Stay up to day with the latest news, updates, and press conferences from your Los Angeles Lakers.
Over on the main website, we took a closer look at Gasol’s hamstring and Andrew Bynum’s elbow, with video from the two seven footers, plus Phil Jackson and Lamar Odom.
Good news for Lakers fans on Pau Gasol’s hamstring injury: He’s good to go.
Lakers spokesman John Black confirmed prior to L.A.’s Wednesday night contest in Houston that Gasol’s doctors in Spain agreed with the diagnosis of L.A.’s doctors and team athletic trainer Gary Vitti that the injury is healed.
Gasol has been cleared to resume basketball activities, which he commenced by running, jumping and shooting prior to the Rockets game. The All-Star forward is also expected to practice on Thursday, and if there’s no set back, he is cleared to play in games as soon as Phil Jackson thinks Gasol is ready to conditioning wise.
Phil Jackson said after Saturday’s practice that Pau Gasol would not play on Sunday against the Atlanta Hawks.
It’s the third straight regular season game missed by the Spaniard, who strained his hamstring in the preseason.
After Thursday’s practice in El Segundo, we learned that Pau Gasol would miss his second consecutive game when the Mavericks come to town for a 7:30 PM tip at STAPLES Center.
Phil Jackson, however, remains unconcerned with Gasol’s hamstring strain and said that the team is simply being overly cautious to ensure that the Spanish big man is entirely comfortable when he returns.
“We’re not worried about it,” he said. “We’re just taking it real slow. Don’t you worry about it.”
Jackson also suggested that Gasol might be able to play in Sunday’s game against Atlanta.
But until Gasol plays, the very capable Lamar Odom (16 points and 13 rebounds in L.A.’s opening win) will slide into Pau’s spot in the rotation, and against Dallas be charged with defending Dirk Nowitzki, which Gasol did very well last season. Jackson added that having Ron Artest – who can also guard Nowitzki – on the roster makes it easier to be cautious with Gasol, since Artest is so versatile at both ends of the floor.
After a long practice on Sunday morning, assembled reporters learned that Andrew Bynum is absolutely ready to play on Tuesday, that Pau Gasol may not be and that Ron Artest is very happy to be in L.A.
Before the round up, here’s the audio from Head Coach Phil Jackson:
BYNUM READY TO GO
Jackson said that Bynum “did well” and “had no problems out there” in practice, after the young center had missed consecutive preseason games while recovering from minor shoulder and leg issues.
Bynum concurred.
“I felt good,” he said. “I came in early yesterday and got a lot done … I’m excited for (Tuesday’s game). I want to get the ring, go through the ceremony, then take care of business at night time and really go at (the Clippers).”
GASOL STILL WORKING ON SORE HAMSTRING
Gasol, on the other hand, spent the day doing only cardio, though he was in good spirits when speaking to reporters. He reiterated what had been reported on Friday in San Diego: while his hamstring injury isn’t something that he’d call serious, he wants to make sure he’s not pushing it too hard, too fast.
“It’s most important that I get myself healthy at this point in the year so I can go through the whole year,” said the Spaniard. “If I put myself in a risky situation then I won’t be helping my team in the long run.”
Jackson seemed to share Gasol’s sentiments.
“We have three days in between our first game and our second one,” said Jackson. so if worse comes to worse, we have a really great replacement for (Gasol) with Lamar Odom.”
RON ARTEST: TEAM PLAYER
Skeptics that had expected Ron Artest to be doing his own thing on the court for L.A. saw a collective counterexample from the forward throughout eight preseason games.
The evidence is in the statistics, which showed Artest taking fewer shots per game than five other Lakers, and found him placed second on the team only to point guard Jordan Farmar in assists.
In 25 minutes per game, Artest averaged 7.9 points, 3.8 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.38 steals.
After Sunday’s practice, he had this to say about preseason play:
Prior to the second half in L.A.’s preseason finale against Denver in San Diego, Lakers forward Pau Gasol addressed the team’s beat writers outside the Lakers locker room to update his condition.
Here are the Spaniard’s more significant comments:
Q: On whether he’ll play in the opener:
Gasol: It’s not out of the question … I’ve just got to let it heal. Hamstring injuries are tough. If you don’t heal it right, it can become a long-term issue, and that’s something we don’t want to do at this time of year.
Q: On how it responded to Wednesday’s practice:
Gasol: It got a little worse, it got a little aggravated so we took a step backward. Now we’re just trying to let it heal so I can go back out there.
Lakers forward Pau Gasol and center Andrew Bynum will miss Thursday evening’s preseason game in Anaheim against Denver, though forward Luke Walton will dress and be a coaches’ decision to play.
Gasol, who strained his right hamstring earlier in training camp, will also miss Friday night’s game in San Diego and await re-evaluation early next week.
Jackson explained that his All-Star forward had some questions about how (the hamstring) felt after Wednesday’s practice, during which Gasol ran and went through some drills. The head coach said it might be more of a fatigue issue, but to “alleviate” Gasol’s response, the team felt it was best to keep him out of the final two preseason games as there was nothing to gain by playing him.
“I’m not worried,” said Phil Jackson. “Whether he makes it (for the season opener on Tuesday) or not I’m not worried.”
Bynum, who strained his rotator cuff and suffered a contusion of the left knee this week, will not play Thursday evening but will be re-evaluated on Friday morning. He’s listed as day-to-day.
Walton (back), meanwhile, practiced for the first time in over a week on Wednesday and will dress against the Nuggets, though his participation will be up to Phil Jackson.
Lakers center Andrew Bynum suffered a minor rotator cuff strain in Tuesday night’s 113-107 win over the Golden State Warriors. Bynum did not practice Wednesday due to the injury but is being listed as probable for Thursday’s game against the Denver Nuggets in Anaheim.
“My training staff hasn’t anticipated anything that would prohibit him from playing, but we’ll see what it’s like (Thursday),” said head coach Phil Jackson.
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Injured forwards Pau Gasol and Luke Walton both participated in Wednesday’s practice after missing the past couple games.
“I put them through practice today. We’ll see how they react to that tomorrow. They looked okay,” Jackson said.
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The Lakers carry a 5-1 record into the first of back-to-back games against the Denver Nuggets. Tonight’s game is schedule for a 7pm tip from the Honda Center in Anaheim on KCAL/9 and TNT. Tickets available here.
After Monday’s practice at L.A.’s facility in El Segundo, Phil Jackson provided an injury update for his three players on the MASH list:
Lamar Odom: The small forward, who suffered a bruised shin against Sacramento on Thursday in Las Vegas, participated almost fully in practice and is probable for Tuesday night’s game in Ontario, CA, against Golden State. Odom confirmed that he was feeling better after a few days of ice and stim.
Pau Gasol: Gasol, who tweaked a hamstring and first missed practice on Tuesday, Oct. 13, was a limited participant in practice but is listed as doubtful to face the Warriors.
Luke Walton: Like Gasol, Walton first missed practice last Tuesday, and is also doubtful for the Ontario game.
The next chance for Gasol and Walton to play will be on Thursday in Anaheim when the Lakers take on the Denver Nuggets, though Jackson has said that team’s priority is getting each Lakers’ player ready for the Oct. 27 season opener.
Lakers Forwards Pau Gasol and Luke Walton sat out practice for the second day in a row Wednesday due to a slight hamstring strain and minor back pain respectively.
“There’s nothing defining for either one of them right now,” said Head Coach Phil Jackson. “Pau felt a little twinge when he was doing warmup exercises and what not.”
Both will travel with the team to Las Vegas for Thursday night’s matchup with the Sacramento Kings, but Jackson expressed doubt when asked about their ability to play.
FROM LAKERS.com
