Luka’s Calf Still Cause for Concern, Lakers Report

It may be the all-star break for the NBA, but that doesn’t mean things just grind to a halt. Players are still working out, franchises are still planning for the future, and many teams are getting ready for their next games.

In the case of the Lakers, that also means dealing with injuries

The team released some troubling news that new star acquisition Luka Doncic will likely miss one of the games later on this week due to some nagging calf issues. He is already on a set amount of minutes, and now will have to sit out a whole contest.

The Lakers stated that Luka will miss either their next game at home against the Hornets, or the following day’s game against the Trailblazers in Portland.

Either way, the team does not want him to play two straight nights and risk further, more serious injury

“The Lakers face an immediate back-to-back on Wednesday and Thursday,” explained NBA insider Marc Stein.

“...It is believed that Doncic will play in only one of those games before a Saturday night trip to Denver to square off with his close friend Nikla Jokic before the Lakers play host to the Mavericks one week from Tuesday.”

A Persistent Issue

Injuries have been a big concern for the Lakers all year, even before the Doncic trade. LeBron James isn’t getting any younger, and Anthony Davis has been dealing with issues his whole career.

In fact, the big man has already suffered a groin pull in Dallas that will sideline him for multiple weeks

While Doncic is not as injury prone, the recent news is not something the Lakers wanted to hear. The shifty guard missed his last 19 games with the Mavericks as the result of his calf, and they can’t be thrilled that the already hurt area is popping up again.

One of the biggest benefits of bringing in the younger guard was to have someone healthy who the team could lean on if James needed rest. Now, it seems those roles have switched.

“The Lakers have kept Doncic under 25 minutes in his first two games in purple and gold and are expected to persist with a measured approach as the 25-year-old progresses in his comeback,” Stein added.

That means Los Angeles wants to be careful moving forward

They already planned to slowly integrate Doncic into games. Now that his calf issues are coming back, his workload might get even lighter.

While the team does not foresee Doncic missing the amount of games he did in Dallas, they aren’t going to rush him back onto the court. James might already be under a lot of pressure, but he can hold things down on his own if needed.

Looking to the Future

Doncic played 23 minutes in his first two games with the Lakers. Many fans hoped those reduced minutes were simply a sign of him getting to know a new offense, but it looks like there’s more going on.

Even so, the sharp shooter still put up decent numbers with his reduced workload

Doncic had 14 points, five rebounds, and four assists against the Jazz followed by 16 points, four rebounds, and four assists in a loss to Utah the following night.

He’s still one of the best players in the league, and will continue to be one of the best players in the league as long as he stays healthy.

The Lakers are in a great spot in the standings, and don’t need to push Doncic too much right now

They have a long term plan, which involves making sure him and James are both ready for the postseason. If that means Doncic playing less minutes or managing his load by sitting out a game here and there, then that’s worth losing a few games.

James Sits As Well

The Doncic news is concerning, and it’s unfortunately not the only bad news for the Lakers. LeBron seems to also be dealing with some issues. He pulled out of the All-Star contest with what is described as “ankle and foot discomfort.”

Though some outlets believe it could be nothing, or reports state James might be more hurt than he lets on. If that’s the case, the Lakers could be without both of their superstars sometime in the coming weeks.

That would be a recipe for disaster

There’s a lot of talent on the Lakers roster, but it’s not enough to keep them afloat against some of the better teams in the West. It would only take one bad losing streak to drop the Lakers, who are currently sixth in the west, down to eight, ninth, or tenth place.

At the end of the day, the Lakers need Doncic or James if they want to avoid the play-in games

They might be able to have them both sit out for a little while, but with James’ age, it’s better for them if Doncic rebounds sooner rather than later.