Before we start to pile on the Lakers for their two lackluster performances on the three-game road trip, our squad has been pretty banged up, especially our hands.

Artest sprained the thumb on his left hand in the third quarter of the Lakers’ game in Miami on Thursday. He played on Friday against the Bobcats with the thumb wrapped heavily in the same fashion that reserve guard Shannon Brown has on his right thumb after spraining it while blocking a shot in the second half against Indiana on Tuesday.

Artest also sprained the index finger on his right hand on Jan. 12 in a game in San Antonio.

Farmar has suffered injuries to his right thumb as well as a sprained joint on his left pinkie. Gasol had surgery to repair a torn volar plate on the index finger of his left hand before the season began. Lakers sixth man Lamar Odom has also battled multiple sprains to his right index and middle fingers.

And of course we all know about Kobe’s lingering issues with his right pinkie, ankle, knee, elbow and ego …