The Los Angeles Lakers have lost three straight games for the first time this season, and there are people who are already concerned about their chances of winning the championship. One of which is one-time NBA champion and current ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins.
Perkins highlighted that the Lakers are too dependent on LeBron James and Anthony Davis, noting that the Purple and Gold can't be without the two superstars. With that said, he emphasized that all the team's other pieces must be “intact” to become legitimate title contenders.
My only concern with the Lakers is they have to have all of their pieces intact to be a clear cut championship team.
They can’t be without AD or Bron and Rondo damn near can’t be missing either. Tough to guarantee in the long haul with age and history of injury with those 3.
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) December 23, 2019
Last week, the Lakers lost to the Indiana Pacers, 105-102, as Anthony Davis sat out with a mild ankle sprain. Then, just a couple of days ago, it was LeBron James who was sidelined against the Denver Nuggets. The four-time MVP suffered a thoracic muscle injury which he suffered in their loss against the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, according to head coach Frank Vogel.
The LeBron-less Lakers got blown out of Staples Center 124-104 despite AD putting up 32 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks.
Both Bron and AD are close to being unstoppable when they are healthy, but the Lakers can't seem to figure out a way to win when one of them is out. That is indeed a cause for concern, especially with LeBron turning 35 years old later this week and Davis being an injury-prone player.
Not to mention that the Lakers' top priority is to make sure that both of their superstars enter the postseason at 100 percent.
Although LeBron has made it clear that he intends to play when he's healthy, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him and AD enter the load management protocol sometime this season.
But if the Lakers will decide to rest Bron and AD, other guys on the team will have to step up big time, particularly Kyle Kuzma who has been really inconsistent this season.
Right now, the Purple and Gold remain atop the Western Conference, but teams like the Nuggets and the Los Angeles Clippers are starting to close the gap.
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