The Los Angeles Lakers were all sorts of fun to start their 2016-17 campaign, storming out of the gates with an early-season performance that nobody saw coming. Then all of a sudden, the injuries started piling up.
The Lakers can’t seem to finish a game these days without someone else getting hurt, but they might be getting a key player back very soon. The team announced Tuesday that D’Angelo Russell’s reevaluation went well, as he is now cleared to begin on-court work again.
D'Angelo Russell will begin on-court work again, but won't travel with the team to Houston.
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 6, 2016
Russell has missed the last nine games since undergoing a procedure to help alleviate soreness in his knee. While there is no specific return date set at this time, Russell’s return appears to be imminent, and the Lakers could certainly use him.
The team is 3-7 overall this season without their starting point guard, and they have been drastically worse without him from a statistical standpoint as well.
Here are the TS%'s of the Lakers' starting front court before & after Russell's injury. Blessed are the shot creators. pic.twitter.com/U98x2K1G7p
— Laker Film Room (@LakerFilmRoom) December 3, 2016
Some more winnable games are on the horizon after the Lakers complete arguably the most difficult part of the schedule on Wednesday in Houston. With Russell hopefully coming back soon, perhaps Los Angeles can start to get back to their winning ways we saw to start the year.
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