3. Injuries catch up with Lakers
The Lakers entered the road trip playing some great basketball but cooled off considerably in the four games. One of the biggest reasons they cooled off was the injuries suffered previously finally catching up with the team.
The Lakers were already without Rajon Rondo and Brandon Ingram heading into the trip. The team went 2-1 in the first three games without both of them and split the first two games. However, when JaVale McGee was added to the inactive list, things really fell apart for the Lakers.
Without three key contributors, Los Angeles lost to both the Wizards and Nets. Without McGee, Luke Walton went back to a lot of small ball lineups with LeBron James or Kyle Kuzma playing center. Just as those lineups struggled to begin the season, they struggled this time as well.
Without McGee, Walton should have given minutes to Moritz Wagner to at least have some size on the court. The Lakers got destroyed on the interior against the Nets when they went small, as Jarrett Allen and Rodae Hollis-Jefferson had their way on the inside.
Luckily for the Lakers, all three look to be getting healthier and closer to a return. Rondo will return for Friday’s game against the Pelicans. McGee, who was battling an illness, should be back out there as well. Ingram is getting closer and closer to a return, and it wouldn’t surprise anyone if he suited up as well.