Alan Shipnuck

I would be very surprised if he's back in this series.

But, you know, a lot of people are saying, man, just give this season.

It's a wrap.

Let Luka have the entire offseason.

bring it back healthier than he was this year and get ready for the future.

But the Lakers seem, and Luka, seem all in on having him play, if possible, in these playoffs.

So I would think a game six or seven is possible if this stem cell issue and procedure in Europe really works.

But I still I would be surprised ultimately if we see him back.

But to your point, if they can extend it to a game six and then Luka is able to play, then I think the Lakers could pull it off.

If Luka were healthy, let alone Luka and Austin Reeves, I think the Lakers will win this series easily.

But without those two.

Houston should take them out.

And if you're Kevin Durant and Alperen Shingun, and those are two stars for them, this should not go past five games.

That's right.

You shouldn't even let it get to a point where Luka could come back.

Well, this is a mess.

It's been a mess.

And I know they've gotten up to the fifth seed.

They've won, you know, 50-plus games.

But it has been terrible.