After a crushing loss on New Year’s Eve, the Los Angeles Lakers were hoping to start 2014 with some fresh luck. About 12 hours into the New Year, the Lakers suffered their latest injury blow: Jordan Farmar tore his hamstring and will be out for a minimum of four weeks, an ultrasound revealed. Although this hamstring tear was in the same leg, it is in a different location than the hamstring tear Farmar suffered on Dec. 1.
During the third quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks, the former UCLA Bruin decided he was unable to continue playing in the game. He had only returned from a torn hamstring one week earlier, but the loss of Xavier Henry to a knee injury meant Farmar was required to play more minutes.
Before Tuesday’s game, Triple Threat asked Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni whether he was concerned about relying on Farmar considering he had only recently returned from injury.
“If Gary (Vitti) says it’s okay, it’s okay,” D’Antoni deferred to the athletic trainer. “Gotta be careful.”
When Farmar was shut down, no one was certain of the extent of the injury. With the Lakers not playing competitive basketball and trailing by as many as 22 points, pulling Farmar was initially categorized as possibly being a precautionary move.
After the game, Triple Threat again asked the coach what he would do if Farmar was ruled out.
“You looking for a 10-day (contract)?” D’Antoni responded. “How’s your jumper?”
He was attempting to make a dark situation light, but the Lakers have 15 players, so they cannot sign any more players. That 15th slot was filled when the Lakers brought up Kendall Marshall from the NBA Development League as an insurance policy. Marshall was signed on Dec. 20.
Two weeks later, Marshall is the only healthy point guard on the roster, and he is expected to start Friday’s game against the Utah Jazz. Injuries are a part of the game, but these Lakers appear to be cursed.
For the Lakers, it may be a New Year, but it’s still the same sad story.
