Like every other team Lebron James has played for, the Lakers this season have been extremely reliant on the services of the 39-year-old Lebron James. Undoubtedly, one of the greatest basketball players of all time, the star pays meticulous attention to the way he balances his diet and his physical strength.
Unfortunately, not all elements are in the King’s control, and now and then an injury could set the superstar away from basketball, considering his age. With that in mind, the Lakers medical staff ruled out Lebron from the Lakers’ latest fixture against the Utah Jazz.
LeBron James injury update
In the Lakers most recent fixture against the Utah Jazz, superstar Lebron James was termed as questionable before he was sidelined for the game to recover from an apparent injury.
The King who has been phenomenal for the Lakers all season was rested for the game after being diagnosed with a left ankle peroneal tendinopathy. In the fixture, LeBron was joined by Gabe Vincent and the duo were the only two players unavailable for the Lakers.
The presence of Bron for the Lakers is immense. In short, the Lakers pretty much fail to function without their floor general. This season the four-time NBA champion is averaging 24.7 points per game while grabbing 7.2 rebounds and dishing out 7.6 assists per game. While the numbers may not stand out, one must keep in mind his age.
Regardless of the age factor, his leadership on the court has been timeless. Known for his insane ability to make his teammates better, the Lakers are far better just with Lebron James on the floor. There is no better facilitator than Bron on the Lakers and that is not up for debate.
LeBron has spoken previously about the fatigue of games and the effect it has on him. The King said, “I mean, it’s the emotional fatigue, it’s the physical fatigue, it’s the grind-of-the-season fatigue. And when you’re not winning that’s the frustration fatigue. So, a little combination of everything.”
Missing the presence of royalty, the Lakers fell to the second straight loss, losing to the Utah Jazz, earlier today.
Lakers fail to overcome Jazz without LeBron
A circumstance they were not really ready for, the Lakers played the Jazz with a sense of uncertainty.
The Lakers lost to Utah 132-125 away from home. Led by Anthony Davis, the team tried to get their act together and started the game in pure Lakers fashion outscoring the Jazz in the early minutes of the fixture. However, once the Jazz found their rhythm, the task seemed unattainable for the Lakers.
Having started dominantly, the Lakers led the Jazz in scoring only in the first quarter after which Jazz took complete control under the guidance of Lauri Markkanen and Collin Sexton.
The Lakers failed in their attempt to convert through the face of the franchise, Davis and this led to a mammoth game from D’Angelo Russell. The star, who has been under fire for his atrocious shooting, brought in all the charisma and dropped a masterclass. He scored 39 points which were complemented by 8 assists and 3 rebounds, a significant performance to silence all his doubters.
He was supported by Reaves who scored 19 points which exceptional efficiency, shooting 87.5 % from the field. It may have been a different tale if Anthony Davis shot well. While the star had his second-career triple-double, he was abysmal from the field, an offensive burden for the Lakers.
With the loss, the Lakers move to 19-21 and sit in 11th place in the Western Conference. As it stands, the Lakers do not even make it in the NBA Play-In; an alarming sign for the Lakers to perform better at the earliest.
What do you make of the Lakers this season? How crucial is Lebron James to the Lakers success? What is the Los Angeles Lakers ceiling this NBA season? We are eager to know your thoughts and feelings regarding this topic so feel free to comment below.
