Lake Show Life
Fansided

Lakers: 3 reasons why potentially missing the playoffs is a blessing

By Jason Reed

TORONTO, ON - MARCH 18: LeBron James #6 and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers shake hands during the second half of their NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on March 18, 2022 in Toronto, Canada. 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 Cole Burston/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MARCH 18: LeBron James #6 and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers shake hands during the second half of their NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on March 18, 2022 in Toronto, Canada. 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 Cole Burston/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
(Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
(Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) /

2. It puts fewer miles on LeBron’s body

LeBron James is defying everything we thought we knew about athlete regression with age. He and Tom Brady are both pushing seemingly immovable age boundaries with their sports and who knows how long LeBron is still an elite player. Most people thought he would be done by now.

That being said, the soreness and injuries are getting more likely with LeBron’s older age and it is imperative that the Lakers monitor his workload and keep him healthy for when it really matters. Missing the playoffs this year takes off that extra mileage.

MUST-READ: One word to describe every Laker this season

This gives LeBron a longer offseason to rest and recover and will allow him to be fresh for the start of the 2022-23 season. I know it sounds trivial, but remember what happened when Kobe Bryant started pushing himself to the limits at the end of the season when he was a veteran? His Achilles injury took years off of his career.

That is the last thing that the Lakers want and let’s face it, this team is not winning a championship this season. While they would probably get bounced in the first round by the Phoenix Suns anyway, losing in the Play-In Tournament does take away those hyper-intense playoff minutes and saves them for when the team actually has a chance to win.

Anthony Davis is also worth mentioning as well. The team hurried him back last year and all he did was re-injury himself. By not making a playoff run, the Lakers might not rush AD back this year and will actually give him ample time to heal and stay healthy for next year.

Home/Lakers News