Farmar’s hopes might indeed be fulfilled, as he was medically cleared Tuesday morning to return from the small tear in his left hamstring. With a trip to absorb losses of 19 points to the Golden State Warriors and 27 points to the Phoenix Suns behind them, the Lakers move on to the opportunity, challenge and potential ridicule of playing the two-time defending NBA champion Miami Heat on Christmas Day.
The losses made Farmar even more eager to jump right in to rein in the wayward Lakers offense that has been missing point guards Steve Nash, Steve Blake and Farmar—and semi-point guard Kobe Bryant—because of injuries.
Farmar is, for the record, making a minimum NBA salary this season. To be clear, the Lakers are pinning their hopes for a happy holiday and revival after that on a minimum guy. That is how low the Lakers are these days.
And if you find that analysis misleading in any way, let’s clarify further:
The Lakers’ leading scorer for the season is Nick Young. He is also, for the record, making a minimum NBA salary this season.
So much for the legend of the Lakers as the consummate free-spending NBA metropolis. That built-in advantage was killed off by the recent collective bargaining agreement, as the Lakers’ lighter payrolls will show even more in coming years, and injuries to the Lakers’ aging headliners now are leaving them with a chance of success that is, well, minimal.
That’s why Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni was rather indignant Monday night when prompted after quite an unattractive loss in Phoenix, D’Antoni’s former playground, to an upstart Suns team that never trailed after the Lakers’ initial po...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
