Lakers: 3 roadblocks for LeBron James’ 5th NBA title

May 2, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) gets a rebound in front of guard Ben McLemore (7) against the Toronto Raptors during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
May 2, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) gets a rebound in front of guard Ben McLemore (7) against the Toronto Raptors during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /

Roadblock No. 1 for LeBron James and the Lakers: Health won’t stop being a problem

The Los Angeles Lakers have been working to make sure they get everybody back healthy for the NBA playoffs, but that’s all they can do. They’ve missed plenty of man-games due to injury this season, with LeBron nearing a return to hopefully full-time duty, but Dennis Schroder could be out at least a few more days and Alex Caruso is day-to-day as well.

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There’s also the fact that Anthony Davis may simply be a bit more prone to injury than many other players, and LeBron James himself has missed 26 games with his own ankle injury. LeBron has been a juggernaut of durability throughout his 18-year career, but he’s proving that you’re only invincible until you’re not.

Getting healthy for the playoffs is a good goal, but the playoffs don’t care whether you’re healthy or not. There’s no demarcation point where the playoffs begin and a reset button is pressed on all your health concerns. The same issues that have plagued the Los Angeles Lakers all season have every reason to continue into the playoffs and plague them there as well.

This isn’t a team that needs to just get healthy for the play-in or the first round. There are two months ahead of them in a best-case scenario where they are doing battle every night against the best three or four teams in the NBA. No other legitimate contender faces a path like the one ahead of them, and few have in the history of the league.

That’s even assuming that everything breaks right for them, so they need a near-miraculous stretch of good injury luck and health if they’re going to have a chance.