LAKERS : Christie’s Forward Progress Interrupted by Ankle Injury

Doug Christie wore an expression of disgust in the closet-like trainer’s room in Blaisdell Arena, feeling the setback more than the ankle that was taped. It easily could have been a look of pain.

When Christie, the Lakers’ point guard-turned-small forward, landed awkwardly while battling Isaac Austin of the Utah Jazz in the third quarter of the exhibition opener Friday night, he immediately curled up and grabbed his left ankle. He stayed on the court for a few moments before being helped to the locker room.

That the injury in the Lakers’ 98-86 victory was diagnosed as a mild sprain seemed only a minor consolation to Christie. He sat out Saturday night’s game against the Jazz and probably will sit out a few more days of practice--interrupting his transition to the front court. That was the biggest pain he felt in that training room.

“I’m just mad more than anything,” Christie said. “All that work for nothing. All that work to get hurt.”

All that work had been impressive.

“I don’t know,” Coach Randy Pfund said. “Maybe as I have realized the role Doug is going to play for us, I have been watching him a lot closer. The last three or four days, his speed has just jumped out at you.”

The former Pepperdine star has shown few of the struggles at small forward he did last season at point guard. He has gone from someone who wasn’t quick enough and couldn’t handle the ball well enough to someone who will be better in those categories than many of his counterparts.