Rudy Gay, a Forward, for the Memphis Grizzlies, is cleared to the shoot again after surgery earlier this spring with a left shoulder subluxation.  This is a partial dislocation of the shoulder bones at the JOINT.   His range of motion is NOT all the way back yet, but shooting the basketball.  Gay should be back to 100% for the start of next season, but these are different for everyone.

Gay addressed the critics if his shot is back or not, “Shoulder surgery and 5 months away from the game and my jumper still cash!”

Here’s video of his shooting workout’s this month!   Click here.

What makes this injury tough to come back from is that the damage created some instability at the JOINT, making his shoulder move in different directions and causing significant pain.   The surgeons have to go in and guess where to tighten it up and create stability in direction(s) for the shoulder to move again.  This is kind of complicated because the shoulder is a multiaxial joint, meaning that it moves in (so many different ways), so tightening it up in one direction could cause instablity in another.  By stiffening the shoulder and losing full range of motion, as an athlete, you’re NOT going to function at the level you once did.  So Gay has to also regain his shooting form or create a different shot.

The fact that Gay was cleared to shoot again is ”GOOD”.   It means he is making progress in rehab.  That’s a great thing for Memphis Grizzlies fans, but with the NBA lockout,  Gay has NOT been able to train or rehab with the Memphis Grizzlies medical staff as well:(   Sure,  he was already assigned physical therapy, but the timing of his rehab and training are crucial, now that he’s now able to at least pick up a basketball again.

Gay had a very sound season with 19.8 ppg, 6.2 rebounds, 1.7 steals and  1.1 blocks prior to going down last season.   He hasn’t been in a game since Feb. 15th.  The Memphis Grizzlies advanced to their 1ª Western Conference semifinals and made NBA history in knocking off the top-seeded Spurs.  With the Gay back playing, this team could really beat anyone next 2011-2012 NBA season………”IF” there is a season?  FYI-my finger’s are crossed here:(