At least, that's the story that coach Mike D'Antoni is selling:
Any sort of positive update on Steve Nash—even if this seems more rooted in hope than fact—has to be a welcome sign. The 39-year-old has been out since Nov. 10 due to nerve damage in his back. Previous updates on his condition have only delayed his possible return date.
As for Kobe Bryant, Jan. 28 would be exactly six weeks since his last appearance. He missed L.A.'s first 19 games while recovering from the torn Achilles that ended his 2012-13 campaign, then suffered a fracture in his left knee just six games into his return.
Nash and Bryant are the headliners, but this entire roster has been ripped apart by injury.
Kendall Marshall, who started the month of December with the D-League's Delaware 87ers, is the sixth different starting point guard the Lakers have had this season.
"That’s the one good thing, it can’t happen to us again because we’ve got them all out," D'Antoni said of the team's point guard injuries, via Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times.
If Bryant and Nash are able to give it a go on the 28th, one can only hope their bodies are fully ready for the return.
The Lakers have lost nine of their last 10 games—a relative knockout blow in the jam-packed Western Conference. As ESPN.com's Joe Kaiser (subscription required) noted, "with the trade deadline looming there's a good chance they will become sellers."
There's no reason for them to rush
Plus, it's not as if this is an ideal matchup for two players aging players trying to shake off some rust. If the Indiana Pacers (28-7) aren't the best team overall, they're at least the best defensive club in the leagu...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers