The Los Angeles Lakers will take a “cautious” approach with LeBron James' groin injury, according to Matthew Moreno of Lakers Nation.
James has only missed three games this season but played a career-low 55 games in 2018-19 due to a groin injury that kept him out longer than a month. Lakers officials are very aware of the flaring nature of that injury and will keep a “big-picture mindset” with his sore groin.
The Lakers are hoping to seal the No. 1 seed in the West, but they also want to keep their star player healthy for what they expect will be a long playoff run.
The purple and gold are coming off a two-point loss to the Brooklyn Nets, one that pierced the air of invincibility they've had of late after wins over the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Clippers.
“We’ve just got to be better,” said James, lamenting some late turnovers and missed opportunities. “We’ve got to be better.”
“Obviously it was an emotional weekend with two heavyweights coming in here,” said head coach Frank Vogel. “Brooklyn is not on their level but they’re a playoff team.”
With 19 games left in the season, the Lakers may want to sit James a few games between now and the season finale to allow their star players to be in peak physical shape before facing the grueling nature of playoff basketball.
Since the start of February, the Lakers have stampeded through the league to the tune of 13-3. Even with James taking a few nights off, they should be able to keep a solid 5.5-game lead over the Clippers the rest of the way.
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