Injury Update for the Lakers: Jarred Vanderbilt and Jalen Hood-Schifino Will Be Out Longer, While Taurean Prince and Rui Hachimura Will Return “Sooner Rather Than Later”
Several ailments have plagued the Los Angeles Lakers to start this season. Jalen Hood-Schifino, a rookie, and Jarred Vanderbilt have not yet played in a game. For the past few games, the club has also been without Taurean Prince, Rui Hachimura, and Gabe Vincent.
Due to these problems, the Lakers have no depth at all, which has forced head coach Darvin Ham to switch to an eight-man rotation. Although the outcomes have been inconsistent, the Lakers maintain hope that a few of those injured players will return to the court shortly.
Prior to the Lakers’ game against the Orlando Magic, Ham discussed the team’s injuries. According to Dan Woike of the L.A. Times, Prince and Hachimura should return soon, while Vanderbilt and Hood-Schifino still have a ways to go.
These important role players are much needed back in the Lakers uniform. In addition to playing strong defence, Prince has easily adapted into the starting lineup and emerged as one of the Lakers’ finest shooters. Even if he hasn’t had the best season to begin, Hachimura is still a large, dynamic player who can significantly increase offence when he comes off the bench.
Hachimura and Prince are essential to Ham’s efforts to keep LeBron James’ workload to a minimum. The greatest perimeter defender for the Lakers is Vanderbilt, and the same is true for them. The squad is lacking his tenacity and enthusiasm, as well as his excellent multi-positional guarding abilities.
The Lakers will have to make due with the guys they have for the time being, but they undoubtedly anticipate these players returning to the fold.
Gabe Vincent of the Lakers will undergo a new evaluation in two weeks.
Regretfully, point guard Gabe Vincent will undoubtedly be sidelined for a time for the Lakers. Vincent has a left knee effusion, and the Lakers said he will undergo another evaluation in two weeks.
LeBron James, of course, and D’Angelo Russell are under more pressure to be the main creators now that he is out. However, the squad also misses his ability to defend against some of the top point guards in the league when they are attacking.
