The Los Angeles Lakers are ready to take on the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the NBA playoffs. After finishing with a 42-30 record, the Lakers earned themselves a spot in the play-in tournament, where they beat the Golden State Warriors to secure their position in the playoffs.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis Displaying Maximum Availability
LeBron James and Anthony Davis have not had much time to play together this season due to injuries. However, they were finally able to play together for eight straight games at the end of the regular season, which is the longest streak since the start of the COVID pandemic.
The Lakers have struggled over the past few seasons with both players dealing with alternated injuries, but coach Darvin Ham has confirmed that neither James nor Davis will be going into the playoffs with any restrictions.
Staying Healthy for Postseason
James suffered from a foot tendon injury throughout the season and has mentioned he may require surgery after playoffs. In contrast, Davis was dealing with a stress injury in his foot, though he mentioned that sitting out during final months of regular season was just precautionary.
The extended break between the play-in win and series opener on Sunday is sorely needed for this team. The Lakers would benefit from having both players healthy for what could be a long playoff run.
Lakers’ Approach to Playoffs
The Lakers are approaching this year’s playoffs differently as they face some tough competition in Memphis Grizzlies. Despite finishing as a lower seed, they do not worry about seeding and trust their strategy regarding match-ups.
Davis also mentioned how they have a plan for combatting Jaren Jackson Jr.’s defensive presence within Memphis Grizzlies’ line-up. Until now, Jackson has played a critical role in helping Memphis secure its No. 3 rank for defensive rating during the regular season.
Despite being a slight underdog with (+105) odds to win the series against the Grizzlies, the Lakers are confident with their roster being finally healthy with Davis and James set to play alongside other important contributors like Dennis Schroder.
Darvin Ham’s Approach for Playoffs
Darvin Ham is taking a different approach when it comes to managing James’s playing minutes in playoffs. Unlike previous Lakers coach Frank Vogel, who slightly limited James’s playoff minutes, Ham plans on leaning on his stars.
James has carried a significant burden in postseasons historically by playing over 41 minutes per game. But with both Davis and James healthy and set to go all in for this playoff series, Ham knows how important it is for his stars to give their best performance every game.
In conclusion, the Lakers’ success in this year’s playoffs will depend on their ability to keep their key players healthy and their approach to each matchup. With LeBron James and Anthony Davis ready to lead without any restrictions, the Los Angeles Lakers seem motivated and focused on another deep playoff run.
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