For those who haven’t seen it yet, today’s Los Angeles Times gives a Laker injury report that is not promising.
Kobe will likely be out another nine games, four at home then a five-game road trip that follows. That puts a lot of pressure on the current Lakers to stay in the playoff race by playing at least .500 ball — right now the seventh-seed Lakers are just percentage points ahead of eighth seed Minnesota and ninth seed Memphis (Houston is already half a game better than the Lakers). Something that would help this is Lamar staying out of foul trouble and in the game.
Chris Mihm has not been himself lately — he had just one rebound against the Sonics and three against the Clippers — and now we know why: He’s battling a calf injury (explaining the sleeve he has worn over it the past couple of games) and shin splints. So, now both our guys playing the center spot have injured legs. Is it a coincidence they gave up 20 offensive rebounds to Seattle and 19 to the Clippers?