The Lakers have limited upside with Pau Gasol sidelined (hamstring). Now Kobe Bryant is hobbled with a groin injury. The schedule is very favorable over the next couple of weeks; they can't afford to continue on as they have the last two games.
Hamstring - Sidelined by a hamstring injury throughout the preseason, Gasol is expected to return within the next week. However, the Lakers remain cautious about bringing Gasol back too soon. UPDATE (11/2): The team has conducted a sonogram on the hamstring and fears the possibility of a tear in the hamstring.
NBA PM: Gasol Says He Is ReadyPau Gasol plans on playing…Travis Outlaw out 3-5 months…Look at it from Allen Iverson’s point of view…HOOPSWORLD chats.
Notebook: Bryant Back to FormAfter struggling through a groin injury against the Houston Rockets, Kobe Bryant scored 40 points in the L.A. Lakers victory over the hobbled Detroit Pistons.
NBA Chat With Eric PincusHOOPSWORLD Senior Writer Eric Pincus answers your questions on the L.A. Lakers, Clippers and NBA at large.
5 Things We Learned In The NBA This WeekJudgment day just around the corner for the New York Knicks... Should No. 23 be retired across the NBA?... Byron Scott the next Lakers' coach? ... And much more!
Is Artest The Melo Stopper?Is the Lakers Ron Artest really the Carmelo Anthony Stopper some in Los Angeles were making him out to be after his signing this past summer?
Courtside: Nuggets Run Away From LakersThe Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Lakers meet for the first time in the regular season since their contentious Western Conference Finals match-up last season.
Kobe Bryant Changes Up His GameAfter winning his first NBA Finals MVP, Kobe Bryant of the L.A. Lakers has changed up his game.
Free Agent Watch Day 2LeBron and Kobe Lobbying for Ron Artest... Chicago Bulls never tendered offer to Ben Gordon... Raptors not pursuing Turkoglu... Wallace has suitors...
NBA Sunday: Cavs/Lakers Happening?The world looks to a Cleveland/L.A. NBA Finals, but is that necessarily a certainty? ... Pistons should blow it up this summer... Paxson still giving up GM role...
Rumors: Phil Jackson AchingLos Angeles Lakers Coach Phil Jackson will miss the Portland Trail Blazers game . . . Kevin Garnett's knee . . . Camby update . . .
Rumors: What's Next?Looking forward to the Lottery, NBA Draft and free agency . . .
Sunday Scoop: Expiring Deals in DemandTeams not just looking to trade for great players, but also expiring contracts... Celtics want to add another piece... Grizzlies and Knicks welcome "new" players...
Fantasy: Latest Injury UpdatesCan you begin to count all the injuries we’ve seen so far in this new 2009-10 NBA season? For success in the fantasy basketball world, you have to be on top of who’s injured and return dates, so here’s your right-now injury guide.
Fantasy: Latest Injury ImpactsThe past two weeks have seen Redd, Bynum, and now Nelson sidelined with injuries. Who will step up to fill their voids?
Fantasy: The Roto All-Star StartersThe fans have had their say, and now it's time for fantasy owners to state the case for the guys whose numbers make us the happiest.
Fantasy: Updated Top 50 Overall RankingsNearly a quarter of the way into the 2008-2009 NBA season, we have seen our fair share of pleasant fantasy surprises and brutal disappointments. Thus, let’s re-examine the Top-50 overall fantasy rankings and see how it shakes out...
Fantasy: Tracking Trends From Week 3If your superstar can't hold onto the ball or your point guard can't pass it, take refuge here with other fantasy owners searching for answers.
Fantasy: Stock Up / Stock DownWith nearly two weeks in the books, HOOPSWORLD breaks down whose stock is rising and whose stock is plummeting during the early stages of this 2008-2009 NBA season…
Arena: Staples Center
(18997) Arena Build Date: 1/1/1999 Owner: Dr. Jerry Buss President: Mitch Kupchak General Manager: Mitch Kupchak Head Coach: Phil Jackson Assistant Coaches: Frank Hamblen, Kurt Rambis, Brian Shaw, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Craig Hodges, Jim Cleamons Number of NBA Titles: 15 Number of Playoff Appearances: 57 Forbes 2007 Franchise Value: $584 million Forbes 2007 Revenue: $191 million Purchase Price: $20 million (1979) Developmental League Team: Los Angeles D-Fenders
