The Los Angeles Lakers have issued their injury report for their first game following All-Star Weekend, a rescheduled match against the Charlotte Hornets that was delayed because of the wildfires in Southern California.
The most significant point is that superstar LeBron James (soreness in left foot) is marked as questionable. He participated in the Lakers’ last game before the All-Star break against the Utah Jazz, but LeBron did not take part in the All-Star game itself, opting out because of the persistent discomfort in that foot.
After practice on Tuesday, JJ Redick talked about James and addressed the current state of his foot.
“It’s an issue we handled throughout the year.” “It was painful throughout the weekend,” Redick mentioned. “He managed to complete the majority of practice today.” However, similar to how it has been throughout the year, it’s a daily occurrence. That’s an issue we’ve needed to handle and will keep handling for the remainder of the year.
In other news, Luka Doncic (left calf strain), Dorian Finney-Smith (left ankle soreness), and Gabe Vincent (left knee soreness) have all been removed from the injury report, indicating they are ready to play.
Naturally, Doncic has just come back from the calf injury he sustained on Christmas Day, which sidelined him for more than a month. Upon rejoining the Lakers, Doncic has faced a minutes limitation, and the team intends to remain cautious as they reintegrate him, but Redick disclosed that this restriction will be removed in the future.
Finney-Smith and Vincent both missed the Lakers’ recent game against the Jazz, and their contributions from the bench were greatly missed in the defeat.
Finney-Smith has become one of the most reliable role players on the team and can fit into any lineup, particularly due to his defensive adaptability and ability to shoot from beyond the arc. Vincent, for his part, is now resembling the player who dazzled during his time with the Miami Heat and is experiencing by far his finest period of basketball since becoming a Laker.
The Lakers will have a tough schedule after the All-Star break, beginning with a back-to-back, as they head to Portland to take on the Trail Blazers on Thursday. They will proceed to Denver for their third game in four nights against the Nuggets on Saturday. It’s uncertain if this impacts how the Lakers manage these players, but it’s plausible to believe that some may not participate in all three games.
Luka Doncic has already been ‘impressed’ by the Lakers’ front office’s efforts.
The Lakers’ acquisition of Luka Doncic stunned the basketball community, but it also created a significant gap at the center position for the team. The front office quickly sought to resolve that by trading for Mark Williams, but the Hornets center did not pass a physical, leading to the trade being canceled.
However, the speed at which Rob Pelinka and the Lakers management acted to acquire a center that complements what Doncic prefers in a big man truly impressed the guard. Doncic and his team were said to be impressed by the Lakers’ front office since they recognized that a significant addition was more probable during the offseason.