If the Los Angeles Lakers' 2013 NBA playoff desires were not already on the stones, the most up-to-date news on Steve Nash should help cast doubt on avoiding a first-round sweep at the fingers of the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs. An MRI on Tuesday (h/t Fox News) unveiled that pre-existing problems have contributed to Nash's already weak hip and straight back in 2013, requiring his hamstrings to endure as a result. Group doctors gave Nash an injection, and the Lakers' standard Twitter account confirmed that Nash wouldn't be available for a must-win game from the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night: While the Lakers stay "hopeful" (h/t SportsnetAMike Trudell) that Nash will undoubtedly be back for postseason action (should the Lakers win or theAUtah Jazz lose on Wednesday evening), this really is the latest example of how the 2012-13 season in Los Angeles could have been a lost cause from the start. Look no longer than this tweet from ESPN LA'sAArash Markazi to confirm that Nash's absence from Wednesday night's selection is going to be anything but precautionary: Get the No even if the Lakers do. 8 seed in the Western Conference on Wednesday night, their remain in the postseason won't last very longa'especially if Nash's human anatomy is at the place that the MRI established on Tuesday. It's been an injury-filled year for the preseason NBA success Lakers. Jeff Gross/Getty Images What began with Nash changed into injuries for Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard, Steve Blake, Metta World Peace and Kobe Bryanta'the last of which ended their superstar's season and placed the Lakers' already tough NBA Finals odds at the best they have been because the season started. Averaging 12.7 points and 6.7 assists in 50 games for the Lakers this year, Nash's presence in the selection would help compensate for some of theAplaymaking that Bryant's injury will no-doubt take from La. While Nash has been relegated to spot-up shooting tasks and the occasional large night in the wake of Bryant's turn-back-the-clock season, he is still a MVP with a coach (Mike D'Antoni) that knows how to get the best out of his sport. That method would include the un-caging, so-to speak, of Howard. Nash and Howard may wreak havoc from the Thunder in the initial round of the playoffs, much like what D12 and former backcourt companion Jameer Nelson did once the Orlando Magic were title competitors back in 2009. Those days are over, but a healthy Nash lobbing moves to Howard is a mixture that could be hard for any staff to stop, specially with concentrated photographers like Blake, Jodie Meeks, Earl Clark and World Peace externally. It's also a strategy that'll not work if Nash isn't healthy. The Lakers have were able to hold their four-game winning streak in to this game without Bryant and Nash (somehow). It included beating the San Antonio Spurs and might incorporate a victory over Houstona'one that would push the Lakers in to the playoffs for the eighth-straight season. Even with Nash prepared for postseason play, it would be unfair (and downright mean) you may anticipate him to execute at a Mamba-like level for this group after absent eight-straight games. While unjust, it may be the sole chance the Lakers have left. In any event, things do not look great for LA to survive the postseason gauntlet and as the leaders of the NBA world emerge. While a slow start and injuries helped victimize what was clearly a more-talented group compared to final regular-season win-loss column would show, it doesn't change the fact expectations remain high for postseason play. Without Nash in the array just as before on Wednesday, they have a chance to go wrong once more on Wednesday night against the Jazz. After that, playoff accomplishment will hinge on Nash's ability to follow in Bryant's age-defying footsteps and give the Lakers a fresh Big Three (Howard, Gasol, Nash) to turn the tables on the rest of the West.
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