When the Los Angeles Lakers were informed that guard Luka Dončić was going to be out indefinitely with a hamstring injury sustained in a beatdown against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the spotlight of positivity and optimism powered by a win-filled March dimmed significantly. When just a day later, LA discovered that an oblique injury will keep fellow guard Austin Reaves sidelined for several weeks as well, one might wonder if it’s time to turn the lights out entirely on this rendition of Hollywood’s team.
So what hope, if any, is left for the Lakeshow this season?
Excluding Dončić and Reaves, LA’s best remaining player is forward LeBron James. The ageless wonder has been productive despite being the league’s oldest player, averaging 20.8 points, 7.1 assists, and 6.1 rebounds while shooting 51.2% from the field.
Expecting a 41-year-old to carry a team to a playoff series win, however, is a pipedream, to say the least. Unless James turns back the clock, the Lakers will be a first round exit for the third consecutive year.
Even if the King defies logic again, LA’s supporting cast needs to step up in a big way. The “Big 3” makes up 66.7% of their total scoring (77.6 points per game), while their bench ranks second-to-last league-wide in scoring at just 28.8 points per game. To bridge this substantial gap, Los Angeles will need role players like forward Rui Hachimura, center Deandre Ayton, and guard Luke Kennard to overperform. End-of-the-bench figures like guard Bronny James and forward Jarred Vanderbilt will also need to be ready to contribute on a nightly basis.
In their two games since losing the Don and AR, Los Angeles has lost to the lowly Dallas Mavericks and been routed once more by the Thunder. They have three games remaining with significant seeding implications at stake. Guaranteeing home court advantage for the first round of the postseason will be key to surviving without their dynamic duo.
Dončić and Reaves, whose injuries typically keep players sidelined for about a month, are targeting an earlier return to action. Both stars have taken extreme measures in hopes of returning to the court soon, traveling abroad to Spain to receive treatment. Until a potential return, though, the remaining, healthy players on LA’s roster will need to adapt a “next man up” mentality heading into the postseason.