Live discussion: Jordan Hill, Dwight Howard injury updates

By Houston Mitchell

Oct. 10, 2012 12 AM PT

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;If you missed our live Google+ Hangout with &amp;lt;runtime:topic id=”ORSPT000104”&amp;gt;Lakers&amp;lt;/runtime:topic&amp;gt; writer Mike Bresnahan and Clippers writer Brad Turner, you missed some good conversation on our two local basketball teams, especially about injuries.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;runtime:topic id=”PESPT0000010781”&amp;gt;Jordan Hill&amp;lt;/runtime:topic&amp;gt; will not need the back surgery that &amp;lt;runtime:topic id=”PESPT008416”&amp;gt;Dwight Howard&amp;lt;/runtime:topic&amp;gt; needed. He is week-to-week.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Hill was sort of a quiet signing, lost in the shuffle of the signing of &amp;lt;runtime:topic id=”PESPT005338”&amp;gt;Steve Nash&amp;lt;/runtime:topic&amp;gt; and the acquisition of Howard, but he is important to the Lakers because they are thin at center behind Howard.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;For the Clippers, it looks like &amp;lt;runtime:topic id=”PESPT000603”&amp;gt;Chauncey Billups&amp;lt;/runtime:topic&amp;gt; will be back from his torn Achilles’ tendon in December, although Billups says he will be back much sooner. His veteran presence makes the Clippers that much better.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The addition of Nash changes the dynamics of the Lakers. Example: In the exhibition opener against Golden State, Nash swung the ball down to &amp;lt;runtime:topic id=”PESPT000948”&amp;gt;Kobe Bryant&amp;lt;/runtime:topic&amp;gt;, who fired it into Pau Gasol, who was wide open for a dunk. It might have been the easiest basket the Lakers have had in years. A lot of easy shots will ease the wear-and-tear on the team and help prevent injuries.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Howard’s back injury may keep him from assimilating into the offense right away, but the Lakers were more than willing to accept the short-term concern about his back in exchange for the long-term concern &amp;lt;a&amp;gt;about Andrew Bynum&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;’s knees.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;You can watch the conversation in the video above.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;ALSO:&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=”https://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-usain-bolt-soccer-20121010,0,7510310.story”&amp;gt;Usain Bolt might try soccer after track&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=”https://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-coco-crisp-20121010,0,3481511.story”&amp;gt;Watch Coco Crisp’s home run-saving catch&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=”https://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-phil-ivey-london-casino-refuses-to-pay-20121010,0,6445151.story”&amp;gt;Phil Ivey wins $11.5 million, casino refuses to pay&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

Live discussion: Jordan Hill, Dwight Howard injury updates

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