Jordan Farmar doesn’t start for the Los Angeles Lakers, but the backup point guard is a valuable part of the team, as the Lakers have had to go with a makeshift lineup at the point after Farmar went down with a knee injury.
Coach Phil Jackson was forced to rely on Derek Fisher for extended minutes after Sasha Vujacic missed a couple of games with back spasms. And the team doesn’t want to wear the veteran Fisher down (he has logged almost 40 minutes per game in Farmar’s absence), so Farmar’s return would be a nice boost.
Apparently that return could be ahead of schedule.
Farmar took part in a full practice over the weekend and could play as soon as Tuesday against Charlotte – bet on the game at WagerWeb.com. He originally tore the meniscus in his knee Dec. 19. He had surgery in his left knee Dec. 24 and was expected to be out approximately eight weeks, putting him on pace to return after the Feb. 15 All-Star break.
So even an optimistic time frame means a Tuesday return would be nearly two weeks early. Farmar’s season averages of about eight points and two assists per game aren’t nearly as important as the almost 20 minutes a game he was able to play off the bench.
“It’s feeling good, coming along the right way, but I want to make sure it’s right before I come back,” Farmar said. “I don’t want to get injured again or have it swell up and be sore and have to play with a nagging knee all year. If it doesn’t bother me this week in practice and I start getting into live action and it responds well, then it won’t be a problem. If anything other than that happens, I won’t be afraid to sit down for a while.”
Farmar said when the injury first occurred - against the Heat on Dec. 19 when he felt something wrong after a layup - he made sure he wasn’t active.
“I’m young,” said Farmar, 22. “I work hard. I wake up every morning at 7 a.m. [to work with his therapist]. It’s just hard work. I’m just doing the right thing.”
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