Few teams’ fortunes rise and fall in the eyes of fans and NBA observers quite like those of the Lakers, who can sometimes appear on a collision course with the NBA Finals one day and ready for a first-round playoff flame-out the next. Depends on whom you listen to.
The Lakers were rolling with an eight-game winning streak a week ago but, after an ankle injury to LeBron James in a loss to the Celtics, the team has lost two straight, and looked disjointed on Monday in falling to Brooklyn.
James will not be back for at least a few more days, putting more pressure on newly acquired star Luka Doncic. But James’s ankle is not the only bump and bruise that has the team worried.
The team announced that in addition to James missing Thursday’s game in Milwaukee, center Jaxson Hayes is out, too. Hayes is dealing with a knee bruise.
Hayes did not play on Monday against the Nets, and in his place, the Lakers started veteran center Alex Len, with Trey Jemison coming off the bench. Those two combined for just two points and five rebounds in 31 minutes.
News that Hayes is out again has Lakers fans hopeful that coach JJ Redick won’t plow forward with the Len-Jemison platoon at center. They want to see two-way player Christian Koloko, who is 7-feet tall and has a 7-foot-5 wingspan.
Koloko has not started, but has played 10-plus minutes 12 times this season. In all, he is averaging 2.2 points and 2.2 rebounds this season. Despite that limited resume, Koloko’s raw size, length and athleticism might make him a good fit for Doncic, who is questionable himself on Thursday.
As the Lakers fan account, “The Lakers Chip,” wrote on Twitter/X: “Luka and Christian Koloko can be a serious pick and roll threat but JJ Redick refuses to play him. Hes Averaging 15 pts / 8 rebounds / 3.1 blocks in the G league. @jj_redick what are you doing?”
That’s not a solo opinion, either.
There’s still much to work out for Redick on the Lakers’ health front. The game in Milwaukee will tip off at 7:30.
