Wait until Wednesday
Pau Gasol was in the locker room before the game, and the situation is basically as follows: Trying to increase his activity on the ankle, he experienced a recurrence of the swelling. So no more activity. And keep in mind, "activity" doesn't mean full court scrimmages, mountain climbing, or touch football in the park. It's anything that would be considered a step past total lack of motion. So Friday is out, as is Sunday, and he's aiming now for Wednesday against Portland.
Says Pau:
"I don't enjoy sitting, and it's frustrating. I like to be out there, and think we're in a great spot and a great situation. That's what it's all about. I'm thinking two more games and then we have the two days right after the Sunday game. Monday and Tuesday we don't play, so it looks like Wednesday could be a reasonable date. I guess that's what I have in mind right now."
On Ronny, Gasol expressed confidence in Ronny Turiaf, who has done a good job in his absence. He did, however, mention that when Ronny is wide open, he might want to shoot, instead of overpassing. Sage advice indeed.
Regarding the game... well, it's the Charlotte Bobcats, and not even the version that's playing all that well. Emeka Okafor has been pretty awful over the last 10 days, and might not be a happy camper in Sam Vincent's cabin. Raymond Felton has hit the wall as well, and while the Bobcats have some decent players- Gerald Wallace, obviously, and Jason Richardson- they're really not very good. At all. And the bench? Derek Anderson, Earl Boykins, Matt Carroll (not the force he was a year ago), Jermareo Davidson, Jared Dudley, and Ryan Hollins. Those are the dudes they'll run out tonight, I believe. That isn't a crew of subs that scares anyone.
Charlotte has lost six of seven, and the one win came against Miami, so it might not count.
The moral of the story? This shouldn't be a nail biter down the stretch.
BK
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Lebron isn't useful at anything!
The one time I rooted for Cavs,
they lost it in the last second...
Posted by: coolhair | March 26, 2008 at 07:23 PM
this game will be stressful...i remember the Kings game..everyone was expecting Laker blow out..well that turned out bad..then came the warriors..that turned out wrong...I just want a W..please oh please!
Posted by: drew | March 26, 2008 at 07:26 PM
I sure hope they run up the score by the half so I can put my sick ass to bed.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | March 26, 2008 at 07:34 PM
Oh, no! Ryan Hollins!
(With apologies to my fellow Bruins fans....)
Posted by: Jesterguru | March 26, 2008 at 07:35 PM
Frick. The Clippers are down by one against the Spurs in San Antionio in the fourth quarter.
Wow.
GO CLIPPERS!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | March 26, 2008 at 07:37 PM
K Brothers,
Please just mention three words to Pau, Trevor, Mihm, and Bynum.
Dit.... Da.... Jow....
Just mention it. How can it hurt?
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | March 26, 2008 at 07:39 PM
Cuíadate, Pau... y vuelve lo antes que puedas, pero no antes de lo que debas.
(Take care, Pau... and come back as soon as you can, but not sooner than you should.)
I thought that Pau's return would be "nice"... a "bonus"... something to make the games more exciting. What I didn't think was that it was absolutely essential...
How the $%&!! does a team like the Lakers lose by 13 to the Bobcats?????
Hurry back, Pau... and bring Andrew with you...
*sigh*
Posted by: David in Spain | March 26, 2008 at 11:47 PM
Hurry back Pau, Trevor and Andrew!!! If these three get back and get some timing (reg season games) before the playoffs this team is the one to beat. Without these three it will be a tough uphill climb.
Posted by: Steve | March 27, 2008 at 08:54 AM