Ryan Rollins was just starting to find his footing with the Milwaukee Bucks before he took a hard fall and left the game for good against the Toronto Raptors.
Following his 12-point, five-steal effort in that victory, Rollins told reporters, "It's not really a serious injury, so I'll be back next game anyways." Well, since then, Rollins has missed consecutive contests, and he's slated to miss his third straight when the Bucks host the Houston Rockets on Monday night with what the team is calling "left shoulder instability."
It appears the initial injury diagnosis from Ryan Rollins was a tad too optimistic.
Ryan Rollins was and can still be a key piece for the Milwaukee Bucks
Injuries are always unfortunate, but it is especially cruel in this case because Rollins was just starting to find his stride with the Bucks before this injury. As alluded to earlier, he was in the midst of his best game of the season before that fall vs. Toronto, a game he started in for the injured Damian Lillard. He was becoming a key piece, and this absence has thrown a (hopefully temporary) wrench in that.
Rollins will be a key piece of the recent youth movement that's making its way into the Bucks' rotation. Prior to the injury, the 22-year-old showed glimpses of legitimate potential on both sides of the court, making life tough for opposing guards while also knocking in his own shots. It's the type of jolt this team needs at the backup point guard slot with the veteran Delon Wright struggling mightily.
Let's just hope the team is being cautious with Rollins and aiming to have him be 100 percent before he returns to the lineup. The young guard showed toughness in the moment by saying he wouldn't be out of the lineup long, but perhaps that might have been the adrenaline talking just a bit. Time will tell, but let's hope this will not be a lingering issue for Rollins, who could be a legitimate sparkplug.
Until Rollins returns, Delon Wright will have his chance to prove he belongs in the rotation. His play has been a mixed back these past couple games, but with both Rollins and Lillard out due to injury, he's taken on a much more prominent role than expected as the starting point guard. With Lillard (concussion) likely returning Monday, Wright will take back his role as the backup.
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