Going into the postseason the hope was that the Los Angeles Lakers would be able to extend their run long enough so Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves could return from their respective injuries.
Reaves made his way back from a Grade 2 left oblique muscle injury in time to help the Lakers close out the Houston Rockets in the first round, but Doncic remains sidelined. He suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring strain on April 2, the same night as Reaves’ injury in a game that seemingly altered the Lakers’ championship aspirations.
Since then, there have only been tepid updates on Doncic’s status and lingering doubt over a potential return against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Luka Doncic’s first comments
Although Doncic is making every effort to get back on the court, which included a visit to Spain for advanced medical treatment, the original timetable doesn’t line up well with the Lakers’ playoff hopes.
“The day I did the MRI on the hamstring, the doctors told me eight weeks at the beginning,” Doncic told reporters in his first comments since suffering the injury. “So I’m doing everything I can in the process. I think we’re in a good way, but at the beginning they told me eight weeks.”
Game 2 on Thursday marks exactly five weeks since Doncic sustained his left hamstring injury. A potential Game 7 between the Lakers and Thunder is scheduled for May 18, which is three days shy of seven weeks.
“I went to Spain to do PRP. Obviously everybody knows that it’s one of the best countries to do that,” Doncic added. “And obviously we talked with the Lakers doctors, everybody agreed for me to go there. Obviously I know a lot of people in Spain that I used to work with before.
“But why I was in Spain so long was because I needed four days in between every shot. I did it four times, so that’s why I stayed longer.”
The original timeline suggests Doncic would be out until the end of May, meaning the Lakers would have to advance into the Western Conference Finals for a shot at his return. And even with that, Doncic presumably would need to be eased into action under a minutes restriction.
The timing for Doncic’s injury couldn’t have been worse and while he is undoubtedly doing everything he can to get back on the court, a hamstring strain is not something you can rush back from. It’s the type of injury that could easily lead to an even more significant one if aggravated.
It will be up to the Lakers to continue to fight with what they have available, which means LeBron James and Austin Reaves will need to lead the offense in Doncic’s absence. The team had enough to take down the Rockets in the first round, but getting past the defending champion is an even tougher task that did not go the Lakers’ way in Game 1.
Luka Doncic disappointed with hamstring injury
Some of Doncic’s best moments in his career have come in the playoffs, which further exacerbates his injury status.
“It’s very frustrating. I don’t think people understand how frustrating it is,” Doncic said. “All I want to do is play basketball, especially in this time. It’s the best time to play basketball. It’s very frustrating. But to see what my team is doing, I’m very proud of them. But it’s been very tough just to see it and watch them play.”
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