The Los Angeles Lakers were banking on getting some relief on the injury front. As the team continues to drop in the Western Conference standings, getting key players back onto the court could certainly help change that. However, both Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash have suffered setbacks that could keep them out for longer than anticipated.
Bryant has been sitting out since fracturing his lateral tibial plateau, also known as the bone that connects the shin to the knee. The guard was re-evaluated by the Lakers training staff with the hopes of getting the ok to return to the court, but is reportedly still feeling discomfort.
According to Kevin Ding of Bleacher report, Bryant is expected to miss at least two more weeks, if not a month, due to his level of pain with the injury. Bryant did not even undergo an MRI for the injury stating his pain level was enough to know things have not yet totally healed.
Bryant will likely not return until at least after the All-Star break, leaving the Lakers shorthanded at the shooting position. Steve Blake and Jordan Farmar are also out with injuries. The guard told ESPN.com that it was "absolutely killing" him to not be medically cleared, but sitting out was the best option for his long-term health.
Nash was expected to return to the court this week, but also could miss more time after the Los Angeles Times reports the point guard tweaked his back getting out of bed. Nash insists that he is fine, but could not return for another week.
"I have no idea what's going to happen, but I've done all the work and I feel ready to practice again," Nash said. "I'm really excited just to be part of the team again."
Nash has played a total of six games this season and has been out since Nov. 10 with the injury to his back and hamstring. He has been rehabbing in Vancouver but has returned to Los Angeles to begin practice.
All of this injury news is giving the Lakers very little hope for the remainder of their season. Pau Gasol is certainly frustrated with the way things are playing out. The center had a little post-game rant where he questioned the work ethic of his teammates. While he is not giving up on the year, he referred to the playoffs as a "utopia" right now and if things do not change quickly, the Lakers will miss out on them.
Los Angeles is currently 13 games under .500, sitting nine and a half games out of the final playoff spot. They will need a second-half turnaround to make them a reality.