Mike Conley's foot injury could linger into playoffs

Mike Conley suffered a foot injury on Wednesday against the Pelicans that forced him to miss Friday's game against the Jazz. Now it looks like he could be shut down for the remainder of the season, reports the Commercial Appeal.

"I don't want to shut down." Conley said. "I'd like to be playing and in a rhythm going into the playoffs as opposed to sitting. But I've a had a bad little stretch with injuries."

Conley intends to make the decision of whether to play based on how he feels on game day, noting that ""Once I’m able to walk and put pressure on my feet, and run and cut without hesitating I can play." He's on a walking boot and receiving treatment as the Grizzlies explore the problem.

While there's no diagnosis yet, the symptoms suggest plantar fasciitis could be what's ailing Conley. If that's the case, the injury could linger throughout the playoffs, as resting is the only way to get rid of it completely. It's possible to play through it, as many athletes suffering from it have done, but the pain is persistent and Conley described it as "constantly walking on a golf ball."

Conley is averaging 16 points, five and a half assists and over a steal a game, and he's the on-court leader of the Grizzlies. With a game against the Clippers that could have serious seeding implications coming on Saturday, it will be interesting to see if Conley suits up and how effective he can be.