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Los Angeles Lakers: Reasons to be optimistic moving forward

By Casey Ahmed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 20: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to an apparent injury during the second period of a game against the Atlanta Hawks at Staples Center on March 20, 2021 in Los Angeles, 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. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 20: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to an apparent injury during the second period of a game against the Atlanta Hawks at Staples Center on March 20, 2021 in Los Angeles, 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. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) /
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The doom and gloom for the Los Angeles Lakers‘ nightmare just does not look to be ending soon. Once Anthony Davis went down it seemed like LeBron James would be able to hold the fort and keep the team afloat while the big man recovers.

On Saturday, the nightmare reached def con five with LeBron twisting his ankle like the million other times but this time… this time it was different.

LeBron is known for his regenerative abilities by figuratively pulling up his bootstraps and getting back to work but the magical elixir didn’t work and ended with LeBron throwing a chair angrily, going to the back.

It was later reported that LeBron James suffered a high ankle sprain and will miss at least several weeks.

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Fans have not seen LeBron go to the back for a long time and this occurrence did not help with AD also being in street clothes. Don’t worry Laker fans I have some reasons why you should still be optimistic about the team…

Reasons to remain optimistic about the Los Angeles Lakers:

The Los Angeles Lakers still have a five-game cushion

Currently sitting at 28-15 overall, the Lakers have a nice cushion above the teams fighting for the last playoff spots. As long as the team can break even before one of LeBron or AD arrives back they should still be around the 4-7 range. And NO TEAM would want to face a fully healthy Lakers team in the first round.

However, it is worth mentioning that if the Lakers are the seventh seed they would have to participate in the play-in tournament for the seventh and eighth seed. One win in two games and they make the playoffs. If they lose both they miss the playoffs.

The role players get a chance to gain more confidence

A lot was made about how the offseason acquisitions have not panned out as planned. At the same time, the returning players from the recent NBA Championship run have also struggled to adjust to this season.

Now these players will have touches and freedom to gain their respective rhythms. I believe this will do certain players (Kyle Kuzma, Dennis Schroder, Marc Gasol and Montrezl Harrell) wonders.

Dennis gets to spread his wings

Depending on who you ask, Dennis Schroder is either not what the Lakers traded for or one most competitive dudes in the world. I fall in the latter category and I don’t doubt that Dennis has heard the chatter about the Lakers potentially crashing without LeBron. The extra added motivation will just add fuel to the everlasting fire in Dennis’s belly.

LeBron and AD will both be 100% healthy and rested

After the taxing bubble run that ended with the ultimate goal of an NBA Championship, many believed the NBA season wouldn’t start until January.

Instead, the season started in December, just 71 days after the last game of the NBA Finals. That type of short layoff is not good for the human body as we saw with AD needing to sit out to heal his ailing lower leg problem.

LeBron, on the other hand, will not rest unless he’s seriously hurt, so in a glass-half-full type of outlook, this could be a blessing in disguise for James.

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Think of this as an extended break both would have gotten on a normal NBA season and you will be less stressed. These guys fully healthy WILL deliver the goods again.

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