With the playoffs set to begin Sunday afternoon at the Staples Center, the Lakers are finishing up their last minute preparations.
One question heading into the team’s first round series with the Denver Nuggets is the health of several key players, one of which is reserve forward Matt Barnes.
Barnes sat out the team’s final regular season game against the Sacramento Kings with a sore ankle, and admitted today that his knee still isn’t 100 percent. But Barnes isn’t going to let that slow him down once the ball tips on Sunday.
During the Lakers’ final practice before the post-season on Saturday afternoon, Barnes told reporter Mike Trudell that he doesn’t anticipate letting his ankle get in the way.
Barnes said his ankle is not 100%, but he’s “gonna play” regardless. He’s been getting constant treatment.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) April 28, 2012
This is good news for the Lakers, as they will certainly need Barnes’ contributions in the first round. The team will be without starting small forward Metta World Peace (suspension), so Barnes will play an even bigger role for the team.
