The Los Angeles Lakers simply can’t catch a break.
After Luka Doncic’s common season ended with a hamstring harm, the Lakers simply obtained one other dose of brutal harm luck. Austin Reaves can also be done for the remainder of the remainder of the regular season as a consequence of an indirect pressure.
There’s no timetable for Doncic or Reaves, arguably the perfect two Lakers gamers, to return. Of course, Los Angeles will stay hopeful that they’ll play in the NBA Playoffs, however there’s nonetheless 5 extra common season video games to get via earlier than these selections.
For years, a viral web social media publish that reads, “accidentally became important at work and it’s ruining my life,” has grow to be fairly the viral meme.
For Lakers level guard Bronny James, that meme may’ve become a actuality.
Could Bronny actually play in the postseason?
Without Doncic or Reaves, Luke Kennard is the one wholesome ball handler in Los Angeles that has gotten constant minutes all through the common season. Of course, LeBron James is a ballhandler and might effectively run an offense – however that takes him out of his present function.
There’s an actual world, if Doncic and Kennard can’t swimsuit up, that Bronny may find yourself taking part in vital minutes in the primary spherical of the NBA Playoffs.
Lakers coach JJ Redick has been trusting Bronny a bit extra in his second NBA season. As a rookie, he performed in simply 27 video games. This yr, he’s already appeared in 37 video games. That might be as many as 42 video games – particularly with the brand new want for a degree guard in Los Angeles.
Bronny averaged only a tick below eight minutes per evening when he was known as on to enter motion for the Lakers this season. He’s performed a a lot larger function for the South Bay Lakers, the place Bronny has performed six video games this season. In these 14 G League appearances, Bronny has averaged 15 factors per sport.
That’s not precisely the kind of manufacturing that screams to the Lakers that the 21-year-old is prepared for motion in the NBA Playoffs. The lights are brighter, the tempo is quicker and the sport is far more bodily in the postseason.
But out of necessity, may Redick discover himself determined?
In actuality, Bronny is not going to see postseason minutes. The Lakers nonetheless have Kennard and Jake LaRavia can be forward of Bronny in a playoff rotation if push got here to shove.
The Lakers are at present the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. Right now, they’d be matched up with the Minnesota Timberwolves in the primary spherical. However, there’s nonetheless a couple of week in the common season, and the seeding can change with all of this harm information.
Before his harm, Doncic was taking part in at an MVP degree. LeBron has enjoyed his role as “OG in residence,” contributing as a constant third choice with Doncic and Reaves dealing with the workload each evening.
If Doncic and Reaves can’t swimsuit up for Game 1 of the postseason, James is again to being the No. 1 choice for the Lakers.
In that situation, no person must be shocked if Bronny will get a couple of minutes of run in the postseason. If the Lakers discover themselves with their backs in opposition to the wall with out their finest two gamers in opposition to an athletic Anthony Edwards or a proficient Houston Rockets staff, they may as nicely financial institution on chemistry and genetics.
