Breaking News: Walton Out Indefinitely

by Sideout11 on Apr 27, 2009 2:33 PM PDT

The Associated Press is reporting that Luke Walton could be out for the rest of the playoffs with a torn ligament in his ankle:

The Los Angeles Lakers' forward sprained his ankle in Saturday night's Game 3 at Utah. He had an MRI this morning, which revealed the partial tear of the deltoid ligament.

Walton, a reserve, is out indefinitely and will be re-evaluated in one week.

Walton has received some criticism here on SS&R, but I want to stress that it is never good to lose a player, especially one that PJ relies on for 10+ minutes a game. This injury is especially concerning because SG/SF are the positions where the Lakers have the least amount of depth. The SF rotation is now shortened to Kobe and Ariza, with Odom possibly joining them to give Kobe some rest. Here is some more from the LAT that includes some Jackson commentary. If Ariza gets in foul trouble like he did in Game 3 4, expect to see Kobe on the floor for pretty much the entire game and mostly at the SF position.

We wish Luke a speedy recovery and hope that he can return by the end of the second round.

Go Purple & Gold!

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Comments

Oof, Get Well Walton Jr

Ammo Time!

by Gils_Keloids on Apr 27, 2009 2:58 PM PDT reply actions

UGH.

Don’t even think it.

Pontiff of the Pryz for Prez Posse...

by timbo on Apr 27, 2009 7:03 PM PDT up reply actions

The AP needs to re-check its schedule

Game 3 was Thursday.

Strength & Honor

by Josh Tucker on Apr 27, 2009 3:05 PM PDT reply actions

Ha

You’re right. I didn’t even notice that

by Sideout11 on Apr 27, 2009 4:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Hope he's able to come back to get some minutes in the Finals.

It would really suck for one of our guys who was here during our "off"years not on the floor as we seal up #15.

by wondahbap on Apr 27, 2009 3:05 PM PDT reply actions

I guess that settles the debate

About whether Mbenga or Ammo should be active for the playoffs.

Man, what a bad break, just as Luke was really starting to look good. I suspect we’re not gonna see Bynum held out the way he was in Game 4 anymore after this, and I do think we’re gonna start seeing a bit of Odom at the 3 with maybe a bit more of Powell thrown in as well. Kobe will definitely see time at the 3, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see Farmar even get some SG minutes if Kobe or Ariza get in foul trouble.

Luke is a player who is very VERY under appreciated by most Laker fans. Let’s hope he heals up soon.

by WildYams on Apr 27, 2009 3:16 PM PDT reply actions

Underappreciated????

Anyway, not to be a gossipmonger, but has anyone heard about Derek Fisher having a stalker. TMZ is reporting. Yeah I know it’s TMZ, but despite being creepy they’re usually not wrong.

"Don't I know you from somewhere"?. "Nah, that ain't me, I'm from Buffalo" - Axel Foley

by pslakerfan on Apr 27, 2009 4:20 PM PDT reply actions

Here's the link......pretty crazy.

http://www.tmz.com/2009/04/27/nba-star-claims-hes-being-stalked/

"Don't I know you from somewhere"?. "Nah, that ain't me, I'm from Buffalo" - Axel Foley

by pslakerfan on Apr 27, 2009 5:27 PM PDT up reply actions

Now that is weird.

Earlier on in the season Luke had someone stalking him too…

by intuitive on Apr 27, 2009 5:56 PM PDT up reply actions

It could be worse

I love Luke, I’m one of his staunchest defenders against people who rail against him. But if we had to choose one guy who is actually getting PT to go down, Luke would be the choice. He is the easiest to replace, and in the short term, this could actually work in the Lakers favor. Luke’s minutes probably go more to Sasha than anybody else, and he seems to respond well to situations in which he knows he won’t get pulled even if he makes a mistake or misses a shot.

I for one do not want to see Odom, Gasol and Bynum on the floor at the same time, at least not while Bynum is still struggling on defense. I know Odom and Gasol are agile and quick for big men, but neither is quick enough to guard a decent small forward like Artest or … I don’t even know who Portland plays at the 3, Outlaw? That would mean increased penetration, and Bynum isn’t the type of defensive eraser for us to allow it right now. That lineup would probably result in quick fouls for Bynum, in my opinion.

I think Ariza plays a bit more (if he can, he’s nursing his own ankle), Kobe plays most of the rest of the time at SF, and Sasha picks up his extra PT. AT this point, AMMO is like the poison “fake tooth” capsule that a spy keeps in his mouth in case of capture, only under DIRE circumstances (or garbage time) should he be getting any time. Anybody know if Ariza’s lesser injury is expected to limit him at all? If he’s not at his best, that makes the Walton injury hurt a lot more.

by C.A. Clark on Apr 27, 2009 4:59 PM PDT reply actions

Lakers will miss his passing but really they don’t need anymore offense. This frees up Vujabitch to maybe show he’s actually worth that contract extension. Kobe can slide over to SF, I guess.

by Fundefined on Apr 27, 2009 5:45 PM PDT reply actions

Also I don’t think people appreciate how good of a passer Luke is. Remember this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38DOBtl2H74&feature=related

Now if he could only shoot, defend, or rebound…

by Fundefined on Apr 27, 2009 5:51 PM PDT reply actions

He was being pretty efficient with the minutes he was getting not spectacular but not horrible either. Ammo/Sasha/Farmar will probably get some more burn. Im guessing Sasha.
Luke seems to always have some foot problem…….

by intuitive on Apr 27, 2009 5:53 PM PDT reply actions

And Luke does the best job of getting the ball inside when the Bench Mob is in. Farmar and Sasha are not as good at feeding the ball to Pau and going inside-out like our offense should be run. It will be interesting to see how the offense runs without him in with the bench mob

by intuitive on Apr 27, 2009 5:54 PM PDT reply actions