Three losses in a row, two major injuries and one of the most complicated schedules for the remainder of the season. Los Angeles Lakers can go into crisis before the playoffs
Photo: Harry How / Getty Images
Although it was predictable, it is still worrisome. The Lakers will not have LeBron James or Anthony Davis during the next matches, and against one of the most difficult remaining calendars of the league, the reigning NBA champion is probably far from calm.
Los Angeles have three losses in a row : Atlanta Hawks, Phoenix Suns and New Orleans Pelicans. The last two falls have been by 17 points (94 – 128 before Suns, 111 – 550 against Pelicans), which is even more alarming.
The Lakers’ defensive apparatus suffers too much in the absence of two regular candidates to win the award for Best Defender of the Anus. An almost irreplaceable rim protector and an all-round defender whose physique is worth analyzing. Then, on offense, they lose a dominator of the paint and in turn the total playmaker.
The immediate solution to avoid falling loudly in the most even conference of the NBA could be in free agency: Names like Andre Drummond, Victor Oladipo, Kyle Lowry, Aaron Gordon and Norman Powell would be hours away from leaving their teams, likely to join some immediate title contender.
The Lakers, as defender of the trophy, will move prior to the transfer deadline -Friday March – in search of a reinforcement that will restore strength to the team. But nothing will come for free, and some piece will have to be sacrificed.
The vaccine: a respite for the Lakers
Ramona Shelburne, along with Adrian Wojnarowski and Dave McMenamin, reported that Members of the Los Angeles Lakers will be vaccinated against COVID – 19 during the week. Those led by Frank Vogel will join the New Orleans Pelicans, the Atlanta Hawks and the Portland Trail Blazers, as the teams whose players and technical and administrative personnel have received said vaccine.
Reporting with @ wojespn and @ mcten —Members of Los Angeles Lakers expected to get COVID – 19 vaccine this week, sources tell ESPN. They’ll join the Pelicans, Hawks and Trail Blazers with players and staffers who have been vaccinated. https://t.co/Oqf6WsWw9A
– Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) March 24 , 2021
It won’t be news that alleviates the concerns of the Angelenos, but in terms of health, who at the end of the day are the ones that matter most, it will be one less headache for each member of the team. Little by little the NBA is moving towards complete normality, after many postponed games.
