Steve Nash to Miss at Least 2 Weeks Due to Back Pain

The back doctor didn’t have any good news for Steve Nash. He will be out a minimum of two weeks with nerve root irritation, as frustration continues to mount for the veteran point guard. From the press release and LA Daily News: “Treatment will include an epidural block, which Nash is expected to receive tomorrow, and Nash is expected to be out of action for a minimum of two weeks. He will be re-evaluated in approximately ten days, and an update will be given at that time. […] ‘It’s slowly getting worse and worse,’ Nash said. He said those words so matter-of-factly Monday at the Lakers’ practice facility in El Segundo. But that’s a chilling assessment for a player the Lakers had hoped could provide a compelling sequel to Mike D’Antoni’s offense that he ran in Phoenix that earned him two NBA league MVPs. But a year after missing a combined 32 games because of a fractured left leg and persisting back and hamstring issues, Nash has experienced more ailments. His back and hamstring problems have emerged, while also nursing a sore left ankle, a stiff neck and pain in his quads. Add it all up, and Nash has only averaged 6.7 points on 26.1 percent shooting in 22.5 minutes while also missing two games on the second night of back-to-back contests. […] ‘I’m just staying positive and hungry,’ Nash said. ‘It’s hard everyday to keep fighting uphill. I also have to weigh it against the fact that I still really love playing and I want to be a part of this group. That makes it worthwhile, but there are days when it’s a big challenge.'”