Skip to content

Pau Gasol has partial tear of plantar fascia, out at least six weeks

Feb 6, 2013, 6:05 PM EDT

Los Angeles Lakers' Gasol falls to the floor with an injury to his right leg in the fourth quarter of their NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets in Brooklyn Reuters

You can take all your Pau Gasol deadline trade deals and walk them over to the trash can…

Gasol will be out for six weeks with a partially torn plantar fascia, tweets Ken Berger of CBSSports.com. The Lakers confirmed he is out but refused to provide a timetable until he gets a second opinion. But six weeks is the minimum and the injury announcement was expected after Gasol said he heard a pop in his foot late in the Lakers win over the Nets Tuesday. Berger had a few more details.

Gasol would be back in late March if he just gets rehab, in time to help the Lakers during their playoff push. Surgery could cost him the rest of the season.

The plantar fascia is the thick membrane that runs along the bottom of the foot. Gasol had been suffering inflammation there — a pretty common situation among NBA players — and the treatment is primarily rest. But Gasol played through it and… here we are.

The Lakers had been 3-0 with Pau Gasol as the starter since Dwight Howard went down with a shoulder injury. The Lakers also are without backup big Jordan Hill, out for the season following hip surgery.

This is going to put more pressure on Howard to step up and perform — the Lakers playoff chances basically will ride on what his bad back and shoulder can support. A banged up Howard has not lived up to expectations in Los Angeles, but this is the kind of situation where people expect their stars to step up and take charge.

It’s on Howard to do that.

Latest Posts
  1. NBA Finals Game 5 mini-movie (VIDEO)

    Jun 18, 2013, 2:42 AM EDT

    Miami Heat v San Antonio Spurs - Game 5 Getty Images

    Manu Ginobili starts hot, Danny Green knocks down threes, and every time the Heat make a run the Spurs are there with an answer. All series long the Spurs have had answers — they are the best counter-punchers in the league, the best team at forcing you into tough decisions then exploiting your mistakes. And…

  2. Why not another Clippers/Celtics trade update: Maybe tomorrow

    Jun 18, 2013, 2:19 AM EDT

    Boston Celtics' Garnett complains about a foul during their NBA basketball game against Brooklyn Nets in Boston Reuters

    The Clippers and Celtics keep inching toward a deal. A much-discussed one that would send Kevin Garnett and the rights to sign coach Doc Rivers to Los Angeles. The Celtics would get DeAndre Jordan and a pick or two. The sides are close but there is no deal yet so they will talk again Tuesday,…

  3. Bulls’ legend Scottie Pippen sticks up for Derrick Rose

    Jun 17, 2013, 10:45 PM EDT

    Chicago Bulls v Miami Heat - Game Three Getty Images

    The next time the Bulls play a game Derrick Rose will be suited up and playing. Hopefully by a couple games into next season we can all move past the “why didn’t he play last season?” crap. But for now the issue keeps coming up in Chicago. It came up again recently when Bulls legend Scottie…

  4. Metta World Peace says Howard isn’t going anywhere because he has a hold on his… um… those

    Jun 17, 2013, 8:54 PM EDT

    Dwight Howard, Metta World Peace AP

    Metta World Peace was in rare form today. He was on Sportsradio 610 in Houston — and let me say as a guy who has done a fair amount of radio spots with some quality hosts there, the buzz is all about Dwight Howard coming to the Rockets. If they are talking hoops, they are…

  5. Report: Doc Rivers having doubts about going to Clippers

    Jun 17, 2013, 7:02 PM EDT

    New York Knicks v Boston Celtics - Game Three Getty Images

    The Celtics and Clippers are still discussing the trade that would send Kevin Garnett and Doc Rivers to Los Angeles, but the whole deal is predicated on Rivers wanting to coach the Clippers. So, even if the Celtics and Clippers agree how to handle Eric Bledsoe, Jason Terry and Courtney Lee, Rivers still must give…

  6. Victor Oladipo ducking his hometown Wizards?

    Jun 17, 2013, 5:51 PM EDT

    Victor Oladipo

    Victor Oladipo has worked out for the Phoenix Suns. In Phoenix, he said he already worked out for the Orlando Magic and planned to work out for the Cleveland Cavaliers, though it’s not clear where those sessions occurred. Oladipo is preparing for the NBA Draft in Bowie, Md., which is about 20 minutes outside Washington,…

  7. The time Phil Jackson asked then GM Jerry West to leave the Lakers locker room

    Jun 17, 2013, 5:26 PM EDT

    Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson answers questions at a post-game news conference following Game 4 of their NBA Western Conference semi-final basketball playoff against the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas Reuters

    Phil Jackson is unquestionably one of the greatest coaches of all time, but he didn’t get there by placating people or considering the feelings of others — especially those with seniority or who were holding down a higher-level position within the organization. Speaking at an event last week where Jackson was plugging his latest book,…

  8. Report: Allen Iverson’s wife claims he abducted their children, has them in Georgia hotel

    Jun 17, 2013, 5:12 PM EDT

    Allen Iverson AP

    Allen Iverson’s post-NBA life has been – sad to say, predictably – rough. He’s reportedly losing a lot of money and suffering from alcoholism, and those closest to him are especially worried. Unfortunately, it can get worse, and it might have already. TMZ: Tawanna Iverson just filed legal docs, claiming Allen recently asked for permission…

  9. Mark Cuban plans to lure top free agents by giving them roster input

    Jun 17, 2013, 4:36 PM EDT

    Mark Cuban AP

    The Mavericks enter the off-season as one of the major players in free agency. Not only do  they have money to spend, but they also have a history of championship level contention, a still very good Dirk Nowitzki, and Mark Cuban to close the deal when it’s time to make the pitch on why the…

  10. Report: Alex Len ‘likely’ choice for Cavaliers at No. 1

    Jun 17, 2013, 4:34 PM EDT

    Alex Len, Tahjere McCall, T.J. Cline, Antoine Mason

    This is the time of year when teams and agents create smokescreens so thick, firefighters can’t get through them. So, approach any report like this with a healthy dose of skepticism. But also consider that a beat writer for a major newspaper was confident enough to report it. There’s a fine line, and from the…

  11. Jazz unveil plans for new HD scoreboard at EnergySolutions Arena

    Jun 17, 2013, 4:20 PM EDT

    20130617-upgrades-640-1

    The Utah Jazz are updating their scoreboard that will sit high above center court at EnergySolutions Arena, and as you might imagine, the team is pretty excited about it. From the official release: “Miller Sports Properties today announced plans for a new center court high definition video display system that is seven times larger than its predecessor,…

  12. Dirk Nowitzki says NBA will never be able to get rid of flopping

    Jun 17, 2013, 3:22 PM EDT

    Dirk Nowitzki AP

    The subject of players selling contact to officials, or even downright faking it in hopes of duping a referee into blowing a favorable whistle has become a hotter topic than ever this season, thanks to a new anti-flopping policy enacted which was designed to clean this mess up. It hasn’t had the desired effect, however,…

  13. In praise of the brilliant, baffling Manu Ginobili

    Jun 17, 2013, 1:58 PM EDT

    Manu Ginobili AP

    When I went to San Antonio to write this piece on Gregg Popovich (and, later, this piece on Tim Duncan) I was told, time and again, that the most popular San Antonio Spur in town, by far, is Manu Ginobili. At first, I found it a bit curious. I mean, Ginobili has been a terrific…

  14. If Doc is out, who is in for Celtics? Maybe Del Negro, Frank

    Jun 17, 2013, 1:43 PM EDT

    Vinny Del Negro AP

    There is once again momentum to the idea that Doc Rivers and Kevin Garnett (then later likely Paul Pierce) are headed to the Clippers. It may or may not happen, but a smart GM like Danny Ainge has to start planning for any eventuality. So, if Doc Rivers is gone from the bench in Boston,…

  15. As expected, Monta Ellis to opt out of deal with Bucks

    Jun 17, 2013, 1:22 PM EDT

    Monta Ellis AP

    This was expected to happen, but now it’s become official. Monta Ellis is going to opt out of the $11 million he is owed next season to become an unrestricted free agent, reports Chris Broussard of ESPN and other sources. Ellis is seeking 19.2 points and 6 assists for the Bucks last year. He is…

  16. Heat must accomplish something they haven’t been able to in a month if they want to repeat as champions

    Jun 17, 2013, 12:45 PM EDT

    BASKET-NBA-FINALS-SPURS-HEAT

    SAN ANTONIO — After falling to the Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Sunday, the Miami Heat find themselves in a most uncomfortable position. In order to win the championship that they were heavily favored to at the outset of the postseason, they’ll need to accomplish something that they haven’t been able…

  17. Where does Celtics’ Rivers, Garnett trade to Clippers stand? They’re talking.

    Jun 17, 2013, 12:08 PM EDT

    Celtics forward Garnett and head coach Rivers react to a foul called on Garnett in the second half of their NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks in Atlanta. Reuters

    UPDATE 5:45 pm : This is getting close. The Celtics have agreed no Eric Bledsoe but they want the Clippers to take on one of their bad contracts, either Jason Terry or Courtney Lee. How that shakes out is really all that’s left, according to multiple reports. 12:08 pm: If you’re a Clippers fan who…

  18. Danny Green’s shot chart from three-point distance in the Finals is as ridiculous as you’d expect

    Jun 17, 2013, 12:07 PM EDT

    Miami Heat v San Antonio Spurs - Game Three Getty Images

    SAN ANTONIO — Danny Green has been on a record-breaking tear with his three-point shooting through the first five games of the Finals, and he’s been a key reason the Spurs are taking a three games to two series lead back to Miami with two chances to close the Heat out. It isn’t just the…

  19. Report: Nuggets hire New Orleans’ Tim Connelly to be new GM

    Jun 17, 2013, 11:42 AM EDT

    Image (1) nuggets-logo1-thumb-250x187-13135-thumb-250x187-13136.jpg for post 3687

    Tim Connelly has been a rising star in the front office world. He was with the Wizards and was hired away by the then Hornets (now Pelicans) to be an assistant general manager there behind Del Demps. Now he’s made the leap to the big chair. Connelly is going to be the new GM of…

  20. Boris Diaw’s defense slowed LeBron down. I know, right?

    Jun 17, 2013, 10:56 AM EDT

    San Antonio Spurs' Duncan congratulates teammate Diaw during a time out during first quarter play against the Miami Heat in Game 5 of their NBA Finals basketball series in San Antonio Reuters

    SAN ANTONIO — The MVPs for the Spurs Game 5 win you know — Manu Ginobili came back like the prodigal son to have a huge game, Danny Green knocked down any shot given inside the San Antonio city limits, and Tony Parker continues to be the guy who should get the Finals MVP award…

Top 10 NBA Player Searches
  1. L. James (5980)
  2. T. Parker (5441)
  3. C. Andersen (3758)
  4. D. Wade (3744)
  5. D. Green (3732)
  1. D. Howard (3207)
  2. J. Kidd (3191)
  3. D. Rivers (2840)
  4. C. Bosh (2782)
  5. T. McGrady (2732)