They began the year 21-6 and, after coming back down to earth, now hold a 28-16 record that will likely drop as they play without LeBron and Davis (who’s out with tendinosis and a calf strain in his right leg) for the foreseeable future. They had been the odds-on favorites to repeat as league champions, given that the roster is improved, Anthony Davis is still rising, and LeBron was considered an MVP front-runner. The Lakers are currently tied for the 3-seed in the West, but they’re also three losses away from being the 7-seed. With LeBron out, other contenders’ championship windows at least feel wider, whether that ends up playing out on the court or not. It’s a testament to his force that a couple of weeks on the sideline has the power to alter Vegas betting odds (the Nets surpassed the Lakers as the title favorites) and could mean that teams-including the Lakers-will see this event and consider being more aggressive at the deadline or in buyouts. Much like how when LeBron talks, everyone listens, when LeBron gets hurt, everyone pays close attention. Now the rest of the league is looking on to see how much this injury-and teams’ actions around the trade deadline-could affect the title race. The timing of LeBron’s absence is not catastrophic, but it’s certainly less than ideal, as the Lakers are fighting for a top seed in the West. This year, the situation is vastly different. Without him on the floor, the Lakers turned into a lottery team. In 2018-19, LeBron’s first season with the Lakers, he was sidelined by a groin injury for 17 games. The Latest Intel Heading Into NBA Trade Deadline Week Is John Collins Worth It?
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