Jordan Farmar progresses toward spot shooting

For the first time since tearing his left hamstring for the second time this season nine days ago, Lakers guard Jordan Farmar spent the end of Thursday’s practice working on spot shooting.

That ranged from Farmar working on drills with Lakers assistant coach Johnny Davis, which entailed shooting free throws, baseline jumpers and bank shots without lifting his legs.

Those drills mark a small benchmark in Farmar’s healing process, which the Lakers estimate will last at least another three more weeks.

“He’s worthless,” Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni joked. “I want him back, but right now he’s worthless. [When he returns], I’ll love him.”

The Lakers (14-22) enter Friday’s game against the Clippers (25-13) with depressing news beyond losing nine of their last 10 games. They also field notable injuries to Kobe Bryant (fractured left knee), Steve Nash (nerve issues in back), Steve Blake (hyperextended right elbow), Xavier Henry (bone bruise in right knee) and Farmar. Henry could return as early as next week, but the Lakers aren’t expected to have their other flood of guards until February.

Farmar had strained his left hamstring last month that kept him out for 10 games. But the Lakers say Farmar’s latest tear was in a different part in his left hamstring. After returning from his initial hamstring injury, Farmar had averaged only 6.75 points on 27.7 percent shooting and six assists in 26.25 minutes through four games, a dropoff from his season average of 8.7 points on 40.6 percent shooting and 4.7 assists in 20.7 minutes per contest.

That has left the Lakers relying on Kendall Marshall, who has averaged 9.1 points on 47.5 percent shooting, seven assists and three turnovers through eight games since being plucked from the D-League.

“They’ll all come together in a big old car,” D’Antoni joked.

But that won’t happen until after the Lakers’ 11-day, seven-game trip. Will they have run out of time to turn things around once their depleted backcourt returns?

“It could be, but it’ll never be too late to have a great game when they come back,” D’Antoni said. “We have to worry about the next game and then the next game. That’s all we can do.”

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com