Lakers star Anthony Davis has been cleared to participate in full-contact practices and is close to returning to action, head coach Frank Vogel told reporters on Thursday (link via ESPN’s Dave Mcmenamin).
The eight-time All-Star, who has been dealing with a right calf strain and tendinosis, has now been sidelined for over two months, having last played on February 14. According to Vogel, Davis is unlikely to suit up for either of the Lakers’ games against Utah on Saturday and Monday, but the head coach didn’t entirely rule out that possibility, McMenamin writes.
When Davis does return, the plan is to incorporate him back into the lineup slowly, beginning with a playing-time limit in the 15-minute range, per Vogel.
“Whenever it is that he returns, it’s not going to be a full return to playing 30-something minutes a night,” Vogel said. “Especially with the nature of practice and how shorthanded we are, he’s going to have to use some games to try to get himself back in shape. So the first two games he’s back will likely be short-minute performances.”
Here’s more on the NBA’s two Los Angeles teams:
- Lakers center Marc Gasol sustained a volar plate fracture in his left pinky finger on Thursday, but he may not miss much – or any – time, according to Kyle Goon of The Southern California News Group, who tweets that Gasol has been listed as questionable for Saturday’s game vs. Utah. “It’s my left hand, I don’t use it much anyways,” Gasol said. “So we’ll see.”
- Before DeMarcus Cousins‘ 10-day contract with the Clippers expired on Wednesday night, head coach Tyronn Lue said the team was looking forward to continuing on with the veteran center, as Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN tweets. The Clippers didn’t re-sign Cousins to a new deal on Thursday, so we’ll see if they do so today before tonight’s game in Philadelphia.
- The Clippers paid a high price at the trade deadline for Rajon Rondo (Lou Williams, two second-round picks, and cash), but the veteran point guard has made that deal look like a smart one so far, as Mirjam Swanson of The Southern California News Group details. Since Rondo made his debut on April 4, L.A. is 7-0 and has a staggering +32.0 net rating when the 35-year-old is on the court.
Considering the Lakers are just a game ot two under 500 in the brutal west without LeBron and AD and a host of other injuries shows how good and deep they are. Plus shows how great a job Vogel has done these last two years on our defense.
they played weak teams missing players lmao
Lmao weak teams like the entire eastern conference despite 4 teams? They have played the toughest part of season schedule already without their stars. AD AND LeBron have been gone awhile. So were they supposed to beat the best teams in the league with their 2 best players and several other key players as well hurt besides? But with 5 players missing they beat the tar out of the then eastern conference leaders playing with 2 of their 3 superstars. your comment is dumb considering the Lakers have number 1 rated defense without LeBron and AD.
Ps they played Denver with Murray and and jokic, a loaded Miami who was healthy, Gianni and the bucks; you are really dumb or don’t watch the games and a relatively healthy Celtics. In fact the last 6 weeks or so have been the toughest stretch of their schedule.
The much awaited Laker-Clipper western final series, looks like it could be a first round match up.
And how ready will AD be when the playoffs begin? Will he be in mid-season form? Not even close. He will be playing at most 15 minutes a game when he returns and no way will that number increase significantly by the time the first round has begun.
“ Playoff Rondo “ is coming Lakers.
Since Rondo made his debut on April 4, L.A. is 7-0 and has a staggering +32.0 net rating when the 35-year-old is on the court.
If you appreciate good basketball. You gotta love this guy. He just gets the most out of himself. And does all he can to join the team in winning. Overachiever solid baller. Just love real PGs .
Lakers better make sure AD and Bron are good. We are getting dangerously close to playoff ball. Where missing one gm, or not being 100%. means losing a series. Lakers and Nets both have shown this trend. This is a bad sign to me. This is also why it was a good move to get Drummond. Imo both will be beat and not get out their conference.
Ok, no worries lakers didn’t win the title and weren’t better than clippers because of Rondo. You are getting excited.
Yeah I am. But injured stars being ready from beginning. Should be a real thing now. Playoffs will push them hard. So could easily get small injuries. Game shape will be a real thing imo
Yes absolutely injuries in this compressed season could very well decide it, every team is suffering from health protocols or injuries and the healthiest of the league’s 5 or 6 best teams might win the title. But assuming lakers get two stars back they will handle business playoff Rondo or not.
Playoff Rondo and it’s still the regular season.
Even though Rondo is a kind of marginal player at this point LAC was so desperate for a true PG that his influence is larger than people might expect.
Reason why I liked the deal at the time. Because even tho Lou Will is still the better player in absolute terms, relative to LAC Rondo is 10x a better fit.
Brooklyn has a much better chance of reaching the Finals since Harden and Durant will both be in better shape for the playoffs than either LBJ or AD. Plus the only other legit contenders in the east should be Philly and Milwaukee. While the Lakers will struggle to get past any of the top teams in the West, except possibly the Suns.
Yawn, I promise you its the Clippers trying to avoid the Lakers and not the other way around –
I personally hope we draw them Rd 1
Me too ……. Battle of LA
This rivalry between the Clippers and Lakers seems to only exist outside of LA. In Southern California you have to hunt to find Clippers fans, the Lakers dominate this non rivalry. The Clippers got to win something before this ever gets rivalry status.
” make sure AD and Bron are good”
Who are you talking too, God? Is this a prayer? Maybe God wants the Clippers to win one finally, or doesn’t care either way.
Teams don’t want injuries; they are already quite aware of their impact. They do not need warned. Yet nowhere do you say Lakers should hold back starters for health, which is the point behind Vogel’s comments. Just pablum keyed by headline words.
7-0, +32 net rating. That was in the article, the last few words. Pull your car over and read it.
If I were a betting man, I’d say IF the playoff’s began tonight, ‘Bron would be starting & playing 35 minutes. The same goes for most of AD’s stretch of time off… The combination of a lost regular season at the gate due to no fans (or now very few), the insanity around analytics, ever-evolving emphasis on Rings, & the annual salary these franchises are doling out for individual players, it makes for the perfect season to reallllly rest your horses… NBA owners typically buy franchises with their “F U money”, not expecting to make a successful business acquisition. However, billionaires NEVER like to see ANY of their investments in the red, as all teams currently are. So I’d have to imagine that many owners, if not all that are in contention, are well aware that the ONLY opportunity for any financial return is a deep playoff run. The Buss Family, relatively speaking, is not a mega rich NBA owner’s family; this season’s hurting their bottom line heavily.
All should know the NBA came up with this bogus “play-in tourney” (so late in the season) SOLELY as a way to bring in more money for more teams… Bron, AD, KD, Kyrie, PG, Kawhi, Embiid, Jimmy — they’d ALL be suiting up nightly if the playoffs were underway & national television attention was on every game.
AD is probably done for this year … A KD torn achille injury is way too risky with his new max contract
But he doesn’t have a torn Achilles he had a bruised or strained one. Hence why no surgery and reports are he will be back in 2 to 3 games.
KD had a strained one before achille got torned … If AD is feeling hurt again Lakers could shut him down for the PO