Centers? Lakers Don't Need No Stinkin' Centers
Gasol has been out, now Bynum may join him for a little bit. Whose left at center?
By KURT HELIN
Updated 2:43 PM PST, Thu, Nov 5, 2009
One more injury and the Lakers may need to pull some people out of the stands at Staples Center this weekend to play center.
Last night in Houston, Andrew Bynum went up for a dunk late in the game and instead got a hard foul that led to a strained elbow, the team reported Thursday. This is not long-term serious, but Bynum is now doubtful for Friday's game and will be re-evaluated before Sunday.
No problem, right? Last year the Lakers just slid seven-foot Pau Gasol over to the center position and… wait, Gasol has missed 11 games dating back to the preseason with a slight tear in his hamstring.
Gasol took part in non-contact practice drills, but said last night he was not ready to come back yet. Phil Jackson after last night’s game said he had hopes Gasol would be in uniform Friday. That quiet bit of tension has been playing out in the Lakers locker room since the season started, with some wondering if Gasol could play through this injury. Now that tension gets ratcheted up. Then Gasol said after practice on Thursday he is doubtful for Friday.
But if no Bynum and no Gasol, does that mean Lamar Odom at center Friday night? Or the foul-getting machine that is DJ Mbenga?
The good news is the Lakers play Memphis Friday night, not exactly one of the league’s powerhouses. Even without Gasol and Bynum, the Lakers can win. Ron Artest is starting to fit in, Kobe is Kobe, Lamar Odom is playing with a newfound confidence and the bench players are bound to have a good game eventually.
This will be game six of the Lakers season (which if they reach the Finals again will stretch past 100 games). This is the time you rest guys and make sure they are healthy, it matters more than wins. Last season the Boston Celtics started 27-2, but in the playoffs they were out in the second round because they were without key guys due to injury. The NBA season is a marathon, and what matters is now you finish not how you start.
Plus, Friday might be the perfect night to sit Bynum — both of his serious knee injuries came in games against Memphis. The more Phil Jackson thinks about it, the more he may want to rest everybody prone to injury that night. Even if it means grabbing some fans out of the stands to play.
Kurt Helin is not tall enough to play center, so instead he runs the NBA/Lakers blog Forum Blue & Gold (which you can also follow in twitter).
Copyright NBC Local Media
First Published: Nov 5, 2009 10:16 AM PST
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