The Lakers are trying to hold it together for this last playoff push and with Kobe hobbling, the return of Gasol couldn’t have come at a better time.

“Everything else is possible. I’m not going to hold myself back if I think I’m ready to play,” Gasol said Wednesday. “There’s not many games left in the season and every game will be valuable to us.

“We’re keeping our options open. We’re trying to see how I progress over the next few days.”

The confusion about if he will come off the bench or start, seems to have been resolved. He will start when he comes back.