The Los Angeles Lakers have clinched a playoff spot. They did that despite getting trounced by the Thunder on Thursday night. LA won’t have to play in the play-in, although Luka Doncic hurt his hamstring during this game.
LeBron James understands that making the playoffs isn’t the only goal that the team has. He understands that they are still trying to win a championship. Doncic’s injury adds some uncertainty for the Lakers as the playoffs approach.
When asked about clinching the playoffs, James gave a sobering take on what it means for LA to clinch a playoff spot.
LeBron James Responds to Lakers Clinching Playoff Spot
After the big loss against Oklahoma City, James was asked about clinching a playoff spot. James said it means nothing without being healthy.
“Well, I mean, there’s never a time to get comfortable in this league. The only thing we know is that we won’t be in the play-in, so we have that week. But health is wealth. We’re already without Marcus right now and now Luka. We don’t know what the timetable is, obviously. We’ll see.”
It doesn’t seem like James is too excited about what lies ahead for Los Angeles. They sit third in the Western Conference standings, but that could change in the last handful of games. That’s especially true if Doncic misses games down the stretch.
James is more concerned about Doncic’s health for the playoffs than the final week of the year. It is still unclear what the timeline is on his injury at this point. LA had finally been mostly healthy, minus Smart. LA had been playing the best basketball of the year until this blowout loss.
Los Angeles Will Struggle to Advance if Doncic is Out for the First Round
If Doncic has to miss time in the first round of the playoffs because of this injury, the Lakers will struggle to advance. Doncic is the best player on the team, and James can’t turn it on like he used to. He is not the same unstoppable force he was in 2020 when the team was able to win the championship.
James understands that the team cannot win a championship unless they are fully healthy. That is something that they have failed to do pretty much all season long. He seems deeply concerned about Doncic’s hamstring because he is the engine of the offense.
Since the All-Star break, the Lakers have the fifth-best offense in the league. A lot of that is because of how well Doncic has played and scored the ball. James has also been around long enough to know that more than half the battle in the playoffs is staying healthy.
LA would likely have to play the Spurs in order to win the West if the seeding holds up right now. JJ Redick will likely be cautious with Doncic’s playing time over the next few days, no matter how bad the hamstring injury is. They need him as close to 100 percent healthy as possible for the playoffs.
LeBron James has Sobering Take on Lakers Clinching Playoff Spot