In a week the Lakers expected to get healthy, things couldn’t have been worse. In Steve Nash and Steve Blake’s first game back, both Jodie Meeks and Jordan Hill left with injuries one half into the game. One game later, in Jordan Farmar’s debut, Nick Young suffered a similar injury to that of Kobe Bryant’s, placing him out two weeks at a minimum with a month a more likely timetable.
Feb 4, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Jodie Meeks (20) leaves the game in the first quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Worse yet, in the same game, Farmar appeared to tweak his calf. D’Antoni called it cramping, but Farmar sat out Friday’s game against the 76ers as well as Meeks. In his interview after practice Saturday, D’Antoni revealed that neither will be back prior to the All-Star game.
With Farmar and Meeks out, that makes six total Lakers who will be out through the All-Star game. Guards Kobe Bryant, Xavier Henry, and Nick Young remain out as well as big man Pau Gasol. With Shawne Williams on a 10-day contract, that gives the Lakers nine healthy bodies. The Lakers are blessed with just one more back-to-back stretch this month, meaning Steve Nash should be available for a large majority of those games.
But given the Lakers season, more injuries will like effect this team in the near future.