The Los Angeles Lakers, who are in danger of missing out on the Play-Offs for the second successive season, have been given a glimmer of hope with the announcement of LeBron James’ positive injury progression.
The 38-year-old has been out of action since February 26 when he suffered a right foot tendon injury in the third quarter of a 111-108 win against the Dallas Mavericks.
The Lakers announced their star man is on a ‘gradual basketball movement progression’ in a statement on Thursday with ESPN reporting sources as indicating there is increasing optimism James will return before the end of the regular season.
The franchise would likely have favoured saving the league’s all-time leading points scorer for the post-season, but with their current precarious position in mind, James’ return could be crucial in achieving their minimum objective. The squad are currently tenth in the Western Conference and occupy the final Play-In spot with nine games remaining as the post season race hots up.
They are only a game and a half behind the Golden State Warriors, who are the sixth seed, which would guarantee a first-round Play-Off appearance, but the Utah Jazz and New Orleans Pelicans sit just half a game back and dangerously close to ending the Lakers’ campaign prematurely.
James took to Twitter on Thursday to tell fans he is training three times a day with the aim of returning to action before the season’s close. With remarkable production for a player in his 20th season, James’s splits of 29.5 points, 8.4 rebounds and 6.9 assists could theoretically vault the roster as high as a Western Conference Finals berth.
Although, speaking on ESPN’s Get Up on Thursday, NBA legend Vince Carter was reluctant to list a fully healthy Lakers’ roster among the contenders saying: “You have Lebron James and Anthony Davis who is healthy, and now the pieces that you have around them.
“If you look at those highlights [of their win against the Suns] Anthony Davis was able to work in the paint and you couldn't leave him because of the shooters. Now you add LeBron James and for sure that makes them a much better team, but let’s just wait and see.
“They’re very capable of winning a game or two depending on where they are. But they will make noise in the Play-Offs make no mistake about it.”
To his running mate’s credit, the Lakers have kept ticking along in James’ absence, going 7-5 since he was sidelined, including back-to-back victories against the Orlando Magic and Phoenix Suns.
The Lakers however face something of a Western Conference gauntlet that could decide their fate in their final three games with match-ups against the LA Clippers on April 5, the Phoenix Suns on April 7 and the Utah Jazz on April 9.
