Lakers injury woes continue; Steve Blake, Jodie Meeks & Steve Nash likely out for game 3 of playoffs

The Lakers started the season last year with such high hopes. Even though the team secured the seventh seed in the playoffs. A quick first round exit seems imminent. This season injured Lakers players have missed a total of 171 games with their starting five missing 81. And the injury woes aren’t over. Steve Blake is out indefinitely with a moderate hamstring strain. Steve Nash and Jodie Meeks (sprained left ankle) are doubtful for Friday’s Game 3.

Blake had an ultrasound on Thursday to confirm the strain; Meeks had an MRI on his ankle; and Nash received two epidural injections in his back, in addition to a cortisone shot in his right hip.

Mike D’Antoni said that Nash is the more likely between he and Meeks to be able to play, but both are unlikely to see the floor.

Right now the Lakers starting backcourt consist of 2011 second round picks Darius Morris and Andrew Goudelock or Chris Duhon going up against the Spurs. Looks like we’ll all be hoping for a miracle on Chick Hearn court – that’s the street in front of Staple Center.

Check out the injury list from this season. In addition to the time the starters missed, every key role player has missed at least four games as well:

– Steve Nash: lower left leg fracture (24 games); right hamstring/hip issues (8 games)
– Kobe Bryant: sprained left ankle (2 games); torn left Achilles tendon (2 games)
– Metta World Peace: torn lateral meniscus in left knee (6 games)
– Pau Gasol: tendinitis in both knees (8 games); concussion (5 games); torn plantar fascia in right foot (20 games)
– Dwight Howard: torn labrum in right shoulder (6 games)
– Jordan Hill: left hip injury (53 games)
– Steve Blake: abdominal injury (37 games)

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