Gasol Out

Now missing three injured 7-foot centers after Pau Gasol’s ankle buckled Friday night, it seems physically impossible for the injury-plagued Lakers to keep standing so tall. If Gasol misses the next two weeks, as seems likely, while fellow centers Andrew Bynum and Chris Mihm remain out, the focus for the Lakers might even shift from lording over the Western Conference to just making the playoffs as a top-eight qualifier. Upon losing, 108-98, to the New Orleans Hornets after Gasol went down in the opening minutes, the Lakers dropped into a tie with Houston for the West lead — and they’re six games ahead of Denver, ninth in the West.

Orange County Register