There are plenty of reasons to critique the Los Angeles Lakers this season.
Load management, however, shouldn’t be a part of that list.
However, Lakers great Magic Johnson ripped the team on Twitter after their first-round elimination to the Denver Nuggets, blaming load management for their shortcomings.
Needless to say, it didn’t take long before the fans called him out and corrected him and his take, which is why he later apologized on Twitter, stating that injuries, not load management, hurt the team.
Laker Nation, I have to apologize to the Lakers organization. It was injuries that plagued the Lakers this season, not load management.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 2, 2024
The Lakers had their top players available for most of the season.
And while Jarred Vanderbilt being out was a blow to their defense, it’s not like not having him was the defining factor here.
Gabe Vincent missed most of the season, but he was expected to be a backup, and the Lakers later added Spencer Dinwiddie to the mix as well.
At the end of the day, the Lakers were poorly coached, and even the players ignored Darvin Ham’s huddles multiple times.
Also, they were simply not good enough to get past the reigning NBA champions; it happens.
Load management, injuries, or whatnot, the front office needs to take an in-depth look at this situation, as there’s simply no way or reason to keep a coach around when he doesn’t have his players’ trust.
The Lakers still have a competitive roster and should be in a position to add a third star or good player next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but this will be a key offseason for their project.
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Draymond Green Has A Strong Belief About LeBron’s Future With Lakers