Ratliff returns to Hawks, but hip injury lingers

ATLANTA - Theo Ratliff wants to get one thing straight: He'll never be 100 percent again.

But the 6-foot-10 center believes he's finally ready to make a significant contribution to the Atlanta Hawks.

``I think I'll be even better than I was before,'' Ratliff said Tuesday as the Hawks opened training camp at Philips Arena. ``My techniques are better. The things I did during rehab have made me stronger. I know my body that much better.''

Ratliff, an All-Star two seasons ago, has played only three games for Atlanta since being acquired from Philadelphia on Feb. 22, 2001. The six-player deal sent Dikembe Mutombo to the 76ers.

The Hawks knew they were getting damaged goods for the 2000-01 season; Ratliff already was out for the year with a wrist injury at the time of the trade.

The team never anticipated that he would miss most of last season, as well.

Ratliff played the first two games, but his right hip was aching. Doctors found a small cartilage tear and ordered surgery to correct the problem.

He came off the injured list for a Jan. 11 game at Toronto. After playing only 15 minutes, Ratliff left the court because of lingering pain in his hip. Another season was done.

``Of course, I'm anxious to get back out there,'' he said. ``But you can step on a foot and break a leg. Injuries are a part of this game, a part of life. You have to recognize that. I don't worry about it.''

The 29-year-old Ratliff spent the rest of the season and summer working with physiotherapist Alex McKechnie, who worked out a training regimen to get Ratliff ready for this season.

The drills provided constant resistance against the legs to correct the body's alignment. He also learned the nuances of positioning to ease the pain in his hip.

``My therapist tells me I'll never be 100 percent like I was before the injury,'' Ratliff said. ``But when I'm on the floor, I can play at a 100 percent level.''

Just how much Ratliff can play is one of the major issues that will be addressed during training camp.

During two-a-day workouts, he'll likely be limited to one practice. Once the games begin, coach Lon Kruger is hoping Ratliff can play 30-35 minutes.

``Our concern is much more related to the long term, this season and beyond,'' Kruger said. ``We'll look at him in camp, figure out the way to get the right combination of reps and rest. I don't think it's going to be a problem.''

Ratliff concedes that he's still feeling some pain in his hip, and he knows that rehab will be necessary for the rest of his career.

``I've got to monitor it and make sure I don't try to do too much, too fast,'' he said. ``My hip will never be the same, but it's still manageable.''

Ratliff was one of the game's most promising players before the injuries sidetracked his career.

Two seasons ago, he helped push the Sixers to the best record in the Eastern Conference and was selected to start in the 2001 All-Star game. A stress fracture in his right wrist prevented him from playing in the midseason classic, and he was traded to Atlanta a few weeks later.

Still, Ratliff led the league in blocked shots (3.74 per game) and finished with career-high averages in points (12.4) and rebounds (8.3).

His defensive skills are critical for the Hawks, who have guaranteed that they'll make the playoffs for the first time since 1999. The team isn't real bulky up front with Shareef Abdur-Rahim and newcomer Glenn Robinson. There will be matchup problems in the backcourt when 6-foot-2 Jason Terry and 6-0 rookie Dan Dickau are paired together.

``Theo is a big key factor,'' Terry said. ``He can change the game for us.''

Ratliff doesn't bemoan his fate the last year and a half. He got a chance to spend more time with his wife, Kristina, and their four children. He also learned to keep basketball in the proper perspective.

``This is a game,'' Ratliff said. ``It's not the biggest thing in my life. I've had a lot of success in my life.''