Not that a team needs a lift while riding a seven-game winning streak, but the Lakers might find one on their injury report.
Andrew Bynum and Luke Walton both hope to come back quickly after the Lakers' five-game trip, either April 2 against Utah or April 4 against San Antonio, both at Staples Center.
Bynum said his strained left Achilles' tendon was feeling better Wednesday, and Walton practiced for the first time Tuesday, doing some non-contact scrimmaging with the team before joining them on their flight to San Antonio.
Bynum missed his second consecutive game in the Lakers' 92-83 victory Wednesday against the Spurs, but said the discomfort was subsiding.
"Less pain in the boot," said Bynum, motioning toward the plastic walking boot he was wearing on his lower left leg.
He set his return as early as next week, "hopefully within the first couple of games in April."
Bynum's lift would be important to monitor, Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said.
"I think more than anything else, to be able to consistently take off on that foot. I think that'll be the key," he said.
Jackson, buoyed by Bynum's improvement, said he hadn't ruled out Bynum's return by the end of the trip.
But Bynum said it wouldn't happen: "I'm out."
Walton has played only 24 games this season, primarily because of recurring problems with a pinched nerve in his lower back. He is averaging 2.4 points and 8.3 minutes a game, though Jackson praised the seven-year veteran.
"We really miss Luke Walton because he's a facilitator," Jackson said. "He's played with these bench guys for a long time. These injuries have stretched our limits a little bit"
The expert
The five-game trip will be busy for Lakers assistant coach Jim Cleamons, who is in charge of preparing game plans for the first four teams on the trip, a random quirk of the schedule that will keep him occupied.
Jackson assigned each assistant coach either nine or 10 teams before the season began. Cleamons just happened to have San Antonio, Oklahoma City, Houston and New Orleans.
"All these games are going to be like a playoff atmosphere, so I think that's the fun of it," Cleamons said. "I'm doing the scouting but I'm enjoying looking at them and anticipating how we're going to play. You know you're working, but you enjoy your work, so you just do what you've got to do."
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