Lakers' Ariza cleared to return soon
Forward should be available during the second round.
By Mike Bresnahan and Jonathan Abrams, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
April 27, 2008
DENVER -- It took a while, more than three months, but Trevor Ariza finally heard the magic medical words.

The Lakers' forward was cleared to begin some basketball-related activities and will be available to play at some point in the second round of the playoffs.

"A week from now, I can start doing a little bit of contact. And then a week later I can start playing," he said. "It's definitely good news."

A key defender at small forward, Ariza has been out since Jan. 20 because of a broken bone in his right foot. He is not allowed to dunk yet and can work only on individual skills such as shooting and dribbling over the next week.

An MRI exam Friday showed that the bone in his foot had healed to the point of being able to begin basketball exercises.

Ariza was a fixture on the Lakers' second unit after being acquired from Orlando in November for Brian Cook and Maurice Evans. He was averaging 6.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 18 minutes in 24 games with the Lakers, who like his length and speed as a defender.

Ariza was on the Lakers' bench, in a suit, for Game 3 on Saturday against Denver.

The medical charts haven't been favorable for the Lakers throughout the season.

Andrew Bynum has not played since Jan. 13 and has been given only a remote chance of returning from a knee injury during the playoffs. He has missed 49 games.

Vladimir Radmanovic missed 17 games during the regular season, Pau Gasol missed 10 and Chris Mihm missed 43 games because of injuries.

Bring out the brooms!!!!

I'll become an official Laker Fan when the Laker-Spurs series starts.

*clearing throat*

Gooooooooooooooo Lakers....

*coughing*

quote:

Originally posted by #1FAMUAN:
I'll become an official Laker Fan when the Laker-Spurs series starts.

*clearing throat*

Gooooooooooooooo Lakers....

*coughing*

Still coughing,#1FAM,uh #1SCSUAN? Like I've told you there's one remedy for that cough.


Say GOOOOOOOOOOOO SPURS!