USA Today via Reuters
Feb 28, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) and forward Anthony Davis (3) react to a play while on the bench in the second half of the game against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Feb 28, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) and forward Anthony Davis (3) react to a play while on the bench in the second half of the game against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
The new league rules forced the Lakers to participate in the play-in tournament for attaining the playoff berth. Fortunately for them, they marginally defeated the Warriors and saved themselves from a tiring second game against the Grizzlies. However, it now seems that the one extra game alone has taken a toll over the Lake Show.
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The Lakers are set to play the Suns in round 1, something nobody saw coming. Hence, they do not have the luxury to take their opener lightly and require full battery power to compete. But their freshly updated injury report is not helping the case.
Lakers injury report raised tremendous concerns
As per the report, both LeBron James and Anthony Davis are probable for game 1 against Phoenix Suns. AD has complained about a sprained shoulder while King James is still dealing with the right ankle troubles. If this report is any serious, one can expect the very healthy Suns to write off the Lakers in their first game.
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The Lakers' injury report has AD and LeBron both listed as probable. pic.twitter.com/D7YzhzYh1z
— We Believe Faigen (@hmfaigen) May 23, 2021
Now, both AD and Bron had earlier missed their game against the Rockets last week citing the same problems. Even playing against a table-bottom team, the Lakers had struggled big time and allowed the H-Town to make it a 2-point game until the game clock. So one can expect what damage it can do if the Lakers do not have their star duo to start the playoff series for them.
Also, one must note that the Suns are perfectly clean on their injury report, with just the forward Abdel Nader (right knee surgery) named on it.
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Can they still take the risk of resting LeBron James and Anthony Davis?
USA Today via Reuters
May 15, 2021; Anthony Davis gets a high five from LeBron James after a foul against the Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Frank Vogel knows that the Lakers are playing for the championship and that would mean that they need to play anywhere between 20-24 games. With the shortened break between the regular season and the playoffs, he must understand that LeBron James has not taken the kind of rest his 36-YO body requires. But the catch is, they’re playing against Chris Paul’s Suns and that 51-win team can get scarier if they take an early lead over the defending champions.
Hence, the best strategy would be to play both the players on restricted minutes in game 1. Do you agree here? Help us know your opinion in the comments.
