After missing the last two games with a concussion, Trail Blazers forward Moe Harkless is listed as probable for tonight’s game and will play assuming he passes the final test of the NBA’s mandated concussion protocol. If he does, head coach Terry Stotts says Harkless play no more than 20 minutes off the bench Monday night.
Turns out, it was a Meyers Leonard elbow delivered inadvertently during a scrimmage last week that sidelined Harkless, or at least that’s how Leonard tells it. Harkless, on the other hand, has his doubts.
“He definitely did,” said Harkless when asked if Leonard took aim at his nose. “He got tired of it and took his frustration out on me, unfortunately.”
Anyone who has watched Meyers Leonard during his three seasons in Portland knows he’s been on the receiving end of his fair share of shots to the head, be they accidental or otherwise, which made Harkless’ accusation all the more insulting.
“One hundred percent false,” said Leonard of the insinuation. “Moe knows he’s lying.
Moe lied on Twitter. He’s trying to make me look bad for some reason. As a guy who has been hit in the head at least once a game for my entire career, which is well over 150 games, I know what’s it’s like. And no, I didn’t do it on purpose, period.”
But Harkless isn’t so sure, and thus, is pondering his options with regard to payback. He’s already considered the frequency with which Leonard gets hit in the head, which is factoring into his plan of attack.
“I know where I’m going for,” said Harkless. “I won’t say it on the record, but I know where I’m going for.”
Leonard’s response?
“That’s fine. I set a lot more screens than he does on guards, so therefore, his payback will be much worse if he decides to hit me on purpose.”
Keep your heads on a swivel guys.
(I would hope this would go without saying, but for the record, both players are joking.)
