Lakers have had nonstop injuries all season - Los Angeles Times
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Lakers have had nonstop injuries all season

Metta World Peace, right, is sidelined for at least six weeks because of a knee injury.
(Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
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The 2012-13 season for the Lakers has been defined by injury.

Kobe Bryant is now dealing with a bone spur in his left foot. Steve Nash is bothered by his hip and a sore hamstring.

Jordan Hill was declared out for the season with a hip injury -- although he’s working diligently to try to improve that timeline.

Pau Gasol missed games with tendinitis in his knees, a concussion and then six weeks with a torn plantar fascia (foot).

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Metta World Peace just had surgery for a torn meniscus (knee).

Dwight Howard spent most of the season trying to get into shape after sitting out all summer after back surgery. Along the way he tore the labrum in his shoulder, a painful injury that knocked him out of games, reaggravated with contact.

Nash broke a bone in his leg that second game of the year, an injury that eventually led to nerve issues.

Steve Blake tore an abdominal muscle, requiring surgery.

Antawn Jamison recently suffered a ligament tear in his wrist, an injury that might also need surgery to repair. Jamison will try to play through the pain.

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Bryant was relatively healthy for most of the season before severely spraining his ankle in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

Even Coach Mike D’Antoni took the Lakers job while still on crutches, shortly after knee-replacement surgery.

The Lakers have not played inspiring basketball for most of the season. Their 37-36 record may have more to do the volume of injuries than any other factor.

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The only game where the Lakers had their entire roster available was on opening night, long before Howard was in playing shape.

How many more wins would the Lakers have managed if they were healthy most of the year? One? Five? Ten? Fifteen?

If the Lakers do limp into the playoffs, they’re going to be hard-pressed to get past the San Antonio Spurs or Oklahoma City Thunder. Not unless they have a full contingent of players.

ALSO:

Bryant has bone spur in foot, Nash a ‘hip spasm’

Lakers slip to Bucks in second game of back-to-back

Three championship rings stolen from A.C. Green, police say

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Email Eric Pincus at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.

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