T-Mac prepares for the stretch run.
The longer the season goes on, the more key players continue to drop like Charles Barkley's breasts. While certain guys are trying to gut it out through minor twists and bruises, it also seems like somehow, some way, the league keeps coming up with funky ass injuries, like, every single day. Whether it's a team's superstar, multiple role players on the same team, or an expansion draft pick on the Bobcats, no injury is too small to have an impact on a team's play. (Except for maybe that Charlotte guy.) Here are the teams suffering through the most extended visits to the clubhouse of pain in 2006.

San Antonio
The big hurt: Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili
Replacement: N/A and Michael Finley
The damage: Big Fun is still in there battling for a double-double every night, but anyone who's watched him play lately knows that he's not at full strength. (Or full hair length.) Don't kid yourself, if Duncan's foot is still wobbly, and Ginobili's ankle is still tender, in May, both Dallas and Phoenix will be capable of knocking off a Spurs squad led by Parker, Fin-Dawg, and Longoria.


Los Angeles Clippers
The big hurt: Corey Maggette
Replacement: An out-of-position Shaun Livingston
The damage: Not only has his absence contributed to the Clippers cooling down considerably since their hot start, but seeing as his injury is now feared to keep him out for the rest of the season, his bum foot also kicked the Clipp Show out of the Ron Artest sweepstakes. (Duke and the NBA: a worse fit than Coach K and MasterCard.)

Phoenix Suns
The big hurt: Amare Stoudemire
Replacement: Boris Diaw
The damage: The only damage being done is to the "Steve Nash didn't deserve the MVP last season" campaign. If the Hair Apparent can keep the Suns going at their current pace until Amare returns in March, Phoenix (the team) will be hotter in April than Phoenix (the city) will be in December.

Denver
The big hurt: Marcus Camby and Nene
Replacements: Francisco Elson and Eduardo Najera
The damage: Losing Camby before the All-Star break was about as surprising as me losing my virginity before high school (thanks Canadian summer camp!), but losing their other big man so early in the season has really tested the Nuggets. Lucky for Denver, 'Melo has passed that test by raising his scoring average, hitting game-winners, and never snitching, all at an All-Star level.

Cleveland
The big hurt: Larry Hughes
Replacement: Damon Jones
The damage: Instead of a shut-down perimeter defender who can fill the passing lanes alongside LeBron, they have a perimeter shooter who couldn't hit the broad side of Michael Sweetney from behind the three-point line. But don't worry, Jones is still calling himself the Best Shooter in the World—which is more ridiculous than calling Cleveland the best city in the world.

Houston
The big hurt: Pick your poison, there's Tracy McGrady (he's back now, but don't put any money on it lasting), Yao Ming, Stromile Swift, Jon Barry, Bob Sura, David Carr, Andy Pettitte, the Oilers
Replacements: Luther Head, John Lucas III, the ghost of Dikembe Mutombo
The damage: Everyone knows they can't win without T-Mac, but to take away their second best player and replace him with Dikembe Mutombo is the worst practical joke played on Jeff Van Gundy since God gave him that hairline.