Although the Los Angeles Lakers won their first win of the season in their previous victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, they also paid some price for it, including forward LeBron James being hit in the calf in that game, and James fell to the ground for a short while. Compared with winning, Lakers fans are more concerned about James's injury situation, although after the injury, James tightened his shoelaces and still played the whole game, but after the game, it was obvious that James was a little afraid.
Vogel officially declared James! Wei Shao welcomes a great opportunity, one person or will leave the team, the Lakers are not easy.
In an interview with reporters, James said that his first thought after the injury was 'don't come again', the previous season, James was pressed to the calf in a similar way, resulting in a high ankle sprain, a month and a half of suspension has not fully recovered, the playoffs with a tingling feeling on the game. This time, James said it was somewhat similar, but it was a completely different round, james said he couldn't do anything about other people hitting his leg like this, he could continue to play, but it was clear that his calf was a little sore after the game, and he would race against the clock to get treatment and fight against the Spurs. However, the Lakers officially did not have James in the Lakers starting lineup given by the team before the game against the Spurs.
Vogel announced James's injury in an interview, which is also to let the fans hang their hearts can be put aside, Vogel said that James's ankle this time is different from the previous one, not a recurrence of injury, this time in different positions, not so complicated and troublesome. "He's just been evaluated by the medical team, he has some soreness, and we just took a marathon strategy and let him truce." Vogel said.
It can be seen from the fact that James is still playing the full court after the injury, and in the 2020-2021 season, after James was pressed to the calf by Eagles forward Solomon Hill, he could not even play the full game, which is the essential difference.
In addition, look closely at the Next Season of the Lakers, this road trip is the Lakers' first back-to-back game of the season, they will go to Oklahoma against the Thunder after playing the Spurs, although the injury is not serious, but it is obviously not wise to play back-to-back games in this situation at the beginning of the season, if you have to choose a team, the obvious game against the Thunder will be more secure, and the pressure is relatively small.
In addition, James does not play, from another aspect, the integration of Lakers guard Russell Westbrook is good news, Westbrook can fully return and get used to the way to play, to find the state. Without James, when the Lakers put up a five-small lineup, Westbrook can stay on the court with Davis and three 3D players, which is Westbrook's favorite lineup.
Lakers coach Vogel also said before the game that team guard Wayne Ellington has resumed all training, he has been put into the activation list, although it is unlikely to directly let him appear, but this is also good news for the Lakers.
There are still four players on the Lakers' injury list, they are Horton Tucker, LeBron James, Kendrick Nunn and Trevo Ariza, James does not seem to be a big problem, and Nunn is not too far away from a comeback. That's not too good news for Avery Bradley, a guard who was previously claimed by the Lakers.
According to NBA salary expert Yossi Gozlan, the Lakers' contract with Bradley is completely insecure, that is, if the Lakers eventually abandon Bradley, they do not have to bear any losses for this, but also save a certain amount of luxury tax. If Bradley follows the Lakers throughout the season, the Lakers will pay $7 million for Bradley.
The Lakers got Bradley because of the team's injury wave, and once Horton Tucker and Trevo Ariza return from injury, bradley is foreseeable to be laid off by the Lakers. As can be seen from recent games, Bradley's performance on the offensive end is indeed too sluggish, and he does not have a stable playing time under Vogel, except when Kent Bazmore is plagued by fouls, bradley is difficult to get a chance to play.
The Lakers are indeed a little too difficult recently, the team run-in problem is not small, James also encountered injuries, fortunately, this injury did not affect the subsequent game, the Lakers will usher in a sweet period next, although it is a series of away games, but the opponents are San Antonio Spurs, two games oklahoma Thunder, two games Houston Rockets, these teams are some non-playoff teams, for the Lakers run-in has a lot of benefits. During this time, the Lakers need to ensure that no one is injured again, and they can't afford to be injured.