MEMPHIS, Tenn. — As the Lakers’ regular season comes to a close, it’s all but guaranteed that forward Jarred Vanderbilt won’t return to the lineup before the team turns its attention to postseason play.
When asked about Vanderbilt ahead of Friday’s road game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Lakers coach Darvin Ham said there aren’t any new updates after last week saying Vanderbilt would be reevaluated earlier this week.
“He had a good workout [Friday],” Ham elaborated, “so we’ll see.”
Vanderbilt has been sidelined since early February because of a sprained right midfoot injury that he suffered in the Lakers’ Feb. 1 road win against the Boston Celtics.
He’s played just 29 games this season after missing the first seven weeks because of a left heel injury.
Even with the Lakers trending upward over the last couple of months, they’ve missed his presence, especially defensively and as a rebounder.
Vanderbilt’s teammates have spoken with optimism that he’ll return at some point this season. But if he does get back on the court, it’s become evident that a postseason run will need to be made for that to happen.
STARS BACK
LeBron James and Anthony Davis were in Friday’s lineup after both missed recent games.
James missed Sunday’s home loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves because of flu-like symptoms before playing in Tuesday’s home loss to the Golden State Warriors despite still feeling under the weather.
Davis only played the first quarter of the loss to the Timberwolves after getting hit in the head by Minnesota’s Kyle Anderson and missed the loss to the Warriors because of the aftereffects (headache, nausea) of the hit.
DEPLETED
The Grizzlies had 13 players sidelined because of various injuries, including most of their veteran and rotation players.
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With their main players sidelined, the Grizzlies started two-way players Jordan Goodwin and Scotty Pippen Jr. in the backcourt, rookie GG Jackson and second-year player Jake LaRavia at the forward spots and two-way big man Trey Jemison.
“You have no choice but to focus on yourself,” Ham said. “It’s unfortunate they’ve been obliterated by injuries this season. We’ve experienced a lot of that as well. But we’re getting our legs back up under us, getting healthy bodies back.
“The biggest thing for us is to just try to work on our execution on both sides of the ball. That’s what you find in these types of games, these types of moments. How well can you be consistent playing the right way on both sides of the ball?”
