Anthony Davis Injury Shows Why Lakers Still Need Help Down Low

The Lakers went into their latest game against the Philadelphia 76ers with a good amount of confidence. They were coming off a four-game win streak where they had easily defeated a slew of different teams through strong defense, quick offense, and good team basketball.

Despite that recent success, and despite the Sixers having struggles of their own, the game did not go the Lakers way in more ways than one. Not only did they suffer a terrible defeat, falling 118 to 104, but they may have temporarily lost one of their best players in the process.

Star center Anthony Davis exited the game due to an abdominal muscle strain he suffered in the first quarter. Though the team was hopeful the damage was nothing more than a minor injury, an MRI on Wednesday confirmed the diagnosis. That’s a big blow to the Lakers, who are currently fighting for a playoff spot and will need all the wins they can get.

Out a Few Games (At Least)

Abdominal injuries can be quite tricky. Strains, even small ones, might flare up and take a lot of time to heal. Sometimes they can go away in just a couple of days, but some players have sat out for a month or more. It all depends on the initial severity and available rehab.

Currently, Davis is set to leave the team and go back to Los Angeles where he will meet with doctors to get a better idea of the injury. The team also plans to reevaluate him in roughly a week, which means he’s going to miss the rest of the Lakers current roadtrip.

The big man plans to sit out for at least the next three games against Washington, New York, and the Clippers. If everything goes well, he could be set to return for LA’s next home game on February 6th against the Warriors. If it doesn’t, his timeline will likely be updated week-to-week.

The Importance of An All-Star

Davis’ injury might not sideline the future hall of famer for too long, but even if he’s only out for a few games the ailment could not have come at a worse time. That’s because the big man isn’t just playing at an incredibly high level, he’s putting the team on his back.

Right now, Davis is averaging 25.7 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. He’s doing that on 34.3 minutes a contest, and doing a little bit of everything on both sides of the ball.

On top of that, he’s averaged 32.8 points, 15 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks a game during the Lakers most recent win streak. He’s been an anchor in the middle of the floor and an incredibly dynamic scorer.

Those numbers show just how important the big man is to Los Angeles’ success. The team needs him in the middle, even with LeBron James playing at his usual dominant level, and they definitely lack size, rebounding, and scoring without Davis on the court.

“When our best player goes out, it’s always challenging,” James said about the injury. “If he’s out from the beginning, then we have a game plan set. We know what to expect, we know what our lineup is going to be. But when AD or any one of our guys go down throughout the court of a game, it’s just tough.”

No Suitable Replacement

Davis’ absence was certainly felt during what should have been an easy win against the Sixers. The Lakers were up three points and cruising when the big man left the game. After that, things quickly fell apart.

Dorian Finney-Smith started the second half at center, while the Lakers also relied on a small-ball lineup with three forwards (Finney-Smith, James, and Rui Hachimura) rather than going with a true big in the middle.

That lineup did not work well against Philadelphia, but without Davis it may be how the Lakers choose to go out over the next few games. It’s also possible that reserve centers Jaxson Hayes and Christian Koloko see more playing time too.

One Step from the Edge

Another reason Davis’ injury is so important is because it further highlights how much Los Angeles needs to make a move before the trade deadline. While their recent winning streak suggests they have a strong roster, the Davis situation shows they are one bad injury away from everything falling apart.

The franchise has stated they don’t want to move any big pieces or give up significant draft capital in order to bring in more help. However, that doesn’t mean they aren’t open to getting another big man. They don’t need a superstar, they just need someone who can relieve Davis and keep him healthy.

The Lakers know that they’re asking a lot from both James and Davis. So much that an injury to either one would likely end the team’s season. It’s important for them to reduce wear and tear and limit injuries like Davis’ recent strain. In order to make that happen, he needs to be able to sit out a little bit more.