The stretch run of the NBA season is here and the Los Angeles Lakers are still holding out hope that three of their most important role players will be able to return. Cam Reddish, Gabe Vincent and Jarred Vanderbilt have been working hard and progressing in their rehab and the team got some positive news regarding all three.Vincent’s return is imminent as it was recently said that the last step for him is just to regain his conditioning and head coach Darvin Ham noted that the point guard is still going through his process, which is also the case for Vanderbilt. Ham expects Reddish to be back in the lineup on Friday against the Philadelphia 76ers though.He’s doing his individual process, it’s still ongoing. But it’s ongoing in a really positive way,” Ham said of Vincent after Wednesday’s practice. “Same for Vando. Cam was able to participate today and we foresee him playing on Friday.”The Lakers signed Vincent this offseason to give the team a shooter and defender at the point guard position, but he has played just five games this year after undergoing knee surgery. The Lakers have had major issues defending opposing point guards and getting Vincent back would be a huge boost on that front, the same could be said for Vanderbilt.
Ham also discussed how long it will take those guys to get up to speed once they’re back in the lineup.
“It’s different for different guys and different type of players,” Ham said. “If you’re an offensive guy, it takes some time to get your game legs under you. If you’re a defensive guy like I was, it’s just a matter of getting out there and getting your conditioning up. But you do the little things, you try to find yourself on the defensive end first and making sure you’re lockstep with what guys are doing on that end of the floor and then offensively, what it is that you do, just don’t try to force it or push it. Just let the game come to you.”
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