Doncic s upgrade is doubtful, the Lakers two stars will return soon to face the NBA Cup

On October 31, the Los Angeles Lakers officially updated the injury report for tomorrow's game against the Memphis Grizzlies. The most eye-catching thing is that Luka Doncic's injury has improved - his status has been upgraded from absent to doubtful (50% possibility of playing). This marks the All-Star guard one step away from returning.

At the same time, the Lakers also received another good news: Marcus Smart also recovered from a right quadriceps contusion and was also listed as doubtful for the game. Jaxon Hayes has been completely removed from the injured list and can play tomorrow's game.

Recover cautiously, Doncic’s comeback is imminent

Doncic’s injury update is expected. Three days ago, Lakers team reporter Dave McMenamin reported that the Lakers were optimistic about Doncic's injury.

McMenamin said at the time: "Sources within the team revealed that the Lakers are very optimistic about Doncic's injury. They believe that the situation will not develop to the point where one week becomes two weeks, and two weeks becomes three weeks. Giving him some time now should be enough to solve the problem."

However, the Lakers are extremely cautious in how they handle Doncic. The team's long-term goal is to ensure that he can maintain his best condition during the critical period of the playoffs (April to June) and strive for the championship.

Doncic is currently suffering from a left finger sprain and a left calf contusion. Although these injuries are painful, they usually do not lead to long-term absences. Tomorrow's NBA Cup may be the perfect stage for his comeback.

James is recovering steadily and will return to his target in mid-November.

In contrast, LeBron James' recovery timetable is longer. He continues to miss the game due to right sciatica and is expected to need two to three weeks of recovery time, with the goal of returning to the game in mid-November.

McMenamin brought positive news: "James' recovery is progressing smoothly, and all processes are moving in the expected direction. He has not suffered any recurrence of injuries."

Since there is no need to travel with the team on away games, James can stay in Los Angeles and use the time to focus on recovery. This arrangement helps him avoid the added burden of long-distance travel and focus on treatment and training.

Sciatica does need to be handled more carefully for a 35-year-old veteran like James. The Lakers' conservative attitude reflects their strategic vision for the long season - playoff performance is far more important than a few regular season wins.

Reeves played the leading role alone, averaging 34+5+10 per game and stunning the league.

During the absence of the two stars, Austin Reeves supported the team with his amazing performance. Since the start of the season, he has averaged 34.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 10.0 assists and 1.8 steals per game, making him one of the league's first-tier stars.

Reeves' explosive performance is likely to be a key factor in the Lakers' courage to allow James and Doncic to recover patiently. Under his leadership, the Lakers currently have a record of 3 wins and 2 losses, temporarily ranking sixth in the Western Conference, and maintaining good competitiveness.

This defender, who was mainly a role player last season, has now grown into the team's offensive core and organizational brain. His progress has exceeded most people's expectations and provides more possibilities for the Lakers' future.

Even if Doncic and James return, Reeves is destined to play a more important role in the team's tactical system. His all-around performance proved that he can not only coexist with the stars, but also be able to stand alone when needed.

The NBA Cup begins, and the Lakers' journey to defend their title begins.

Tomorrow's game against the Grizzlies will be the first NBA Cup (mid-season championship) of the new season. As the champions of the first NBA Cup, the Lakers naturally hope to achieve greater success in this tournament.

The unique format and venue design of the NBA Cup (especially the special courts in the knockout stages) have always been loved by fans. For players, this event is not only about honor, but also about real bonus incentives.

The Lakers now welcome the possible return of Doncic and Smart, and the timing couldn't be better. The competition intensity in cup competitions is usually higher than that in ordinary regular seasons, and teams need more rotation players and stars to support the lineup.

The current injury situation of the Lakers is gradually improving. Except for James, Kleber, Tierro and Vincent who continue to be absent, other players are basically able to play. This is good news for the team's rotation depth.

When the Lakers officially upgraded Doncic's status to "doubtful," the entire league felt the coming changes. A Lakers team with healthy Doncic and James, coupled with Reeves in hot form, will be a problem that no opponent in the West is willing to face.

"James and Doncic really don't have to rush to return, because Reeves is in hot form during this period." McMenamin's comments revealed the Lakers' current luxury situation - they can remain patient with core injuries because someone is carrying the team forward.

Tomorrow's NBA Cup may be just one game in a long season, but for the Lakers, it may mark a turning point - when the stars reunite, Los Angeles' power will once again be formidable.