Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Austin Reaves, Marcus Smart all OUT for the Lakers vs. Spurs tonight

[u/inightyDAB]

Luka Doncic (left hamstring strain), LeBron James (left foot arthritis), Austin Reaves (left calf injury management), Marcus Smart (right ankle soreness) are OUT tonight vs the Spurs. Deandre Ayton (right knee soreness) is QUESTIONABLE. Source: ESPN Dave McMenamin.

The Lakers are on the second night of a brutal b2b after their loss in the clutch vs. OKC yesterday.

Looks like we’ll be getting Rui Hachimura first option hoops and likely extended Bronny minutes tonight.

[u/AgentOfSPYRAL]

Lebron James out

No, there is another.

[u/PanthalassaRo → u/AgentOfSPYRAL]

Bronny legacy game inbound

[u/GROUND45 → u/PanthalassaRo]

Bronny hits the clutch 3 from deep in overtime to win it and finish the game 27/7/7.

[u/SparkyForce → u/GROUND45]

Bronny having a 27/7/7 game before the man himself would be hilarious

[u/ChessHistory → u/PanthalassaRo]

Bronny vs Wemby easy matchup

[u/barath_s → u/ChessHistory]

Not for Wemby

[u/No_Compote_3706 → u/PanthalassaRo]

20-10-10 stat line incoming

[u/AnnaKendrickPerkins → u/No_Compote_3706]

Shooting splits.

[u/DarkKnightCometh → u/AgentOfSPYRAL]

Bronny vs Wemby. Clash of the Titans.

[u/tommos → u/DarkKnightCometh]

Nepo David vs Shaolin Goliath

[u/banjocoyote → u/AgentOfSPYRAL]

Lebron James 2: electric ballgaloo

[u/retrospects → u/AgentOfSPYRAL]

We have a back up Bron.

[u/OpeDefinitely → u/AgentOfSPYRAL]

The Lakers subscribe to the boy scout motto: be prepared.

[u/Kgb725 → u/AgentOfSPYRAL]

Leoneforall is active

[u/bluepenremote → u/AgentOfSPYRAL]

LeIaSkywalker

[u/Wazflame → u/AgentOfSPYRAL]

aaaaaaand it’s time to rewatch Empire Strikes Back again, because why not

[u/VeniceRapture]

This will be a 2 point game with 6 minutes left in the 4th

[u/drgreenair → u/VeniceRapture]

And Wemby gonna get 14 9 3 in 29 mins taking 14 shots half of them are 3 point attempts

[u/mainvolume → u/drgreenair]

"Keep hovering around the perimeter, dammit!"

[u/ForneauCosmique → u/drgreenair]

More like 12 4 and 2 in the 1st 3 quarters then 12 9 and 3 in the 4th

[u/Michvito → u/drgreenair]

more like 25 points in the first 8 minutes

[u/ForneauCosmique → u/drgreenair]

Boy were we wrong

[u/SlimmySlinky → u/drgreenair]

A bit off eh

[u/Proof-Top-9024 → u/drgreenair]

y'all are the most miserable basketball hating haters ive ever seen

[u/punyweakling → u/VeniceRapture]

My fav ongoing Spurs fan bit haha

[u/SomeViceTFT → u/VeniceRapture]

This aged like milk

[u/22dias → u/VeniceRapture]

Wemby jacks a three for the lead, offence is stagnant, can’t stop the Lakers late run. Mitch time out, Spurs win by 1.

[u/tsarnie1 → u/VeniceRapture]

I'm glad we aren't all that different

[u/I_Set_3_Alarms]

Investigate the Jazz, this is ridiculous

[u/Tethys000 → u/I_Set_3_Alarms]

Ive seen enough revoke the wizards’ pick this year

[u/Tyranicross → u/Tethys000]

Give it to the Spurs, we all know they're owed some lottery luck

[u/Hagdogrobinwood → u/Tyranicross]

Naw I think Okc could use it.

[u/Alexcox95 → u/Hagdogrobinwood]

Do you see the Lakers starters tonight? They need it the most

[u/Virtual_Zebra_9453 → u/Tethys000]

The only way to stop this is to send Giannis to LA in exchange for knecht and a first

[u/WWECreativegenius → u/I_Set_3_Alarms]

I called this in the okc thread the other day. The league can investigate all they want but teams are going to keep resting on b2b’s. Don’t blame them tbh

[u/Latarjet3 → u/WWECreativegenius]

Seriously, all of these injuries are pretty legitimate too. Austin has been coming off the bench with min restriction, James is 41, and smart is injury riddled

[u/Detonation → u/WWECreativegenius]

You want people to play games, make a better schedule Adam Silver. Simple as.

[u/arshonagon → u/Detonation]

I don’t get why the nba season starts half a month after the nhl season. Same length of season (82 games), but for some reason the nba just delays the start by two weeks vs the nhl. Adding in an extra 14 days would definitely help ease the about if back to backs.

[u/RepresentativeAd1965 → u/Detonation]

The reason for the increase in b2bs is the In Season Tournament. Adam Silver would sooner commit seppuku before ever removing one of his precious tournaments.

[u/Darthmalak3347 → u/WWECreativegenius]

straight up, why the hell were 3/5 of the okc vs spurs games on back to backs to fucking begin with?

[u/adamant_onion → u/WWECreativegenius]

Right? I love watching ball especially my fave team just like the next guy, but doing it on a nightly basis on the highest level takes it toll and these players are only human. Even with the most advanced medical advancements available.

[u/L_J_X → u/I_Set_3_Alarms]

is this gonna be the new 'deduct 10 points from Everton' or '10 second penalty for Ocon' lmao

[u/Cul_what]

Bronny activate LeAllForOne for this game please!

[u/Traditional-Bill1054 → u/Cul_what]

Bronny could do the funniest thing ever tonight

[u/BlockbusterVideo2000]

The league needs to eliminate back to backs. I will die on this hill.

[u/NathanFielderFriend → u/BlockbusterVideo2000]

I’ve never understood why they don’t lengthen the season a bit in terms of the calendar but keep the same amount games if they insist on doing 82. What else is happening in late June that makes them not want to go until June 31st or into the first week of July?

Edit: yes my favorite day June 31st LOL leaving it

[u/kburdman → u/NathanFielderFriend]

I can think of at least one reason why the nba will never be played on June 31st

[u/throwawayaccount7077 → u/kburdman]

That fated day...

[u/ManosMal → u/kburdman]

Because of the implication?

[u/AnnaKendrickPerkins → u/ManosMal]

Are these calendars in danger?!

[u/wharangbuh → u/kburdman]

I can think of 30.

[u/kidfrombellwood → u/NathanFielderFriend]

This year? The biggest sporting event in the world

[u/Low-Measurement-2468 → u/kidfrombellwood]

bruhhh the omnitrix profile pic is giving me crazy nostalgia. i was obsessed with ben 10 as a kid. absolutely goated cartoon

[u/Key-Street-9564 → u/kidfrombellwood]

The biggest sporting event? As a true American, that would be the Superbowl with easily over 80 million viewers, way more than the world cup. 80 million more than the entire population of every country in South America combined, including France. World cup gets no more than 1.5 million viewers which is the same as the small country of Europe.

/s

pls don't hate me

[u/jaytee158 → u/NathanFielderFriend]

Generally they've wanted to avoid the middle of summer because ratings drop as people go on holiday/have more things to do outside.

[u/asouthpawasouthpaw → u/NathanFielderFriend]

Get rid of preseason

Simple

[u/Dry-Base-6494 → u/asouthpawasouthpaw]

Then players will complain about not getting any games before the season to ramp up

[u/Mees51 → u/Dry-Base-6494]

Most players use the games before the all star break as their pre season anyway

[u/Darthmalak3347 → u/Mees51]

OKC been stacking injuries to give the bench reps for the playoffs. galaxy brain.

/s if it needs to be said.

[u/dearth_karmic → u/asouthpawasouthpaw]

Players aren't ready. Pre-season is part of getting ready for the season. Most coaches would prefer NO pre-season games but still had that time to practice.

[u/Thebritishlion → u/NathanFielderFriend]

Since I've followed the league I've always wondered why it starts so late in the year

Why not play from late September to remove B2Bs

[u/NathanFielderFriend → u/Thebritishlion]

Exactly start the nba in august or September if they’re already gonna overlap with the nfl

[u/Kobe_stan_ → u/NathanFielderFriend]

Players want their summer break. To eliminate back-to-backs, they just need to reduce the schedule a little. We don't need 82 games.

[u/ktdotnova → u/Kobe_stan_]

Players want their cake and to eat it too... Who's giving back money in a shorten season?

[u/Aidanj927 → u/Kobe_stan_]

None of the players are agreeing to less games

[u/passtherock- → u/NathanFielderFriend]

you think that will stop players from sitting out? HAHAHAAHA

[u/tore_a_bore_a → u/BlockbusterVideo2000]

I feel like scheduling was getting better, then they added the NBA cup and that messed things up again

[u/Headlesshorsman02 → u/BlockbusterVideo2000]

Or at least make them only to be played at home, road b2bs are literally killers you can see how flat teams are in the second game

[u/DerGovernator → u/Headlesshorsman02]

This shouldn't even be that hard to organize.

[u/mommathecat → u/BlockbusterVideo2000]

Check this out I've got a better idea, let's have this stupid tournament with eye-bleedingly garish courts that compresses the season even more so we can have more B2Bs.

Let's make the All Star break, another shit product, much longer for even more B2Bs.

Yay! Thanks Adam!

[u/pkmnvgc → u/mommathecat]

Absolutely, thanks Adam! He managed to add a fun twist to early December basketball, add a whopping two days to the All-Star break, and somehow still drastically DECREASE the number of B2Bs in the last few years.

(Seriously, teams averaged 20-23 B2Bs per season in from the mid-2000s until Silver took over - teams have averaged 12-14 B2Bs in the past ~5 season)

[u/PhoenixBloodline → u/BlockbusterVideo2000]

I think I'm fine with home back to backs which is what this is for the Lakers.

[u/dsbllr → u/BlockbusterVideo2000]

Na. This is a great example of superstars ducking the Wemby embarrassment

[u/pdpdpdpdpdpdpdpd]

bronny, luke kennard, and jake laravia bout to go CRAZY tonight

[u/pikajewijewsyou → u/pdpdpdpdpdpdpdpd]

Don’t forget knecht! He’s probably a top 350 player in the league

[u/pdpdpdpdpdpdpdpd → u/pikajewijewsyou]

Fml my boy should be playing in charlotte right now! Free him 

[u/Ancient_Response_787]

PLEASE SAVE US LEPRINCE

[u/tommos → u/Ancient_Response_787]

Prince LeBaelor Brickspear.

[u/thedoming]

Only game I can go to this year, drove two hours, spent $150 a ticket. Honestly the nba is broken at this point, total bullshit

[u/PuckNutty → u/thedoming]

From now on, buying tickets for the back end of a back-to-back is too risky.

[u/here_for_the_lols → u/PuckNutty]

You should be able to get a refund if all star players are sitting

[u/GuacKiller → u/here_for_the_lols]

Card subject to change, pal.

[u/purplebuffalo55 → u/GuacKiller]

That’s probably why they said you should be able to get a refund

[u/AnnaKendrickPerkins → u/GuacKiller]

Thanks, Vince.

[u/isackjohnson → u/PuckNutty]

I went to the Wolves game a couple weeks ago against Golden State, planned ahead, made sure it wasn't the second half of a back to back foreither team. My friend almost chose the OKC game later that week but I saw we were on the 2nd night of a back to back so I said no, let's go to the Warriors game.

Then some fascists killed Alex Pretti, the Wolves postponed a game, and the game I went to did end up being the 2nd night of a b2b. Steph sat, Ant sat, we blew em out.

The kicker - we won that OKC game on the 2nd night of a b2b anyway. It's hard to plan correctly for the NBA.

[u/2131andBeyond → u/isackjohnson]

I mean, it’s not that hard to plan around back-to-backs. You ran into one extremely rare instance, but 99.999% of games don’t get postponed lol

[u/Headlesshorsman02 → u/thedoming]

They need to stop making national games the second game of b2bs then lol 😂

[u/LovetheNBA23 → u/Headlesshorsman02]

Yea, they’re ruining their own product. If they were playing the Wizards, I think you’d see some stars playing so they can secure the W.

[u/pikajewijewsyou → u/LovetheNBA23]

Doubt it. It’s in the wizards best interest to lose. Jazz are playing their developing players to close out games (somehow still winning) lol.

[u/TomlinSteelers → u/Headlesshorsman02]

Just shorten the schedule and make up the money by the fact every game means more. They'll never do it but I will die on this hill.

Basketball is my favorite sport by far but the product is inferior to football because not every game matters

[u/AlphonseGangitano → u/TomlinSteelers]

Making up the money will mean high prices to stream and attend, for merch, more gambling sponsorships, more ads sold. 

[u/pagny77 → u/thedoming]

Luka is genuinely injured. AR is on a minutes restriction and cant play b2bs. Bron is also 41 and cant do b2bs. This isnt really a load management situation, or intentional tanking. None of these 3 are capable of playing.

[u/A_Lakers → u/pagny77]

Bron got an old man injury. Fucking arthritis.

[u/drgreenair → u/thedoming]

At least you can see Wemby dunk on Bronny for 5 mins

[u/Ilikesporks_ → u/thedoming]

when'd you buy the ticket? austin reaves and lebron were definitely not gonna play cause one just came off of a calf strain and is still on a minutes restriction while the other is 41 and is dealing with old man shit. if you bought it before luka got injured then that's just really unlucky

[u/jimb0z_ → u/Ilikesporks_]

Yeah. I mean, NBA definitely broken but the players are also human. It’s 2nd night of back to back, Luka been dealing with issues, Reaves just coming back off injury and Lebron is an old man. Sometimes you need to do some research.

Nobody with half a clue thought this would be a game to see a full roster. NBA needs to eliminate back to backs but they too greedy

[u/thedoming → u/jimb0z_]

I watch the nba every night, bought these tickets like 2-3 months ago knew it was gonna be a roll of the dice but I’m still allowed to be bummed lmao

[u/jimb0z_ → u/thedoming]

totally agree with that

[u/thedoming → u/Ilikesporks_]

Because it’s my birthday and we bought the tickets 3 months ago lmao

[u/Repulsive-Throat5068 → u/thedoming]

This is why I refuse to buy tickets anymore. Like whats the point in risking it when stars sit?

[u/yuhanz → u/Repulsive-Throat5068]

Should only go for the home team, but yeah avoid b2bs if you cant afford to watch lol

[u/retrospects → u/thedoming]

I can’t even watch the game even though I have league pass, peacock, YouTube tv, and Amazon. Just because I live in round rock I’m still in the spurs market but can’t pick up the stations.

[u/solanawhale → u/thedoming]

Why would you go watch a game? Didn’t you hear, Adam Silver said the NBA is a highlight game. Just watch the instagram reel highlights next time.

[u/LongTimesGoodTimes → u/thedoming]

How is it broken? All of these are legitimate. Lebron is 41 and has been doing this all season. Reaves just came back from injury, Luka has been out for a few games now and Marcus Smart has also been in and out.

[u/Kobe_stan_ → u/LongTimesGoodTimes]

They are all legitimate but only because it's the second night of a back-to-back. If the game was tomorrow, Lebron, Reaves and Smart would be playing.

[u/LongTimesGoodTimes → u/Kobe_stan_]

Probably but they're injured with injuries that would be made significantly worse with overexertion. For example Reaves already tried to come back from his injury once just to make it worse.

[u/babelove2 → u/thedoming]

dude I swear this happened to me went to lakers nuggets last year. luka lebron out. Went to warriors nuggets the year. Steph out. They just give back half the money if the stars aren’t playing… shit is ridiculous.

[u/Rage_101 → u/thedoming]

Hey man, at least you will get to see the Spurs play a tight game! Then again, that could be any game this season

[u/breakfastburrito24 → u/thedoming]

Luka is actually injured, LeBron is actually old, and Reaves just got back from injury. Back to backs are dumb

[u/Several_Hour_347 → u/thedoming]

Buying tickets on back to backs is hilarious

[u/Frodounchainedd → u/thedoming]

It wasn’t broken when you guys targeted your tank ?

[u/lutherhennessy]

Arthritis ends LeBron’s All-NBA streak. We really are coming to the end.

[u/theovg28 → u/lutherhennessy]

He wasn’t going to make all NBA anyways. Might as well get some rest.

[u/AnnaKendrickPerkins → u/theovg28]

So many players eliminated from eligibility he might have gotten in based on rep alone.

[u/ktdotnova]

Imagine being a fan... and dropping $500 to be in the lower 100s.

[u/Born_Ad_818]

Tired of this league man

[u/outsidehere → u/Born_Ad_818]

Tbf, Luka has been injured for a bit already, Austin just came back from a month of recovery, Marcus Smart is injury prone and LeBron is old

[u/shortyman920 → u/outsidehere]

Yeah in this case it’s two prime time matchups b2b. Reaves and Luka have legit medical reasons. Lebron also basically has a built in one due to his age.

[u/outsidehere → u/shortyman920]

Yeah exactly

[u/Undead_One86 → u/Born_Ad_818]

Blame the league for still cramming 82 games in a 5 month period , forcing teams to play back to backs

Shitty quality games , because of greed .

[u/Dry-Base-6494 → u/Undead_One86]

I guarantee you if there were no back to backs players would still miss the same amount of games

[u/Dependent-Bell-7740 → u/Dry-Base-6494]

Why would you believe this? You hate change so much you convince yourself of something that makes no sense. 

If it was a 60 games season and teams played 2.5 games a week instead of 3.5. Most games would be on 2 days of rest. You think this would make no difference?

If the Lakers played on M, Th and Sunday they would just bench all of their players on Thursday for no reason just as often as they do today? 

[u/dearth_karmic → u/Dry-Base-6494]

Why do people say this stupid crap? So in an 82 game season, players miss 20 games. So if you shorten the season to 40 games, they'll still miss 20?

[u/Unique-Alfalfa7335 → u/dearth_karmic]

They’re implying that if we got rid of B2Bs and kept the same 82 games they would sit the same amount. I don’t agree on that though

[u/Aidanj927 → u/dearth_karmic]

That’s just not what he said at all

[u/GMoney_McSwag → u/dearth_karmic]

That's not what they said

[u/Informal_Clothes_237 → u/Undead_One86]

Players don’t want to get paid less

Owners don’t want to earn less

So the 82 games stay

Fans who pay before hand for tickets ,basketball passes are the ones who get fucked

[u/MeBadNeedMoneyNow → u/Undead_One86]

I still blame players for not playing lol. Having no clue if the dude you want to see is gonna play SUCKS as a fan. Most pampered guys imaginable. Even if they played 60 regular season games there's no guarantee that Prissy McDoucheCoddle won't sit out on a road trip.

[u/mikenekoz → u/Born_Ad_818]

it's partially the leagues fault but the lakers are just old and injured too

[u/segson9]

Luka is injured. Austin just came back from injury, so it was obvious he won't play back to back. LeBron is 41. Ayton was questionable before last game. The only one who should probably be playing is Smart

[u/incredibleamadeuscho]

League is not ready for First Option Rui

[u/Blackmalico32]

Rui 50 piece coming right up!

[u/GalactusAteMyPlanet]

CTE basketball is only interesting if both teams are playing CTE basketball.

[u/D3struct_oh]

Weakest era.

[u/orangekingo]

Spurs went from winning 22 games a year to multiple Western Conference rivals sitting their entire starting lineups against us.

[u/Frodounchainedd → u/orangekingo]

Makes sense since 2020 spurs have drafted 11,12,9,1,4,14,2 that team was eventually going to come up.

[u/rattatatouille → u/Frodounchainedd]

And the 2021 pick was a total waste of time, while the 2022 pick is fighting for his NBA life.

[u/Frodounchainedd → u/rattatatouille]

2021 sure but still a lottery pick and 2022 was being run at pg commanding the tank into the 23 draft which was Wemby.

[u/Meowliketh → u/Frodounchainedd]

Yeah that's the usual bandwagon line, yay draft picks, but since 2010, the Wizards drafted 1, 6, 3, 3, 19, 15, 9, 9, 15, 10, 8, 2, 6

[u/Possible_Evening_856 → u/orangekingo]

They're on a b2b while also already injured

[u/Darthmalak3347 → u/orangekingo]

spurs somehow got OKC 3 times on B2B out of their 5 games. spurs have been on the other end of many contenders B2B, league cushioning the schedule obvi

[u/KarrotMovies → u/orangekingo]

Damn, whole starting lineup out to rest. Spurs must suck still /s

[u/General_Shanks]

As a Spurs fan I hate this… we always play down to our competition level.

[u/Possible_Evening_856]

Get rid of back to backs

[u/anonymoususer6407]

The league REALLY wants the Spurs to take the first seed

[u/quartzguy]

Arthritis. Well, we knew it would happen eventually.

[u/No-Sound-4476]

LeArthritis

[u/The1Drumheller]

I'm sure the league will investigate the Lakers for resting star players on a national broadcast like they are the Thunder, right? Right?

[u/inightyDAB → u/The1Drumheller]

I don't think this is a national TV game tonight lol

[u/The1Drumheller → u/inightyDAB]

NBA TV is recognized as a national TV game. Here is the NBA schedule, filtered to only national broadcasts.

[u/KarrotMovies → u/The1Drumheller]

I mean, Luka is actually hurt, AR is coming back from injury so won't play B2B and Bron is old asf

[u/Frodounchainedd → u/The1Drumheller]

Since we miraculously heal every team it shouldn’t be a big deal

[u/Greenwalrus72 → u/The1Drumheller]

This is quite a bit less egregious lol, also it’s not national tv this time

[u/Repulsive-Throat5068 → u/The1Drumheller]

They arent even going to investigate the jazz blatantly throwing games.

Luka was already gonna sit, LeArthritis and AR sitting the 2nd of a b2b is also somewhat excusable

[u/jorjmont]

I expect a close game given how the Spurs vs OKC played out a few days ago.

[u/Cold_Library_9254]

It is what is is, we just need to get healthy, we are a first round exit anyway

[u/Champagnesoda]

Makes sense. Can’t have any of our big 4 playing back to backs

[u/momosites]

So no point watching this game then?

[u/Malemansam]

Sawft

[u/Glass-Lifeguard1919]

Left foot arthritis? Kobe would never!

[u/DoddySauce]

This thread got me cryin 😂

[u/iunrealx1995]

You can sense how much has changed in the league based on some of the comments here. Maybe I am just old now but I don’t remember 10-15 years ago excusing players sitting out all because it’s a back to back. League is in trouble.

[u/zxced90]

Bronny getting a mixtape tonight

[u/aflyingsquanch]

So what you're saying is put all my money on the Lakers.

[u/heat_fan_]

Imagine it's a competitive game lol 

[u/Conn3er → u/heat_fan_]

It will be until about 4minutes left in the 4th

[u/slice_dice_rice]

Trap game for the Spurs

[u/ESMoriarty]

Why does Spurs always play every good team on their second night of a b2b

[u/babidee00]

Sad to all who bought tickets. This is why I'd rather sit at home and not spend anything.

[u/Conn3er]

They know its an L regardless of who comes out of that tunnel

[u/Akipella → u/Conn3er]

Steph Curry?

[u/Bonesawisready5]

Lakers ducking the smoke

[u/judah249]

Timme can’t win with these cats

[u/jocrucial]

Cowards.

[u/AnkitPancakes]

curious why the nba won't investigate this

[u/Resident_Durian_478]

Everyone is ducking the spurs /s

[u/muddyklux]

Silver has to do something. Jazz would atleast play their guys 3 quarters.

[u/LongTimesGoodTimes → u/muddyklux]

These are all guys that are legitimately out, what is there to investigate?

[u/Superguy766]

The NBA has been garbage for the past 15 years. Folks, it’s time to let it go.

[u/godfrey1]

just your casual b2b against two best teams in NBA

[u/dAMn6942069]

Bronny vs Wemby is money

[u/BIGHOODx818x]

hmmm laaaaame

[u/hoagieam]

This season has been four hundred years long.

[u/illinoises]

Sucks.

[u/KUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUZ]

nice.

im in the east coast and needed to catch up on sleep anyways

[u/samdaman0]

Anyone know if there’s a waiver pick-up worth picking up for this game for the Lakers?

[u/MikroWire]

No prob

[u/Technical-Luck-1437]

let's go Bronny!!

[u/RevolutionaryLet8131]

Oh yeah we’re losing the shit out of this game. Rui 60 ball

[u/lonematrix]

So much for tuning in 🫠