Losing Rajon Rondo to injury will hurt the Los Angeles Lakers
On the surface, the loss of Rajon Rondo in 2020 might not seem like a big loss. However, for the Los Angeles Lakers, and their current circumstances in the bubble, the loss of Rondo will hurt more than you might believe.
To understand why losing Rondo will certainly factor into the Lakers’ championship chances when the season restarts, you have to remember that this already thin backcourt was already set to play without Avery Bradley, who elected to sit out the NBA’s restart.
After losing Rondo to a thumb injury, which will reportedly sideline him for 6-8 weeks, there’s a real chance that Los Angeles might have to rely on meaningful minutes from either J.R. Smith and/or Dion Waiters to a certain extent.
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How will the Los Angeles Lakers handle the loss of Rondo?
Perhaps early on, if nothing else. Most teams are not going to want to push their players to much in an attempt to ease players back into full speed basketball. That means extended rotations, something that is often the opposite of what happens when the playoffs begin.
For a team like the Lakers, that could get complicated. Especially if they have to face a team like the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the playoffs, who have one of the league’s most dynamic backcourts.
In such a matchup, that’s where they’d miss Rondo the most. Not only for his sticky defense but also for his veteran experience. The good news is that LeBron James will be there to help cushion the loss. LeBron will likely handle most of the point guard duties if Rondo isn’t a go, but could have a long-term effect if he can’t get spelled in that department.
The Lakers are entering the bubble as a strong favorite to win the 2020 NBA Championship. While the loss of Rajon Rondo certainly doesn’t discredit their chances, it certainly doesn’t help. The hope is that Rondo will be able to return at some point in the playoffs.
For their depth, the Lakers are going to need Rajon Rondo back sooner rather than later.