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Bench Warmer
The Los Angeles Lakers are cruising without their gimpy big man, and they might have to limp along longer than expected.
Lakers coach Phil Jackson said that Pau Gasol, who is trying to rehabilitate a sore hamstring, might not return until Christmas, the Los Angeles Daily News reported on Wednesday.
"I find that hard to believe, that it's gone backwards. ... Right now, he's capable of doing only so much and nothing else," Jackson said, according to the newspaper. "But it is mysterious, no doubt about it."
The defending champion Lakers are 6-1, and Gasol is expected to miss his eighth straight game when Los Angeles hosts Phoenix on Thursday.
Asked if he knew when Gasol would practice or if he had a target date for his return, Jackson said: "No. We're starting to look toward Christmas, though. Some time out there."
The Spanish forward missed just one regular-season game last year and was the Lakers' second-leading scorer while averaging 18.9 points, a team-leading 9.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists.
Jackson was asked why Gasol's injury is mysterious.
"Yeah, because with most hamstrings you see bleeding or bruises or holes in the hamstring," the coach said. "His has been one of those things wasn't a big concern to us, but has turned into a month-long injury."
Lakers coach Phil Jackson said that Pau Gasol, who is trying to rehabilitate a sore hamstring, might not return until Christmas, the Los Angeles Daily News reported on Wednesday.
"I find that hard to believe, that it's gone backwards. ... Right now, he's capable of doing only so much and nothing else," Jackson said, according to the newspaper. "But it is mysterious, no doubt about it."
The defending champion Lakers are 6-1, and Gasol is expected to miss his eighth straight game when Los Angeles hosts Phoenix on Thursday.
Asked if he knew when Gasol would practice or if he had a target date for his return, Jackson said: "No. We're starting to look toward Christmas, though. Some time out there."
The Spanish forward missed just one regular-season game last year and was the Lakers' second-leading scorer while averaging 18.9 points, a team-leading 9.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists.
Jackson was asked why Gasol's injury is mysterious.
"Yeah, because with most hamstrings you see bleeding or bruises or holes in the hamstring," the coach said. "His has been one of those things wasn't a big concern to us, but has turned into a month-long injury."
