Lake Show Life
Fansided

Los Angeles Lakers: 3 Players who have to step up without Josh Hart

By Kenneth Teape

EL SEGUNDO, CA - FEBRUARY 12: Josh Hart #5, Brook Lopez #11 and Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers huddle up during an all access practice on February 12, 2018 at UCLA Heath Training Center in El Segundo, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
EL SEGUNDO, CA - FEBRUARY 12: Josh Hart #5, Brook Lopez #11 and Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers huddle up during an all access practice on February 12, 2018 at UCLA Heath Training Center in El Segundo, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 4
Next
Los Angeles Lakers: 3 Players who have to step up without Josh Hart
Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images /

With Josh Hart going down with an injury, the Los Angeles Lakers need these players to step up their level of play.

The Los Angeles Lakers finally had their roster healthy and intact with Lonzo Ball returning to the lineup. Ball missed 15 consecutive games with a knee sprain but returned after the All-Star break. With their full allotment of players, the Lakers momentum began picking up.

The Lakers have played well since the All-Star break, winning all three games. They have been impressive wins, as they exacted some revenge on the Dallas Mavericks before embarking on a road trip.

The trio of the Mavericks, Sacramento Kings and Atlanta Hawks isn’t overly daunting, but for a young Lakers team, all wins are important. The victories over the Kings and Hawks are especially impressive as they came on the road.

Things were looking up for the Lakers until practice on Wednesday. Rookie guard Josh Hart, who has been an integral part of their success, was injured. Hart fractured the fourth metacarpal on his left hand and will be forced out of the lineup.

More from Lake Show Life

Without Hart, the Lakers lineup will undergo some drastic changes. Hart has started every game in February, averaging 32.1 minutes per game. 27 minutes if the fewest he has played during that span of time. That is a lot of minutes that will be opening up for the foreseeable future. Veteran Corey Brewer would have been someone that could have helped fill some of those minutes, but he is likely to be bought out.

While any injury is difficult to overcome, the backcourt is probably where the Lakers could afford one. They have solid depth in their backcourt, especially with Ball working his way back into the lineup.

If the Lakers want to continue their winning ways, they will need players to step up and help replace the production that Hart was providing. We take a look at three players that need to step up with Hart sidelined.

Home/Lakers News