Lakers’ Injury Scares Show Fragility of Top Heavy Teams

The Lakers are one of the most dangerous teams in the league, but, as many expected, the season is starting to take its toll. They’re playing over .500 ball, and have beaten some good squads. Still, injuries are starting to pop up.

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Los Angeles runs on a fairly straightforward formula. They have a decent bench, some solid role players, and are largely carried by the superstar play of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. That’s worked well, but the strategy only goes as far as the legends can.

Staying healthy is a key part of any successful season. It doesn’t matter how good a team is, if their best players can’t stay on the court they can’t win. While some teams are deep enough to overcome such setbacks, the Lakers are not one of them.

A Persistent Foot Problem

Davis and James both have incredible output so far this season. They’re putting the team on their backs in numerous situations, with Davis especially going above and beyond in what could well be an MVP level year. They score well, space the floor, and play strong defense too.

However, when leaning on such high level talent, all it takes is one injury for things to go downhill. That’s why so many fans are nervous about James’ recent foot injury, which sidelined him for two games. LA went 1-1 in that span, thanks to the play of Anthony Davis, but that style is simply not sustainable over the course of an entire year.

James has had a nagging foot injury this season, which has forced him to miss time. Though he says he feels good, it’s clearly still bothering him. Even more concerning is that it’s not a new injury. It’s an old one that the aging star has not been able to shake.

“It’s not behind me,” James said when talking of the pain. “It’s an everyday thing…But I was able to do some great things (on my break)”

A Superstar Impact

James being hopeful about his foot injury is good news, but concerning nonetheless. The Lakers can’t afford for him to miss too much time, especially if they plan to stay firmly in the playoff picture come January and February.

James returned against Memphis and helped the Lakers cruise to an easy win. He put up 18 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, and blocked two shots. That was then backed by Davis’ 40 points, 16 rebounds, two steals, and two assists.

Those stat lines further reinforce why the superstars are so important to the team. James will likely push through, but he’s also likely to miss a game here and there during the season in order to properly manage his injuries.

If the Lakers can stay afloat with their current roster, or by landing a big trade, LeBron missing a few games won’t matter too much. However, if things get tight down the line they’re going to need him as much as possible.

That goes double due to the fact that the forward is also battling a quad issue he suffered on December 6th.

Balancing Rest and Play

James is no stranger to pain. The superstar has battled through many ailments during his career, which is why getting him to rest is such a difficult task. He loves to play, even committing to playing all 82 games before the year began.

While that won’t come to fruition, it does show just how hard it will be for the Lakers to keep him off the bench.

“If it was up to just me, I probably would’ve played,” James said. “It would’ve been hard to keep me away from it.

Lakers coach J.J Redick knows how much James wants to see the court, but he also knows how much the team needs him. Rather than having him miss entire games due to load management, he’s committed to finding a balance that works for everyone.

“Maybe it’s not necessarily less minutes, but shorter runs so that he’s not getting gassed and then quicker segments on the bench and then he’s back in,” Redick said. ‘...So there’s different ways to do it than just to say we’re going to rest you and you’re going to sit out the game.”

Davis Fine After Shoulder Pain

For James, his workload comes down to pain tolerance. He’s pushed through a lot of minor injuries in the past, and likely will do it again. That being said, Davis also has to be careful after leaving Sunday's game due to a shoulder injury in the third quarter.

The event was the second time this year the big man exited due to injury, which is a trend the Lakers are hoping will not continue. Luckily, he returned to the court without any major fuss and finished his strong 40 point night.

“A little stinger,” David said when discussing the impact. “Went in the back. Got some work done. I had four fouls anyway, so it was about time for me to come out anyway.”

The Lakers will continue to monitor Davis over the next few days and see how he feels, but stingers usually hurt worse right away and then recover. If anything does go wrong, like LeBron, they will likely sit him to make sure he’s ready for the long road ahead.