Is Lakers Title Window Over Already?
An NBA title race that seemed like the Lakers for the taking just changed drastically in the past couple of days and possible future.
The news came down yesterday that Lakers' star forward Anthony Davis will be sidelined till at least early March with a calf strain sources say.
They had just got their star big man back in a win against Memphis after missing back-to-back games. He had an impressive showing (35 points) for this regular season and was dominating early against the Nuggets until he exited in the second quarter with a flare-up to his Achilles injury. ESPN’s Woj reported Davis will be re-evaluated in two to three weeks.
But it’s the language in the reporting that has many looking at Nets star Kevin Durant recent injury and how this could not only affect the Lakers this season but possibly for the remainder of LeBron’s tenure with L.A. Take a look as ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith responds to the latest MRI for the star forward.
As we saw with KD, coming back too soon proved catastrophic for him, causing him to miss the past season. If Davis were to go down with a similar injury he would miss this season and possibly next. And LeBron, as great as he is, cannot play at a high level forever and the task of carrying a team without a fellow superstar has never worked him, let alone anybody ever.
What makes this worse is that the Lakers spent their future in acquiring Davis from the Pelicans, sending away picks, and now All-Star forward Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, and Josh Hart. If he goes down with an injury that has him missing multiple seasons, the Lakers do not compete for championships. Though this roster is better than the pre-AD regime, teams in the West are a different beast and LeBron can’t drag them through playoff battle after playoff battle with Clippers looking legit again and a surging team like the Jazz looking to play upset.
Now all this is speculation. We have to wait and see how Davis looks in a couple of weeks after returning and if the Lakers place him on a precautionary timetable for another title run. But you can’t help to think about how an injury to a key player can ruin your title window. Golden State is still recovering to look like a legitimate playoff team after losing Durant to his Achilles injury and Klay as well with his injury.
With AD missing time, the toll on LeBron’s body will also become heavier. Though he will most likely carry the Lakers in this stretch and maybe strengthen his MVP case, one also wonders could playing hero this early breaks down the 36-year-old in the long run. He usually spends the regular season coasting for an inevitable playoff run but a rough stretch could quickly have the Lakers outward-looking in with a weird season that has been affected by COVID.
All eyes will be on LeBron and the Lakers during this stretch and even more, eyes will be monitoring Davis with his injury.
Stay tuned for more news.
