The Los Angeles Lakers were on a roll before injuries hit them at the worst possible time as Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have both been ruled out for the remainder of the regular season and likely the start of the postseason.
With key ball-handlers out, Luke Kennard has been thrust into a new role and has handled it really well through two games. While they both were losses, Kennard emphasized that players need to step up and take things one game at a time in the absence of Doncic, Reaves and others.
“Yeah, just that you gotta take it one game at a time and we’re going up to Golden State to win,” Kennard said after the Lakers’ loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night. “That’s gotta be our mindset moving forward. And obviously, yeah, it’s tough when you got guys that that are out but next man up. We’re gonna fight, play hard and we’re gonna compete to win.”
In the Lakers’ loss to the Dallas Mavericks over the weekend, Kennard had his first career triple-double with 15 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists. He then followed that up with 10 points, two rebounds and nine assists in the loss to the Thunder.
Kennard is not used to having this much of an on-ball role, but he feels he has done a nice job of handling it so far.
“Not bad. Just trying to be poised, under control,” he said. “Trying to get everybody organized but not terrible, obviously. I feel like I can shoot the ball a little bit better, but I’m getting my shots in different ways and just finding the rhythm and stuff like that. But it’s something I’ll be better with and I’m confident in where they have me out there right now and just continuing to grow with that. But yeah, I was trying to be, like I said, poised and under control when I’m out there.”
Luke Kennard details conversations with coaching staff
Being thrust into a new role this late into the season can’t be easy with Kennard, but he detailed his conversations with the Lakers’ coaching staff regarding what they are asking of him.
“We talk about it pregame, in meetings just different situations and we walk through stuff and talk about it,” Kennard said. “Obviously, we don’t have a lot of practice time. It’s just, it’s that time of year and the travel. Yeah, [we have the] back-to-back coming. On the road we can’t really get on the court much. It’s just watching film, talking about it, talking through things and then just doing it on the court and trying to find a rhythm with it. And I think we’re gonna take these last few games that we have and try to find something that’ll work for us. And carry it over to the playoffs.”
While Kennard has certainly done an admirable job, the reality is there is no replacing Doncic and Reaves on this Lakers roster.
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