Reaves officially announced to be out, missing 4-6 weeks, the regular season is over! The Lakers' championship hopes are gone!

Today, renowned reporter Shams reported,Reaves suffered a Grade 2 left oblique strain, ending his regular season, and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks.This is undoubtedly an added blow for the Lakers, as both Reaves and Doncic will miss the start of the playoffs.

This year's regular season ends on April 14, the first round of playoffs begins on April 19, and the second round starts on May 5. Reaves will miss at least 4 weeks, meaning he will also miss the entire first-round playoff schedule.

Reaves was injured during the Lakers' crushing loss to the Thunder on Thursday, when he reached out trying to tap the ball to himself. After grabbing the rebound, he immediately clutched his left side in pain. Despite appearing uncomfortable, he stayed on the court. He went to the locker room a few minutes later but returned in the second quarter. He was substituted in the third quarter shortly after Doncic suffered a hamstring injury.

Reaves had been playing through injuries previously, including a right wrist issue.

The Lakers will lose Reaves' contributions averaging 23.3 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game, plus the loss of Doncic's averages of 33.5 points, 8.3 assists, and 7.7 rebounds per game.

Reaves is expected to decline the final year option of his contract and become a full free agent this offseason.

James, 41 years old, in his 23rd season, is now the only remaining member of the team's trio who can play. The Lakers achieved a 15-2 record in March and secured the third seed in the West, partly because James made sacrifices, adjusting his playing style around Doncic and Reaves.

Now, the situation has changed. James said during today's practice: "You need to shift your mindset a bit. I think it depends on all of us—whoever is on the court—to elevate our performance."

"Elevate our individual performance, play together, find ways to defend opponents, find ways to move the ball from one side to the other on offense. Then maintain the same key points: no turnovers, limiting opponents' fast-break points, limiting opponents' offensive rebounds. So to win, we still have many key points we need to achieve."

Before the Lakers confirmed they would be without Doncic, Reaves, and Smart (still dealing with ankle soreness), Redick had stated he believed the team had enough organizational ability to cope.

"We have enough personnel to... initiate offense through LeBron, Luke (Kennard), Rui, DeAndre (Ayton)... then we wait for Austin and Smart to return. But our mission hasn't changed," Redick said Saturday.

"We want to secure the third seed in the West and win the first-round series. I know Luka will do everything to get back on the court. We don't know what this recovery timeline will look like."

"However, the job for the rest of us and my coaching staff is to fight for the third seed in the West, strive to win a playoff round. Then we'll see what happens."

Redick: "Reaves' second MRI was conducted today. Again, I don't understand how the hierarchy at Dallas Imaging Center operates, but they scanned the wrong area. The issue isn't on our side; we were very clear about the specific area that should be scanned, but they still scanned the wrong place."

Well, regardless, the outcome of Reaves' injury is settled. Anyway, the Lakers now have to wait not just for Doncic.

The Lakers' faint glimmer of hope, within less than five days, has been completely shrouded in darkness again. At this critical juncture of the season, James' heart is surely not calm.