With the Lakers fighting for the best possible postseason spot — most likely in the play-in tournament — LeBron James says his injured ankle may not always allow him to suit up the rest of the way.
“I got to be smart with it,” he said, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “If I’m not healthy, or [anywhere] close to being healthy, then it’s not good for our ballclub anyway. It’s not good for me.”
James posted a triple-double — 23 points, 14 rebounds, 12 assists — in Wednesday’s victory over Memphis. He sat out the previous game vs. Milwaukee.
We have more on the Lakers:
- Barring a last-minute setback, injured guard Gabe Vincent is expected to return to action on Sunday in Brooklyn, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic (via Twitter). One of the team’s major offseason acquisitions, Vincent has been out since December 20 after undergoing knee surgery, Charania notes. He has only appeared in five games this season.
- Guard D’Angelo Russell believes the Lakers may have more quality players than they know what to do with at times, he told Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. “I think we’re much better than our record,” he said. “We match up, adjust, and do all these different things in the flow of the game. The problem is we’ve got 12 different guys that can be out there. When that random group of five is out there, the familiarity with what we’re trying to do is on the fly. A lot of teams have five or six guys that know they’re always going to have an idea who’s going to be in and where’s this and that.”
- The team gave Anthony Davis, who is a battling a knee injury, the night off on Wednesday, Khobi Price of the Orange County Register notes. Davis played 52 minutes in the double overtime win against Milwaukee on Tuesday.
- Two-way big man Colin Castleton made a brief cameo against Memphis. He had not appeared in an NBA game since Feb. 14 due to a fractured wrist.
Lakers 35 FTA. Grizzlies 19 FTA. Can’t even beat a 24-49 team legitimately.
Look at a shot chart dude.
The Lakers has 19 fouls to Memphis’ 23, perfectly reasonable. JJJ and Bane especially way overextended on defense. Both got lucky not to foul out. 56% FG from the Lakers to 47% from the Grizz. *Especially* the 55% from the 3pt line from the Lakers. You allow any team to shoot like that, you lose. Especially when you allow them to do so in 3 of 4 quarters.
Like points in the paint? Laker fans always use that one.
Memphis has more points in the paint than the Lakers last night. 56-42. So no.
Yes, that’s what I’m saying. Can hardly use points in that paint as a reason for dining out at the free throw line.
Considering a not made basket doesn’t count as a shot attempt when there’s a foul. The Lakers have big players, everybody else shoots 60 3s a game. Of course the big team is going to take a ton of free throws. It’s like how basketball used to be and teams have an individual identity. Getting mad or holding some dumb conspiracy theory about the refs just make normal people think you’re not a serious person.
You’d be the normal person right? I’ve been watching Lakers win games, series and championships they don’t deserve for near a qtr of a century now. You won’t stop me or anyone else from pointing out the favouritism. I don’t care what you think.
Sounds more like you didn’t actually watch the game, but okay.
“I don’t care what you think” is always a flag.
LeBron making excuses. Always sitting since he came into the new NBA