With the injury of LeBron James during a meeting once morest the Mavericks, the Lakers will have to limit the damage without the King to continue to believe in the Playoffs. On the program for the next 12 games, 10 are played at home: in Los Angeles, can they defy the odds?
As if the Lakers’ path to the Playoffs wasn’t strewn enough with obstacles, a new one has been added for the Angelinos, and it’s a big one: LeBron James, injured in the tendon of the foot, should miss three weeks of regular.
Ouch… LeBron absent for three weeks, it feels like the end of the season… https://t.co/evJHpLjCuO
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) March 2, 2023
21 days minimum without the King, as much to say that the hours will slowly pass in Los Angeles. As a reminder, in 16 games without LeBron this season, the Lakers have only won 6 times. And their position in the standings does not allow them the luxury of conceding too many matches: 11And of a very tight Western Conference, they are only one game away from tenth place synonymous with play-in tournament, and 2.5 games from sixth placesynonymous with assured post-season.
The Lakers schedule for the next three weeks
To do this, the Lakers will be able to count on the support of the Crypto.com Arena public: 10 of the next 12 meetings will actually be at home. Enough to give the Angelinos significant moral support, those who may need it. Among the opponents, there are many teams which certainly do not scratch the top of the table, but are in a big dynamic.
- THE Warriors5th in the West following four straight wins, and regarding to find Stephen Curry this Sunday… once morest the Lakers.
- THE Raptorswhich we thought outside the race for the Playoffs in January and currently on a crazy comeback: 8 wins in the last 11 games!
- THE Knicks, on seven wins in a row and who have not lost since February 10.
- THE Bullswho are better since the All-Star Game with three wins in four games (probably the Pat Beverley effect, who wants to eliminate the Lakers).
- Furthermore, our friends in Los Angeles will also be hosting the Thunder and the Magictwo young and talented teams that should not be underestimated.
- There will also be a short visit to Suns of Kevin Durant and the Grizzlies of Ja Morant, as much to say that it will be necessary to hang on.
- And with that matches once morest direct competitors in the West, like Minnesota, New Orleans (admittedly eaten away by wounds) and especially the Mavericks du duo Luka Doncic – Kyrie Irving.
As you have understood, apart from the meeting once morest the weak Rockets on March 15, we are on matches that promise big battles for a place in the Playoffs. Can the Lakers get by without LeBron James and his 30 points per game? Doing without the cyborg will also mean staying away from the miracles that the latter can offer when it comes to keeping his team in the race for the Playoffs. And it will be in particular to Anthony Davis to step-up without the King.
BronBron’s sidekick is having a great season statistically speaking, averaging 26 points and 13 rebounds. It’s up to him to play at MVP level for the next three weeks because the Lakers will need it. The latter also hope that the reinforcements made during the deadline will bear fruit: D’Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura will be expected at the turn, but it will also require the contribution of Jarred Vanderbilt, Malik Beasley and Co.
In any case, the road will be long and perilous for Los Angeles. If the Lakers manage to limit the damage by winning, for example, half of their next 12 games, the hope of a return of LeBron and a postseason participation will be allowed.
Otherwise, however…
