“LeBron James is way off 100%, can’t make hard cuts”: Lakers star to miss game against Damian Lillard and co, could be held back till playoffs

Lakers fans are having some troubled nights following the injury that LeBron James suffered in late March. He’s out again for a few games.

The King has been the NBA’s most successful ‘dynasty’ ever since moving to South Beach with D-Wade and Chris Bosh. His 4 titles in the past 9 years are testament to just how much the fate of the NBA revolves around him.

James has also been the model of consistent fitness and production through the course of his career. James did not suffer a single long-term injury through the first 15 seasons of his career. His very first injury of that nature came 2 years back, and this is now his second such absence.

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It’s pretty clear that Lakers nation struggles mightily on court without him. But even with him in the lineup, they looked pretty sluggish in losses to Sacramento and Toronto.

James’s performances in those games did nothing to allay concerns about his fitness. It was obvious that he was holding himself back, or at least something was. James walked out of the arena with 7 minutes left to play in his last appearance.

How long is LeBron James out?

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski has testament from sources within the Lakers’ organization that James will be rested for 2 more games. Their next 2 games are gauntlet fights with the Clippers and then against the Portland Trail Blazers:

“It is possible James could miss more games, sources said, as he works through discomfort in the ankle that kept him out six weeks until a two-game return that saw home losses to Toronto and Sacramento over the weekend.”

“James and the Lakers will continue to evaluate the injury and will proceed cautiously as the Lakers ramp up for the postseason, sources said. James has experienced some trouble making hard cuts and exploding since his return from six weeks on the sideline with the injury, sources said.”

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Both teams are going to try and finish the season strong, for their own reasons. The Portland Trail Blazers are currently 7th in the West, in position to play the Warriors in the first round of the play-in tournament.

Beating the Lakers will also help the Clippers hold on to the 3rd seed in the Conference. With 7 games still left for the Lakers to play, expect LeBron to turn out for not more than 3 or 4 of them.