The Los Angeles Lakers have dealt with a multitude of injuries at the onset of the 2021-22 NBA season. They have not yet had Kendrick Nunn or Trevor Ariza on the court, while Talen Horton-Tucker made his season debut on Sunday against the San Antonio Spurs.
Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony, and Malik Monk are the only Lakers players to appear in all 14 games thus far this season. Given the constant shuffling of the lineup with players in and out, Los Angeles is likely happy with an 8-6 record.
They have had some poor performances along the way, blowing a lead against the Oklahoma City Thunder not once, but twice, and no-showing a second half against the Minnesota Timberwolves. But, to be above the .500 mark with LeBron James appearing in only six games is encouraging.
The Lakers are 4-4 in games without James this season, which is solid when you consider how much the team loses when he isn’t on the court. They struggle mightily when he rests during games. To be .500 without him for that many games is a good sign of things to come.
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James has battled ankle soreness and an abdominal injury thus far this season. Turning 37 in December and with the milage, he has on him, some wear and tear is expected. James has been adamant on his stance against load management, but it may be the smart thing for the Lakers to do upon his return to keep him healthy.
Just when will James be returning to the lineup? Soon, according to a source that was in touch with ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. That source also said that James is progressing well in his workouts, but Vogel noted that he has yet to take part in a full practice or contact drills.
A veteran of LeBron James’ stature probably doesn’t need much practice time to return to the court, but the Lakers will assuredly take things slow. They are taking a big picture approach and are not going to rush him back into the lineup, risking a re-aggravation of the injury.
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The Los Angeles Lakers have a game tonight against the Chicago Bulls before embarking on a five-game trip against Eastern Conference foes. Hopefully, at some point during that trip, James can return to the lineup for the purple and gold.
