Will Acie Law's Ankle Prevent Him From Shot At Euroleague Title Against CSKA Moscow?

Hope.

That's what Acie Law once banked on when contemplating the chance to compete for a Euroleague title against CSKA Moscow on Sunday.

On Friday, the Olympiacos point guard had to be helped off the court at the end of the game against FC Barcelona Regal after injuring his left ankle, and when the red and white stood victorious over Barcelona, 68-64, and celebrated on reaching the Final Four final, Law was seen leaving the arena on crutches.

From hobbled to hopeful, all signs now point to Law not being able to go.

While Law is determined to lace them up and be game ready, Olympiacos' coaching staff doesn't seem as confident. But looking back on the kind of season Law has had overseas, you really can't put anything past him.

Just when Law looks like he might be down and out for the count, he battles back.

It's been that way ever since he signed with Olympiacos -- maybe even longer.

After a five-month stint playing for Partizan Belgrade in Serbia, some uncertainties clouded Law's departure from the team. According to Partizan, the 6-foot-3 point guard received permission from the team to return home for the New Years holiday and was expected to return to Serbia days later to attend an evening practice but failed to appear.

Law signed a one-year contract with the Serbian team last July, and the deal did not include an NBA-out clause that would allow Law to return to the NBA once the lockout was resolved, but instead Law took matters into his own hands and his decision not to return to Partizan left him in a state of limbo.

Was he going to give the NBA another go?

Or would a hiatus from Europe serve as the catalyst to recharge for another go-around overseas?

A first round draft pick by the Atlanta Hawks in 2007, Law bounced around the NBA playing for the Hawks, Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors, Charlotte Bobcats and Memphis Grizzlies in a four year stretch. He began last season with the Warriors before being dealt to the Grizzlies, where he finished the season. Between the two teams, he played in 51 games and averaged 5.1 points and 1.8 assists in 8.5 minutes per game.

Law's play in Serbia was decent and split between playing in the Adriatic League and the Turkish Airlines Euroleague. He averaged 12.7 points, 3.4 assists and 1.2 steal in 35 minutes per game in the Euroleague, and 9.8 points and 2.5 assists in 24.8 minutes per game in the Adriatic League.

NBA teams kept close tabs on Law. Both the Golden State Warriors and New York Knicks were believed to have him on their point guard radar, but when Law agreed to terms with Olympiacos in mid-January those plans changed actually for the better.

It's not that Law couldn't earn his keep back in the league. It's more about how he had some unfinished business in Europe and what better way to step back into the overseas game than signing with a team ramping up for a deep Euroleague run.

The transition in Greece was not smooth however.

He averaged just 2.2 points per game in his first five Euroleague games for Olympiacos.

Painful.

But then something changed for Law. He brushed the dirt off his shoulder, got in to a groove and become a contributing factor off the bench averaging 10.2 points per game over his last five Euroleague games leading into the semi-finals against Barcelona.

And then the ankle happened.

This isn't the first time Law has had to persevere. In a league where American-import players are constantly under the microscope for their performance and character on and off the court, Law very easily could have sulked and washed his hands with a 2.2 scoring average.

He could have been done.

He could be done now.

Law isn't one to count himself out, particularly knowing what is at stake on Sunday versus CSKA Moscow.

Don't be surprised that come game time, Law is out on the floor ready to replace hope with some championship aspirations.