Ja Morant`s return after a six-game absence against the Los Angeles Lakers sparked conspiracy theories. Some speculated his comeback was related to the Memphis Grizzlies` coach change. While many fan bases discussed this, Lakers fans were focused on a different idea.
For years, Lakers fans have believed that injured players tend to recover and play against their team more often. Even Luka Dončić mentioned this theory in March, jokingly saying it seems like players return from long injuries specifically to play the Lakers, finding it somewhat normal because it`s the Lakers.
Coach JJ Redick took this fan theory seriously and had the analytics department investigate. Surprisingly, their findings seemed to support the fans` suspicions. Redick stated that around 86% of the payroll of their opponents has been available to play against them this season, which is the highest in the league.
It`s important to consider the context. Redick provided data for only one team in a single season. To properly understand this, we`d need to compare it with league-wide data over multiple seasons. Also, payroll availability is not a perfect metric. Payroll distribution can vary, and it doesn`t directly reflect player value, especially with rookie contracts and player performance fluctuations. This data point is interesting, but not conclusive proof of a conspiracy.
However, the idea is compelling, particularly given past anecdotal observations. Dončić`s comments in March followed a period where several injured players returned to play against the Lakers in quick succession. While frustrating for fans, it wasn`t definitive. Redick`s investigation, although not providing a definitive answer, indicates that this season, the Lakers have indeed faced healthier opponents compared to the rest of the league. If there`s a positive takeaway for the Lakers, it`s that knowing this trend might help them in game planning, as they can expect questionable players to be more likely to play against them.
Jasper Hawthorne