Pau Gasol could soon return to action, according to Mike Trudell of Lakers.com: “Pau Gasol, who’s been pained by tendinitis in both knees this season and missed eight straight games, could return in the team’s Tuesday evening game against Charlotte. “I’m feeling well, I’m happy with the practice that I did today and how I felt,” he said after his first practice session with the team in two weeks. “We’ll see how I feel tomorrow and decide then.” Gasol noted that he hasn’t simply been resting, but working with the team’s training staff to strengthen the areas around his knees in order to help him maintain health throughout the season.”
- Trudell also has an updated report on the status of Steve Nash: “The veteran point guard – who’s been out since Halloween – participated in a full practice, though the Lakers did not scrimmage or go through full-court contact drills. Nonetheless, being on the court left him feeling fairly optimistic, as he hopes to return from the non-displaced fracture in his left leg sooner than later. “Hopefully I can play by Christmas,” said Nash. “We’ll see how it responds this week. Today we didn’t do any 5-on-5 or contact.” While seeing how things go as the week goes on is an unknown, Nash said he’s definitely noticed progress of late.”
- Amare Stoudemire could soon hit the court for the Knicks, from Ken Berger of CBS Sports:
Eric Gordon will soon be re-evaluated on the status of his troublesome knee, according to John Reid of The Times Picayune: “Shooting guard Eric Gordon will complete his final rehabilitation work in Los Angeles this week before heading back to New Orleans to be re-evaluated. Gordon has missed all 23 games this season because of an injury situation involving his right knee. Gordon tweeted Monday that he will be returning to New Orleans after this week and that he is excited about getting back with the team. Coach Monty Williams confirmed that they will find out this weekend how close Gordon is toward returning. “I haven’t seen him in a couple of weeks, so we’ll find out this weekend,” Williams said.” In early November, Gordon received a second opinion from a physician in Chicago who prescribed continued rehab and estimated that Gordon would miss four to six weeks.”
John Wall, unfortunately, is still without a timetable for a return, from Eric Freeman of Ball Don’t Lie: “Reporter: How has your knee responded to the shot [you received on Friday]? Wall: The last few times, it felt pretty good. I still didn’t do nothing on the court, but it was getting better, and the swelling was starting to go down. I just got one Friday, and it needs a couple of days for the swelling to go down, so I’m still waiting to see how it’s going to feel by like Wednesday or Thursday this week. Reporter: Have you been given a timetable? Wall: No, no timetable. Basically, I just got to see how this shot goes, and see if I can get back to ramping it up without having any problems or pain or soreness.”
Tyreke Evans could miss extended time based on the Kings recent call up of Tyler Honeycutt, from Sactown Royalty: “The Sacramento Kings today announced that they have recalled sophomore forward Tyler Honeycutt from their D-League affiliate, the Reno Bighorns. Honeycutt’s return to the Kings roster may be a sign that Tyreke Evans will be sitting for an extended period. Evans has missed four games recently due to a sore left knee, and left Sunday’s game against Denver after the first quarter as his knee acted up once more. No word has been given on Evans’ condition as of yet or his availability for tonight’s game in Phoenix. He did take an MRI last week that came up negative for a fracture or tear.”
Chauncey Billups still wonders why the Pistons decided to move him to this day, from Vincent Goodwill of The Detroit News: “Honestly in my heart, I still feel like if they didn’t make that move and move me, we’d still be an elite team in the league,” Billups said. “Of course you have to make some changes, (adding) the young guys.” Billups noted the young talent on the Pistons’ roster at that time, namely Rodney Stuckey and Arron Afflalo, and his belief the Pistons’ success hadn’t yet run its complete course, despite losing in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals in the previous three years. “I still had some great, great years left,” Billups said. “I never wanted to leave, even though I was home (Denver) and it was good to be home, I always wanted to be a Piston. I wanted to retire a Piston.”… “I’m still … Even though I’m over it, I still don’t get it,” said Billups with a slight chuckle. “It wasn’t like I was 36 or 37 and I couldn’t rock anymore. I was still rocking. I was still in my prime.”