The former Warriors GM doubts the Lakers can hold onto the No.2 seed amid Bron sitting out.

Lakers star out for weeks with groin strain

With LeBron James expected to miss at least a week or two, the Los Angeles Lakers find themselves in a challenging situation. Cruising through most of their games in the last month or so, the Purple & Gold were on an eight-game winning streak before losing to the Boston Celtics.

The Lakers Nation’s concerns were raised when “King James” exited the contest with less than seven minutes left in regulation. Straining his left groin, the four-time champion’s absence could potentially hurt the team’s positioning in the West.

Addressing the situation on ESPN’s NBA Countdown, former Golden State Warriors executive turned ESPN analyst Bob Myers gave his assessment.

“We’re acting like it’s just going to be one or two (weeks), and I’m not saying that’s wrong. If it’s more, one to two, it’s a big difference. If it goes past two weeks, they could easily fall to four or five. The cushion isn’t huge, they (Lakers) got 22 losses, Denver’s got 23, Memphis has 24, Houston has 25. That’s a three-game difference between them and Houston. So, I can see them slipping to four/five,” said Myers, who had no doubts about Bron’s conditioning.

Can “Luka Magic” help the Lakers stay afloat?

Given his shocking ouster from Dallas, it has been a tumultuous month or so for Luka Doncic. Nonetheless, the Slovenian seems to be easily transitioning into his new setting. His recent performances, coming off a left calf injury, demonstrate the same.

Yet, you can often spot Doncic appearing to be in some pain during certain intervals of the game, stirring doubts over Luka sustaining an injury, given the added responsibilities with James out. Talking about the same topic, Myers felt the Lakers could slip from the No. 2 seed due to these circumstances.

“You watch that game yesterday, Doncic is grabbing his back, he’s not exactly a picture of health himself, he’s going to have to do more. And if something happens to him, they’ve got different issues,” he added.

Myers does present some valid points, looking at JJ Redick’s presently constructed roster. Shipping Anthony Davis out, the team lacks size and defensive prowess.

Prioritizing recovery for James ahead of the Playoffs

The Lakers shouldn’t rush LeBron’s recovery timetable, even if it means dropping a few spots in the West. While he continues to play at a high level, the 40-year-old superstar should prioritize his rehab, especially with the playoffs around the corner.

As we all know, a fully healthy LBJ could mean big things for the Purple & Gold in the Playoffs. Therefore, it is highly recommended that Coach Redick and the medical staff do not make hasty decisions. It will be interesting to see how things pan out in the coming weeks, with Doncic finding his footing on the roster.