The Lakers have been plagued with injuries this season, but they are finally starting to see some of their key players return to the court. Here’s a breakdown of the current injury report:
- LeBron James: After missing 20 games due to an ankle injury, LeBron James made his much-anticipated return to the court last week against the Kings. He played 32 minutes and scored 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists. His performance showed that he’s still a dominant force on the court, but he did show some rustiness, missing some easy shots and committing turnovers. Despite this, he’s expected to start on Tuesday against the Knicks.
- Anthony Davis: The Lakers’ star power forward has been out since February due to a calf strain and Achilles tendinosis. He’s been slowly ramping up his activity in practice, but he’s not expected to return until after the All-Star break. This is a huge blow to the Lakers’ playoff hopes, as Davis is one of the best two-way players in the league.
- Marc Gasol: Gasol has been dealing with a hamstring injury and has missed the last two games. He’s considered day-to-day and is questionable for Tuesday’s game against the Knicks.
- Jared Dudley: Dudley has been out for over a month due to a knee injury and is not expected to return until late March.
- Kostas Antetokounmpo: Kostas has been dealing with a knee injury and is listed as day-to-day. He’s not a key player for the Lakers, but his availability could provide some depth off the bench.
Lakers Starting Lineup:
Assuming LeBron James starts, here’s the expected starting lineup for the Lakers:
- Point guard: Dennis Schroder
- Shooting guard: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
- Small forward: LeBron James
- Power forward: Kyle Kuzma
- Center: Montrezl Harrell
This starting lineup has been effective for the Lakers, as they have won six of their last ten games. Schroder provides a much-needed spark on the offensive end, while Harrell has been dominant in the paint. Caldwell-Pope and Kuzma have been inconsistent, but they have shown flashes of brilliance at times.
As we can see, the Lakers have been dealing with a multitude of injuries this season, but they’re finally starting to get healthy. LeBron James’ return has been a huge boost for the team, and they’ll need him to be at his best if they want to make a deep playoff run. Anthony Davis’ absence will be felt, but the Lakers have enough talent to overcome his injury. If they can stay healthy and continue to play at a high level, they could be a serious threat in the Western Conference.
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