No NBA team wants to be in the position the Los Angeles Lakers are. Entering the NBA Playoffs without your two top stars is unenviable, to say the least. However, there may already be an understanding of who will be back in purple and gold first, according to Jovan Buha.
The Lakers insider discussed the two major injuries during an appearance on FanDuel's Run It Back. There was some optimism that Doncic could suit up against the Houston Rockets, if the series last long enough.
"[Doncic] has the shorter projected timetable. ... He obviously went to Spain to get some treatment, and they're hoping that that could shave off a few days or maybe even up to a week. So, between the two, yes, Luka is expected back first."
Buha did add that Doncic's hamstring injury is the trickier of the two injuries to manage, by comparison to Reaves' oblique strain. Realistically, the Lakers would be happy to get either in their first-round matchup. Neither will truly be at 100 percent either. However, getting even an imperfect version of Doncic back could be enough to swing the series against the Rockets.
Luka Doncic would be welcomed back like a hero by the Lakers
The reported stance of the Lakers on the situation is they will not expect either of their stars to appear in this matchup. However, they are not ruling out that possibility in an extended series.
One thing is immediately working in the Lakers' favor of potentially seeing Doncic suit up in the later games of the first-round head-to-head — the NBA quietly extended how long this series would go. There are notably three two-day breaks in between games.
The gap from Game 1 to 2 will have two days off for the Lakers. It will be the same case for the break between Game 2 to 3, and from Game 4 to a possible Game 5. Those little details matter.
Two weeks have already passed from the initial date of Doncic's exit against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Game 5 on April 29 would be approaching the four-week mark since Luka's injury. If the thought of shaving a day or week off is taken at face value, and the Lakers get the most optimistic version of events, this could reasonably put Doncic in the lineup by then.
Now, Doncic's long-term health should be priority number one for Los Angeles. If their superstar point guard would be laboring heavily through the games, holding him out is the responsible move.
Lakers fans should not hinge their hopes on Doncic coming in to completely save the day in this series. However, it would be more than praiseworthy if Luka does (safely) walk through those doors and put on the cape in Los Angeles' most dire moment.
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