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[h1]
Good stuff
If Henry can have an Arthur like return for us, it'll automatically make us a more dangerous team.
[/h1][h1]Grizzlies guard Xavier Henry getting healthy[/h1][h2]Grizzlies hope last year's draft choice proves as valuable as missed first-round pick[/h2]
- By Ronald Tillery
- Memphis Commercial Appeal
- Posted June 26, 2011 at midnight
Photo by Nikki Boertman // Buy this photo
Grizzlies guard Xavier Henry played only 38 games in his rookie season before knee soreness ended his season. But the Grizzlies are hopeful that after rehabbing his way through the problem, his upside may be as valuable this season as a first-round draft choice would have been.
Countless analysts graded the NBA draft and credited the Grizzlies with getting a steal with their late second-round pick.
Yet Kansas combo guard Josh Selby isn't the only player receiving high marks in FedExForum these days. Coming off an injury-plagued rookie season, Xavier Henry has created a buzz that's provided the franchise with as much optimism as the draft.
Henry, the 12th-overall pick in 2010, had been severely limited by right knee soreness since early March and couldn't contribute to the Grizzlies' historic playoff run.
But Henry's condition dramatically improved over the past month. The 6-6 shooting guard is on pace to play a significant role in the Grizzlies' backcourt rotation.
"He is, in a sense, our first-round pick," Griz general manager Chris Wallace said, suggesting that Henry's return would mean the franchise will add more than just the 49th pick next season.
Henry has routinely worked out in FedExForum, going through a month-long recovery plan prescribed by doctors who initially advised him to undergo surgery. Henry now is pain free.
He has progressed from riding a stationary bike to running in the pool to straight-line jogging on a treadmill to performing basketball exercises on the court.
Henry's daily routine now includes defensive slides, running, shooting and drills that test his lateral movement.
"I'm feeling more explosive than I was and I'm shooting it well," Henry said. "I'm really getting back into it."
At least two different doctors, including a specialist in New York, told Henry to have surgery.
He refused.
Henry wanted to test his knee before undergoing any surgical procedures and the 20-year-old's intuition proved correct. Henry took the court, jogged around and shot baskets.
He told the doctors he felt no ill effects.
"They just went off the basis that it wasn't getting any better," Henry said. "And that wasn't the truth because I hadn't been able to test it out to see if it had gotten any better. So I was able to tell them that it did progress some."
Henry said he completed the prescribed rehabilitation program last week but he won't play five-on-five for another two weeks. Although he is not expected to play in the Bluff City Classic, Henry said he'll continue rehabbing between Los Angeles and Oklahoma City if there is an NBA work stoppage.
"I'll give it a couple more weeks before I start going live with other players," Henry said. "I want to make sure I'm 100 percent back."
Henry played in only 38 games for the Griz last season. He shot 40 percent overall and 11.8 percent from 3-point range. Still, the coaching staff envisions Henry as a remedy for their outside shooting woes. That's why he was a lottery selection and eventually started 16 games last year.
"Just like Darrell (Arthur) was our first-round pick that came back to help us, Xavier can do the same," Griz coach Lionel Hollins said. "When a guy misses as much time as those two guys missed, they eventually bring something you haven't had before. Xavier has worked extremely hard. He's in the gym getting better and he's healthy. I feel good about it."
Hollins pointed out that Henry and Rudy Gay's recovery were reasons why the Griz were content to stand pat during the draft. Gay, lost in February to a season-ending shoulder injury, is on schedule for a complete recovery as the team's most skilled all-around player.
The organization still looks at Henry as having great upside.
"He can really help us when he comes back," Wallace said. "But we can't sit here and say we know we're getting 'X' amount of contribution. He's a wild card. If he's healthy and playing it means we're deeper and more versatile overall."
Henry said Memphis never really got to see his game.
"The injury kind of took away from the (rookie) experience," he said. "But I'm ready to get back in shape and start playing again. ... My family did a good job of keeping me level-headed. I just kept having faith that everything happens for a reason. I'll be back. I'll be back better and stronger."
Good stuff
If Henry can have an Arthur like return for us, it'll automatically make us a more dangerous team.
