If the Los Angeles Lakers have any playoff hopes, it will have to be done as a unit and in good health.
The future of the Lake Show is a big question mark at this point. Kobe Bryant is nursing an Achilles tendon injury and is currently in Germany receiving platelet-rich plasma treatment on his right knee and left ankle which isn’t related to his Achilles. Pau Gasol is on the last year of his contract and has said he’d like to remain a Laker but extension talks have not yet occurred. Steve Nash turns 40 in February and has seen his productivity decrease over the past two seasons. Besides the core three, the Lakers don’t have much to fall back on, and those core players are in very delicate stages of their careers.
However, if you ever want to see the light at the end of the tunnel, look no further than Pau Gasol’s optimism about this upcoming season. The power forward has been heavily involved with basketball this offseason, leading a failed attempt to land Spain the 2020 Olympics.
The Lakers face the Denver Nuggets on Sunday night at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Gasol makes his preseason debut in the game after sitting out Saturday’s 104-95 win against the Golden State Warriors in Ontario, Calf.
Tonight we’re playing Denver at Staples our second preseason game. I’m looking forward to be back on our home floor playing again. #GoLakers
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) October 6, 2013
___
Previous Tweet Post:
Tweet of the Day: NBA preseason in full swing
___
Brett Poirier is a contributor to Sheridan Hoops. Follow @BrettNBA