Gasol shoots hoops
Pau Gasol had his first significant workout since spraining his left ankle in the early moments of the Lakers' loss March 14 against New Orleans.
He shot baskets after practice and worked on a few moves with assistant coach Kurt Rambis acting as a defender and with athletic trainer Gary Vitti keeping a close watch on the workout.
Gasol's post-workout comments:
"It's the first day I could do some stuff on the court. It's a big step forward because I felt pretty good. I was pretty sore on some moves, but I kind of expected that. I have to go through a full practice (before deciding whether to play). I'll wait until Saturday to go through a full practice."
Gasol said Wednesday he would probably wait until next Wednesday's game against Portland to make his return, and that still might be the best-case scenario. How well he recovers from his workout will probably determine the next move.
The Lakers have to balance Gasol's need for a slow, steady and certain recovery and their need for a versatile 7-foot center down the stretch.