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Lakers: 3 most important players while LeBron James and Anthony Davis are out

By Najee Adams

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 07: Anthony Davis #3 and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers shake hands prior to a game against the San Antonio Spurs at Staples Center on January 07, 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 Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 07: Anthony Davis #3 and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers shake hands prior to a game against the San Antonio Spurs at Staples Center on January 07, 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 Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Laker Nation, here we are.

After last season brought the City of Angels its 17th championship and relatively kept the injuries to a minimum, this season is proving to be quite a different story.

52 games through the season, LeBron James and Anthony Davis have played a combined 23 games together and they aren’t the only ones who haven’t been able to stay on the court this season.

The Los Angeles Lakers‘ projected started lineup coming into the season of Dennis Schroder, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, James, Davis and Marc Gasol have played a grand total of 20 games together due to not only injuries but COVID-19 restrictions as well.

Thankfully, the Lakers currently sit at the fifth seed in the West, just 1.5 games behind the Nuggets and ahead of the Trail Blazers. That is in large part to the team’s 17-6 record in the games that James and Davis have shared the floor with some impressive wins over Milwaukee, Denver and Boston.

The problem is, things might get a whole lot worse for the Los Angeles Lakers before they get better.

According to Tankathon.com, the Lakers have the fourth hardest remaining strength of schedule with the Jazz, Nuggets, Suns, Nets and Clippers all on the horizon.

With James and Davis still at least a couple of weeks away from returning, guys will be asked to step up in ways that they might not have imagined coming into the season.

Sure, if the Lakers happen to slip into the play-in tournament you’d be hard-pressed to find someone willing to bet against James and Davis… but I’d rather it not even come to that.

This offseason, Rob Pelinka and the Lakers front office focused on solidifying a solid core behind James and Davis and now it’s time for those guys to step up.

We’re heading into the final stretch of the season and it’s time to cement our spot in the playoffs, let’s take a look at which three guys will be the biggest keys to doing so.

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