DeMarre Carroll Knee Injury Isn't Bad, He's "Day-to-Day"

DeMarre Carroll, one of Atlanta’s best players so far this postseason, crumbled on the fast break in the 4th quarter of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, and went down in agony clutching his knee. It was painful to watch Carroll – who is a free agent this summer, and should sign the largest contract of his career – unable to put any weight on his leg as his teammates carried him to the locker room.

But the news about his injury isn’t as bad as feared: an MRI revealed no structural damage, and Carroll is listed as day-to-day. It’s unclear if he’ll play in Game 2 Friday night. The Hawks trail 1-0, but a 2-0 hole headed to Cleveland will be insurmountable. Nobody is beating LeBron on the road in a playoff series three times in five games.

THANK YOU GOD!!! #BLESSED #JunkyardDog #ATLHAWKS https://t.co/lIGU7Poofs
— DeMarre Carroll (@DeMarreCarroll1) May 21, 2015

Carroll was thought to be Atlanta’s best chance against LeBron, but that didn’t work, as King James used his 40-pound advantage to post up Carroll in the first half. LeBron scored easily. Then Atlanta sent a double team at LeBron. The best passing 6-foot-8 player since Magic Johnson easily found teammates cutting to the basket, or shooters on the perimeter. LeBron finished with 31 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

Later in the game, the Hawks switched Paul Millsap over to LeBron. LeBron essentially laughed at Millsap, who decided to pick him up at halfcourt. LeBron went iso for the final five minutes, but struggled finishing at the hoop around Al Horford.

If Carroll is unable to play in Game 2, the guess here is Kent Bazemore (4-of-5 FG, 10 points in 16 minutes) will replace him in the startling lineup.