NBA Update: Toronto Raptors' Linas Kleiza to miss the rest of the season
Toronto Raptors’ 26 year old forward Linas Kleiza underwent a arthroscopic surgery to repair a mensical tear and chondral defect of his right knee on Tuesday night. The procedure was carried out in two different parts, the first
one to repair his mensical tear and the second to fix Chondral defect in his knee.
The procedure has rendered him on the sidelines for the rest of the season. The young Lithuanian had already missed the last seven games with Raptors. Their team management announced that he will not be able to play till the next
12 months. Both surgeries were performed by the Colorado’s Dr. Richard Steadman.
His teammate Andrea Bargnani said, “Personally, I just feel bad because he’s a friend of mine. Out nine to (12) months is terrible. It’s really bad”.
At the start of the season 2010-2011, Kleiza performed at an average pace. With 39 games under his belt, and he started only 23 averaging 11.2 points, 4.5 rebounds per game. He scored 20 points in six games and notched up a season
high 26 points in December against his former tem the Denver Nuggets. He is playing his fourth season in NBA and signed an $18.8-million - four years contract with Toronto Raptors in July.
Kleiza was part of the Denver Nuggets team from 2005 to 2009, upon the culmination of which, they did not offer him a handsome contract. Kleiza joined Olympiakos club in Greece and became the top scorer in European league.
Kleiza’s surgery has further depleted the Raps squad, who are already without the services of Reggie Evans, Leandro Barbosa and Andrea Bargnani. Raptors couch Jay Triano commented on kleiza’s injury, “I think Kleiza being out;
he's an excellent rebounding 3 man. Put all those together, you end up having your numbers drop significantly."
Although Kleiza’s replacement is tough but Sonny Weems present a feasible option. Whoever, the replacement is the Toronto franchise has to quickly sort out a way to end their season’s worst losing streak. They will be hosting Minnesota
Timberwolves tomorrow night to evade the 14th consecutive loss.
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