The Los Angeles Lakers got off to a surprisingly flying start to the 2020-21 regular season despite a mentally taxing championship run that ended in mid-October, a uniquely abbreviated offseason, and the acclimation of multiple rotation pieces.

In addition to being the best defensive team in the league (where they remain, per defensive rating) through the first month and change, the Lakers rode a hot hand to a top-five offense and won 14 of their first 18 contests. LeBron James, in his 18th season, seemed to have an early hold on the MVP narrative.

Then, to paraphrase Yogi Berra, the first half got late, early, for the defending champions. Following a successful (5-2) but draining seven-game East Coast swing, the Lakers returned home on Feb. 4 and extended their win streak to seven games. Yet, they needed overtime in three straight outings to fend off lottery teams and generally played shaky ball.

Besides a few performances here and there, including this past weekend, the Lakers have largely struggled over the past month. There may not be alarming causes for concerns regarding their playoff prospects, but for now, L.A. has issues.

Mercifully, they'll get a much-needed nine-day All-Star break (March 4-12) after the final buzzer sounds in their matchup with the Sacramento Kings at the Golden 1 Center on Wednesday — fittingly, the second leg of a back-to-back.

A shorthanded Lakers unit fell 114-104 to the Phoenix Suns at home on Tuesday, even after Devin Booker's shocking ejection in the third quarter. L.A. is 24-12 but losers of seven of 10 — albeit without Anthony Davis and, for four games, the irreplaceable Dennis Schröder.

It's hard to imagine another group in basketball that could use a vacation more than the Lakers. Here's why they could desperately use a few days off, in no particular order.

Marc Gasol is in health and safety protocols

Out of nowhere, Marc Gasol was placed in the league's health and safety protocols on Tuesday. Details are scarce at the moment, but it's safe to assume he won't join the team for the trip to Sacramento on Wednesday.

“We play so well the last two games, we get back into a rhythm, and then we find out today that two of our big guns were out,” James said after the Suns defeat. “It's definitely deflating, especially when you were playing poorly and then you get in a good rhythm.”

Lakers, Marc Gasol, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Frank Vogel

Gasol's ineligibility comes less than a week after the Lakers welcomed Schröder back last Friday, following his seven-day stint in quarantine for questionable contact tracing. L.A. mostly avoided serious COVID-related problems in the first half (Alex Caruso missed four games in December), but the virus' reach seemed to have touched them just before the break.

Gasol has been somewhat disappointing to many Lakers fans. The 36-year-old is averaging 4.8 points and 4.1 rebounds this season, but his defensive positioning, screen setting, floor spacing, and passing makes an impact in moments throughout each game.

Without AD, the Lakers need all the size they can get out there. Plus, Gasol is shooting 42.2 percent from 3-point range over the past 12 games, and L.A. could use all the help it can get in that department (more on that below).

Kyle Kuzma and Alex Caruso are banged up

Davis re-aggravated his calf strain on Valentine's Day, and Vogel said Sunday that the team is “still on track for the four-week plan.” Nothing has changed on that front.

However, two of the team's most important role players, Kyle Kuzma and Alex Caruso, are suddenly dinged up, too. Kuzma was a last-minute scratch for the Phoenix bout due to a heel contusion, and Caruso exited in the second half with neck spasms.

Vogel said Kuzma could be good to go on Wednesday against the Kings, and it's unclear if Caruso will miss time. Either way, the Lakers would rather get everybody back to 100 percent before the toll of the condensed schedule leads to any more nicks and bruises.

R&R for LeBron

Finally — and about two weeks too late, if you ask me — James will fully manage his load. About an hour after he sleepily Zoomed with the media on Tuesday night, The Athletic's Shams Charania reported that the 36-year-old will sit out the Kings game and get a 48-minute head start on his All-Star Weekend.

Inconveniently, and unlike the rest of the Lakers, James will travel to Atlanta on Sunday to “captain” a team in a meaningless exhibition. If Team LeBron (and Utah Jazz) head coach Quin Snyder and his staff are smart, they'll run James into the hardwood of the State Farm Arena. Yet, for some reason, I don't see that happening.

In all seriousness, even superheroes need rest. Remarkably, James has played in each of the first 36 games of the season and has carried a bigger load than anyone expected over the past three weeks.

He was among the league leaders in minutes played in February — a consequence of avoidably close games and the overlapping absences of Davis and Schröder. As a result, James' 3-point and foul shooting fell off, as more and more shots began falling short. Clearly, The King could use a few days to put up his feet and recharge via some wine and mezcal.

A mental break would be nice, too

Beyond any lingering physical ailments, the mental grind of the season has been accumulating since the adrenaline of the opening weeks wore off.

“This is the most basketball that I’ve ever played in my life — this season and last season combined,” Markieff Morris said following the team's blowout loss to the Jazz last week. “It’s an unbelievable amount of basketball we all are playing. Mentally it gets draining — especially when you lose.”

On Monday, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr opined that the 2020-21 Lakers are attempting the hardest repeat run in NBA history, and Kerr knows a thing or two (or three) about repeats.

“This is a really difficult season for everybody, but particularly for those teams that went deep in the playoffs. And for the Lakers themselves, just trying to defend their championship? I can’t imagine a more difficult season to try and repeat.”

James didn't exactly disagree with Kerr's stance.

“It’s been extremely tough,” James admitted.

Hopefully, white sand, a few rounds on the links with buddies, and other relaxation plans will critically relieve some stress before the second half ramps up.

Shooting (sea)legs

At the start of February, the Lakers ranked seventh in the NBA in 3-point percentage (38.4). When March began, they had plummeted to 25th after shooting 28.9 percent over the past 14 outings.

LeBron James, Lakers

Entering Tuesday, Caruso shot under 23 percent from deep after making over 52 percent of his attempts through Jan. 31. Wes Matthews shot 30.6 percent last month, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit 32.1 percent of his tries in February following a scorching start.

The numbers are abysmal, but the eye test might be worse. The Lakers have shorted a ton of misses as of late, and it hasn't just been their 36-year-old superstar out of rhythm and relying on tired legs.

The Lakers will get nine nights off before resuming their title defense against the Indiana Pacers at Staples Center on Friday, March 12.

I'd expect the Lakers to come out of the second-half gates refreshed, rejuvenated, and raining jumpers.

The bad news? The schedule-makers didn't do them any favors.