Anderson Varejao needs surgery to repair a torn leg muscle and could miss two more months. Varejao got hurt in a Dec. 18 game against Toronto. The injury was initially diagnosed by team doctors as only a bruised right knee, but as his symptoms persisted, more tests were performed and revealed a “longitudinal split” between Varejao’s quadriceps and knee. Also, ultrasound imaging revealed tissue underneath the muscle tear was herniating.
Cavaliers coach Byron Scott is hoping Varejao can return this season. Scott said he has not spoken to Varejao.
“I may just go up to him and give him a big hug and tell him it’s going to be OK,” Scott said at the team’s morning shootaround.
This is the third straight season that Varejao has been sidelined for significant time with a serious injury. He missed 51 games in 2011 with a torn ligament in his foot and 41 games last season after breaking his wrist. One of the NBA’s scrappiest players, Varejao was playing at an All-Star level when he banged his knee last month and went down with what appeared to be a routine injury.
“It’s real tough,” Scott said. “You’re disappointed, frustrated and (ticked) off. You have so many different emotions going through your head, but what can you do? Everybody in this league has to deal with injuries and we’ve had to deal with them for three straight years. You just got to keep playing hard with the guys that you have.”