5:00pm: Davis did not have a rupture in his right Achilles tendon, according to a team press release. Wojnarowski notes (via Twitter) that today’s MRI did confirm a re-aggravation of Davis’ Achilles tendinosis in addition to his calf strain.
3:53pm: After undergoing an MRI, Davis has been diagnosed with a right calf strain and will be re-evaluated in two or three weeks, a source tells Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link). Woj adds (via Twitter) that the Lakers and Davis will take a conservative approach to his return, which could happen after the All-Star break.
8:32am: After missing two games last week due to right Achilles tendinosis, Lakers star Anthony Davis aggravated that issue during Sunday’s loss to the Nuggets when he bumped legs with Nikola Jokic, as Dave McMenamin of ESPN writes.
Davis, who was forced to leave the game early, was diagnosed with a right Achilles strain and will undergo an MRI on Monday after the Lakers arrive in Minnesota for Tuesday’s game against the Wolves, according to the team. The 27-year-old said he felt “completely fine” earlier in the day on Sunday, but is now waiting on further testing to confirm the diagnosis and to get a sense of his return timeline.
“I mean, you kind of learn a lot from the MRI, so kind of just waiting on that,” Davis said on Sunday night, per McMenamin. “Obviously, the doctors don’t want to rule out anything and then it’s something, or say it’s something, then it’s not. But they say everything looks good, but you still want the MRI just to make sure.”
We’ll have to wait for an official update from the Lakers following that MRI, but one expert who spoke to Jovan Buha of The Athletic speculated that the club may play it safe by giving Davis “multiple weeks” to fully recover. The Lakers’ big man sounds hopeful he’ll be back sooner than that, but acknowledged that a cautious approach is the right one with any Achilles issue.
“I do put a lot of pressure on myself to go out there and play. If I feel I can go out there and play, I will, Davis said. “… But this one is a little different that I definitely have to be smart with. I don’t want to go out there and try to play and risk it for the long term. So, all that is inclusive of what the MRI shows. Knock on wood, it’s great information — and I’ll be out there sooner than later.”
Kyle Kuzma figures to be first in line for an increased role if Davis misses time.
Ut oh…
Fingers crossed this gets managed wisely.
“Rich, where you at?”
– Lebron
Rich is busy, being the GM of the Lakers.
He’ll bring in reinforcements if AD goes down long term.
Down goes Frazier!
It was lame when you posted it about Durant, and it’s still lame here.
Its creepy that you said that there and even creepier that you persisted here?
Dedmon still available?
I believe we will be seeing the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA Finals. I am going to predict that they will face whoever is successful in adding Andre Drummond between Boston, Toronto and Brooklyn. Brooklyn remains a long shot because they have no cap and nothing to trade. Brooklyn needs a buyout and then Drummond to clear waivers. Boston can get it done easily right down to having a trade exemption to absorb Drummond’s contract. Toronto can figure it out.
BOS hasn’t got a TE big enough to take on Dre… I really wish folks would stop sayin’ that!
So close, but no cigar. Boston’s TPE is $28.5. Drummond makes $28.75, so it’s a no-go. They’d have to match salaries. And anyway, the presence of that TPE means they can bring in a better (and cheaper) player.
You put too much faith on Drummond. He’s a great rebounder, but an overall meh defender with a limited offensive play. He can be useful indeed, but I don’t think he would move the needle that much so as to decide the East. Anyway, Boston cannot get it with the TPE and (for any team) matching salaries without sending someone better in return won’t be that easy.
Some kids still believe in Santa and the tooth fairy.. doesn’t mean they exist.. you believe clippers are in finals.. hahahahaha, ok.. maybe you still leave out milk and cookies for Santa still.. clippers aren’t getting out of 2nd round
Clippers coming out of the West with or without A.D. Lakers are not an 82 game and playoffs title team this year. Father Time is undefeated!
Ad will be back in 2 weeks.. Lebron is the leading mvp player right now. What are you talking about Father Time? lebron leads teams to the finals.. clippers have 2 players with nba title or nba finals experience.. lakers have 12.. is pandemic Paul suddenly gonna show up when the season is on the line? Jazz have a better team than clippers. That’s funny because everyone other then you know the lakers are the deepest team in nba.. they can withstand a loss of ad for couple weeks.. they are 4-1 without him this year and 6-2 last year..
You should focus on hoping that Anthony Davis comes back at all this year. Tendonosis, rest and then a “calf strain”. You Laker fans have a lot riding on this “calf strain” not becoming an Achilles tear which it many times becomes….. ask Kevin Durant about that. If Davis goes down with an Achilles then LeBron’s run on NBA titles with the Lakers is over! Might be breaking out that Dodger gear earlier than expected!
James had been in the finals 9 out of 10 years, the year he missed he was injured. They can rest Davis till April 15 for all I care. Clippers are good but hey, they are the Clippers
Father Time is undefeated.
Like the clippers in the finals.
Lebron needs more help. Maybe some playmakers
New Orleans fans who followed him to LA: “ahh s**t, here we go again…”
Not that the Lakers can’t afford to let him sit or anything, they’ll be fine. But yeah, if they want to go ahead and tank so those picks they traded to New Orleans are better, that’ll be okay.
Yup Lakers are tanking
Another non-story. All lakers have to do is make the playoffs. Sit AD til then if you have to. I don’t even like the Lakers and I stil think they’re fine. If you ask me…
True. If they slip a few spots that could put them in a position to face the Spurs in the opening round. Or Denver, Portland. Still in the playoffs though.
Gotta think they want to avoid that if possible with AD fresh off an Achilles related injury, and not injure him long term by playing him.
Not an easy decision for the defending champs. A little in season adversity…
If this is a serious Achilles injury he’s not back by the playoffs. Not even close tbh.
It happens, but based on what was written above, the MRI isn’t expected to reveal anything serious. Cross your fingers, but his doctor isn’t alarmed & wants to play it safe is what I got out of it.
Lakers are 10-3 without Ad last 2 years.. let him sit to get healthy.. the guy can’t seem to get or stay healthy. At the minimum, 7 of their next 9 games are winnable games without AD.. then break.. that will be 3-4 weeks of rest..
LA going 7-2 without AD is highly unlikely.
They are 4-1 this year without ad.. jazz and nets are the 2 losses I’m counting.. they are playing, nets, t wolves, wizard, heat, jazz, t blazers, warriors, suns, kings..if it was rockets, 9-0 easily but we are playing real competition.. Oladipo is playing like we thought he was
Learn from KD, sit out until it’s 100% good, and even when it’s 100% good, sit out a little longer. The team has the depth, they’ll be fine. They don’t need the number one seed, they just need to make the playoffs which they clearly will. Just be smart with this injury and get healed up for the playoffs when he’s needed most. Really hope the Lakers handle this correctly.
I called this in the other thread, terrible situation all-round, AD is a legend of the game and he should have immediately sat out at least a month instead of a couple games.
Oh good, medical advice from a fan of a team that hasn’t fielded a healthy roster since the season started. Yeah let’s listen to you!
First he’s strike four, then he’s marty mccrae, and now he’s a doctor. Unbelievable.
And he stayed at a Holliday INN last night too
Lol
You mean a fan of a team that hasn’t fielded a completely healthy roster since late in the 2018-19 season. You have to wonder how much load management Klay Thompson will receive next season, assuming he’s healed up enough to play by then of course.
Dude needs six weeks off. It ain’t worth the risk. Lakers may drop in the standings. But I would take 5th spot and a healthy AD in finals over 2nd spot and dodgy Achilles.
It wasn’t even achilles.. just a calf strain. Wow! My main concern is all his injuries are happening to his right side.. ankles, knees, Achilles.. he needs to hire lebrons personal trainer..
He needs to get his muscle mass up too…
Calf strain is often a precursor to an Achilles tear. That was KD’s diagnosis on the night he ruptured his Achilles, and AD has some tendonosis too. They gotta by ultra-ultra careful on this. I don’t think he’s playing until the playoffs.
Anthony “Can’t stay healthy” Davis…
Do you watch the games? It’s worse than that.. it seems like every game something happens to him.. he’s either very injury prone or just constantly has a black cloud hovering over him.. either way he needs to strengthen his core.. lebron spends a million on his body and he hardly ever misses games due to injury..
Obviously I watch, my comment illustrates that. I don’t know why some of these guys don’t bulk up and add more muscle. It’s kind of pathetic to see professional athletes not improve their bodies. Steph added 10 lbs of muscle and looks better… Guys like AD are lazy. How is Bron your teammate and you don’t have your weight up???
Agree 100%..
Not everyone is built like Karl Malone
Let me remind you Ironman Steph Curry played in 5 games last year. AD just carried his team to a championship and started the next season just 2 months later. He’s the best all around big man in the game, runs the court, guards 1-5 and can score from anywhere so he’s bound to get banged up. You’re on here defending some entitled 19 year old who quit on his team and calling Anthony Davis lazy??Get outta here with that nonsense and Lakers1 you should be ashamed!!!!
Curry has been healthy the last few years though. Alot of mileage for constant finals appearances. AD never got past the second round without Bron! AD lead them??? Hmmm. I’m waiting for his finals MVP or even season MVP…
Steph Curry had 3 future hall of famers as teammates and has never been won a Finals MVP. No doubt AD was the best defender in the league last season and he lead a dominant defense through the finals. Let me ask you is Kawhi Leonard injury prone or is he just lazy? Talk about a double standard…
Kawhi carried a team. Lazy??? Just say your an AD fanboy… It’s only a sports page, no need to get in your feelings. Why so serious!
Same reports were said about KD then he tore his Achilles hopefully this isn’t the same story all over again
Durant didn’t rest like he needed to because it was the Finals and the Warriors were on the brink of elimination. He likely needed to sit out at that time, but the Warriors were up against the wall. It is a different situation with Davis. He can afford to get the rest he needs in order to heal.
Blake Griffin is about to get bought out. He would be a decent body to help smooth things out until AD comes back. As of today, the Lakers can now offer another player at the vet minimum even though they’re hard capped. Book it.
Lakers biggest Weakness is Rim protection.. gasol couldn’t guard a parked car and Harrell is too small. They need a center to defend rim. Blake Griffin needs a fork cause he’s done
It’s kind of brutal seeing Gasol receive the ball, wide open under the basket and not even be able to dunk. Sometimes it seems like he couldn’t jump onto a curb. To make it worse, not only is he incapable of throwing it down, but it’s hardly a given that he makes the simple lay-up in that situation.
Agree Chief, its Gasol’s play in the paint (or lack thereof) is whats disturbing with Gasol…His offence is almost non existent from within the 3 line today and even his 3 ball is nothing special or a threat to D’s
Being able to hit a 3 and *stretch the floor was probably highly over rated in the *new potential fit theory they had before bringing him in
Perhaps we all just swung a little too far on the pendulum of bigs (having ) to be able to shoot and stretch the floor ….We all probably underrated defense and rim protection at the C position for a small bit in time, it will swing back and adjust accordingly
Worse when he guards the rim and they drive right by him with his arms up and the scoop under his arms for the layup.. it’s everytime.. that or he just stands there and offers zero resistance. Pelinka messes up big time dropping Howard and mcgee to sign gasol
Agree Lakers1 his D is even worse than his O somehow?? Quite a feat !
Guys just cooked, it happens,no real hate just a bad sign/decision. Toronto hid him well for the last couple years
Hes totally exposed today and AD choosing not to play his typical help defense certainly hasnt helped- There are No easy answers from here in what to do…I was hoping to be able to avoid entering the trade market to fill the void but that just may be what they have to do now- Good chance that means THT would be leaving via trade, hes the ace in the hole and moneys going to be tight soon…Have to give to get, I love THT btw but the timelines yesterday for the Lakers/LeBron and it has been since the day he signed
I’ll be really disappointed if they trade THT. I would much rather see Kuzma get moved. He has been playing better but I don’t realistically believe he will be traded. At age 20, Horton-Tucker has great potential. I would really like to see him get more minutes with the Lakers.
On the bright side for Gasol, he could win an award for Best Statue Impression on Defense.
I dont want to see THT traded either but we really dont have many assets to do much and we will prolly have to lose someone in the offseason as well from Schroeder Caruso THT KCP or Kuz for nothing –
I actually think the Lakers need Kuzma more than any one of Schroeder Kcp Caruso or THT for THIS YEAR! They are in a very interesting spot today up against the cap looking forward ….
Consolidation/trade could cure some immediate/future problems today but its really hard seeing a fit on paper that makes sense money/years/needs wise …Would love Vuvecic but I dont think we have enough to get it done…. I bet they explore the trade market with some pretty open directions to go but ultimately nothing big arises
Trade for jerami grant. Harrell-grant-lebron in the front court, maybe, that can do the trick, while AD is recuperating..
Gasol wasn’t hidden in Toronto, he just wasn’t full-time, and then he just got worse. His decline was noticeable in the bubble and apparently was real… as opposed to being weirded out by the enclosure-rules. Mcgee also was out of sorts in the bubble and has not really bounced back.
I agree the NBA swung too far to smallball. It’s great for the shortrun if the players are willing but not for the long run. A starting lineup should have a #1 big and a an assistant big, and a #1 playmaker and an assistant playmaker, and rotational wings.