On Monday, the Los Angeles Lakers play the New York Knicks, and this game will begin a challenging stretch for them that will have them also playing the Boston Celtics and the Minnesota Timberwolves twice.
The Lakers have had trouble staying healthy this season, and it’s a major reason why they hold a disappointing 15-11 record and sit in eighth place in the Western Conference. The one Lakers player who has had the biggest problems with his health is guard Gabe Vincent, who has been out for over six weeks with a knee ailment.
There was hope he may be able to return on Monday, but he won’t. Head coach Darvin Ham said Vincent still needs to improve his conditioning before he can come back.
Darvin Ham says there are “a few more conditioning boxes we need to check” before Gabe Vincent can return from the knee swelling that’s kept him out of the lineup since Oct. 30.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) December 19, 2023
Vincent’s ability to pressure opponents defensively on the perimeter and also supply secondary ball-handling and occasional outside shooting should certainly help L.A.’s cause.
