Lakers expect Gasol to start Wednesday

timebandit · Post #1 » by **timebandit** » Wed Apr 2, 2008 6:21 am

The Lakers received their most upbeat medical report in weeks after practice on Tuesday: Pau Gasol is expected to play tonight when the Lakers play host to the Portland Trail Blazers, after missing nine games because of a sprained left ankle.

Gasol underwent a full practice Tuesday, afterward labeling his ankle a little sore but showing progress.

His ankle is not fully healed but good enough to give it a go tonight.

"That's the main question, right?" Gasol said. "If nothing crazy happens and the ankle responds well to the work today, I think it's a pretty good guess that I'll be out there."

Gasol is averaging 18.9 points and 8.5 rebounds. He has played 19 games at center for the Lakers, filling in for injured Andrew Bynum, since being acquired in a Feb. 1 trade. The Lakers are 15-4 with Gasol in the lineup, and were 5-4 in his absence as Ronny Turiaf and DJ Mbenga played center and the team slipped a bit in a tight Western Conference race.

Kobe Bryant said of Gasol: "Can't wait to work him back in the mix and get him out on the floor."

Gasol will also help on the defensive end, Bryant said.

"It gives us more length," Bryant said. "We'd like to have longer players in there. Ronny and DJ have been doing a good job, but we'd like to have some more length in there with Pau and when Drew gets back."

It will take a bit of time, Gasol said, to regain his fluidity on the court, but "hopefully the quality of the team will overcome those little adjustments."

If Gasol returns tonight, it will be as a starter, Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said, although he may be used for only one rotation if his ankle shows signs of discomfort.
Link http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketbal ... 3463.story

Post #2 » by **LLcoleJ** » Wed Apr 2, 2008 6:22 am

game thread?

Tommy Trojan · Post #3 » by **Tommy Trojan** » Wed Apr 2, 2008 6:33 am

nice welcome back Pau

That Nicka · Post #4 » by **That Nicka** » Wed Apr 2, 2008 6:58 am

great news...

timebandit · Post #5 » by **timebandit** » Wed Apr 2, 2008 7:41 am

Now with Pau back and one more big to go Lakers should be primed in no time!

Post #6 » by **Slava** » Wed Apr 2, 2008 8:09 am

I hope DJ's minutes don't get cut with Pau's return and Mihm getting into the fold of things too. He was making some hustle plays, blocking shots and some bail out jumpers too last game. That jumper looks money for all its worth.

SashAlex · Post #7 » by **SashAlex** » Wed Apr 2, 2008 9:40 am

Great !!!

bobobolas1 · Post #8 » by **bobobolas1** » Wed Apr 2, 2008 10:49 am

Lets celebrate with a win. Welcome back pau

Profanity · Post #9 » by **Profanity** » Wed Apr 2, 2008 11:23 am

"He'll probably have swelling for the next six weeks," Jackson said. "Anybody who's had a severely sprained ankle knows that it just goes on and on. Eventually it subsides, but it's still going to be an issue for a while."

Those weren't the news at the beginning...

Dexmor · Post #10 » by **Dexmor** » Wed Apr 2, 2008 2:42 pm

6 weeks? Damm.

senfono · Post #11 » by **senfono** » Wed Apr 2, 2008 3:34 pm

Hopefully he used these 2 weeks not only to heal his ankle, but also the pain of his back is completely over now

TonyMontana · Post #12 » by **TonyMontana** » Wed Apr 2, 2008 3:46 pm

Good news

Kobe_for_3 · Post #13 » by **Kobe_for_3** » Wed Apr 2, 2008 4:15 pm

I hope this gives us a nice boost, as a team we have looked very sluggish. Welcome back Pau!

Post #14 » by **Danny Darko** » Wed Apr 2, 2008 4:36 pm

I hope Andrew's knee holds up after the sprints... having them both back seems like christmas morning right now

Dexmor · Post #15 » by **Dexmor** » Wed Apr 2, 2008 6:57 pm

When is Bynum projected back?

timebandit · Post #16 » by **timebandit** » Wed Apr 2, 2008 8:20 pm

Dexmor wrote:When is Bynum projected back?

He could play friday or sunday or just maybe by the latest April 8th. You just watch he will get some time very soon! Judging by his workouts and his running full strength on the court. :nod:

pooteeweet · Post #17 » by **pooteeweet** » Wed Apr 2, 2008 9:09 pm

timebandit wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

He could play friday or sunday or just maybe by the latest April 8th. You just watch he will get some time very soon! Judging by his workouts and his running full strength on the court.

He's not playing Friday. He hasn't even begun practicing with the team yet.

CITYOFANGELSX3 · Post #18 » by **CITYOFANGELSX3** » Wed Apr 2, 2008 9:27 pm

welcome back pau!!! :clap:

YiYaoYue · Post #19 » by **YiYaoYue** » Wed Apr 2, 2008 10:40 pm

i'm willing to bet bynum doesn't return till start of playoffs, but right now gasol is all lakers need to stay afloat with atleast home court... i dont think it matters much to lakers in terms of which team will be more difficult between dallas,gsw,denver, or houston.... but 2nd seed would be nice vs 3rd (houston can play really good team ball which can give lakers a hard tiem)