Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's core muscle injury may not be as bad as we were left to fear:
SVG joking with KCP. "It's going to say DNP-Soft tonight." In a mood to joke cuz injury news positive. Expects him back after A-S break.
— Keith Langlois (@Keith_Langlois) February 6, 2016
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was diagnosed with a core muscle strain on Thursday after slipping on a wet spot on the Boston TD Garden floor during Wednesday night's Pistons-Celtics game. KCP did not return to the game with what was originally being called a right groin strain, but an MRI showed different damage on Thursday.
As is usually the case with injuries, the Pistons did not give a timetable for a return and said he would be re-evaluated after the All-Star break (Feb. 12-14, and the Pistons don't play again until Feb. 19). That left it up to fans to wonder exactly which muscle he strained and the grade of the strain. 6-8 weeks based on similar injuries throughout sports seemed a plausible worst case scenario.
Of course, after the All-Star break technically could mean Feb. 19 against the Washington Wizards, KCP missing only four and a half games, or, say, seven weeks from now, March 26 against the Atlanta Hawks. Both are after the All-Star break. But jokes about being soft and "positive news" sounds like the former is more likely now.
If that's the case, breathe easy, DBB. KCP will be back before you know it.