The NBA season is a marathon, and at some point during the race, exhaustion sets in long before the finish line is within reach. That’s where the Lakers find themselves 54 games into their season.
They’ve
been dealing with injuries all season long, and Luka Dončić is currently out with a hamstring strain. Record-wise at 33-21, they still have work to do to be considered legit contenders, as they sit at the No. 5 spot in the Western Conference.
Add in long road trips, a recent back-to-back against the two best teams in the West, and a schedule that hasn’t allowed for rest or practice, and LA is as happy as a team can be for the All-Star break to finally be here.
“I think it’s well-timed for everybody in the league,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said before LA’s game against Dallas. “Everybody in this league is going through it in some way. Even the, even the top teams. Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander’s] out, Jalen [Williams]’s out again. Detroit’s got guys suspended…We’ve talked about it as a group.
“This is probably the hardest schedule that I’ve been a part of in 17 years in the league prior to All-Star break. It’s not that it gets any easier. Last time we practiced was December 27. We don’t have two days between games from that point until I think it’s late March, so it’s almost three-month stretch. We’ll be able to get some work done next week on Wednesday and Thursday and it’ll be good for everybody for the mental and physical reset.”
Sometimes rest is the best path towards success and locking in. A week away from the beautiful game during the NBA season is rare, and the Lakers need to take advantage.
Not all Lakers can relax completely during All-Star weekend. LeBron James is playing in the game, and Jaxson Hayes is a Slam Dunk Contest participant.
Still, most Lakers will have more free time than usual, and considering all the injuries they’ve had, this is an opportunity to get as healthy as possible.
Once they do return from the All-Star break, it will be a mad dash to the end of the season, and there will be no time to take a breather until the summer.
Hopefully, the Lakers are just as aggressive with their relaxation as they are with their level of play, so they can come back rested, recharged, and ready to go on a run.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
