Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

If the Los Angeles Lakers are hoping to make the NBA Playoffs this season, then they’re going to have to make their final push without the services of four-time NBA All-Star Pau Gasol.

According to a report by Mark Medina of the Daily News Los Angeles, Lakers head coach Mike D’Antoni believes Gasol will be unable to return to action during the regular season after being diagnosed with a Torn Plantar Fascia in his right foot back in early February.

“By the time he gets back, we’ll be in or out,” D’Antoni said. “His impact will be in the playoffs if we get there.”

The Lakers currently sit one game under .500 with a record of 28-29, which is ninth-best in the Western Conference. They find themselves just 2.5 games back of the Houston Rockets for the eighth and final playoff spot after winning eight of their last 11 games.

Gasol was originally expected to miss four to six weeks, but it appears now that his injury will keep him out longer than expected.

The teams schedule in the month of March is brutal, as nine of their 14 games will be on the road. Los Angeles is only 10-18 away from Staples Center this season.

“I don’t think anyone on this team is counting the days for Pau to come back because we don’t have time,” Lakers guard Steve Nash said. “Although we’d welcome him back this instance, we have to move on and try to win games without him.”

Pau was averaging 13.4 points on 45% shooting from the field, as well as 8.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.3 blocks in 36 games before his injury.

With the countless trade rumors and his $19.3 million dollar expiring contract for next season, could this be the last time we see Gasol wearing the purple and gold?

Chris Walder is the Editor of Sir Charles in Charge. You may follow him on Twitter at @WalderSports

Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

I think we can all put the Pau Gasol trade rumors to rest now.

According to a report by Ken Berger of CBS Sports, Gasol will be out of action for the next six weeks with a partially torn plantar fascia.

Pau Gasol has a partial tear of his plantar fascia and is expected to be out at least six weeks, league source tells @cbssports.

— Ken Berger (@KBergCBS) February 6, 2013

He underwent an MRI early Wednesday morning.

Pau suffered the injury with 4:20 left in the fourth quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers 92-83 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. He said he felt a “pop” when attempting to contest a shot by Nets center Brook Lopez.

“I tweaked my fascia in the first half, so I was dealing with quite a bit of soreness in the second half,” said Gasol, who left the game with 3:50 remaining. “So I couldn’t do certain things.

“I was dealing with it, but that play when I tried to jump off of it and try go block the shot (by Brooklyn’s Brook Lopez) just as I took off, I felt a pop in the bottom of my foot on my fascia and I couldn’t get up. I’m worried about it.”(ESPNLosAngeles)

Rehab could get Pau back on the court in six to eight weeks if he decides to go that route. With surgery, the healing time would be upwards of 10-12 weeks, which could cost him the rest of his season. However, surgery would provide a better chance of long-term recovery.

The planter fascia is a thick membrane that runs along the bottom of the foot. Gasol had been suffering through inflammation there for a majority of the season.

The Los Angeles Lakers were 3-0 with Pau back in the lineup, as Dwight Howard remains out with a shoulder injury.

Chris Walder is the Editor of Sir Charles in Charge. You may follow him on Twitter at @WalderSports