The Los Angeles Lakers have turned it on as of late with the team winning seven out of their last nine games with six straight victories on their home floor. Although this is a much-needed turnaround for the team at this point, the most impressive part of the recent upswing has been the team's ability to win without rookie point guard Lonzo Ball on the floor.
Ball is dealing with knee soreness which has kept him out the last five games. There's currently no timetable for his return to the floor while he's been ruled out for Friday's game against the Chicago Bulls. Head coach Luke Walton talked about Ball's status and whether the 20-year-old would return during their five-game road trip.
“If he gets cleared, then yeah,” Walton said of Ball. “I'm in no rush. Obviously, we want him back, but we're not going to rush him back. Whenever that day comes when the medical staff clears him to play, he'll play.
“If that's on this trip, great. If not, we'll do it when we get home.”
Without Ball on the floor the last five games, the Lakers suffered disappointing losses to the Memphis Grizzlies and Oklahoma City Thunder but had strong performances on their way to three straight wins over the Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks, and Boston Celtics.
There's no doubt the Lakers are a much better team on both ends of the floor with Ball in the lineup. He gets the team running a fast-paced style which has been highly beneficial and has also improved the team defensively with every player eager to get out on the break and finish in transition.
Although the Lakers do miss Ball on the floor, the team has seen Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle, and Kyle Kuzma help pick up the slack leading to the three-game winning streak and the momentum heading into the long road trip.
Walton's squad will take on the Bulls on Friday night in Chicago followed by matchups against the Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, Brooklyn Nets, and Thunder before heading home on to face the Phoenix Suns at the Staples Center on Feb. 6.
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