In the superstar-centric competitive landscape of the NBA, one injury can ruin a season in an instant, and the Los Angeles Lakers are face-to-face with that reality at the moment.
Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) are both expected to miss multiple weeks, and the consensus is that the Lakers will have to traverse their first-round playoff series without either player.
JJ Redick isn't interested at all in denying this reality, however. He basically spelled out to the media that the Lakers must find a way to win in the playoffs without Doncic and Reaves, extending the season long enough to enable their return.
This leaves a heck of an assignment on LeBron James's desk heading into the postseason, especially considering that LA's first-round opponent is probably going to be a team that would have given the Lakers a headache even with Doncic and Reaves healthy.
NBA analysts are depressed about Lakers' playoff outlook
In discussing the situation on Monday, Brian Windhorst and his ESPN brethren of the Hoop Collective podcast (Tim MacMahon, Tim Bontemps) looked completely downtrodden as they tried to forecast the Lakers' first-round challenge without Doncic and Reaves.
The trio acknowledged multiple reports suggesting that Reaves' oblique strain could have him out for a period of three to nine weeks, and Windhorst made the important point that LA is in danger of slipping from the No. 3 seed over the remaining four games of the regular season.
In fact, Windhorst asserted that he'd be surprised if the Lakers keep their grip on the 3-seed, and it's hard to argue with that stance. Entering Monday, LA and the Denver Nuggets had identical 50-28 records. Lurking perilously close behind were the Houston Rockets, one game back of both LA and Denver at 49-29 in the No. 5 spot.
Lakers are probably going to end up as the No. 5 seed
Here's where it gets particularly awful for the Lakers: They have to face the Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors (with Stephen Curry back in the picture), and the Phoenix Suns this week.
By the time the Lakers play their final regular-season contest against the Utah Jazz on Sunday, they might be barely ahead of the No. 6 seed Minnesota Timberwolves in the West standings. Man, have the tables turned on LA.
Lakers fans are holding out for a miracle. Luka is en route to Europe for cutting-edge medical treatment that aligns with that miracle narrative. LeBron pulled off a miracle in 2016, and LA is hoping he can do so again a decade later. This time, it won't be in the NBA Finals where LeBron must do the impossible. A first-round victory without Doncic and Reaves would suffice to enhance James' legacy substantially.