But as it turns out, Howard is no more certain than Bynum was.
According to Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times, Howard not only battled back issues during the offseason, but D12 also had problems with his leg as a result of the injury:
"What a lot of people don't know is when I hurt my back, it affected my nerves to the point where my whole left leg just went dead basically," the Lakers center said Thursday. "I couldn't do a calf raise."
It's not a completely uncommon condition, because nerves run from the spine to the leg and a disk can impinge the whole root. But Howard needed about two months before he could lift his calf after undergoing back surgery in April.
The latest revelations about Bynum's knee (per Daily News' Bob Cooney) proves that the respective health of both centers is nowhere near a certainty:
JUST ABOUT a week into training camp and there seems to be two problems facing 76ers coach Doug Collins as he prepares his club for a season oozing with expectations.
The health of newly acquired Andrew Bynum is a serious concern, though the coach and the humongous center both said Monday that the ailing knee is improving.
The injuries that Howard and Bynum suffer are the last type of injuries a big man wants to suffer.
Howard's back is a concern because it is his back that will take a beating when posting up in the paint. The physical nature of Howard's style on both ends of the floor doesn't make it any easier to stay away from this type of injury.
On top of the injury itself, if Howard hurts his back again, he could potentially suffer the same leg problems, and that could keep him out even longer.
As for Bynum's knee, it i...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
