out there this year.
I don't think that he offers them anything that they don't already have. But I think that he gives them a taller and more experienced version of Hauser. And agreed that he gives back more on defense than Hauser does, but you can't coach height. It's not "holy fuck, we got Gallo back". It's just another depth piece. I thought that the PJ comp wasn't great but along those lines. Experienced body, can do some shit, doesn't need the ball, happy to help, also weaknesses.
 

Fishy1

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I don't think that he offers them anything that they don't already have. But I think that he gives them a taller and more experienced version of Hauser. And agreed that he gives back more on defense than Hauser does, but you can't coach height. It's not "holy fuck, we got Gallo back". It's just another depth piece. I thought that the PJ comp wasn't great but along those lines. Experienced body, can do some shit, doesn't need the ball, happy to help, also weaknesses.
Totally agree. Just thinking out loud about what it would be like to have him back. I think it's depth they need, though, at a position of need.
 

tbrown_01923

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if he can get his timing back, it seems an easy place to integrate him would be ATO plays at the end of quarters. He should have at least as much gravity as grant, but with more ease to get his shot off on a close out... they wouldn't draw up plays for him, but he might be a better outlet in those circumstances.

I agree I don't expect a lot from him this year. But would have been nice to have him spell the 6 minute scoring droughts
 

Koufax

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Reviving an old thread because on the way into work chat radio was speculating that he would be in the playoffs. Is there a non-zero chance of that?
 

lovegtm

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I could see him getting garbage time as a feel-good thing. Hard to see how he'd bump Hauser, given the fact that Danilo hasn't played at all.
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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Euclis20

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I think it would take both multiple injuries and Hauser going ice-cold to get Galinari on the floor during the playoffs in non-blowout situations, and obviously only if he's healthy enough to play. The team doesn't think it's impossible (was the point of him being listed on the injury report all year just so that he could remain on the active roster for the playoffs?), but it ain't happening.
 

PedroKsBambino

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It's not impossible he's usable by June; he can't be in game-shape yet even if the knee is fine. But 8-10 minutes from him late playoffs could be useful, even if I'm not betting on it at all
 

lovegtm

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Zero problem having him available as a designated shooter, but agree hard to see a role.more that that
The problem there is that the Celtics already have a tall designated shooter, and he has a working knee and a season of playtime under his belt.
 

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Not sure that super rusty and likely washed Galinari offers anything more than Muscala. I doubt he sniffs the floor even if he’s medically cleared.
 

the moops

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I also think there is no chance we see Gallinari but he is more than just a shooter which makes him more playable than Muscala and to an extent Hauser.
 

benhogan

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I also think there is no chance we see Gallinari but he is more than just a shooter which makes him more playable than Muscala and to an extent Hauser.
There is no world where Gallinari returns to being a passable defender for this team.

not next week, not next month, not next year
 

the moops

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There is no world where Gallinari returns to being a passable defender for this team.

not next week, not next month, not next year
Agree. Muscala is horrific on defense though and he has seen some run. Gallinari is more than a pure shooter on offense, is all I was getting at
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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Agree. Muscala is horrific on defense though and he has seen some run. Gallinari is more than a pure shooter on offense, is all I was getting at
Agreed a healthy Gallo > Muscala.

There's a reason that the Thunder let MM go for a song and its the same reason he gets paid so little. He has skills but they are very limited. Gallo is a much better overall player and when healthy is *credible* on defense.
 

TripleOT

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If Boston’s team defense can make Hauser and acceptable defender, it certainly can with a healthy Gallinari. He’s sturdy enough to body up backup centers, who would get destroyed trying to guard Gallo.

If he was healthy this season, a second unit of Gallo, Hauser, Grant, White, and Brogdon would have been the best three point shooting bench unit ever.

If he can get health and dress for the Finals, I’d take him over Muscala for sure
 

lars10

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There is no world where Gallinari returns to being a passable defender for this team.

not next week, not next month, not next year
What is this based on? ACL surgery has become pretty amazing over the years.. is there a reason his knee wouldn’t be almost back to normal again after rehabbing it for a year?
 

the moops

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What is this based on? ACL surgery has become pretty amazing over the years.. is there a reason his knee wouldn’t be almost back to normal again after rehabbing it for a year?
I think it is just that he has been a negative defender his entire career so we shouldn't expect him to become a good one just because of scheme
 

benhogan

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What is this based on? ACL surgery has become pretty amazing over the years.. is there a reason his knee wouldn’t be almost back to normal again after rehabbing it for a year?
I'm pessimistic about DG being able to help the Celtics because:
1. He was a bad defender beforehand
2. Odds are a 34yr old + 2nd ACL surgery to the same knee +1 season off = worse, potentially much worse defender
3. The Celtics have a half dozen other players that shoot 38% & better from 3 (White, Brogdon, Horford, Grant, Hauser, Muscala)
4. Their most high volume 3pt shooters: Tatum, Brown, & Smart will still be taking tons of 3s

The signing was fine at the time BUT the one thing DG may be able to bring, 3pt shooting, isn't a need of this team.

The Celtics rolling the dice on Gallinari in the 2023 playoffs would be malpractice. I also don't see him as a small-ball Center.

IMO he is a waste of salary/roster space next season since Hauser is a better spot-up shooter & defender. If he re-ups this summer, I hope/expect they will move DG/PP+++ for a back-up, springy, defense first Center.
 

HomeRunBaker

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What is this based on? ACL surgery has become pretty amazing over the years.. is there a reason his knee wouldn’t be almost back to normal again after rehabbing it for a year?
My position would be its based on Gallo playing his preseason games against playoff level intensity more than being a borderline passable defender prior to injury. Not a good recipe at all. The next time I see Gallo I want it to be at Hellenic College or wherever it is we having training camp in the fall.