With a 35-37 record, the Los Angeles Lakers are in 11th place in the Western Conference, and their chances of making the playoffs are gradually waning.
As if their task of reaching the postseason after a lackluster first four months of the schedule wasn’t enough, they have been dealt a double dose of additional adversity: injuries that have sidelined LeBron James and Mo Bamba.
The absence of Bamba, who has a sprained ankle and will be out until at least early to mid-April, may be ignored by some fans. However, it is having an effect. The Lakers have been forced to go small when Anthony Davis isn’t on the court.
Last Wednesday, when Davis sat out the second game of a back-to-back set, the team was outrebounded by 15 and outscored in the paint, 78-46, in a loss to the Houston Rockets, who have the worst record in the West.
Los Angeles worked out big men Tristan Thompson and Tony Bradley on Monday, yet head coach Darvin Ham said the team has “no imminent plans” to sign either.
Lakers coach Darvin Ham says the Lakers have "no imminent plans" to sign Tristan Thompson or Tony Bradley after working them out on Monday. He says the Lakers are just "doing their due diligence"
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) March 21, 2023
The Lakers have been forced to make do with Wenyen Gabriel, Jarred Vanderbilt or Rui Hachimura, none of whom are taller than 6-foot-9, playing the 5 when Davis isn’t in the game.
They have 10 games left in the regular season, which includes their next contest versus the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday.
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