It was a disappointing loss for the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday as they fell to the Phoenix Suns in Game 4 of their first-round series matchup. The defending champs are now preparing for Game 5 with the possibility of not having Anthony Davis available to play. According to head coach Frank Vogel, this key development will likely have a significant impact on LeBron James moving forward.
As it turns out, the Lakers might need heavier minutes from LeBron with AD on the shelf:
Vogel says the #Lakers will do “whatever we need to do to win this game” when asked by @jovanbuha if LeBron’s minutes will increase if AD doesn’t play.
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) May 31, 2021
Davis suffered a groin injury in the first half of Sunday's loss and was unable to return to the contest. It was revealed on Monday that he is doubtful to play in Game 5 with a Grade 1 groin strain.
Despite not being a hundred percent himself, it looks like LeBron will have no choice but to endure a heavier workload sans AD. As Vogel implied in his message above, the Lakers will need to pull out all the stops as they look to re-establish their advantage in the series come Game 5.
Vogel is well aware of LeBron's current physical condition, however, and admitted that this tactic might prove to be a significant risk for both James and the Lakers:
He also pointed out that the more minutes LeBron plays, the less fresh he is for crunchtime, so that is something that will be considered as well.
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) May 31, 2021
It is also worth noting that Game 5 will take place on Phoenix's home floor, which puts the Lakers at a further disadvantage. Nevertheless, the defending champs have had their back against the wall in the past, and more often than not, LeBron James and his troops step up to the plate when it matters most.
Follow Us
Subscribe