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Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson apologized for his previous post criticizing his ex-team for practicing load management this season.
Earvin Magic Johnson @MagicJohnson
Laker Nation, I have to apologize to the Lakers organization. It was injuries that plagued the Lakers this season, not load management.
The Lakers’ season ended Tuesday after the No. 7 seed fell to the defending champion Denver Nuggets 108-106 in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series. Afterward, Johnson posted his opinion that the Lakers utilizing load management tactics led to them earning a less-than-desirable playoff position.
Earvin Magic Johnson @MagicJohnson
The Lakers have nobody but themselves to blame. They wouldn’t have been in the play-in game or finished as a 7th seed this season if they hadn’t lost too many games because of load management.
The issue with Johnson’s claim is that the Lakers’ top players were available for the vast majority of the season.
The Athletic @TheAthletic
Magic Johnson believes load management cost the Lakers, leading to losses that resulted in a No. 7 seed finish👀
Regular-season games missed among notable Lakers:
◽️ LeBron James — 11
◽️ Anthony Davis — 6
◽️ D’Angelo Russell — 6
◽️ Austin Reaves — 0
◽️ Rui Hachimura — 14 pic.twitter.com/9qX2Upd9BA
In addition, the Lakers’ top players missed games due to injury, not load management. LeBron James dealt with nagging calf and ankle issues throughout the season. Anthony Davis played a career-high 76 games and played through a bunch of random ailments. Austin Reaves didn’t miss any games, and D’Angelo Russell just missed six (three due to a bruised tailbone).
Ultimately, the Lakers simply weren’t good enough. They were average on offense (15th in rating), average on defense (16th) and simply didn’t get enough production outside their top four. Lakers head coach Darvin Ham also received his fair share of criticism, to the point where it’s reportedly highly unlikely that he returns, per Shams Charana and Sam Amick of The Athletic.
We’ll see what this offseason brings the Lakers soon enough, but ultimately, load management wasn’t the reason for the team’s struggles. Now the team must forge ahead and figure out how to bounce back after a postseason that featured just one win.
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