Pau Gasol injured?

[xtremesteven33]

Last night during the Lakers game Pau Gasol left the game due to an ankle injury....

Lakers not sure whether it is serious or just a tweek....

who knows...he might be out for a week or two.....



help the spurs need to get back on top?

[CPIM]

Thanks god. It's not by Bruce Bowen. Let's make it clear. Bruce Bowen DID NOT do it. Don't blame it on Bowen all the times.

[samikeyp]

I'm sure some resourceful Laker fan will find a way to blame Bowen for this. :lol

[mikeanthony21]

I'm sure some resourceful Laker fan will find a way to blame Bowen for this. :lol

:lol

[duncan228]

...who knows...he might be out for a week or two.....

Local beat writer says he could be out up to 2 weeks.

http://www.ocregister.com/sports/pau-gasol-lakers-1999643-phil-jackson

Gasol injured in Lakers' 108-98 loss to Hornets
By KEVIN DING
The Orange County Register

NEW ORLEANS — Now missing three injured 7-foot centers after Pau Gasol's ankle buckled Friday night, it seems physically impossible for the injury-plagued Lakers to keep standing so tall.

If Gasol misses the next two weeks, as seems likely, while fellow centers Andrew Bynum and Chris Mihm remain out, the focus for the Lakers might even shift from lording over the Western Conference to just making the playoffs as a top-eight qualifier.

Upon losing, 108-98, to the New Orleans Hornets after Gasol went down in the opening minutes, the Lakers dropped into a tie with Houston for the West lead — and they're six games ahead of Denver, ninth in the West.

Given the Lakers' favorable schedule after next week, a freefall seems unlikely, but their primary goal of finishing in the top four to secure home-court advantage in the first round is in jeopardy. Winning the Pacific Division would ensure a top-four finish, but the Lakers' lead over Phoenix is two games.

Gasol left New Orleans Arena on crutches, his ankle immobilized in a boot and his jacket pocket filled with pain pills from trainer Gary Vitti. Gasol said he stepped on teammate Vladimir Radmanovic's foot in ill-advised anticipation of a Kobe Bryant lob pass that never came. Gasol said he sprained the same ankle in training camp with Memphis and estimated missing 10-14 days of action because of it.

"Similar pain," he said. "Similar reaction."

Most immediately, the Lakers have to play three more games of the toughest late-season four-game trip the NBA has seen in three years — facing Houston (45-20), Dallas (43-23) and Utah (44-23) without Gasol.

"I'd be ecstatic if it was only the next three (games)," Coach Phil Jackson said of Gasol's timetable. Gasol will have diagnostic tests done Saturday to clarify the prognosis.

Bynum hurt his left knee when he stepped on Lamar Odom's foot in a game, and Trevor Ariza broke his foot when he stepped on Derek Fisher's foot in practice. So Gasol stepping on Radmanovic's foot was just the latest odd twist resulting in major injury.

After Bynum got hurt Jan.13, Jackson joked about being in a dire predicament "unless Wilt (Chamberlain) comes back from the dead." It turned out that General Manager Mitch Kupchak delivered Gasol to man the middle and lift the team into title contention.

Now, though, it's possible the Lakers will enter the last two weeks of the regular season trying to integrate Gasol, Bynum and Mihm into the mix — hardly smooth sailing going into the playoffs.

NO INSIDE FORCE

Without Gasol, the Lakers' lack of an interior offensive threat eventually broke the triangle offense in the second half Friday night. Jackson employed Bryant almost exclusively at the striking wing position — moving Odom back to guard in the alignment the Lakers used the past two seasons — and got a scoring flurry from Bryant (36 points) but not nearly a victory.

Jackson tried but failed to save a sharp Luke Walton, whose sore ankle isn't ready for extended duty, for the fourth quarter. New Orleans pulled away behind Chris Paul (27 points, 17 assists, four steals).

Lakers power forward Ronny Turiaf filled in at center and missed all seven of his shots. Unable to go inside, they took 30 3-point shots — even though Jackson doesn't want more than 16 per game — and made nine (30 percent). Excluding Bryant's 4-of-7 effort, the Lakers were 5 of 23 (21.7 percent) on 3-point shots.

"Our offense will change a lot," Bryant said. "We'll have to do a lot of things off the move."

Turiaf said he is used to playing center in the wake of Bynum's injury: "It's nothing I haven't seen before."

BRYANT'S LEEWAY

Bryant plans to have surgery to repair the torn ligament in his right hand in September, after he competes for Team USA in the Olympics. He probably won't be recovered for the start of October training camp, which is about as concerning to Jackson as a hangnail.

"He can sit out all of the training camp," Jackson said. "As far as I'm concerned, yeah. Players should get in shape and they should have a chance to play together, but for guys who have been in this league for a long period of time, training camp is a grueling process. And for coaches, it's awful."

[1Parker1]

Bynum hurt his left knee when he stepped on Lamar Odom's foot in a game, and Trevor Ariza broke his foot when he stepped on Derek Fisher's foot in practice. So Gasol stepping on Radmanovic's foot was just the latest odd twist resulting in major injury.

That is a weird rash of injuries....all coming from stepping on their own teammates feet.

[xtremesteven33]

There Is Hope Spurs Fans.....there Is Hope.....

[T Park]

Wow two weeks, thats gonna hurt the Lakers BIG time.

[polandprzem]

"He can sit out all of the training camp," Jackson said. "As far as I'm concerned, yeah. Players should get in shape and they should have a chance to play together, but for guys who have been in this league for a long period of time, training camp is a grueling process. And for coaches, it's awful."

What is awefull?
A camp?

Pop loved that time of a year

[ricketts]

i just hope this dosen't turn out like the rockets losing Yao.

[polandprzem]

still loves :lol

[ancestron]

Bummer. don't like to see anyone get hurt. imagine how exciting an NBA season would be if every player on every team stayed healthy all year. The Bobcats would probably be the best team in the league.

[Indazone]

Works for me! :D

[WalterBenitez]

Thanks god. It's not by Bruce Bowen. Let's make it clear. Bruce Bowen DID NOT do it. Don't blame it on Bowen all the times.

Anyhow, Bruce will be supended just is case he could be watching that game on tv! :rolleyes

[BlackSwordsMan]

ouch sucks for lakers
no bynum or gasol

[BlackSwordsMan]

Anyhow, Bruce will be supended just is case he could be watching that game on tv! :rolleyes
lol

[BlackSwordsMan]

They'll bring up a memphis game of Gasol playing and show that Bowen did something.

[Spurs Dynasty 21]

just what the Spurs needed



but how sad is it that the Spurs now have to rely on injuries for other teams

[ChuckD]

just what the Spurs needed



but how sad is it that the Spurs now have to rely on injuries for other teams
Like they haven't been capitalizing on ours. It's part of the game.

[T Park]

just what the Spurs needed



but how sad is it that the Spurs now have to rely on injuries for other teams


How sad is it that your still butt hurt over one of your world of warcract figurines breaking?

[ShoogarBear]

It would suck if the Lakers were healthy by the end of the year but missed out on the playoffs.

The West is sick.

[DazedAndConfused]

It's almost comical how many injuries we've had to sustain this season. Still we almost traded Kobe in the offseason so I'm just enjoying the ride for now.

[BonnerDynasty]

God loves the Spurs.

[BonnerDynasty]

just what the Spurs needed



but how sad is it that the Spurs now have to rely on injuries for other teams

Injuries on other teams, 8th seeds beating 1st seeds...

We'll take them however they come :lol

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Injuries on other teams, 8th seeds beating 1st seeds...

We'll take them however they come :lol
:tu

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

just what the Spurs needed



but how sad is it that the Spurs now have to rely on injuries for other teams
So we're the only team relying on injuries of the higher seeded teams?

[DazedAndConfused]

When your team is relying on other teams to get injuries to stay in the playoffs you're not a contender IMHO.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

When your team is relying on other teams to get injuries to stay in the playoffs you're not a contender IMHO.
I meant relying on other team for injuries in order to get HCA throughout.
Good point though.

[jag]

If they're reporting that he's gonna be gone two weeks then there's no telling how long he'll actually be out...they did, in fact, report that Bynum would only be out 2 months...

[DazedAndConfused]

Gasol had a similar injury during training camp this season that kept him out 10 days. He said it feels the exact same way. Bynum is expected back 2nd week of April, he's already out on the court dunking and practicing shooting drills. Man it's going to be nuts when both of those guys come back.

[jag]

http://www.jimkaras.com/images/Flip_cover.jpg

here ya go So Cal

[T Park]

:lol

Bynum was supposed to be back by now, but its ok that thats delayed by over 4 weeks?

Okiedoke...

[crc21209]

It was just reported on the bottom of ESPN News that Pau is out for the remainder of the Lakers road trip AT LEAST.

Sun, Mar 16 @ Houston
Tue, Mar 18 @ Dallas
Thu, Mar 20 @ Utah

[mavsfan1000]

Looks like they could lose another 3 games along with their already losing to the Hornets.

[DazedAndConfused]

Yea these next 3 games are going to be rough. If we can get just 1 win I'd be happy. 2 and I'll be ecstatic. The important thing is staying atop the Pacific Division. Thankfully we have an absolute cake schedule after this road trip, while our division rival PHX goes through murderer's row. The hope is we can keep a top 4 seed, use the 1st and 2nd round to get Bynum back into the swing of things and go full steam ahead from there. It's a long shot, but given how shaky the WC is anything can happen.

And for the umpteenth time nobody ever said Bynum would be back in 8 weeks, they said 8 weeks MINIMUM. The Lakers aren't in any hurry to bring him back and he won't be on the floor until he's 100%.

[ChuckD]

Gasol had a similar injury during training camp this season that kept him out 10 days. He said it feels the exact same way. Bynum is expected back 2nd week of April, he's already out on the court dunking and practicing shooting drills. Man it's going to be nuts when both of those guys come back.
The great flaw in Laker fan thinking has always been to forget that there is only one ball, and it's Kobe's.

[DazedAndConfused]

The great flaw in Laker fan thinking has always been to forget that there is only one ball, and it's Kobe's.

You think I give a shit about offense? We can put up over 100ppg without Gasol or Bynum in the lineup. Offense is not our problem.

ITS THE DEFENSE MAN. I long to see Bynum back in the paint blocking shots, grabbing boards, and making the opposing team think twice about driving in the lane. This is what we've been sorely lacking since he went down.

[Obstructed_View]

Looks like they could lose another 3 games along with their already losing to the Hornets.
Not with the league MVP on their team. Not with the best player in the NBA on their team. Not with the best finisher in the GAME on their team!!!