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Los Angeles Lakers: Is it time to start load managing?

By Zane Harris

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 08: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrate his basket and LA Clippers foul during a 112-103 Lakers win at Staples Center on March 08, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 08: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrate his basket and LA Clippers foul during a 112-103 Lakers win at Staples Center on March 08, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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With two impressive wins under their belt and a playoff spot clinched, the Los Angeles Lakers may explore limiting some playing time.

With their recent win against the Los Angeles Clippers, the Los Angeles Lakers are now six and a half games in front of them for first place in the Western Conference.

This raises the question if Frank Vogel should take the rest of the season to load manage and limit the minutes of star players like LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Also, with the Lakers being a team composed of veterans, managing the minutes or resting players like Dwight Howard, Rajon Rondo, Danny Green and Javale McGee could be beneficial to them.

This would give the team a chance to, on one hand, rest star and veteran players so they are well-rested and have enough energy to play through a long playoff run at their highest level. Also, it gives younger players like Kyle Kuzma and Alex Caruso the opportunity to take as many shots as they please to try to get into a rhythm before the playoffs.

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On top of this, it will give the team a chance to put together a “non-LeBron” offense. Lastly, if a fair amount of the roster is having their minutes managed, it will allow for newly acquired players like Markeiff Morris and Dion Waiters the chance to get comfortable in the Lakers offensive and defensive system.

They will also gain the opportunity of playing more minutes and gaining chemistry playing with their new teammates. However, managing the minutes of these players could lead to some negative effects in the playoffs for the team.

The Lakers have incredible on-court chemistry and seem as if they have played together for years, although almost half of the roster were not a part of the Lakers organization just a year ago. If key pieces of the roster are missing for a month or more, it could lead to some of that chemistry being lost and could take a round or even two to gain it all back.

This is something that could be too much of a holdback for the team. The Western Conference is possibly the deepest it has ever been, meaning that the second round match-up for the Lakers could be a powerhouse team like the Houston Rockets.

Next. Anthony Davis' sneaky MVP case. dark

Also, sitting players out for load management is punishable by a fine from the NBA. The bill would be easy to pay off for the Los Angeles Lakers, as they are one of the most profitable franchises in the NBA. The question is would Jeanie Buss want to pay those fines.

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