The Los Angeles Lakers are focused on trying to get the best possible seeding ahead of the playoffs, when the games really count.
After a post All-Star break surge, the LA Lakers climbed up to second place in the Western Conference. But an injury to LeBron James at the start of a gruelling road trip has left them battling to stay in their position.
With two successive losses heading into games against the Bucks and Nuggets, before match-ups with the Spurs, Lakers, Nuggets and Bucks, losses are expected amid an injury-hit roster.
While injuries to Rui Hachimura and Jaxson Hayes are impactful, LeBron James being out has the biggest effect, with the 40-year-old superstar still playing at a high level that saw team legend Robert Horry tout him as a MVP contender.
The injury to LeBron James is a case of short-term pain for long-term gain. While nobody wants him to be out, the injury could be a blessing in disguise for the Lakers.
Veteran NBA reporter Rachel Nichols believes it helps the team because her biggest fear about the Lakers was LeBron James running out of energy in the playoffs.
Discussing his previous impact after returning from a break, she believes this could have come at the perfect time for LeBron, despite being unintended.
She told Sports Illustrated: “LeBron resting for two plus weeks before a playoff push is very advantageous in the long run. Obviously, I do not think any of this was on purpose to get him rest. I just think that it is a side note to all of this.
“He needed a rest break after playing through the summer in the Olympics, and at the beginning of the season, he took one, and his numbers were not good going into that. And obviously much, much better and elite since then,
“I definitely had some concerns of, is there a point he’s going to run out of gas in the playoffs, and now that’s not really going to be a concern anymore.
“So again, I’m sure the Lakers would prefer he’s not injured. I’m sure LeBron would prefer he’s not injured. But there could be a long term bright side, silver lining to this.”
LeBron James has played 58 games this season, and will want to play seven more before the season ends to become eligible for All-NBA consideration.
Luka Doncic has been learning how to play alongside LeBron James, and his sudden exit from the line-up prompted a disjointed display without him against the Nets.
Nichols acknowledges that Doncic can do more, but dismisses the notion that he can’t, citing previous performances for the Mavericks.
“They need to get Luka, playing like he plays with LeBron, when he’s without LeBron. But come on, there were plenty of games in Dallas that Kyrie didn’t play.
“So the idea that Luka Doncic suddenly can’t win basketball games if he’s the only elite player on the floor for his team is a little ridiculous.”
