The Los Angeles Lakers’ eight-game win streak came to an end this week following their 111-101 loss to the Boston Celtics. But even more concerning for the Lakers was the groin injury suffered by LeBron James. The early prognosis is James could be sidelined for a couple of weeks. That would definitely mean that he will miss the rest of the Lakers’ current road trip.
This is also not the only injury that LeBron James is dealing with this season. He has been a regular on the Lakers’ injury report due to a lingering foot injury. While he missed a few games back in December, the foot issue hasn’t kept him out of the lineup.
But with the latest news, the Lakers can expect to be without James for a little while. So the question then becomes, what can they do to navigate the injury and not lose too much ground in a tough Western Conference playoff race.
The Lakers are currently 40-22 and in second place in the West standings. They are essentially tied with the Denver Nuggets who are 41-23. And they have a major showdown with the Nuggets looming on Friday during which James will assuredly not be available.
It’s not only the Nuggets the Lakers have to worry about. They have the Memphis Grizzlies and Houston Rockets hot on their heels as well, only one and two games back of them respectively. So are the Lakers equipped to handle a James absence for a while? Here’s a look at how the Lakers can survive a James injury for the next few weeks.
How Lakers can navigate LeBron James’ injury
The main reason why the Lakers should be well-equipped to navigate the groin injury to LeBron James is quite simple, they have Luka Doncic. Until the Mavericks acquired Kyrie Irving, Doncic had been used to shouldering the heavy load.
During the 2021-22 season when the Mavericks reached the Western Conference Finals, Doncic’s second-best player was Jalen Brunson whose numbers that season are similar to Austin Reaves this season.
Brunson averaged 21.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists during that playoff run while shooting 46.6 percent shooting from the field, 34.7 percent shooting from the three-point line and 80 percent shooting from the free-throw line.
Compare that to Reaves who is currently averaging 18.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.8 assists while shooting 44.1 percent from the field, 36.2 percent from the three-point line and 86.7 percent from the free-throw line.
Doncic and Reaves have a similar dynamic in that they both are capable ball-handlers and playmakers. Reaves has also developed into a consistent scoring threat, especially when playing off elite scorers such as James and Doncic.
What should be even more reassuring for the Lakers is that Doncic has shaken off the post-injury rust and is fitting in perfectly with the rest of the team. In the last five games, Doncic has averaged 31.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 8.8 assists while shooting 45.6 percent from the field and 41.1 percent from the three-point line, as per StatMuse. The Lakers went 4-1 in those games.
Because of his role on the court, Doncic is better suited to helping keep the Lakers afloat than Anthony Davis would have been. As good as Davis was and as important as he was on both ends of the court, he just doesn’t present the same challenges for opposing teams that Doncic does.
The Lakers are going to need Doncic to be at the top of his game if they are to stay afloat in the West standings amid LeBron James’ injury absence.
In the end though, it’s going to be daunting task for the Lakers to keep pace. James isn’t the only injury that the Lakers are dealing with. The team is still without Rui Hachimura who is dealing with left patellar tendinopathy. Jaxson Hayes, who has filled in admirably as the Lakers’ starting center, missed his second straight game due to a knee injury.
But the Lakers have gotten major contributions from their role players this season. Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt and Dorian Finney-Smith have been invaluable. Even the two-way contract players such as Trey Jemison III and Jordan Goodwin have been impact guys in recent games.
With Redick getting every ounce of intensity and energy from this group, they have the pieces to withstand James’ absence. And with Doncic leading the way, don’t be surprised if this team holds its place in the standings.
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