The Los Angeles Lakers are running a lot of their offense through 7-footer Pau Gasol. Maybe they can have him bring the ball upcourt, too.
The Lakers are running out of guards. Already without injured superstar Kobe Bryant, the seventh seed could also be without point guards Steve Nash and Steve Blake and shooting guard Jodie Meeks for Friday night’s Game 3 of their first-round series vs. the San Antonio Spurs.
According to the team, Nash received two epidural injections in his back and a cortisone shot in his right hip Thursday. He is doubtful for Game 3.
Blake is even worse. He had an ultrasound Thursday which confirmed a moderate strain of his right hamstring and is out indefintely.
Meeks will have an MRI on Thursday afternoon on a sprained left ankle that forced him to miss Wednesday’s Game 2 loss. Like Nash, he also is doubtful for Game 3.
Nash missed 32 games this season, including the final eight with back and hip injuries. During the regular season finale, he said he would have an epidural injection and was hopeful it would allow him to play in the postseason.
He is averaging 12.5 points and 4.5 assists in the first two games vs. the Spurs and clearly was hobbled in Game 2, limping back on defense.
Blake, whose late-season contributions after Bryant’s season-ending torn Achilles tendon have been invaluable, strained his hamstring in Game 2. He averaged better than 20 points in the last three regular-season games and 14.0 points vs. the Spurs.
Meeks sprained his ankle in Game 1, when he scored four points on 1-of-4 shooting in 20 minutes.
If Nash, Blake and Meeks all cannot play, the backcourt cupboard is pretty bare for the Lakers. 
The remaining guards on the roster are Chris Duhon, Darius Morris and D-League Most Valuable Player Andrew Goudelock, all considered point guards.
Duhon has played 22 minutes since Feb. 7. Morris is in his second season and played just 14 minutes since Jan. 27 until moving into the rotation after Bryant’s injury. Goudelock was signed after Bryant’s injury and played since minutes in the season finale.
The Lakers could try using small forwards Metta World Peace or Devin Ebanks at shooting guard but that would leave them vulnerable to San Antonio’s smaller, quicker guards such as Manu Ginobili and Gary Neal. LA already is having trouble containing quicksilver point guard Tony Parker.
Bottom line? The Lakers’ season easily could be over Sunday afternoon.