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The Lakers still have hope for the playoffs, even without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves for now
The Lakers will lean on LeBron James and role players after losing their top two scorers, with no timetable for Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves.
- The Lakers host the Houston Rockets in a first-round playoff opener Saturday night without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, sidelined indefinitely. Not even LeBron James seems likely to boost the Lakers' supporting cast over any of the Western Conference's other five elite teams.
- Los Angeles' playoff hopes collapsed in Oklahoma City earlier this month when Doncic suffered a strained hamstring and Reaves hurt his oblique, halting a surge that saw the team win 16 of 18 games.
- Luke Kennard leads reserves including Center Deandre Ayton and Rui Hachimura tasked with filling the offensive void, while Jake LaRavia and Even Bronny James anticipate increased playoff minutes.
- For playoff-tested veteran Marcus Smart, the Lakers' challenge comes down to one factor: "Willpower." Smart refuses to accept that their season ended in Oklahoma City.
- Coach JJ Redick noted the team has focused on practice execution to build different chemistry, adding, "We've been preparing really well." They seek to overcome their short-handed status against the Rockets' physical challenge.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Lakers' JJ Redick Gives Good News on 'Key' Big Man Before Game 1
The Los Angeles Lakers have the two most high-profile injuries in the NBA playoffs this spring, with due respect to Joel Embiid of the Sixers. Both Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique strain) are out with lengthy injuries to open the series against the Rockets, leaving L.A. in a tough bind and probably ending the hope that the team could pull together an NBA Finals push after a strong second-half run in February and March.Now, the…
Lakers Notes: Smart, LeBron, Bronny, Schedule, Ayton
The Lakers are big underdogs in their series against the Rockets due to the injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. At least initially, that could work to the Lakers’ advantage, accoding to guard Marcus Smart. “It’s going to take everybody,” Smart said, per Greg Beacham of the Associated Press. “With that, it’s a different style of play, and I don’t think it’s something that Houston has prepared for. To be fair, they haven’t seen us without t…
Lakers Have Clean Injury Report For Game 1 Against Rockets Outside Of Luka Doncic & Austin Reaves
The Los Angeles Lakers’ injury report for Game 1 of their first round playoff series against the Houston Rockets is exactly as expected. Luka Doncic (left hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (left oblique muscle strain) are out, but the rest of the roster is good to go for the start of the postseason. Meanwhile, the Rockets are listing Kevin Durant as questionable with a right knee contusion. One of the biggest questions for the Lakers going int…
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