Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar (1) passes the ball away from Milwaukee Bucks shooting guard Giannis Antetokounmpo (34), of Greece, defending during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Anytime he sits on the bench or by his locker rooms stall, Jordan Farmar looks restless.
He’s nursed a torn hamstring for the past month, and the only solution toward letting it heal has involved doing nothing. Farmar may have finally ended his withdrawal symptoms from basketball by participating in Thursday’s practice. But it appears the Lakers’ guard will still have to wait before returning.
Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni sounded skeptical Farmar could play Tuesday in Minnesota as the beginning of a three-game trip.
“Farmar is further and wants to be careful with him because of the last time what happened to him,” D’Antoni said.
It’s possible both Steve Nash and Steve Blake play as early as Tuesday depending on how their respective back and right elbow feel during practices on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. But Farmar’s situation appears a bit dicier because of the nature of his torn left hamstring. He also suffered another hamstring injury that kept him sidelined for 10 games. Farmar lasted only four more games before tearing his hamstring in a different area.
“I’ll try to be patient and listen to my body,” said Farmar, who has averaged 8.7 points and 4.7 assists. “If I feel anything, I’ll communicate with the staff and let them know. But at the end of the day, I can’t be afraid to play. If I am healthy, I have to be out there. I’m really taking it slow and paying attention to every little detail. If I come back and feel something, I’m won’t be afraid to say something and make sure I stay on top of it.”
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