Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers
Locked On Lakers is a daily podcast that provides in-depth coverage of the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA. Hosted by Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, who have covered the team since 2005 for outlets like the LA Times, ESPN, and The Athletic, the show offers a mix of traditional journalism, informal commentary, and offbeat humor. It delivers expert local analysis, insider scoops from the Lakers locker room, and updates on the biggest stories around the league. The podcast is part of the Locked On Podcast Network.
Episodes
Can the Lakers Build the Team Now, While the Front Office Is Under Construction?
The Lakers are simultaneously trying to build next year's team, and the franchise long term.
On Friday's big show, we spoke with Khobi Price of the California Post about the progress, or potential lack of progress, the Lakers have made replacing some of the front office personnel (think scouts) that are critical to the pre-draft process. And what about the infrastructure of basketball brains tha
Is the Lakers Front Office Ready for the Offseason? Who's Doing What?
The Lakers are simultaneously undertaking two projects that have some overlap in the Venn Diagram, but aren't entirely aligned. First, they have to think about how to build a winning team around Luka Dončić as quickly as possible, putting enormous pressure on this offseason to be quite excellent. Second, they're engaged in a long-term project of building out the basketball operation and the franch
A Stunning Game 4 Comeback in New York, and an Intriguing Hypothetical Sign and Trade
Well that was insane.
Down by as much as 29 points, the New York Knicks capped off one of the greatest comebacks in modern sports history, pulling ahead for good on an OG Anunoby tip with 1.2 seconds left for a (to say the least) improbable Game 4 win. Now up 3-1, they seem to have a very strong hold on the series as it returns to San Antonio for Game 6.
And for San Antonio, basically the only w
Projecting the Lakers Offseason: What Kind of Risks are Good Risks?
The Lakers have a lot of work to do this offseason, and as today's guest Raj Chipalu of Lakers Today notes, they're going to need to compress what normally is a few cycles of team improvement windows (trade deadlines, summertime) into a shorter amount of time if they want to catch up quickly to the leaders atop the West.
So what does that look like in practice?
We continue our offseason makeover
What Does the Ideal Lakers Offseason Look Like? Guest, Raj Chipalu!
The Lakers have a million different directions they can go this offseason, even without having tons of tradable contracts or massive amounts of draft capital. Want to create more cap space? Let guys like LeBron and Rui Hachimura go, and Luke Kennard while they're at it. Want to (more or less) run it back? That's easy enough to facilitate. Maybe Austin Reaves stays, and LeBron goes?
So when you th
Mitchell Robinson Linked to Lakers. Better Backup than Jaxson Hayes?
The Lakers have to figure out what their priorities are this offseason, because they may very well have to choose between different needs.
Is it the wing?
More bench depth?
A center that really matches well with Luka Dončić?
The answer is yes to all of them, and where the Lakers go depends in part on the best player available at each position. Even if you think they'd be better off with a cent
Karl-Anthony Towns, Austin Reaves, and the Challenge of Being the 2nd Best Player
Karl-Anthony Towns is having a moment.
After years of being seen in some circles as not quite good enough to be a critical piece on a winning team, KAT has had an incredible postseason, as the Knicks continue a pretty historic run of playoff dominance. It's not that he's never been good in the postseason before (he has) but he's never been THIS good. And who knows, may never be this good again.
What if Austin Reaves Wants the Max? Could the Lakers Lose Reaves AND LeBron James?
For much of the year, the expectation was that LeBron James wouldn't be back next season, but Austin Reaves would. Then the vibes (and the results) shifted, and it seemed like both would be back. Now, it looks like James is a little more iffy, but the assumption remains that the Lakers will re-sign Reaves.
But Brad Turner of the LA Times, speaking on Spectrum Sportsnet (the Lakers TV home) said t
Do the Lakers Really Want LeBron Back? Can They Really Afford to Let Him Go?
The Lakers are in a bind. It doesn't seem like they are clamoring for LeBron James to return... but they also may not be able to afford to let him go. James, for his part, has decisons to make. What does he value most next year? Is it a paycheck that aligns with his value? The best chance to compete for a title (all of it being relative)? Proximity to his family? The most comfortable atmosphere, w
Should Lakers Keep Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard? Is Trading for Isaiah Joe an Option?
A look at the Lakers' potential free agents Marcus Smart (player option) and Luke Kennard (unrestricted free agent). Smart proved to be an indispensable defender and culture setter for the Lakers, one that's definitely worth more than the $5.4M deal he can decline. Were Smart to hit the open market, there would be competition for his service. How much, and for how many years, can/should the Lakers
More Potential Lakers Trade Targets: Could Christian Braun be a Smart Gamble?
Hey, the NBA Finals are here, and we react to Game 1, including shout outs to some well-liked former Lakers.
And from there, it's a continuation of Wednesday's discussion of potential trade targets for the Lakers, given some of the limitations in the free agent market (i.e. less flexibility than advertised, and a weak free agent class overall). Wednesday, we talked about potentially available Pel
Trey Murphy III? Herb Jones? Jalen Suggs? Who Could the Lakers Target in a Trade?
The Lakers could try to improve the roster this offseason primarily through free agency, which is a path they've certainly hyped up but also might not yield all that much fruit, given that the cap space accessible from a practical standpoint isn't nearly as large as some of the rosier projections might imply. Moreover, there aren't many good unrestricted free agents, anyway.
So what about the tra
Are the Lakers Better off if Deandre Ayton Picks Up or Declines His Player Option?
The Lakers would like to upgrade at center. That much has been made pretty clear. Certainly Lakers fans would like to see the same thing.
The complicating factor is Deandre Ayton, and his player option for next season. Ayton made about $8 million this year, and will make similar money next year. It's certainly possible he reads the market and decides there's a longer term deal out there, but nobo
Can the Lakers Keep LeBron and Reaves and Still Upgrade the Roster?
The Lakers are trying to build a team around Luka Dončić that can push the Spurs and Thunder at the top of the conference next year.
The Lakers are trying to build a team that can win in a sustainable fashion around Luka. They're trying to get younger, to get more athletic, to add better centers, better wings and better depth. In short, they're trying to do a lot of things at once, and don't nece
How Much Money Is Too Much Money for Austin Reaves?
The Lakers have some hard choices to make this summer. And while the idea of bringing back Austin Reaves isn't necessarily one of them -- unless a better alternative presents itself, a relative long shot, the Lakers don't have any viable way to replace Reaves if he goes -- there could very well be some uncomfortable conversations about how much it costs to get the deal done.
Tim Bontemps of ESPN
What the Western Conference Finals Can Teach the Lakers This Summer
The Lakers have a challenging offseason coming, nobody doubts that. But did the just-finished Western Conference Finals provide any type of guide for how they should approach it?
After all, the "forget it, we're all cooked" dynasty that was supposed to be the Oklahoma City Thunder ended in a year... but then again, it wasn't so much because the Thunder did anything to take steps backward (other t
How the NBA's New Lottery and Anti-Tanking Rules Impact the Lakers
The NBA put out its long-awaited rules designed to curb tanking through lottery reform. The rules are a little complicated, and include provisions that not only flatten lottery odds -- out is the old system of tons of ping pong ball combos, in is the 3-2-1 system where teams get (wait for it) three, two or one ball each. Next year, though, we'll see new wrinkles like a "relegation zone," where the
Mailbag! Could Pelinka's Best Move be to Kick the Can Down the Road, Again? Is Kawhi an Option?
The Lakers have a lot of work to do this offseason, and have neither a great range of tools at their disposal, nor a great group of free agents who might be available to sign. And after being promised some significant action this offseason, many fans are noticing the potential issues, here. And that leads to our mailbag questions for today from @socioisbackapparently661 and @ScottSemple-vr2qo, bot
Peyton Watson? Tari Eason? Robert Williams III? What Players Should the Lakers Chase?
The Lakers have to figure out how to resign their own key free agents, starting with Austin Reaves and (probably) LeBron James, and moving on to (probably) Rui Hachimura. But to improve the team, they're going to have to find some new guys, too. They can't just run it back and expect a different result. (Especially after selling the Bold Summer of '26 to fans for a while.) So at the least, the Lak
JJ Redick Gets Some Coach of the Year Love... Did He Improve in Year 2?
On Tuesday, JJ Redick got three third place votes for NBA Coach of the Year, which is actually a couple fewer than he received in his first season as Lakers head coach. So two years as a coach in the league, two years finishing on the COY table. Pretty good!
So two big questions: Did JJ (and by proxy the Lakers) get the credit he deserved? And how did Redick improve from Year 1 to Year 2?
Lakers
Does LeBron-to-Cleveland Become a Bigger Possibility after Cavs are Swept?
While the Lakers are still probably the most likely landing spot for LeBron James this summer, there are other franchises that certainly make sense as a destination, even if the fit isn't perfect. Golden State to play with Steph and Draymond, and have that experience. New York, because he's LeBron and it's New York, a basketball institution he's always admired. The Clippers, if he wanted a change
Lakers Make Big Addition to Basketball Operations, Luka Makes 1st Team All-NBA
The Lakers under new owner Mark Walter have promised to make significant additions to the organization, especially on the basketball operations side. That process started over the weekend with the Lakers adding former Pelicans executive Rohan Ramadas as an assistant general manager. He served as a VP of strategy and operations for New Orleans and will likely serve a similar role here, working to r
How Much Should the Lakers Pay for Free Agents (Including Their Own)?
It's a thin free agent year, this everyone knows. And unfortunately, two of the best among current free agents are their own (LeBron James, Rui Hachimura. There are some other names floating around out there, but while the narrative sometimes makes it sound like they've got cap space to spare, the reality of its LA actually has a relatively narrow window into which they can fit in potential free a
LeBron James Looks Ahead to the Summer, Calls This Season a Success
LeBon James spoke with Steve Nash for ther Mind the Game podcast on Thursday, and needelss to say it was of great interest to the Lakers and their fans.
A couple things grew more clear over the course of the conversation. First, LeBron will not be rushed into any decisions about his future. He's currently getting ready for a family vacation, and said he's not going to start thinking about next ye
The Athletic's Player Tiers Show the Lakers Don't Have Enough Top Level Players
The Western Conference Finals are, understandably, creating angst around the league, including among Lakers fans. Why? Because pretty much everyone is watching the Thunder and Spurs thinking, "We're not nearly as good as they are."
And considering both teams might not be done improving (especially San Antonio) the existential crisis is warranted.
Law Murray at The Athletic has been publishing hi
How Mark Walter Plans to Modernize the Lakers, and How Rob Pelinka Might React
Perhaps the most significant difference between this offseason and the last half-decade of offseason isn't the pressure to improve -- although that's a pretty big factor -- it's the change in ownership.
It's the first where a member of the Buss family isn't a primary owner of the team. And under Mark Walter, there is an expectation that the way the team operates is going to change significantly.
Can the Lakers Make Real (and Needed) Improvement at Center?
Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes were, in the aggregate, more good than bad over the course of this season, at least relative to what they were being paid. But unless you think the Ayton the Lakers got over the last eight weeks of the season will be the Ayton they get over 82 games next year -- which would definitely be a nice bargain for eight mil or so -- the Lakers definitely could use an upgrade
Rich Paul Says LeBron is Generating Interest from Contenders. Why That's Good for the Lakers
The arc of LeBron James with the Lakers over the last nine months or so has been quite interesting, from the moment he picked up his option but neither side seemed (at least for the public) to be interested in a contract extension.
There were comments from Rich Paul about monitoring the situation, and then about the supporting cast, and (relative to his standard) poor play from James when he came
How Can the Lakers Close the Gap Between Them, San Antonio and Oklahoma City?
The Lakers -- and every other team in the West and the NBA more broadly -- have a problem. As we all saw in Game 1 of the Conference Finals Monday between the Thunder and San Antonio, these are two teams that are not only incredibly good right now, they're poised to stay incredibly good for a while. Or even continue to get better. (Wemby, Steph Castle and Dylan Harper are 22, 21 and 20, respective
The Lakers Need to Figure Out What to Do With Jarred Vanderbilt
So Dillon Brooks -- yes, that Dillon Brooks -- put Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt into the news cycle when he volunteered Vando when asked by a Twitch streamer named Ray who Brooks thought was the dumbest player in the league.
Brooks also said -- because hey, you don't want to be mean, right? -- that he feels Vanderbilt also has untapped potential.
The latter question is particularly important
Luka Dončić Finishes 4th in MVP Voting... Plus, Why Rui Hachimura Is a Complex Problem for the Lakers
Luka Dončić finished fourth in Sunday's release of MVP voting. This was always the most likely outcome, once Luka was hurt before the end of the year, and the Lakers lost (for all intents and purposes) a real shot at the third seed in the West. But within that voting, there were some things that will almost surely stick in the craw of many Lakers fans -- namely that Luka, the leading scorer in the
Giannis to LA Rumors Are Surfacing Again... Does He Makes Sense for the Lakers?
Well, you know summer is here because reports of the Lakers and Giannis are already out there.
A report from Dan Woike and Sam Amick at The Athletic noted that the Lakers are expected to be part of potential trade talks for Giannis that everyone expects will begin to percolate as soon as the playoffs are over. Interestingly, the report came in the context of noting that Luka Doncic, who the Laker
Will LeBron Play Hardball With the Lakers? Why His $ Is About Much More than LeBron
It's a reflection of LeBron's still-strong influence on the league that four days into the offseason for the Lakers, the "will James return" discourse is already in overrdrive. And it reflects the significant pressure under which Rob Pelinka will operate this summer, because it's an important part of an offeason that internally and externally is expected to be one of significant progress.
Maybe n
How Do You Feel About Austin Reaves After the Playoffs? Ok With a Big Payday?
From the moment he returned to the lineup in this year's playoffs, Austin Reaves was squarely in the spotlight.
The results were a mixed bag. Reaves struggled mightily with his perimeter shot against both Houston and the Thunder, and was turnover prone against both teams as well. On the other hand, Reaves was freely able to get into the paint against both of these defenses, which are two of the b
Is There Still Tension Between LeBron James and the Lakers? What Happens Next?
The Lakers are at yet another crossroads with LeBron James, and even as it seems like the interests of the franchise and the interests of its former franchise player are more aligned than they were six months ago, there's still the lingering question of whether James returns to the team next year.
Those questions got a little question-ier when ESPN's Dave McMenamin -- certainly very well plugged
Luka Dončić Won't Play for Slovenia This Summer, Trusts Lakers, Wants Reaves Back
Luka Dončić announced earlier this week on his IG page that he won't be playing for Slovenia this summer. He cited his ongoing custody dispute and the demands travel would bring as the reason, as opposed to his injured hamstring, but for the Lakers the effect is the same. It means that Luka will have a full summer to heal, train and essentially repeat last year's Summer of Luka. They'd never ask h
JJ Redick, Rob Pelinka Outline Priorities. Plus, the Lakers Get Dodgerfied!
Tuesday in El Segundo, the Lakers braintrust laid out some of the big organizational priorities going forward. Things like building meaningful depth - the kind that's modeled after teams like OKC and San Antonio, even if that standard isn't immediately reachable. They want to improve player development. And they want the organizational infrastructure to improve.
Now, the latter has a lot to do wi
Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick Reflect on This Season, and the Challenges Going Forward
JJ Redick and Rob Pelinka met the media Tuesday in El Segundo following Monday's season-ending loss to the Thunder at Crypto.com. The disappointment was muted by, frankly, the inevitability of the result once Luka Dončić got hurt, and because of that it was easier to focus on the successful nature of the season. 53 wins, above expectations for most projections, and what would almost certainly have
Lakers Fight Hard, but Thunder Complete Sweep, Eliminate the Lakers 115-110
The final score was a lot more respectable, but the end result was the same. A fourth straight loss for the Lakers to the Oklahoma City Thunder, completing the 4-0 sweep and ending the 2025-26 season.
Without Luka Dončić, the Lakers really didn't have much of a shot at beating OKC over the course of the series. The hope was to try and steal a game or two and see what might happen. The Thunder nev
Why Adou Thiero Should—and Will—Keep Getting Minutes as Long as the Lakers are Alive
Insofar as the series against Oklahoma City is concerned, there's not been all that much to get excited about. Even when the Lakers manage to play well, they're still getting overrun by a deeper, more talented Thunder squad.
One exception has been the play of Adou Thiero. It's not that he's put up huge numbers in relatively short minutes—though eight rebounds in 13 minutes of Game 2 action certai
Can the Lakers Avoid a Sweep? Plus... Problems With Reaves and at Center
It's not the effort, it's (at least part) the execution (though not in everything) and the opponent that explains why the Lakers are down 3-0 heading into Monday's Game 4 with the Thunder.
No NBA team has come back from a 3-0 deficit, and it feels... unlikely... that the Lakers will be the first. Game 4 becomes a referendum on professional pride. How hard do the Lakers try to cut? How effectively
Lakers Overwhelmed in Game 3, Lose by 23 as Reaves and LeBron Both Struggle
Well, at least they didn't lose by 18.
Instead, after a strong first half the Lakers were again overwhelmed in the second, and lost Game 3 to the visiting Thunder, 131-108. This time, it was the team's stars that simply couldn't get it going. Both Austin Reaves and LeBron James struggled -- Austin was 5-13 from the floor, and LeBron was 7-19, and while they had 17 assists between them, they also
Is "Playoff Rui" Changing How the Lakers Have to Approach Free Agency?
When analysts note the big plans for LA's upcoming offseason, it's often in the context of opening up large amounts of cap space for Rob Pelinka and Co. to fill with a host of players that complement Luka Dončić. When people talk about maximizing the amount of money available, it means chucking virtually everything that can be tossed overboard. That's all the expiring contracts, and maybe some dea
The Lakers Fight Hard, but Still Lose Big in Game 2, 125-107
On the one hand, the Lakers played very hard, and they made a good game of Thursday's Game 2 in Oklahoma City.
On the other, in the end, the Lakers still lost by 18. Again. Final score, 125-107.
The game was more competitive than the final score would indicate, but the final score still indicates the Thunder won pretty comfortably. For the Lakers, there were some genuine bright spots. LeBron Jam
Lakers vs. Thunder, Game 2: What to Watch For (Could JJ Redick Get Weird?)
Ok, everyone knows what happened in Game 1. The Lakers weren't necessarily bad, but they weren't nearly good enough, either. So what has to change for Game 2?
For starters, Austin Reaves doesn't just have to be better, he needs to be much, much, MUCH better. But what else? With Jarred Vanderbilt almost surely sidelined and even Luke Kennard now on the injury list, the Lakers are going to have to
Luka Dončić Unlikely to Play Vs. OKC... and Is Game 2 the Biggest of Austin Reaves's Career?
Lakers fans hoping for a miracle got some disappointing news Wednesday when Luka Donćić met the media in Oklahoma City, and poured some cold water on the prospect of returning in this series. It's not gonna happen. Luka didn't say it explicitly, but made clear that the timeline for the injury when it happened was eight weeks. The hope was to speed it up with the PRP and fancy treatments, but it's
Jarred Vanderbilt's Injury Makes LA's Depth Problem vs. the Thunder Worse
The Lakers already had a depth problem in their matchup against the Thunder, something that was very clear in Tuesday's Game 1 loss. Oklahoma City has far more players they can deploy confidently over the course of a game, with a deeper variety of skill sets to choose from. And now things get a little worse for LA, as Jarred Vanderbilt is expected to miss time after suffering a dislocated pinkie f
Reaves Hits Rock Bottom as Lakers Lose Game 1, 108-90
The Lakers as a team weren't particularly bad (individual players, most importantly Austin Reaves, certainly were) but that's not necessarily all that encouraging, because in the end they lost 108-90 in a game they hung in for a while but never really had even an ounce of real control.
And to make it worse, the Thunder didn't seem to do anything special, either. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn't go
How the Lakers Stack Up: An LA vs. OKC Preview, Part 2
In Part I of our preview of the Lakers vs. Oklahoma City, we asked Rylan Styles, host of Locked On Thunder, to break down the strengths and (relative) weaknesses of the Thunder.
How does missing Jalen Williams impact things? When they lose, why does it happen? Where might the Lakers look to attack?
In Part II, we take Rylan's questions about the Lakers. How do they operate without Luka? What doe
How Can the LA Pressure Oklahoma City? A Lakers-Thunder Preview
Look, everyone knows the deal, here. The Thunder are massive favorites to beat the Lakers in the second round of the NBA Playoffs.
And they should be!
But what can the Lakers do to try and push OKC? To make it a longer series than expected, and maybe -- just maybe... -- turn it into something shocking? We unpack the series with Rylan Styles, host of Locked On Thunder. Now unlike our conversation
Lakers are HUGE Underdogs against the Thunder. What Should this Mean to fans?
There's no way around it. The Lakers are considered huge long shots to win this series against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. That might still be understating the perceived odds LA is battling. You'd be hard-pressed to find anybody not wearing a Lakers uni even remotely talking up the chance of an upset. And that even includes Lakers fans, many of whom the Kamenetzky Brothers have h
Luka Dončić Still Out Indefinitely. How Much Pressure is on Austin Reaves Vs. OKC?
The Lakers made it through Round 1 without Luka Dončić and for 2/3 of the series, without Austin Reaves.
Against OKC in Round 2, they'll have Austin back, but Luka is nowhere near ready to play, still without a timetable and not doing anything approaching true on court work at speed. And given how fast this series will move -- it's an every other day affair -- there's a very good chance Luka won'
Dominant Lakers Defense Helps Lakers Win Game 6, Eliminate Houston
The Lakers were disappointed by the results of Game 5 at home Wednesday night, and knew moving back to Houston they'd need a much better Game 6 to eliminate the Rockets.
And that's what they got.
The Lakers used a good-enough offense, with low turnovers (10) and good 3-point shooting (12-28, 43%) in combination with an excellent defense -- the Rockets shot 35% from the floor and weren't a force
Lakers-Rockets Game 6. Should JJ Redick EXPAND ROTATION? Nick Smith Jr. Scoring Option?
HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky
SEGMENT 1: Can LeBron go LeBron for Game 6?
SEGMENT 2: Can Austin Reaves be a star on Friday?
SEGMENT 3: Amen Thompson is making life hard for Luke Kennard.
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Can LeBron James and Austin Reaves Lift the Lakers in Game 6? How Good is Good Enough?
Generally speaking, in the NBA Playoffs if your stars aren't stars, you're not going to win.
Now, sometimes they're stars and you lose anyway. But rarely do they falter and the team still advances. So that's the position the Lakers are in LeBron James was pretty good (but not spectacular) and had a couple key turnovers. Austin Reaves did some good stuff, leading the team in assists and making 12
The Silver Lining for the Lakers and Austin Reaves After Game 5
Game 5 was not a good one for the Lakers, especially offensively.
And while Austin Reaves did score 22 points, most of it came from the free throw line. His ineffectiveness from the field (4-16 shooting) was a drag on the performance of the offense as a while. It's easy to understand why - parachuting into a series after a long layoff isn't easy - but the circumstances don't necessarily matter. T
Cold Lakers Lose Game 5, 99-93. Can They Rediscover Their Offense?
The Lakers came home for Game 5 Friday badly wanting to put their series against the Houston Rockets, and in the first quarter at least looked like they might get it done.
But in the second... and for the rest of the game... the Lakers basically fell into the same patterns that defined the second half of Game 3, and all of Game 4. Momentum killing turnovers, a total lack of shotmaking, particular
More Lakers-Rockets Game 5 Scouting! Can LA Close Out? Houston Gained Momentum?
HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky
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Can the Rockets Sustain Momentum From Game 4? Can Reaves Elevate LA's Offense?
Houston has a long way to go, but they're still in it at least.
The Lakers would like to fix that on Wednesday. They want to take no chances, and not even entertain a situation where they could become the first team to lose a 3-0 lead in a playoff series. There's a good chance they throw everything they have at the Rockets, including Austin Reaves who is expected to return to the lineup after inj
How the 2026 Playoffs Could Impact the Lakers 2026 Offseason (and Beyond)
There are all sorts of different signposts along the path towards building a team in the offseason, whether in the trade or free agent markets. But things can shift as you go from point A to B to C. One of the big ones? The playoffs. Think about last season, when major injuries to Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton radically changed the plans for the Celtics and Pacers respectively, and added moti
Lakers-Rockets Game 4 Rewatch! What Can the Lakers Change for Game 5?
Game 4 wasn't much fun to watch, that's for sure, but like the pros do, sometimes you have to go back and review stuff.
So where did the Lakers go wrong?
Looking back at the ... action, it was pretty clear first and foremost the Lakers were playing on tired legs. But it's also clear the Rockets have changed up enough things that the Lakers, after six very cold quarters, need to respond. They nee
What Went Wrong in Game 4, and How the Lakers Can Improve in Game 5
The Lakers looked tired on Sunday in Game 4, doing everything a step slower than they had been, with responses that were a hair less quick and shotmaking that was more than a hair less successful. All of that was enough to lead to a turnover fueled blowout loss.
As is often the case in the playoffs, one game can make people feel a lot different about a series. And had Game 4 happened in Game 1, p
LeBron Quiet, the Lakers Go Cold, Lose Big in Game 4, 115-96
Everyone was wondering what it might look like if Houston finally found the range offensively while the Lakers went cold.
The answer: a 115-96 Game 4 loss to the Rockets in Houston.
It was an ugly set of outputs for the Lakers, who were obviously trying (it's the playoffs) but didn't have a lot of juice. The scoring collapsed. The turnovers (24, overall) were frequent. The defense wasn't great.
COMEBACK! Lakers Score Improbable Game 3 Win in OT, Lead Series 3-0
How did that happen? People will be trying to figure out exactly what happened for a while, but the bottom line is this: Down six without the ball and under :30 seconds left to play, the Lakers managed to tie the game and then win it in OT. They beat the Houston Rockets in Houston, 112-108 to take a 3-0 lead in the series.
They'll try to close it out Sunday in Houston.
LeBron James led the way w
Deandre Ayton Is Ready to Play Defense, and Is a Product of Good Lakers Culture
Before the team headed out to Houston for Friday's Game 3, center Deandre Ayton met with the media and talked about his excitement not just at playing defense in this series, but playing incredibly versatile defense, not just against centers but one through five on switches.
Ayton does move well in space, and obviously needs to prove his ability to follow through and do this at a high level, but m
Reaves Upgraded, Durant Downgraded for Game 3, Lakers Winning the Little Battles
The Lakers, already riding high with a 2-0 lead in their series against the Houston Rockets as the show travels to Texas for Friday's Game 3, got a nice boost with the news that Austin Reaves, out with an oblique injury, has been upgraded to Questionable. That doesn't mean he'll play - and with the series lead the Lakers might choose to give him a little more time to heal, even if he could suit up
Are the Lakers Favorites Now vs. Rockets? Can LA's Role Players Step Up in Houston?
In a series where the Lakers came in as heavy underdogs, the Lakers now have a 2-0 lead heading into Game 2 in Houston.
So are they now series favorites?
A lot goes into that. Are the Lakers playing above their heads right now? Do you think Houston's offense can improve? if so, how much? Insofar as the Lakrs are concerned, it should be heartening to see that, while maybe the shotmaking has been
Why Are the Lakers Controlling the Series Against Houston? Can the Rockets Come Back?
Before things kicked off in their series against the Houston Rockets, the hosts of this space were confident in one thing: The Lakers would set a bar and make the Rockets clear it to beat them. LA is too resilient and composed to fall apart and fold.
The expectation, though, was that the Rockets would have enough talent on hand to put down those plucky Lakers in five or six.
Well... not so far!
DeAndre Ayton, Jaxson Hayes Outplaying Sengun, Giving Lakers Big Boost
Without question, Rockets center Alperen Şengün has the better pedigree and resume than either Deandre Ayton or Jaxson Hayes. However, over the course of two games between the Lakers and Rockets, the Laker centers have demonstratively outplayed and out-impacted their two-time All-Star counterpart. How is this happening, and why is it so critical to the Lakers' 2-0 series lead?
Hosts: Andy and Br
LeBron, Smart, Kennard Lead Lakers to Huge Game 2 Win, 101-94
We figured Kevin Durant would be back on the floor for the Rockets in Game 2, and we were correct.
We figured that would mean Houston would crack 100 points... and we were wrong. The Lakers defense frustrated Durant, sending waves of bodies after him throughout the game, and save a red hot first few minutes, was held in check. LA dared anyone else to beat them, and the Rockets simply couldn't do
How LeBron's LEADERSHIP GUIDES Lakers in PLAYOFFS Despite Luka, Reaves INJURIES
The Lakers may be up 1-0 in their series against the Houston Rockets, but the odds are still stacked against them. Houston is favored in Tuesday's Game 2 even while it's still not guaranteed that Kevin Durant is going to play. And if he does? Houston is an even bigger favorite.
But the Lakers do have an early advantage, and part of that is due to the leadership provided by, and the history of, Le
Durant More Likely to Play Game 2, How do the Lakers Respond?
The Lakers got a big lift in Game 1 when Rockets star Kevin Durant was declared unavailable with a knee injury.
Now the Rockets might feel like they're on the receiving end of some good news, as more signs point to his availability for Tuesday's Game 2 at Crypto.com. He'll be called a gametime decision, but there is speculation that he's likely to play, and reports were that Durant was moving muc
No Lakers Among NBA Awards Finalists. Does Season Validate JJ Redick and Rob Pelinka?
The NBA released its list of finalists for postseason awards - the top three vote-getters in each category - and there were no Lakers among any of them. No real surprise, there, and someone like Luka Dončić is widely expected to finish fourth in MVP (no dishonor there). It wouldn't surprise to see JJ Redick finish among the top 5-7 in Coach of the Year balloting, either.
That, though, is a bit of
Can the Rockets Make LeBron's Life Harder in Game 2? Can the Lakers Cut Down on Turnovers?
Losing Kevin Durant for Game 1 had a profound impact on the Rockets not just because suddenly they had 25-30 points to replace.
Durant's presence (or lack thereof) changes the dynamic of how the Lakers can attack the Rockets, how their length and size can bother them, and how the Rockets can in turn attack the Lakers. It makes it easier for LA to play Luke Kennard bigger minutes without as much p
Luke Kennard Scores 27, LeBron Dishes 13 Assists, Lakers Win Game 1, 107-98
The Lakers caught a break heading into Saturday's Game 1 when a bruised knee suffered in practice knocked Kevin Durant out.
Even with Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves out, losing Durant ate up a lot of the advantage the Rockets have head-to-head against LA. But their good fortune would only matter if the Lakers came out and took care of business.
That they did, playing active defense throughout and
Lakers vs. Rockets: Best Case, Worst Case and Series Predictions. Who wins?
It's about time to stop talking and start playing the games.
Game 1 is Saturday at 5:30 local time, down at LA Live. The Lakers begin what remains a very, very uphill battle. The Rockets are playing well, and won't want to give the Lakers any space to think they can win the series. A good start is important. But no matter what, the Lakers will be on the wrong end of the talent allotment.
So what
NBA Says Luka Dončic Is Eligible for Postseason Awards... LeBron Praises Houston's Depth
The Lakers got some good news Thursday as the NBA said it has approved the appeal from Luka Dončić and the Lakers for an exemption from the 65-game rule that governs postseason awards eligibility. The league agreed that the pair of games Luka missed to attend the birth of his daughter met the extraordinary circumstances threshold, and that he otherwise would have made it to 65.
So he's good to go
All Hands On Deck: The Lakers Need Contributions From Unexpected Sources
"All hands on deck."
"Next man up."
These are pretty stock sports cliches trotted out anytime someone important suffers an injury. But while there isn't really a next man to be up when the lost men are Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves -- they're too good to be replaced in that way -- the Lakers do need to adopt a mentality where everyone is ready to contribute, and truly all hands are, in fact, on
The Lakers are Emphasizing Rebounding... and the Need for Ayton to Dominate
The Lakers are facing a serious talent deficit heading into the first round of the playoffs against the Houston Rockets. Their best available player is 41 years old. They don't have anyone else on the roster who has been a real number one, or even a number two. The closest thing would be Deandre Ayton, who at his best was a featured player in Phoenix who put up close to 20 a night.
Everyone knows
Lakers-Rockets Preview Part 2: How Will LA Organize Its Offense? Who Supports LeBron? Tricks in Redick's Bag?
Earlier, we previewed the Lakers-Rockets first round series by grilling Locked On Rockets host Jackson Gatlin about the team he covers every day. What changed for a team that has turned things around on the court and with the vibe? What kind of leader has Durant turned out to be? Why is the offense cooking? Where might they be vulnerable?
Today, it's the opposite. We answer questions about the La
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