Just when things seemed to be getting better in Southern California, the team was struck with some tough news. Although nothing is finalized just yet, there is a chance that star forward Pau Gasol will be out of the lineup for the remainder of the regular season.
Mark Medina reports that Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni suggested that Gasol will not be back in action until the playoffs roll around, that is if the Lakers make it into the top eight.
“By the time he [Gasol] gets back, we’ll be in or out,” D’Antoni said. “His impact will be in the playoffs if we get there.”
Gasol suffered his foot injury on February 5 when the team was in Brooklyn playing the Nets. At first reports indicated that Gasol will miss six to eight weeks, but it appears as though the seven foot Spaniard will miss more time.
---- See Pau Gasol through the years in photos! ----
At this point, the Lakers are three games behind in the loss column to the eight seeded Houston Rockets, and based on the way the Lakers have been playing as of late, they can surely jump into the top eight.
The players are beginning to figure out the offense and the chemistry on the court is clearly improving. Los Angeles is looking more and more like a playoff team and it should only get better once Gasol returns to the lineup.
