The Los Angeles Lakers had to make some moves before the trade deadline to save their season and they might have done just that.
They have emerged victorious in 3 of their last 4 games to improve to 28-32, with the latest one being a rather comfortable win over the Golden State Warriors. With the team trending upward, there has been a lot of talk on whether they can avoid the play-in game by getting into the top 6 in the Western Conference and Stephen A. Smith said on NBA Countdown that they can if they’re healthy.
“So let me get this straight, again we are always assuming health when we make these prognostications. I got a healthy LeBron James, I got a healthy Anthony Davis, I got Malik Beasley who is averaging 15 a game and shooting 41% from 3-point range. I got D’Angelo Russell, who didn’t have a serious ankle injury thank goodness, he’s going to be there. I got a lengthy dude that’s a defender in (Jarred) Vanderbilt, I’ve got (Austin) Reaves, I’ve got (Dennis) Schroder and these boys and you’re trying to tell me that I can’t go 16-6 or 15-6 over the next 21 games? Stop it, let’s count the ways in the Western Conference.”
“Portland, we are pleased with Dame Time but they are a relatively young team. New Orleans Pelicans, Zion when you gonna play? The APB is still out for you and we don’t know what the hell is going on with Brandon Ingram from day to day either. Danny Ainge has already conceded the season… so that’s Utah right there. You saw Golden State last night, they look like a shell of themselves. Minnesota with Anthony Edwards, I’m sorry have we seen Karl Anthony-Towns, I haven’t seen him… With LeBron James and Anthony Davis with the crew that they’ve added, they can’t go 15-6?”
(starts at 2:23 mark)
Some of the teams above them certainly will be falling away after the break. Still, there are just so many teams for them to overtake to get that 6th seed and if they just fall short in the end, they’ll be cursing themselves for not making those moves sooner. They are going to give themselves the best possible shot from here on out though, with head coach Darvin Ham saying that the big guns won’t be load managing.
Darvin Ham Says The Lakers Will Only Sit Players In The Final Stretch If They Are Injured
At various points this season, the Lakers have had to manage LeBron James and Anthony Davis. James has sat out for the second night of a few back-to-backs while Davis has rested on occasion as well in what has been another injury-hit season.
Head coach Darvin Ham made it clear that injuries would be the only reason why anyone would miss games from here on out and that there would be no load management. They cannot afford to have their two stars miss games at this point, but it is very unlikely that both Davis and James play every game. Ideally, the Lakers would hope that at least one of them is always on the court and that their new improved supporting cast can help ease the blow caused by the other star’s absence.
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