Lakers field their 12th different starting lineup in 27 games

With Pau Gasol sitting out for the first time this season during the Lakers’ loss to the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night, the team fielded its 12th different starting lineup in 27 games.

Chris Kaman, who was out of the rotation for nearly a month — some with back spasms, others by coaching decision, started for Gasol next to Jordan Hill.

Coach Mike D’Antoni has experimented with different lineups, but most of his tinkering has been injury related.

Kobe Bryant (Achilles’ tendon, knee) and Steve Nash (back) have played in only six games apiece. Steve Blake has missed six (elbow). Forward Xavier Henry is the team’s starting point guard by attrition.

Jordan Farmar is hoping to come back from a hamstring injury for the Lakers’ Christmas Day game against the Miami Heat. D’Antoni said recently that Farmar will start when he’s healthy.

Farmar is one of only three Lakers who hasn’t started a game this season, along with rookie forward Ryan Kelly and recently signed point guard Kendall Marshall.

While injuries have led D’Antoni to juggle his guard and wing positions, the Lakers’ coach has plugged different big men next to Gasol, trying to find the best fit.

Shawne Williams, Robert Sacre, Hill and Kaman have each started throughout the season, although D’Antoni seems most confident in the Gasol-Hill pairing.

Once Farmar returns, the Lakers will probably stick with guard Jodie Meeks, forward Wesley Johnson, Gasol and Hill along with Farmar at the point until additional players get healthy or D’Antoni decides to shuffle the ranks once again.

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Email Eric Pincus at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.