Last night, the Lakers clinched another home win, maintaining an undefeated home record. However, they lost Anthony Davis, who was hit in the eye by Jakob Poeltl. Surprisingly, there was no offensive foul called, even though Poeltl’s arm clearly made contact with Davis’ eye. This is becoming a concerning pattern for Davis, who frequently seems to suffer eye injuries. Despite the impact, Davis didn’t return for the game’s second half, which may have been a smart move considering the Lakers were up by 15. At that point, it made sense to rest him, allowing the team to close out without risking further injury.
The Lakers have a brief break before they face the Memphis Grizzlies, who will likely be without Ja Morant. Their upcoming games should be winnable, especially since several opponents, like the Spurs and Pelicans, are missing key players. If the Lakers can capitalize on this, they could be sitting at 10-4 soon. However, to truly contend, they need consistency both at home and on the road.
The biggest question looming is how to manage without Davis if his injury sidelines him. While Jackson Hayes can step in as a backup center, he’s not a long-term replacement for Davis, who is having an MVP-caliber season, excelling across multiple stats, including points, rebounds, and blocks. The Lakers’ recent lack of depth at center has sparked discussions about a potential trade. However, rushing into a trade could be risky; teams know the Lakers are in need and might demand more in return. A patient approach could keep the Lakers from overpaying and allow them to explore options beyond just a center, potentially adding depth at guard or on the wing, or even a consistent scorer like Zach LaVine.
Adding a few quality players could strengthen the team substantially, allowing other players like Austin Reaves to take on roles that suit them better. It would also mean less reliance on stars like LeBron and Davis every game. This approach—targeting versatile additions rather than making a hasty trade—could be the key to pushing the Lakers to championship contention.
