The Los Angeles Lakers received a modicum of good news today, as Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs will be out two to four weeks with a left calf injury. I'm not suggesting the Lakers pull a Jonny Gomes and start singing celebratory songs in the locker room. After all, there is almost no way the Lakers, currently 42-19, will catch the 49-10 Spurs. However, the Lakers do face the Spurs this Sunday in San Antonio on ABC, so not having to deal with the pesky Parker should help Los Angeles.
↵Amazingly, before this injury to Parker none of the five Spurs starters had missed a single game this season, and they have used one lineup in 58 of 59 games, with Manu Ginobili coming off the bench just once. George Hill will step into Parker's spot in the starting lineup now and, as Tom Ziller writes on SB Nation, the Spurs still should be in good hands even without Parker:
↵↵↵Hill has been Popovich's most trusted sub this season, playing a reserve-high 28 minutes per game. He's been a bit of a muted Gary Neal: Hill's in the game to shoot, yes, but also to drive the lanes and make plays for his big men. His assist numbers aren't great, which means the Spurs will rely more on Ginobili to set up San Antonio's shooters.
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Parker has scored 44 points in two games against the Lakers this season, both wins for San Antonio.
↵For more Lakers news and information, be sure to read Silver Screen and Roll.