Los Angeles Lakers: Season Opener Injury Report
- Updated: October 27, 2014
The moment we have all been waiting for is finally here! The Los Angeles Lakers open their season tomorrow night against the Houston Rockets.
The Lakers are coming off of their worst season in 54 years and Dwight Howard’s Rockets will be more than happy to capitalize on that. Howard’s return could create an interesting dynamic for both teams.
Ironically enough, the loss of Steve Nash will open up the door for former Houston Rocket player, Jeremy Lin, to start at point guard.
“I’m trying not to build this game up, make it any bigger than it is,” Lin said of facing his former team in the opener. “The headline’s Kobe vs. Dwight.”
Lin averaged 13.0 points and 5.2 assists in his last two seasons with the Rockets. He managed to beat Ronnie Price to the finish line in the race for starting point guard. Price is the only other true point guard on the roster and seems like his appearance will be probable for opening night, despite a bone bruise.
Nick Young is also out until December, and Ryan Kelly, Xavier Henry and Wayne Ellington will also miss opening night.
Unfortunately the pressure will be on for Carlos Boozer and rookie Julius Randle. No one will take more heat, however, than Kobe Bryant who will be expected to dominate. Coach Byron Scott will need to monitor Bryant’s minutes throughout this season, because averaging 38.8 minutes is starting to seem a little excessive.
“We’ve got to really tighten up defensively, which is a different style than we’re used to playing,” Bryant said. “But it’s a fun style. You’ve just got to be more aggressive, get down in the passing lanes and take more chances.”
The Lakers also expect to employ a slower pace offensively — Scott has said he doesn’t want them taking too many 3s — and at least publicly, Bryant seems eager to embrace the team’s new identity.”
Byron Scott told ESPN, “I love the fact that pretty much everyone has written us off,” he said. “That’s obviously fuel to the fire. I’m going to use that to talk to our players about how people are viewing us as a basketball team. I love the fact that everybody is doubting us.”
See below for the injury report from ESPN.com:
[su_heading size=”16″]Los Angeles Lakers Injury Report[/su_heading]
Ryan Kelly
- Status: OUT
- Injury: Hamstring
- Kelly, who has played just three preseason contests, has been ruled out of Tuesday’s season opener against the Rocket, Mike Bresnahan reports.
Xavier Henry
- Status: Day-to-Day
- Injury: Knee
- Henry was able to shoot Sunday and is expected to begin running Monday, but coach Byron Scott does not expect to have him available for Tuesday’s season opener.
Jordan Hill
- Status: Day-to-Day
- Injury: Neck
- Hill is considered probable for Tuesday’s opener against the Rockets, Bill Oram of the OC Register reports.
Ronnie Price
- Status: Day-to-Day
- Injury: Knee
- Price is considered probable for Tuesday’s opener against the Rockets, Bill Oram of the OC Register reports.
Wayne Eliington
- Status: OUT
- Injury: Concussion
- Ellington will not play in Tuesday’s opener against the Rockets, Bill Oram of the OC Register reports.
Steve Nash
- Status: OUT
- Injury: Back
- Nash is expected to miss the entire 2014-15 season due to reoccurring nerve damage in his back, Bleacher Report reports.
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