Pau Thread: Surgery a success; now rehab & rest for 12 weeks

Doc Brown wrote:

When Gasol might return
March, 13, 2013
MAR 13
9:13
AM ET
By Nick Borges | ESPN.com
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Pau Gasol is getting closer to a return to the active roster as he went through a full workout on Tuesday. He has been out for the last five weeks recovering from a torn plantar fascia in his right foot.

"He’s starting to run now and he feels pretty good," Lakers head coach Mike D'Antoni told ESPNLosAngeles.com. "So, I think every day without setbacks, without getting sore, he’ll just up it."

There is a chance Gasol will practice in the next seven days and he might be available soon after that if he doesn't suffer any setbacks.

dwighthowardsdad wrote:^I like that 2nd unit with Pau; if he's aggressive. He can play closer to the basket & as we both know is a very good passer, so he can get others involved with that unit. He can add much needed size & rebounding to the bench...

therealdeal wrote:Well he was projected to miss 6-8 weeks right, so he's right no schedule.

Ramona Shelburne ‏@ramonashelburne
Pau Gasol said in an ESPN radio interview today he's hoping to return next week.

Ramona Shelburne ‏@ramonashelburne
Pau: "Hoepfully everything will go well and next week is a possibility" @mcten says he ran fullcourt drills with Darvin Ham b4 game today

Ramona Shelburne ‏@ramonashelburne
Pau: "I'm in the last stretch of my recovery. Hopefully I'll be able to be back with my team soon and help us play even better than we have"

Pau Gasol will return next week for Lakers
The seven-footer has been out since Feb. 5 because of a foot injury. And he will be a starter when he comes back

By Mike Bresnahan
March 13, 2013, 10:27 p.m.
ATLANTA — The trade deadline passed a few weeks ago, but the Lakers will add a significant player to their active roster next week.

Pau Gasol will return soon from torn plantar fascia in his right foot. The only game he ruled out was Friday at Indiana.

"Everything else is possible. I'm not going to hold myself back if I think I'm ready to play," Gasol said Wednesday. "There's not many games left in the season and every game will be valuable to us.

"We're keeping our options open. We're trying to see how I progress over the next few days."

After Friday, the Lakers play Sunday against Sacramento and Monday in Phoenix, each possible return dates, though their next game after that, March 22 against Washington, gives Gasol an extra three days of recovery time.

He hasn't played since Feb. 5 against Brooklyn.

The Lakers initially said he would be sidelined at least six to eight weeks, and in a rare spot of good injury news for them this season, the six-week mark would be Tuesday, meaning he might return earlier than expected.

He will also be a starter.

Gasol was essentially coming off the bench when he was injured, though he had started a few games while Dwight Howard dealt with a torn labrum in his shoulder.

Gasol will return to the starting lineup next week in place of struggling Earl Clark, unless conditioning reasons force him to come off the bench for a game or two, an unlikely event.

Lakers Coach Mike D'Antoni doesn't want to repeat the distractions caused by Gasol's demotion to reserve status, according to a person familiar with the situation.

Gasol is experiencing his worst season since his rookie year in Memphis (2001-02). He is averaging 13.4 points, which would be a career low if it doesn't improve, and shooting only 45.3%, also a potential career low.

But his skills on offense will be welcomed by the team in general, including Kobe Bryant, an ardent Gasol supporter who seemed as disappointed as Gasol when the injury happened.