Los Angeles Lakers: Loss of Steve Blake Devastating

Steve Blake is out six weeks with a torn elbow ligament.

On Thursday, December 12th, the Los Angeles Lakers announced that starting point guard Steve Blake would be out a minimum of six weeks with a torn elbow ligament. This injury is the latest to hit the Lakers’ point guard pool, which boasts three injuries. Jordan Farmar tore his hamstring a couple of weeks ago and two-time league MVP Steve Nash played his last game on November 10th before hitting the injury list with chronic back issues.

The injury deals Los Angeles, who just got franchise player Kobe Bryant back last Sunday, a devastating blow. Blake had run coach Mike D’Antoni’s fast-break offense to perfection, while remaining a threat from a deep. Blake leads this Laker team with 7.7 assists a game, while averaging 9.8 points as well. He had posted double-digit assist numbers in nine of his last thirteen games, including a 16-assist outing against the Detroit Pistons on November 18th.

Blake really stepped up when Steve Nash injured his back close to a month and a half ago. He took over the role of primary ball handler and absolutely thrived. Laker fans became accustomed to seeing Blake’s signature back-doot passes to cutting players, or his baseline drives that were so instrumental in disrupting defenses. His fast-paced passing and clinical shooting will be sorely missed. Blake has shot 40% from beyond the arc this season, his ability to hit from deep allowing bigs such as Pau Gasol and Jordan Hill to operate in the paint in one-on-one coverage because of the opposing team’s fear of leaving Blake open on the perimeter. He did an excellent job of directing this Laker’s offense and it thrived when Blake was at the helm.

With Blake sidelined til at least early February, the Lakers can expect recently returned superstar Bryant, to take over point guard duties. Swingmen Xavier Henry and Nick Young will take over back-up point guard duties when Bryant sits.

However, I feel that neither of these players will fill the void that is left empty by Blake. Bryant can be a great passer, but his games have been marred by turnovers since his return tot he line-up and his assumption of point guard duties. He takes too many gambles and tries to force the ball inside to often. When he sits, Henry and Young direct this Lakers offense and neither has been able to acheive the same success that Blake did. Both Henry and Young have scorers’ mentalities and have been used as just scorers during their respective basketball careers. While I hope for the Lakers to pick up where they left off after their recent victory over the Charlotte Bobcats, my gut says that they will lose more than they win with Blake sitting on the sideline.