Jrue Holiday has done some shooting at the Pelicans’ practice facility in Metairie, but is waiting for word to progress to more strenuous physical activity, the point guard said after shootaround this morning in the Smoothie King Center. With less than three weeks remaining in the regular season, the UCLA product has not been cleared to join his teammates in a practice, due to a stress reaction in his lower right leg. He will not be able to play in a game for New Orleans (37-34) until he first practices.
“Whenever they tell me I can practice,” Holiday said of his awaiting clearance from team doctors to make that initial step toward a return to action. “It feels alright. I didn’t do much (in Metairie this week), but once I (work out) a little harder, we’ll see how it reacts.”
Holiday has not played since Jan. 12, when he was removed from the lineup at halftime due to the injury at Boston. He hoped to return to the court last month, but suffered a setback in his previous attempt to come back.
“I’m just trying to take it slow, don’t want to re-aggravate it,” Holiday said. “Obviously last time I tried to do a little bit more, it flared up on me.”
Holiday does not have a specific timetable, as the Pelicans enter their final 11 games of the 2014-15 season.
“I think the doctor kind of has a timetable, which they know about,” he said. “I don’t really know. I don’t ask questions, because I might try to test the waters a little bit too soon (if he hears encouraging signs). So I just do what they tell me.”