Steve Nash participates in on-court drills; Mike D’Antoni still unsure about return – NBA Update
It was only last Friday when Steve Nash, the iconic point guard, who became the part of the Los Angeles Lakers roster this summer, expressed his frustration at the long injury layoff – fractured fibula in the left leg – which he had suffered after a freak collision with Portland Trail Blazers rookie Damian Lillard in a game on Oct 31.
Nash took a brief part in the Lakers’ second game of the season and has been on the sidelines since then. Early last week, the guard tried to take part in some on court drills, but cut them short after he experienced some discomfort.
This week though, he has successfully managed to get through an on-court practice session. The Lakers had scheduled an MRI for Nash on Monday, but put him through a conditioning routine instead with strength coach Tim DiFrancesco.
The situation however still remains unclear about the timetable of Nash’s return;
"I really don't (know when Nash will return)," Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni said when asked about the condition of the player who is slated to be the centrepiece of his offensive system. "It's getting better every day. I know we keep saying that, but it is. Just when he's able to withstand some up-and-down, he'll play."
The Lakers have so far gone 7-5 without Nash in the lineup, but under D’Antoni, they are just 2-2. That is primarily due to the fact that Nash and his back Steve Blake (strain in the lower abdomen) have both been on the sidelines for quite a while and the playmaking duties are being performed by rookie Darius Morris and his back-up Chris Duhon. In the last game against the Dallas Mavericks, Kobe Bryant also switched into the facilitation mode, and as such it seems that the Lakers will find ways to create offense till the time Nash returns to the fold.
The Lakers coach seemed content on giving his point guards as much time to recuperate as possible;
"I told (Nash) and I told Steve Blake ... we've got 68 games left," D'Antoni said. "I'd rather them play (the) 61 final games instead of them playing six and then missing 20 and then playing the rest of them."
Wonder what his approach will be if the Lakers lose the next couple of games.
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