Injury Report: Days Off Helped Hawes’ Foot

Rowan Kavner

PLAYA VISTA, Calif. – No one benefitted from the long break as much as Spencer Hawes.

The Clippers’ four-day break between games has helped in the recovery of Hawes’ ailing foot, which has forced him to play fewer than 14 minutes each of his last two games.

The Clippers got the day off Tuesday and Wednesday before returning to practice Thursday and Friday. Hawes wanted to practice both days when the Clippers returned, but head coach Doc Rivers thought better of it Thursday.

Rivers said going off what head athletic trainer Jasen Powell told him Thursday night, Hawes was feeling “way better after three days of nothing,” but he might still keep Hawes out of practice Friday for precautionary reasons.

“We ended up pulling him out completely yesterday,” Rivers said. “I just decided, ‘Why let him do anything?’ I don’t know what that helps. I think we’re doing that again today.”

It’s been frustrating and tough for Hawes to have to lose minutes early in the year with a new team, but as much as he wants to practice and play, he knows he has to be diligent in his recovery. He said if he did get on the court Friday, he’s not sure how much he would do.

He also said it’s hard to know how the foot will respond to playing until you actually go through the routine. The foot doesn’t typically bother him just walking around, but it gives him trouble when he has to run and push off on his toes.

“I think the way it’s been described to me, you just kind of have to treat it as the symptoms say,” Hawes said. “Hopefully with the protocol that we’re going through it continues feeling better, which it has, and it doesn’t linger. With feet, that’s the kind of thing you worry about – getting where it feels better and doing something where it sets you back. I think we’ve been smart about it and hopefully continue to do so.”

Hawes doesn’t want it to get to the point where he has to miss games. He said if he thinks he can play, he wants to be on the floor.

Rivers said every player would like more playing time, but as a coach, he listens to what the trainers tell him. He said there’s been thought to sitting Hawes for games, but it hasn’t gotten to that point yet.

“I don’t know the right way on that stuff,” Rivers said. “I really don’t know. JP, we go back and forth on it to be honest. We don’t know the right answer, so I think we just have to kind of allow it to play its course and see what he can do.”

Hawes played 11 minutes and 50 seconds against the Trail Blazers and 13 minutes and 53 seconds against the Spurs. Despite the limited time, Hawes still went 4-of-6 from the floor against San Antonio with nine points.

He said he’s not sure if the time restriction will be adjusted at all, and it’s always frustrating feeling unable to help the team at full strength the way he’d like to.

“Every day I kind of come in and see if I can throw my boot away and try to lobby for the time limit to be a thing of the past,” Hawes said. “I’ll talk to Doc and talk to the trainers. Doc’s been great though. We’ve been on the same page about it. We’ll see where it goes from here.”

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