The Los Angeles Lakers have been without two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash for 24 of the first 26 games of the season. The loss of Nash has been costly to say the least for the Lakers with the team running an offense made specifically for Nash’s style of play.
Without Nash running the point and Steve Blake out for a considerable amount of time following surgery to repair a torn abdominal muscle, the Lakers have turned to Kobe Bryant, Chris Duhon and Darius Morris to bring the ball up the court on a nightly basis. Even though Kobe is having one of his most efficient seasons of his career, the five-time NBA champion is not a point guard nor possesses the skills needed to get this offense where it needs to be under new head coach Mike D’Antoni.
Duhon and Morris have shown signs of promise at signs during their stints as the starting floor general, but neither appear to be the answer the team is looking for while waiting for Nash to get back healthy from the leg fracture injury he suffered in the second game of the season.
Fortunately, there might be some light at the end of the tunnel for the Lakers with Nash reportedly targeting Christmas Day against the New York Knicks for his return. Although next Tuesday appears to be the more likely scenario for his return, Nash might be able suit up a few days earlier when the Lakers take on the Golden State Warriors this Saturday in the Bay Area.
All signs appear to be pointing in the direction of Nash’s return sooner rather than later, but with so many setbacks over the past few weeks, the Lakers’ coaching staff won’t be holding their breath.
Lakers Nation News
Ramon Sessions Reflects On Time With Lakers As ‘Good Experience’
Kobe Bryant Praises Coach Mike D’Antoni’s Trust In Players
Dwight Howard Believes Steve Nash Will Help Improve Lakers’ Defense
Lakers News: Pau Gasol Talks About Playing Alongside Dwight Howard
Bryant: ‘I’m Probably The One Enjoying This Process The Most’
Kobe Praises Darius Morris, Who Is Becoming A Factor On Defense
Pau Gasol Still Trying To Adjust Under Coach D’Antoni’s System
Lakers Send Season Greetings With Holiday Video
Season Of Giving Shirts Away To Lakers Nation Followers
Lakers News: Pau Gasol Claims Explosiveness Has Returned
Steve Nash Looking To Return On Saturday’s Game Against Warriors
How Much Of An Adjustment Does Dwight Howard Have To Make?
Lakers News
Mike D’Antoni Experimenting With Lakers’ Rotation [LA Times]
Live Discussion: Will Pau Gasol Save The Lakers? [LA Times]
Pau Gasol Isn’t The Problem, He’s Part Of The Solution [LA Times]
Former Lakers Ramon Sessions Focuses On Upside, Not The What-Ifs [LA Times]
Return Of Steve Nash, Pau Gasol Could Be A Gift For Lakers [LA Times]
Always A Superstar, Kobe Bryant Relies On His Powers [LA Times]
Ding: Kobe Is Jodie Meeks’ Fairy Lakers Godmother [OC Register]
Lakers Survive; Credit Nash With An Assist [OC Register]
Gasol Makes Welcomes Return [OC Register]
Dark Days Might Be Near End For Lakers [OC Register]
NBA Trade Season: Looking At The Market For Pau [Silver Screen & Roll]
Tweetbag: Kobe To Start At Small Forward [Silver Screen & Roll]
A Gut-Checking Moment As Lakers Top Bobcats [Silver Screen & Roll]
TOM HOFFARTH: Last-Minute Gifts For L.A. Sports Fans To Get Your Claus On [LA Daily News]
Encapsulating Kobe, In Three Plays [Forum Blue & Gold]
Lakers’ Pau Gasol Still Adjusting To Head Coach D’Antoni’s System [Sports City]
NBA Play Of The Day: Bobcats’ Henderson With Mighty Throwdown [Sports City]
Nike Unveils Christmas Day Sneakers For James, Bryant And Durant [The Point Forward]
Reports: Nash Plans To Return Saturday [The Point Forward]
NBA News
Nowitzki Practices For 1st Time Since Surgery [ESPN]
Knicks To Have Anthony (Ankle) Against Nets [ESPN]
Isiah Thomas To Join NBA TV As Studio Analyst [ESPN]
Amar’e Willing To Come Off Bench If Needed [ESPN]
Johnson OK With D-Will [ESPN]
Battle Of The Boroughs, PT. III [SB Nation]
Who Is Holding The Nets Back? [SB Nation]
The Myths About Assists [SB Nation]
NBA Trade Season Kicks Off [SB Nation]
In Praise Of Joakim Noah [SB Nation]
LeBron James Bikes To Most Of Heat Games [Pro Basketball Talk]
NBA Trademarks Five Names For Hornets… Mosquitos? Really? [Pro Basketball Talk]
Brookylnite Jamaal Tinsley Directs Jazz’s Bus Driver To Team Hotel [Pro Basketball Talk]
Bulls May Waive Nate Robinson Before Jan. 10 [Pro Basketball Talk]
Spurs Assign Kawhi Leonard To D-League [Pro Basketball Talk]
