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Jaxson Hayes #11 of the Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers have the two most high-profile injuries in the NBA playoffs this spring, with due respect to Joel Embiid of the Sixers. Both Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique strain) are out with lengthy injuries to open the series against the Rockets, leaving L.A. in a tough bind and probably ending the hope that the team could pull together an NBA Finals push after a strong second-half run in February and March.

Now, the challenge for the Lakers is figuring out a way to stay afloat against the No. 5 seeded Rockets, a talented if underachieving team that is heavily favored to topple L.A., even if the Lakers do have the homecourt advantage. There’s a longshot chance that Doncic could be back sooner than expected, and if the Lakers can push the series–maybe to a Game 6–then perhaps Doncic could make an appearance and help close the series.

What the Lakers don’t need in the meantime is more injuries to the roles players. Bad enough, as it is, to have the two leading scorers out, but L.A. can’t afford to also be missing its seventh or eighth man.

Jaxson Hayes Set to Go for Game 1

In that regard, Lakers coach JJ Redick delivered some good news on the injury front on Friday: backup center Jaxson Hayes has been practicing and should be ready for his role against the Rockets, who feature young star Alperen Sengun and veteran Clint Capela at center, and who consistently use size as one of their top advantages.

Wrote reporter Mike Trudell of SportsNet on Twitter/X, “Jaxson Hayes has been a full participant in Lakers practice this week, said JJ Redick, after dealing with a sore foot and missing the final four regular season games. He’ll be a key part of the rotation against Houston.”

The Rockets are the leading rebounding team in the NBA, and their 34.8% offensive rebounding edge is critical in balancing out the fact that they are only 25th in 3-pointers made and 25th with a 76.3% free-throw percentage.

Hayes has averaged 7.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 18.3 minutes per game this season.

Lakers Need All the Role Players They Can Get

Another role player who could see an important role for the Lakers is Jarred Vanderbilt, who brings a certain edge and toughness L.A. will need when dealing with the Rockets, who have taken on the rough-and-tumble persona of their coach, Ime Udoka.

Vanderbilt, who averaged 4.4 points and 4.5 rebounds in 17.4 minutes this season, said the Lakers are abundantly ready for the challenge.

“It’s the playoffs, so, the stage is already set,” he said. “The intensity is already high. This is the moment we dream for, we live for as a professional basketball player. So, the intensity is never going away. Teams go on runs, they punch you in the mouth, but you’ve got to be able to respond. The intensity should always be up, especially with this group of guys that we have and our end goal, I think the level is always high for us.”