The Los Angeles Lakers have been dealing with several injuries lately.
The Los Angeles Lakers lost two games in a row for the first time this season after falling to the Phoenix Suns 132-108 on Tuesday and while there's no reason to sound the alarms on the Lakers' season because of it, it is proof of how hard Los Angeles has been hit by injuries lately.
The lakers have experienced a revolving door of injuries that has kept them from putting a consistent starting lineup and that chaos seems to be piling up and affecting the end results of games.
The Lakers' Big Three of LeBron James, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves have had limited time playing together since each of them have had to contend with injuries of their own. James missed the start of the season with sciatica and has missed other games at times with arthritis and both Dončić and Reaves have missed games lately with lower body injuries.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) passes the ball against the Phoenix Suns in the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn ImagesA Lack of Health
"We understand that the most important thing is definitely health and we're just hoping to be whole eventually," James said (via The Sporting Tribune).
Still, as difficult as navigating all the lakers' injuries has been, James isn't keen on using that as an excuse for the way the team has been playing lately.
No mater what's going on with a roster, it's still a team's job to put the best product possible out on the floor and James knows that more than anyone else in the league with all of his experience under his belt.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Nick Smith Jr. (20) controls the ball against Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) in the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn ImagesSince it's fallen to James lately to get the team going while Dončić and Reaves have both missed time, he's been trying to instill that mindset into the team, though it so far hasn't come to fruition in the past two losses.
Playing on Despite Injuries
"It's not an excuse because you've got to play the game that's in front of you, whatever the case may be. You've got to go out there and execute. We tried to do that and obviously we didn't. We came up short. We failed in that aspect," James said.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) against Phoenix Suns guard Jordan Goodwin (23) in the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn ImagesThe Lakers won't have to contend with their injuries for much longer following the loss to the Suns.
Reaves made his return from a calf strain in Tuesday night's game and Dončić is expected to return for the Christmas Day game against the Houston Rockets after missing several games with a leg contusion that he suffered while playing against the Clippers.
With the Lakers made whole, as James out it, success should follow again.