UPDATE (02/20/21):
After the Lakers blowout loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday, Frank Vogel elaborated more on Anthony Davis’ situation. He predicted a four-week absence, a little more than the two-to-three weeks we previously heard. Either way, this confirms he will be out through at least the All-Star break. This would assumedly keep AD out of the actual All-Star game too, where he’s predicted to be selected as a reserve. Here’s his full quote, per Silver Screen & Roll.
“He was re-evaluated tonight actually,” Vogel said. “It just confirmed a calf strain. He’s going to be out for four weeks, we’re going to try and put this fully behind him and be conservative with it to just be sure it’s fully healed before he’s back.”
SS&R also notes that an official Lakers spokesperson wanted to clarify that this timetable was just an estimate, but let’s be real. Four weeks will probably be the minimum considering everyone’s fear surrounding the word “Achilles” as well as the team’s need for Davis to be around for the championship run.
Original story:
Last night, the Los Angeles Lakers lost 122-105 to the Denver Nuggets in a Valentine’s Day matchup. In a game of two presumed playoff teams in the West, you’d think the topic afterward would be surrounding the Nuggets and how well they played against the presumed championship favorites. However, it’s hard to look at anything from the game other than the scare that Lakers fans received when Anthony Davis went down with what seemed to be a right Achilles problem. It was the same side of the Achilles that kept him out of both games against the Thunder in the past week, as an MRI was quickly set up for this morning.
The results of that MRI have revealed that Davis is dealing with a strained right calf per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Davis underwent an MRI today, which revealed a re-aggrevation near his Achilles. Lakers and Davis will be conservative on a return to play, which could be sometime after the All-Star Break running March 5 to 10, source tells ESPN. https://t.co/8touT9FkIf
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 15, 2021
The timetable means he will miss at least nine games of missed time and possibly more. The Lakers will have to tread water until he recovers and returns to play. Right now, they are 21-7 behind the Utah Jazz at second in the Western Conference.
With Anthony Davis out, expect Frank Vogel to probably experiment with some starting lineups. However, Kyle Kuzma has been inserted in the starting lineups in lieu of Davis at times this season. He’s also shown more production when in the starting role, as he seems to elevate his play to meet the responsibilities of being a starter. Also expect some improved statistics from Montrezl Harrell, who has naturally found more offensive possibilities being a much more explosive offensive weapon compared to the third big on the Lakers’ team — Marc Gasol.
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