Much of the Los Angeles Lakers success in 2014 will hinge upon the health of some of their biggest stars. After having a quiet offseason due to salary cap restraints, the team is hoping that everyone stays healthy in order to contribute. Entering the year, Kobe Bryant appears fine after missing the better part of two seasons. Meanwhile, Steve Nash is already having issues in what is expected to be his final season in the NBA.
Nash was reportedly healthy entering training camp. Head coach Byron Scott even told the media that Nash looks better than every, fully recovered from the array of injuries he dealt with over the past few years. The point guard had been suffering from nerve issues that were the result of a back injury suffered while he was still with the Phoenix Suns. Two seasons later and Nash was supposed to be fine. However, the point guard was nowhere to be seen at the end of the team's recent preseason matchup and Scott said Nash "didn't feel right" prior to the game and was a pulled as a result.
This could be a running issue for the Lakers once again in 2014. At this point, if Nash even makes it on to the court, it will be considered a success. Any points contributed is just icing on the cake. Denying retirement is the answer in 2014, Nash plans on giving the upcoming season everything he has. He has stressed to the media that he will be fine to play the whole year, but if he is already having issues in the preseason, fans should not hold their breathe.
Now there is added pressure on Jeremy Lin to contribute immediately. Of course that effort did not start off well as he too was injured for the team's preseason game on Sunday. Lin was acquired in the offseason to hopefully either create a tandem with Nash or take his place if the point guard was injured. Scott has been hesitant to name the point guard a starter for 2014, but Lin simply says that whatever his role is, he will make the most of it. Scott agrees.
"He's got to be ready every night," Scott said, via ESPN.com. "Every game might be different. That's one of the things we have that we just don't know with Steve right now. Jeremy knows every game he's going to play, but there's going to be games that he's going to start and he's going to have to play a lot more minutes."
Injuries are already mounting. With Nash and Lin on the mend and Nick Young out for the next eight weeks, the pressure is on young stars like Julius Randle and Wayne Ellington to step up. The Lakers have higher hopes than expected and injuries will make or break them.
