Anthony Davis returned to action for the Lakers after a 30 game absence. Lakers fans, who have been suffering through a stretch of mediocrity led by the “supporting cast” to what was supposed to be another championship team, are elated to have the multi-skilled baller back in the fold.
With LeBron James still on the mend and battling with Ohio bartenders, tweeting, deleting tweets and continuously having to respond to issues that surround social injustice and justify our emotional responses to the repetitive trauma we experience as Black people, the best thing for everyone involved would be for Bron to return to the court and get refocused on a championship.
He should definitely still fight social justice causes and stay in tune, but basketball is his balance to all of the negative, so he needs that outlet to think lucidly in his everyday life.
The Lakers are currently fifth in the Western Conference but hope to finish as a Top 4 seed in the West in order to gain home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
As expected, AD was rusty in his return from the longest absence of the eight-time All-Star’s NBA career, scoring four points while missing eight of 10 shots in the first half against the Dallas Mavericks. He’s also on a minutes restriction, making it hard for him to get a rhythm.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_AUtIXzWsI
AD’s performance improved in his second game back on Saturday night, scoring 17 points in 28 minutes, but the compromised Lakers still got smacked by Dallas 108-93.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Moe3PIWadec
Frank Vogel has a lot of work to do and we can only hope that the right calf and heel issues that have hampered AD this season are behind him.
The 28-year-old who’s in his ninth season has said he was worried about tearing his right Achilles tendon, which was part of the reason he was shut down and has been out for so long.
Reports say James, who has been out since March 20 with a bum ankle, is still at least a couple of weeks away
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-mBQnIrnIA
Davis was shut down after a 122-105 loss at Denver on Feb. 14, which started a slide of five losses for the Lakers in six games. Now that he’s back, the Lakers will be patient with his progression.
“He’s going to need to get his legs under him as to be expected,” Vogel said before the Dallas game. “You can’t simulate NBA action. That’s what tonight’s going to be about. That’s what the next few games are going to be about. This is an important first step for sure.”
Overall, the Lakers were 14-16 in Davis’ absence. The Lakers are 7-9 since both stars were sidelined. There’s nothing much for Lakers fans to do but chill and wait to be whole again.
The Brooklyn Nets have a similar problem. How ironic, that the two favorites to reach the NBA Finals are walking on eggshells with their franchise players in an attempt to get them to the finish line healthy.
When LeBron James returns to the court, we will truly see how the Lakers’ championship hopes play out. Until then, everybody just needs to take a deep breath and chillax.
