Despite the ongoing COVID-19
pandemic, the current season of the NBA was begun in December 22 last year,
with regular season games running until May this 2021, followed by a Play-in
tournament plus the Playoffs, with Finals happening in June. True, some
problems were inevitable such as postponed games for contract tracing and
positive cases, arena restrictions, and the necessity of the Toronto Raptors to
temporarily relocate to Tampa for home games (due to US-Canada COVID level
differences). With the regular games already in March, teams should be gearing
up for the tournament and playoffs, but a recent mishap involving LeBron James
might change how the league preps for playoffs.
It was extreme bad luck as ESPN reports, when on Saturday, March 21
not only did the L.A. Lakers lose to the Atlanta Hawks (99-94), the former’s
top player and NBA face LeBron James suffered an ankle injury that might have retired
him for what remains of the regular games. It was during the second quarter
when Atlanta’s Solomon Hill dived to contest a loose ball with James and landed
on the Laker’s right ankle. LeBron was sent rolling to the hard-court,
clutching his leg. While he remained long enough to score a three, he limped to
the lockers afterward.
The Lakers have confirmed that
James is going to be out for some time due to his injury. An X-ray thankfully ruled
out a fracture, but an MRI result gave the veteran player a high ankle sprain
diagnosis. LeBron’s time away was initially given as “indefinite,” then later termed
as being “several weeks.” Criticism was targeted at Solomon Hill, on suspicion
that his dive was deliberate; though the Hawks small forward took to Twitter to
deny malicious intent. James also Tweeted his current frustration at being laid
out, promising that his return will be quick.
If LeBron does plan to come back
before playoffs it had best be soon. While he traveled with his team on their Sunday
game against the Phoenix Suns, he was wearing an ankle brace. The Lakers were
pounded by Phoenix 119-94, and L.A. coach Frank Vogel noted that the squad
would need to “find a new identity” as long as James is unavailable to play.
Image courtesy of Sports Illustrated
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