The Los Angeles Lakers are rolling through the early season with the confidence of a group that has finally figured out its identity. Sitting at 14–4 and riding a six-game win streak, they’ve leaned on a balanced offense, a more disciplined defensive structure, and the steady brilliance of Luka Doncic to climb into the upper tier of the Western Conference. His 35-point, 11-assist showing against the Mavericks only underscored how central he has become to everything the Lakers want to build.

Yet the league rarely grants a drama-free schedule. As Los Angeles prepares to host the injury-ravaged New Orleans Pelicans tonight, the biggest storyline isn’t seeding or matchups; it’s availability. And once again, the focus swings toward LeBron James’ foot and whether the Lakers will keep leaning to

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