Austin Reeves practiced free throws with teammates after the Lakers’ Tuesday session. Meanwhile, Luka Doncic is expected to return on Friday from Madrid, where he received treatment for a hamstring strain.
Hope seemed to hang in the air, almost like sunshine breaking through a cloudy sky. But perhaps that was just an illusion.
“They’re going to be out indefinitely,” Lakers coach JJ Redick informed reporters on Tuesday. “We won’t provide updates this week. It’s really open-ended.”
Redick dashed hopes that a quick recovery was on the horizon.
While the therapy Doncic underwent in Spain may aid his return, it’s not a guaranteed fix that will have him ready for Game 1 of the Lakers’ playoff series against the Rockets on Saturday.
Reeves has proven resilient, having played through a sprained toe last postseason. However, his current oblique injury is too severe to overlook.
Injuries like these usually keep players sidelined for four to six weeks. The Lakers certainly could use a stroke of good luck right about now.
The sudden absence of two major players—60 points worth of talent—makes it feel almost expected that fate would deliver a glimmer of optimism as a counterbalance. But, so far, that’s not the case.
With their two stars out, there’s uncertainty about whether they’ll return for this postseason. Some speculate we might not see them back until October.
LeBron James, at 41, now carries the weight of the team’s Big 3 himself. Luke Kennard will need to step up in his playoff role, shifting from being solely a three-point shooter to a playmaker. Everyone on the team will have to elevate their game.
It’s a hard break for the Lakers, who were seen as championship contenders just a couple of weeks ago.
And now, they must face the hard truth: no one is coming to their rescue.
Unless the Lakers somehow make it past the first playoff round, with both Doncic and Reeves back on the court, they’ll be left with endless “what ifs.”
What if Redick had removed Doncic from the game when he first grabbed his hamstring during that 43-point loss to the Thunder? What if he’d also pulled Reeves after seeing him grimace? What if the medical team had advised against playing these injuries?
Had the Lakers been fully healthy, how far might they have advanced in the playoffs?
Will we ever see James, Doncic, and Reeves team up again?
The team experienced a rapid decline after starting the season strong at 16-2 but fell apart when injuries struck.
Yet, time won’t heal all wounds. Redick emphasized the importance of mental health to his players this week. They need to find a way to regain confidence, especially considering they can’t afford more injuries.
Both messages are tough pills to swallow, particularly for this battered team.
When asked about the team’s spirit, Marcus Smart didn’t hold back.
“In terms of numbers, we’re a bit over halfway there,” he mentioned after a 131-107 win against the Jazz. “We lost two brothers, and that weighs on us. It’s a struggle.”
Doesn’t that just add to the burden?
Next, they’ll face Kevin Durant in a seven-game series.
Smart recognizes the challenge ahead.
“It’s brutal,” he admitted. “He’s among the greatest ever, and he plays with the finesse of a guard despite being as big as he is.”
Well, it’s clear: no one will rescue them.
This isn’t Doncic, who has been performing at an MVP level. Nor is it Reeves, who has shown All-Star potential.
The Lakers are left to fend for themselves, worn out and staring down a difficult matchup.
Their superstar could be sidelined come Saturday.
It serves as a reminder that, at any moment, things can change.
