The Luka Doncic-starved Los Angeles Lakers travel to Oklahoma City to play the Thunder for Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals.
The biggest, most daunting task of this Lakers season has arrived with the defending champs waiting and ready to pounce.
Few expected the Lakers would be here. Most picked the Houston Rockets to defeat L.A. in the opening round of the playoffs, but a mixture of injuries and poor offense led to one team clearly looking better than the other.
The hope was Doncic, who suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain four weeks ago, would be ready to return by now. Instead, all signs point to quite the opposite.
For that reason, most are waiting to watch the Lakers get bounced from the playoffs. And most understand just the kind of enormous task the Lakers have at hand.
Without Doncic, the Thunder, already with the widest margin for error of any in the league, have more leeway in this series. But that doesn’t remotely mean they’ll lay low and take their opponent lightly.
Insider Gives Intriguing Scoop on Luka Doncic Return
Perhaps the Lakers believe in their heart of hearts they are destined to go home after a week or so. They know, even with Doncic, climbing this mountain would border on them passing out before reaching the top.
However, if the highly unlikely happens, L.A. could have a unique plan for its best player.
GettyLuka Dončić stands with teammates during the Lakers’ playoff game as his injury timeline extends beyond the first round.
Doncic, battling an injury that can sideline a player for up to eight weeks, is already expected to miss the first two games of the semifinals, according to sources. But if the Lakers can win one of the first two games in Oklahoma City, Doncic’s return could be on the table.
According to NBA insider Brian Windhorst, the Lakers’ decision on playing Doncic in this series could be made as soon as the conclusion of Game 2.
“I think the Lakers are probably in wait-and-see mode,” Windhorst said on the “Rich Eisen Show.” “If they go to Oklahoma City and they get whalloped in two games, that’ll inform their process. And if they go to OKC and they split … that might inform the process. But, you know, I’ve watched guys come back earlier from hamstring injuries, it can sometimes be tough.
“They said it was a Grade 2 strain. That’s 4-6 weeks. It’s been four. So six weeks is maybe the end of the season. Even if he came back in two weeks, that would not be out of line for [a] Grade 2 [hamstring strain].”
A Steep Uphill Battle
If winning one of the two first games means the difference between getting Doncic back now and not seeing him until next season, the Lakers still have a nearly impossible task on hand.
That’s not an opinion. That’s a cold fact.
L.A. was dismantled by Oklahoma City in each of their four meetings in the regular season. Whether the Thunder had all key players in the lineup or not, it was a beatdown every time.
Oklahoma City trounced Los Angeles by an average margin of roughly 29 points. There was even a game in there that the Thunder did not have their MVP in the lineup … and they still won by a hair under double digits.
Since the start of last postseason, the Thunder are 1o-2 on their home court. At the place they call Loud City. Opponents not only are beaten over the head by the Thunder’s swarming, harassing defense, they are deafened and intimidated by the sheer noise of the fans.
L.A. has veterans and playoff experience, but without Doncic, the talent gap is massive compared to Oklahoma City. And then one considers the Thunder’s defense. Their offensive hub in the reigning league MVP. Their endless depth.
Game 1 will provide the Lakers a perfect taste of how this series will go.
Report: Luka Doncic Return Timeline Could Shift as Thunder Series Begins