The Los Angeles Lakers want to make good on Kobe Bryant's promise to make the playoffs and right now the team doesn't need any more bad news for the season.
Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni suggested that forward Pau Gasol won't be making a return until the conclusion of the regular season as he continues to nurse a torn plantar fascia in his right foot for the past three weeks.
"By the time he gets back, we'll be in or out," D'Antoni said. "His impact will be in the playoffs if we get there."
The Lakers are currently 28-29 and have 25 games remaining before the regular season ends April 17 against the Houston Rockets. Even with a 103-99 victory Sunday over the Dallas Mavericks, the Lakers remain 2 ½ games behind the Houston Rockets (31-27) for the eighth and final playoff position.
"I don't think anyone on this team is counting the days for Pau to come back because we don't have time," Lakers guard Steve Nash said. "We have to win now. Although we'd welcome him back this instances, we have to move on and try to win games without him and find an identity."
The Spaniard was originally expected to miss at least four to six weeks after initially suffering the injury in the final minutes of the Lakers' Feb. 5th win over the Brooklyn Nets.
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