Mojo Jinx

 Feels like a basketball jinx around here at Mojo Hoops. So many of my favorite NBA ballers are out with serious injuries. In an effort to end the Mojo Jinx, I'm appealing to the basketball gods to heal my dudes and lift the curse.

 Joakim Noah, thumb ligament. He'll already miss the All-Star game. Heal his thumb for a deep playoff run.

 Kevin Garnett, calf strain. Normally, that's not a serious injury. But at 34 years of age and 15 years in the league, KG is in his old dog years. Heal him up for one more run with Doc (who looks worried as hell in the photo).

 Delonte West, compound wrist fracture. He'd barely come back from serving Czar Stern's heavy handed suspension before he badly broke his wrist. Bring him back strong so he can help the Celtics beat LeBron in the playoffs.

 Matt Barnes, torn knee cartilage. Welcomed by Kobe in the off-season, Barnes has finally joined a squad that knows how to use his defensive skills. Now he's out until March. The Lakers are going to need him to join Artest in messing with Ginobili in the playoffs. Basketball gods, Free Matt Barnes! (sorry Rev. Ev. I couldn't resist).

 Caron Butler, torn knee tendon. Butler is out for the season just when the Mavs were showing signs that they could take the West. The Spurs have stayed healthy and Caron goes down. Ginobili, the flopper, is healthy. Richard Jefferson, the luckiest player in Texas, somehow stays healthy. And Caron is out for the year. Something just ain't right about that.

 Anderson Varejao, broken cheekbone, torn foot tendon. It was bad when Varejao hugged and giggled with LeBron during the Heat's annihilation of the Cavs in Cleveland. Seems like the basketball gods have punished him for it. First, he broke his face. Actually, his cheekbone. When he came out in the Bill Laimbeer mask, that seemed to infuriate the basketball gods even more so they busted his foot tendon while he was running a simple practice drill. The next day, the Lakers beat the Cavs by 55 points. Ain't that a bitch.

 Basketball gods, oh basketball gods- heal all these dudes! Turn LeBron's ankle if you must. Break Ginobili's nose if it pleases you. But for the sake of basketball fans who like players who entertain with defense and hustle, lift the Mojo Jinx!