Lakers entering All-Star break on a high note

As the Lakers walked off the court inside of Crypto.com Arena after Thursday’s win over the Dallas Mavericks, they were feeling good about the state of the team entering the All-Star break. Because even with their status as true NBA title contenders being in doubt, a bigger-picture view of their season within the context of Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves playing a combined 10 games together offered optimism.“We’re top-five in the West and we’ve had those guys together for 10 games,” Coach JJ Redick said.“AR’s missed time, an extended stretch.

Luka missed some time.Bron missed the start of the year.

You’d take that.“Doesn’t mean the day-to-day, [the] internal pressure you put on yourself…doesn’t mean that’s going to go away.

But you’ve got to feel good about the last 14 games outside of the San Antonio game [Tuesday] night.”The Lakers started last season 33-21, with James (four), Reaves (five) and the combination of Doncic (four)/Anthony Davis (five) missing a combined 18 games through the Lakers’ first 54 games of the season.California Post News: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedInCalifornia Post Sports Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, XCalifornia Post Opinion California Post Newsletters: Sign up here!California Post App: Download here!Home delivery: Sign up here!Page Six Hollywood: Sign up here!And through this season’s first 54 games, the Lakers are 33-21 despite a significant dip in player availability from their stars, with their best players tripling their combined amount of missed games (56) by this point of the season compared to last year. Reaves has been sidelined for nearly half (26 games) of the season.James has missed 18 games after being on the shelf for the first 14 games because of sciatica.

Doncic sat out of the four games entering the break because of a strained left hamstring, and has been sidelined for 12 games.And even with the team having a 7-3 record in games Don...