Report: Gasol may be out a while ESPN.com news services The Los Angeles Lakers are cruising without their gimpy big man, and they might have to limp along longer than expected. Lakers coach Phil Jackson said that Pau Gasol, who is trying to rehabilitate a sore hamstring, might not return until Christmas, the Los Angeles Daily News reported on Wednesday. "I find that hard to believe, that it's gone backwards. ... Right now, he's capable of doing only so much and nothing else," Jackson said, according to the newspaper. "But it is mysterious, no doubt about it." The defending champion Lakers are 6-1, and Gasol is expected to miss his eighth straight game when Los Angeles hosts Phoenix on Thursday. Asked if he knew when Gasol would practice or if he had a target date for his return, Jackson said: "No. We're starting to look toward Christmas, though. Some time out there." The Spanish forward missed just one regular-season game last year and was the Lakers' second-leading scorer while averaging 18.9 points, a team-leading 9.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists. Jackson was asked why Gasol's injury is mysterious. "Yeah, because with most hamstrings you see bleeding or bruises or holes in the hamstring," the coach said. "His has been one of those things wasn't a big concern to us, but has turned into a month-long injury.
This is actually good news, as long as Drew doesn't get hurt again. We have enough talent on this team to sustain without Pau and still have one of the top records in the league. Pau needs rest anyways, given the amount of basketball he has played recently. His injury isn't serious either, given the fact that his parents (doctors) have already cleared him to play. Seems to like Pau is just being lazy.
Kind of disappointed he got injured after going to a pointless European tournament. Should have rested it, I'm upset with him. As long as Bynum doesn't get injured we should still be able to cope.
Maybe he's being extra cautious? This could keep the rest of his body fresh though. At the same time we probably need to add someone else just because of DJ/Bynum's potential injury.
did you know they took the word gullible out of the dictionary too!!! Phil was joking to the media...this is not true.
