LOS ANGELES – Anthony Davis is days away from returning from a nearly nine-week absence and LeBron James has shifted to “light work” on the field, Lakers coach Frank Vogel said before his team’s loss 111-97 to the Utah Jazz on Mondays.
Vogel said Davis, who has been sidelined with a calf strain and tendinosis in his right leg since Feb. 14, was able to do some “ good work ” in court after the morning meeting in LA and that he will “ build up ” in the time to come. . two days into the Lakers’ next game, Thursday, against the Dallas Mavericks.
The final hurdle for Davis, according to Vogel, is working to get his wind back.
“The most important thing right now is conditioning,” said Vogel. “He’s healthy. But since he hasn’t played for the past two months and isn’t really able to ramp up his physical activity on the track, it will take him some time to get the hang of his wind and that’s of course it If his legs are not under him, we don’t want him to run the risk of further aggravation of the injury or another injury. We want to keep a close eye on that. “
James has been eliminated since March 20 when he sustained a high ankle sprain against the Atlanta Hawks.
The Lakers have managed to hold onto the fort for the most part since their stars went down, 14-15 since Davis’s injury and 7-8 since they missed both Davis and James that came Monday.
Vogel warned that while the news from Davis and James is encouraging, the Lakers are still doing their best without the dominant duo. Davis’s playing time, for example, will be limited to the 15-minute range in each of his first two games back to the lineup, according to Vogel.
“I don’t think we’re there yet, to be honest,” said Vogel when asked if the defending champions were finally out of the woods. “I know I am not, my coaching staff is not. Even if Anthony returns, it will take within short, limited minutes … We are still in a trajectory where we have to compete and win games for the biggest. share without those guys. “
While Davis’s potential return can be circled on the calendar, it is believed that it will be weeks before James gets back in the game, sources told ESPN.
“Just try to do a little bit more with his activity each day,” Vogel said of James.