To make matters worse! Doncic may miss 10 games, and both Lakers stars will collapse to test the substitutes

On October 27, the Los Angeles Lakers officially announced that the team’s core player Luka Doncic was diagnosed with a left finger sprain and a left calf contusion and will be sidelined for at least a week. This news is undoubtedly adding insult to injury for the Lakers, who are already suffering from injuries, because another core player of the team, LeBron James, is also currently injured due to sciatic nerve irritation. The absence of two superstars at the same time will be a major test for the depth of the Lakers' lineup.

Although the Lakers initially characterized the injury as a "short-term injury," medical experts are more cautious about Doncic's recovery time. Injury expert Jeffries said in his analysis that Doncic is likely to need additional recovery and conditioning time before returning to the game. "This most likely means that Luka will not return on time in a week - he needs a period of improvement, " Jeffries wrote on social media. "Depending on the Lakers' schedule, he may miss about 5 to 10 games. "

Such a prediction undoubtedly casts a shadow over the Lakers' new season journey. In the next 10 days of the schedule, the Lakers will face the Kings, Trail Blazers, Timberwolves and Grizzlies, all of which are powerful teams in the Western Conference. Doncic's absence may not only disrupt the team's early season rhythm, but may also have a serious impact on the team's record.

The timing of Doncic's injury is particularly regrettable. The Slovenian superstar had just delivered a stunning 49-point performance against the Timberwolves, helping the Lakers defeat their opponents 128-110, successfully avenging their first-round exit in last season's playoffs. In the first two games, Doncic averaged terrifying statistics of 46.0 points, 11.5 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game. This total score in the first two games not only set a record in Lakers history, but also allowed people to see his determination and strength to compete for MVP this season.

Looking back at Doncic's performance this season, it is indeed impressive. In the first game of the season, he scored a near-triple-double with 43 points, 12 rebounds and 9 assists in the team's 119-109 loss to the Golden State Warriors. Then, he scored nearly 50 points in the game against the Timberwolves. Such a performance not only demonstrated Doncic's personal abilities, but also made people full of expectations for the Lakers' prospects this season.

In addition to the explosion in scoring, Doncic's improvement in physical fitness and defensive intensity also impressed the Lakers coaching staff - these two areas were where he was criticized in the playoffs last season. "Last season was really difficult for me," Doncic said in an interview, "I just want to forget last season. We will play them (referring to the Timberwolves) several times this year - every time we play against them it will be a tough battle." These words not only reflect Doncic's desire for victory, but also reflect his strict requirements for himself.

However, Doncic's injury has worsened the Lakers' already increasing health problems. In addition to the two core players James and Doncic, Kleber (abdominal strain) and rookie Adu Tierro (left knee injury) are also injured. Backup center Hayes will miss his second consecutive game due to knee soreness. Such injuries will undoubtedly put huge pressure on the Lakers' rotation.

With the two stars absent, the Lakers' offensive burden is likely to fall on Reeves' shoulders. The 27-year-old guard has excelled in similar roles before — most notably last season, when he scored a career-high 45 points in a 124-117 win over the Pacers when James and Doncic were sidelined. Reeves also became the youngest Lakers player to score 40 points + 5 rebounds + 5 assists in a single game since Kobe Bryant in 2006. If Reeves can continue this performance in the next game, he may be able to help the Lakers tide over the difficulties.

In addition, the Lakers' new aid DeAndre Ayton and Marcus Smart also need to take on more responsibilities. In the first two games, Ayton averaged 12.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game, shooting 66.7% from the field, showing good efficiency. Smart provided defensive stability for the team with 1.5 steals per game, but only scored 6.0 points on the offensive end, and there is still a lot of room for improvement.

For the Lakers, how to remain competitive in the absence of core players will be the biggest challenge they face. Although the team's depth has been severely tested, this is also an opportunity for other players to prove themselves. If the role players can step up at critical moments, the Lakers may be able to maintain a good record during Doncic's absence.

In general, Doncic's injury undoubtedly brings a huge challenge to the Lakers' new season journey. However, basketball games are always full of variables, and the Lakers need to show their resilience and strength in the face of adversity. I believe that with the joint efforts of all members of the team, the Lakers can still achieve good results this season.

Let us hope that Doncic can recover from his injury as soon as possible, return to the game, and continue to show his talent and strength. At the same time, I also wish the Lakers can overcome difficulties and achieve more victories in the next games.