Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol, right, drives against Orlando Magic forward Glen Davis (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Orlando, Fla., Friday, Jan. 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Though a groin injury in recent weeks has worsened enough to keep him active in only part of Fridays’ shootaround, Pau Gasol is expected to play when the Lakers (16-30) host the Charlotte Bobcats (20-27) Friday at Staples Center.

Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni disclosed Gasol is wearing a “device” on his the big toe of his left foot after suffering a moderate strain in that area two weeks ago.

“His toe was causing him to run wrong and he felt it in the groin,” D’Antoni said. “Whatever it is, he should be all right tonight.”

Gasol didn’t speak to reporters on Friday, but he said following Thursday’s practice that the toe injury contributed to the groin injury because he felt forced to compensate.

D’Antoni also said Lakers guard Jodie Meeks will play tonight against Charlotte despite nursing a sore right foot. Meeks has averaged a career-high 14.6 points on 45.4 percent shooting this season because of improved outside shooting, defensive hustle and finishing.

“Jodie has played really well. He’s improved his game and has become a really good basketball player,” D’Antoni said. “He still has to add on his pen court layups. He has to work on that. But he’s become a consistent shooter, consistent defender and a guy who doesn’t make too many mistakes.”

Meanwhile, Gasol has become largely efficient this month, averaging 20.6 points on 50.9 percent shooting 12.1 rebounds in 35.1 minutes per game through 14 contests. That marks a sharp increase from his totals in November (14.9 points on 43 percent shooting and 10.3 rebounds) and December (15.5 points on 46 percent shooting and 7.8 rebounds). Yet, Gasol wasn’t named as a reserve to this year’s All-Star team.

“He’s playing at an All-Star level., but When you’re not in top eight or top nine, numbers don’t mean a lot if you’re not winning,” D’Antoni said. “You have to be careful about putting someone on the All-Star team when you’re not winning, unless you’re in the East probably.”

The Eastern Conference only boasts five teams with winning records, including the Indiana Pacers (35-10), Miami Heat (32-13), Toronto Raptors (24-21), Atlanta Hawks (23-21) and Chicago Bulls (23-22). The lone Western Conference teams without .500 records include the New Orleans Pelicans (19-26), Utah Jazz (16-29), Lakers (16-30) and Sacramento Kings (15-30).

Still, it didn’t help that Gasol suffered inconsistency this season.

“I think he was hurt a little bit,” D’Antoni said. “We had some issues with point guards and issues he had to work through. That’s just the way it went.”

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

Lakers Pau Gasol and Nick Young celebrate Gasol’s three-pointer in the fourth quarter against the Timberwolves, Friday, December 20, 2013, at Staples Center. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker/L.A. Daily News)

Pau Gasol oozes his friendly personality with every ways imaginable.

He usually bears a bright smile. Gasol frequently pats teammates, team officials and reporters on the back and shoulder. He offers sympathetic ears to those in need and a hearty laugh to those with joy.

But Gasol apparently doesn’t plan to extend that courtesy to Cleveland coach Mike Brown, who’s making his first appearance at Staples Center since the Lakers fired him last season.

“I’m usually pretty focused when I start off the game,” said Gasol, whose status remains a game-time decision tonight agains the Cavaliers. “I don’t really talk to coaches or players unless they’re really close to me. It’s not a plan I don’t usually do that with any coach really.”
Continue reading “Pau Gasol doesn’t plan to greet Mike Brown before the Lakers-Cavaliers game” »

Lakers’ Pao Gasol smiles a a young fan in the front row as he waits for a freethrow against the Denver Nuggets at the Staple Center in Los Angeles, CA on Sunday, January 5, 2014. 1st half.
(Photo by Scott Varley, Daily Breeze)

Though he went through the entire morning shootaround on Monday, Lakers forward Pau Gasol says he won’t know whether he will play tonight against Cleveland at Staples Center until sensing how the moderate strain in his big left toe feels after his pre-game warmups.

“I didn’t do a whole lot,” Gasol said. “I was happy with things I’ve done. I didn’t really jump that much or try any explosive moves. But I was running up and down at a decent pace. IT was good. Let’s see if I can push off and play.”

Gasol missed both practices on Sunday and Monday after suffering the injury in the first half of the Lakers’ loss Friday to the Clippers, an injury he stemmed from feeling a pull in his toe after changing direction with his foot. Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni said he will pair Jordan Hill and Chris Kaman in the frontcourt if Gasol can’t suit up, but D’Antoni said he’s “optimistic” Gasol will play. Assuming that happens, D’Antoni will start Gasol with Robert Sacre.

“I think he will go so I’m not worried about it,” D’Antoni said of Gasol.

Continue reading “Pau Gasol’s status considered a game-time decision vs. Cleveland” »

The Lakers’ Pau Gasol shoots against the Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan in the first half, Friday, January 10, 2014, at Staples Center. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker/L.A. Daily News)

Lakers forward Pau Gasol will receive an MRI on his sore left foot, leaving the possibility open that he won’t suit up Tuesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Staples Center.

Gasol is believed to have injured his foot at some point during the Lakers’ loss Friday to the Clippers in a designated road game at Staples Center. That development, coupled with Xavier Henry planning to be reevaluated Tuesday on the bone bruise in his left knee, left the Lakers looking like they were about to play pick-up basketball Monday instead of actually practicing.

With long-term injuries to Kobe Bryant (left knee), Steve Nash (back), Steve Blake (hyperextended right elbow) and Jordan Farmar (left hamstring), the Lakers dressed only eight players at practice. That included Nick Young, Jordan Hill, Wesley Johnson, Chris Kaman, Ryan Kelly, Jodie Meeks, Robert Sacre and Kendall Marshall. The Lakers’ roster remains so depleted that Lakers assistant coach Larry Lewis, player development coach Mark Madsen and video coordinator J.J. Outlaw were expected to participate.

Gasol’s latest injury leaves the Lakers without a player Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni had described as their leader moments before the team learned about his setback.

“I don’t think we’re fragmented,” D’Antoni said. “It would be different if we were selfish. Everybody is trying to pull away. To me that’s not a problem we have if we’re leaderless or rudderless. They’re trying and going in the right direction and trying to do the right thing. We’re just shorthanded and overmatched sometimes, quite frankly. The biggest thing is the leader that Pau is keeps everybody’s spirits up and stays positive and comes to work every day and tries to put a good foot forward.”
Continue reading “Pau Gasol to receive MRI on sore left foot” »

Dallas Mavericks’ Shawn Marion (0) defends against a move to the basket by Los Angeles Lakers’ Pau Gasol (16) of Spain as Vince Carter (25) and Monta Ellis, left rear, watch in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

DALLAS — Pau Gasol sat in the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood last Saturday night, watching “The Lion King” musical with his parents and younger brother in hopes to experience no worries for the rest of his days.

At intermission, though, Gasol turned on his cell phone and logged onto Twitter. Then, he learned through a false report from KSPN-710AM that the Lakers traded him to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Andrew Bynum.

“I was getting all these messages, ‘Farewell, Pau. Thanks for all your services,” all that stuff,” Gasol recalled after the Lakers’ 110-97 loss Tuesday to the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. “I guess it’s good to get a heads-up a day before. Most guys don’t get that.”

Most guys also don’t get traded essentially three times only for the deal never to happen. But such is the circle of life for Gasol. The Lakers shipped him over two years ago in a deal that would’ve landed them Chris Paul until the NBA decided otherwise. The other two scenarios stemmed from inacurrate media reports, both during the 2011-12 season and this past week.

Gasol still hasn’t expended his nine lives with the Lakers. Cleveland traded Bynum to Chicago for All-Star forward Luol Deng and a flurry of draft picks.

“It feels good to survive and live to fight another day,” said Gasol, who posted 15 points on only 5-of-14 shooting and 13 rebounds. “I’d like to continue to be here. But that’s not up to me.”
Continue reading “Pau Gasol’s viewing of “Lion King” musical disrupted because of false trade report” »