It's no secret that the Los Angeles Lakers have been playing shorthanded so far in the playoffs with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves sidelined with injuries since early April, which is part of what's made their 3-1 lead over the Houston Rockets so impressive. 

Still, the Lakers want to have their two best scorers back on the court as soon as possible to either help close out the series against Houston and even more critically, bolster their lineup against a possible series against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

That puts both the Lakers and their stars in a difficult position that requires a balance of desires and caution. On one hand, it's the playoffs and the Lakers need all the help they can get to the promised land, but they also don't want to push their stars back on the court before their ready and risk any longer term injuries.

To maintain that balance requires communication and the full involvement of the team, not just players and coaches, but the medical staff as well.

Reaves spoke to media at practice ahead of Game 5 and shared what the process has been like between him and the team in preparation for a possible return to the floor.

"Everything from the get-go has been a group effort... to get me back out there as fast as I can without putting myself at risk to re-injure myself," Reaves said (via The Sporting Tribune). "Everybody's been extremely positive through this whole process and we're all working for one goal."

Putting the focus on Reaves is the only option that the Lakers have at the moment. A report rom ESPN has already stated that Doncic won't be available at all during the Houston series while he recovers from a hamstring strain and may not even be ready for the next round of the playoffs should the Lakers advance.

Reaves, on the other hand, has a more optimistic projection. He's already been listed as a game-time decision for Games 3 and Game 4, though he didn't play, and and could be even closer to stepping back onto the court for Game 5.

Having him back would obviously be a huge boost to the Lakers lineup and should they be able to facilitate a safe return to action while maintaining the rhythm that players like Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart have found themselves in, the lakers would be formidable against not just the Rockets, but the entire bracket.