With the NBA Playoffs just about here, the reality of not having Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves is really starting to sink in for some. There is no exact projection on how long the Los Angeles Lakers are going to be without their two backcourt stars. The people want to know, though.
Reporters were jumping at the opportunity to talk to JJ Redick at Lakers practice and fish for some details on both Doncic and Reaves. The second-year coach wanted everyone to realize the definition of one exact word in both of their injury reports.
"I mean, look, they're out indefinitely. I'm not going to have an update for you this week. They're out indefinitely."
Indefinitely means an unspecified period of time. The uncertainty that surrounds both Doncic and Reaves was not going to be dismissed by Redick here. That may ultimately be for the best when it comes to the handling of the situation.
Lakers are giving no real clarity on either Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves
If Redick does know something about when either Doncic or Reaves are expected to be back, he's not giving up much. That comfortably alleviates any pressure for his stars to rush back.
It has happened before and it may unfortunately happen again in the future: a star returns to the lineup before he is ready in order to help rescue his team and ends up making their injury even worse. Kevin Durant in the 2019 NBA Finals immediately rings a bell here.
Should the Lakers end up slipping early in their first-round matchup against the Houston Rockets, and there was any indication of either star being optimistically ahead of schedule, eyes would start to look in their direction. That is not the only dangerous scenario either.
If the series is extended into a longer one, and there was a do-or-die Game 6 or Game 7 when it appeared either Doncic or Reaves was close to a return, the same type of pressure to play could fall on their shoulders from onlookers. It would not be fair.
Both Doncic and Reaves need to be afforded the time to properly heal and not risk turning a bad situation into a devastating nightmare. Redick is giving them just that by staying quiet on any concrete updates in the lead-up to the series.
Quite frankly, the Lakers coach has already painted the picture. The players who are ready and available need to do their part to extend the season long enough for those returns. That could mean winning an entire series without either Doncic or Reaves.
Keeping the mystery leaves the Rockets guessing about the two stars and their availability just as much as anyone else. On all fronts, Redick should continue to play any cards he has close to the chest as he has here.
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