Stars’ return to bring boost — and questions
With Davis likely back this week and James to follow, Lakers will get better but need to figure out lineups.
The Lakers appear to be on the cusp of something big, an oasis in a desert of so-so basketball.
Anthony Davis should be back on the court sometime this week, probably as soon as Thursday night. And while he slowly will be reintegrated with a minutes restriction, at least he will be out there. And that’s a sign the Lakers are about to look like the Lakers again.
Before the Lakers lost 111-97 to Utah on Monday night, coach Frank Vogel was asked whether he felt as if the end of a chapter was upon him, a page turning to the team returning to full strength.
“I don’t think we’re there yet, to be honest. I know I’m not, my coaching staff is not,” he said. “Even when Anthony returns, it’ll be in short, limited minutes, a minutes-restriction type of games. We’re still in a stretch where we’ve got to compete and win games for the most part without those guys.”
That’s a sobering, appropriate thought. The Lakers still are grinding, still fighting to rise above the No. 7 spot in the Western Conference and put themselves in better position for the playoffs. The mere presence of Davis, however, is enough to anticipate better days.
Consider what was learned in his absence:
They have some fighters. For the last month, Dennis Schroder has been battling through knee pain, a bruised pelvis and an infected foot. That’s just what’s known. He clearly was hurting against the Jazz and after surrendering to the sideline, he was back on the court seconds later, diving for a loose ball.
It was fairly emblematic of Lakers basketball over the last 30 games minus Davis, and really over the last 16 also without James — they play hard, hustle and claw despite talent disadvantages.
In this stretch without Davis, the Lakers are 14-16. Only two players — Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Montrezl Harrell — have been able to suit up every game. (Talen Horton-Tucker has played 29 because of a one-game suspension.)
To play around .500 ball is a big win, especially with a huge influx of talent on the way. Vogel, Schroder, Markieff Morris, Kyle Kuzma and the others who have kept the Lakers afloat deserve kudos.
Once the Lakers stop just treading water, the next question will become: Who are the Lakers’ best five?
“We have a little bit of a closing lineup we’ve had during this stretch, but that really goes out the window when those two are back and healthy. So it’s gonna be some tough decisions,” Kuzma said.
“It’s gonna be some people who are playing well right now, playing a lot of minutes, those minutes get shifted just from the dynamic of having those two great players out there.”
Davis and James will be on the court late in games, and it’s a pretty safe bet Schroder will too. From there? Everyone is guessing. Plus, the options at center have grown. With three credible options, Vogel can play to matchups.
After the Lakers lost to the Jazz on Monday, Vogel said he might have used Marc Gasol with the second unit against Utah’s size had it not been for the veteran center’s tight hamstring, a signal the coach would’ve been comfortable moving away from the slumping Harrell.
The reigning sixth man of the year’s role has shifted since the team signed Andre Drummond, and his production and playing time have dipped as the Lakers acclimated with their new center.
Still, there should be a time when Harrell’s energy and pickand-roll savvy will be useful, as will be Drummond’s physicality and Gasol’s cerebral play. Not many teams have those options.
“The best thing I can say, it’s all about getting to the playoffs and sacrifice,” Kuzma said. “That’s just how you win championships, and that’s how you make things work, especially when you have these great players. So yeah, it will be interesting.”