The Lakers won't be getting any immediate help at point guard. In addition to the absence of starter Steve Nash, who still needs time to recover from a leg injury, Steve Blake will be out at least another two weeks.
According to a release from the team, Blake was examined Wednesday by Dr. Steve Yoon and an MRI exam revealed that Blake "still has an abdominal strain."
Blake has sat out the last eight games while Nash has been sidelined since the second game of the season. In their absence, Darius Morris and Chris Duhon have done their best to fill in, with mixed results.
The Lakers are currently 7-8 heading into a more difficult stretch of opponents in December. Two weeks would have Blake sidelined until Dec. 12 at the earliest, missing seven more games.
The harsh reality is that the team will be in the middle of a four-game road trip, which would make Dec. 18 against the Charlotte Bobcats or Dec. 22 at Golden State the more realistic goal for Blake's return (10-11 games total), assuming he heals by that time.
Blake has averaged only 5.1 points a game this season but he shot 40% from three-point range in seven appearances while dishing 3.4 assists and collecting 1.29 steals a game.
-Eric Pincus
