Lakers quickly learn what life can be like minus LeBron James in loss to Nets

The Lakers’ greatest hope for the playoffs remains a 40-year-old basketball relic. Actually, we all know LeBron James is a lot better than that. It’s almost as if he’s 25 all over again.

But one thing we learned about the Lakers is, quite honestly, they’re a two-man show. It’s James, Luka Doncic, and whoever else can get hot. Usually, LA will need two whoever elses.

They did put up a valiant fight against the Nets on the road minus James, who’s expected to miss the rest of this week (and perhaps more) with a groin injury. The Lakers are also missing injured forward Rui Hachimura.

So it’s somewhat understandable that they fought, but ultimately fell, 111-108, in Brooklyn on Monday.

Doncic collected 25 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists — but went just 8-of-26 from the field. Gabe Vincent actually led LA with 24 points, and his standout performance helped to keep it close. Rookie guard Dalton Knecht added 19 points in perhaps his best performance since being traded to the Hornets, then back to the Lakers again, within a couple days.

Austin Reaves, generally the Lakers’ third-biggest threat, scored 17 with 10 assists. But let’s be honest — a starting five of the aforementioned guys and waiver wire pickup Alex Len isn’t going to win too many road games in this league. And probably not many at home, either.

So the Lakers have lost two straight after an eight-game surge lifted them to second in the Western Conference. They very well could drop to fourth by the end of the night (depending on the outcome of the Grizzlies’ game vs. the Suns).

Doncic reportedly told James to take his time returning from the injury. And that’s an admirable thing to do. But let’s be real here. Without James, the Lakers are likely play-in fodder. With him, even at this age, all remains possible.

The Lakers (40-22) probably already knew that. If not, they sure do now.