The moment many have been waiting for: Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers getting ready for a marquee round two showdown against the defending champs.
It’s going to be Shai vs. Luka.
It’s going to be a barrage of all time talent dancing on the parquet floor.
It’s going to be a legendary defense tasked with stopping an all-time great scorer.
Wait…
Or, so we hoped.
Actually, the Lakers are still dealing with the thick Doncic cloud. They have been for roughly five weeks. They may be over by the time he’s even ready.
GettyOKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – APRIL 02: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
L.A. finds itself in a tough situation as the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder gear up to continue their title defense.
With no Doncic for the foreseeable future, the Lakers are perhaps left to go out there and fire freely and play like all expectations have been relaxed.
Because those guys in blue and orange make up, as coach JJ Redick put it, one of the “greatest teams” ever.
Luka Doncic: The No-Update Update Continues
Let’s cut to the chase, Doncic is not playing (again) in Tuesday’s Game 1 in Oklahoma City.
Last week, ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst reported the 27-year-old L.A. is “not close” to returning.
Yesterday, coach JJ Redick backed up that report quite well, saying he doesn’t have “any updates on Luka.”
Well, that’s quite a bummer. But not a shocker.
Doncic has been noticeably slower in his rehabilitation, according to another report. Whether that is done intentionally or if that just means Doncic is a slower healer, one can only speculate.
According to the California Post, there is a chance Doncic appears in the second round when the series shifts to Los Angeles, but it’s more likely he doesn’t suit up at any point in this best-of-seven battle.
“Sources told The California Post that Doncic is expected to miss at least the first two games of the Western Conference semifinal series, clearing a return for a possible Game 3,” the Post wrote. “However, at this point in his recovery, returning to the series at any point — especially given Oklahoma City’s propensity for physical play — seems highly unlikely.”
Preparing for Life Without Star
How (wrongly) fitting is it Doncic may not return to play a playoff series against the very team that might have watched his seen end just a month ago.
On April 2, Doncic badly pulled his hamstring; the final diagnosis was a Grade 2 strain, an ailment that can take up to eight weeks to fully recover.
Bruised by the idea his season could be over, Doncic jetted across waters to reduce that potentially eight-week timeline to around a month. After a couple of weeks in Spain, Doncic returned to the United States and rejoined the Lakers. He has been on the Lakers bench during every game ever since.
Considering the complexity of Doncic’s injury and the absent Doncic updates from the Lakers, it sure seems implausible the star guard will suit up again this season (unless the Lakers pull off an upset of upsets).
Game 1 tips Tuesday at 7:30 from Paycom Center.
Lakers Hit With Brutal Luka Doncic Injury Update Before Game 1 vs. OKC