Kendrick Perkins believes Lakers will manage to stay afloat in Anthony Davis’ absence
Kendrick Perkins believes the LA Lakers will stay afloat and be around the .500 mark in Anthony Davis' absence. Davis, their best player this season, has been sidelined for a month due to a foot injury.
The Lakers have been over-reliant on him at times, but Perkins thinks they will be okay in his absence and even claimed they are in a better state than the Warriors. Here's what Perkins said on the KJM podcast about this:
"I really think the Lakers are gonna be okay. I really do. I think they're gonna be able to stay afloat around that .500 range until AD gets back... I think they're in a better position than Warriors."
The LA Lakers are 13-16 for the year. They managed to play through the entire second half in Davis' absence against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets to win the tie 126-108. The Lakers also secured a 119-117 win against the Washington Wizards in their last game without AD.
In both games, the Lakers received contributions from every player that took to the floor. Meanwhile, LeBron James continues to play at a high level. He has scored at least 30 points in four consecutive games.
Perkins may have made a viable point for the LA Lakers' current state after Anthony Davis' injury. Although it's a small sample size, the Lakers have played as a cohesive unit, and staying around the .500 mark seems like a realistic target for the team in AD's absence.
LA Lakers can only hold the fort so long in Anthony Davis' absence
The LA Lakers may get through the next few weeks without Anthony Davis. However, they still need to make moves. Davis hasn't been reliable due to injuries. The Lakers may handle the next two weeks, but as the season progresses, if Anthony Davis remains out, things may get tricky.
As currently constructed, the Lakers' chances of doing well in the playoffs, even if they are healthy, don't look good. Their rivals seem to have a well-rounded roster than them, suited better for postseason basketball.
The LA Lakers lack perimeter shooting and size in the wings. It would be difficult for them to be an efficient team offensively or match the physicality of their opponents, which is certainly higher come playoff time.
The Lakers are rumored to be active in the trade market, with the deadline approaching in a couple of months. They are keeping an eye on potential sellers as there is scope for them to secure valuable assets at an affordable cost.