Los Angeles Lakers: 5 reasons why fans shouldn’t panic right now

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 12: Anthony Davis #3 Carmelo Anthony #7, LeBron James #6 and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers on the basketball court together during the second half of a preseason basketball game against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center on October 12, 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 Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 12: Anthony Davis #3 Carmelo Anthony #7, LeBron James #6 and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers on the basketball court together during the second half of a preseason basketball game against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center on October 12, 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 Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

2. The Los Angeles Lakers aren’t healthy right now

The Los Angeles Lakers, much like they were last season, are dealing with some key injuries right now.

Kendrick Nunn, a big free-agent signing this summer, suffered a sprained ankle during the preseason and is now out for at least a few weeks due to a bone bruise in his knee.

Talen Horton-Tucker, whom the team is high on, is sidelined because of a sprained ankle.

Trevor Ariza, one of the Lakers’ grizzled vets, who also won a ring with them back in the day, is out for the next two months.

That’s a fair deal to overcome.

Nunn, assuming he comes back and has no residual issues from his bone bruise, should play a key role on this team. He is an efficient scorer both in the paint and from downtown, and many also feel he is a capable defender.

Nunn is also a player who can create and hit his own shot, which will make him a spark plug off the bench. The same goes for Horton-Tucker.

Teams can often overcome one key injury, but multiple injuries will cause a team’s performance to sag no matter how much other guys step up.