LOCKED ON LAKERS -- 1/28/19 -- Mailbag: How tough is making the playoffs going to be?

The Lakers Fired Darvin Ham... But Will Jeanie Buss and Rob Pelinka Hold Themselves Accountable?: Defenders of Darvin Ham—and while Lakers Nation isn't exactly full of them, there are some whether among fans or in the (generally national) media—have pointed out since the Lakers canned Ham (ha!) Friday afternoon that it's not fair to blame him for everything that went wrong this year. Darvin wasn't "the" problem. The "real" problem was something else. The problem there, of course, is that the framing is too reductive. In any season like this one, responsibility for success and failure is spread around. So yeah, Darvin wasn't "the" problem, but he was "a" problem, and the easiest one to fix at the moment. The time will come for players to be held accountable, as the franchise chooses who they'll try to keep, who they let walk, and who they might use to try and upgrade the roster. But the final question is who holds the decision-makers accountable? Is Rob Pelinka going through a proc by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

32 min listen

Lakers Fans Want Darvin Ham Fired... Now. Barkley Says Blame Players and Rob Pelinka, not Ham.: WHAT'S TAKING SO LONG? While not exactly the sentiment of every Lakers fan... it's the sentiment of many when it comes to the expected dismissal of Darvin Ham from his gig with the Lakers. After all, reports following LA's Game 5 loss to the Nuggets earlier in the week suggested Ham's job was all but gone. Subsequent reports say the Lakers are still moving down that path, potentially as early as the end of the week. Which, to be clear, is basically today. So if they know they want to do it, and are continuing to leak that they're going to do it... why haven't they done it? Well, one reason might be the fallout from the last time they fired a coach. You may remember the Lakers received some flak, and lost out on opportunities to interview desired candidates, after they leaked that Frank Vogel was out and it was reported basically at the buzzer of their final game, before Frank Vogel even by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

35 min listen

The Lakers Fire Darvin Ham! What Comes Next? Who Could Replace Him?: The inevitable just became reality. On Friday, the Lakers announced that Darvin Ham has been relieved of his duties as head coach of the Lakers. It's no surprise that Ham is out because all signs pointed in this direction, but it's actually pretty shocking that Ham, after doing such a good job building buy-in as a rookie coach with LeBron James, Anthony Davis, D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura, saw it all go to pot during his second year. Increasingly, Ham found his decisions being questioned by players, to say nothing of fans and, reportedly, the front office, and kept refusing to take public accountability for whatever struggles. You can't do that in a season that didn't live up to expectations, which explains in part why Ham is out.Still, nobody can honestly say ALL of the problems were the coach. The roster isn't perfect, even if the oodles of supporting players who were injured stayed healthy. LeB by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

30 min listen

What's Next for the Lakers and LeBron James? Is Playing with Bronny Still a Factor?: The immediate business ahead of the Lakers is deciding, or perhaps just finding the right time to announce, the future of Darvin Ham. But while everyone waits on that—and the Lakers did in fact conduct exit interviews internally (and away from probing questions from media types)—one could certainly assume that major stakeholders were asked not just about Darvin, but more importantly what worked and what didn't this year, and what kind of coach they'd like to see next season. That would include, at least in theory, LeBron James, whose own future in Los Angeles isn't exactly an open question, but isn't solidified, either. He is expected to opt out of his deal, and while a return to LA is what most expect and is unquestionably the most likely outcome, the contours of that future are very much unknown. Will LeBron demand three years at the max? A full no-trade clause? Is there anything, really, he co by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

33 min listen

Will the Lakers Fire Darvin Ham? Multiple Reports Say the Coach is on the Hot Seat.: The Lakers have a lot of decisions to make this offseason, but without question the highest profile choice is about Darvin Ham. Does LA fire him, as is the broad expectation based on multiple reports? If so, why? For starters, you can look to a few recent quotes, some from after Monday's loss and more in a story published by ESPN following the game. In both, Ham defended himself against accusations of mismanagement in areas like lineups and rotations, focusing on injuries that ruined his ability to be consistent. He defended himself against high profile benchings over the course of the season by asking what you're supposed to do if a player is "sh***ing the bed" for 10 games in a row? Given that the only three guys this really applies to are Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and D'Angelo Russell, three of the team's five best players, you can forgive any of them for thinking the coach was publicly, well by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

34 min listen

The Lakers Lose Heartbreaker, Eliminated By Denver in Game 5: When those who defend the Lakers talk about how the distance between them and the best teams in the league isn't necessarily that big, Monday's Game 5 loss to the Nuggets, eliminating the Lakers from the postseason, is what they're talking about. Jamal Murray, once again, was the catalyst. He scores Denver's final five points, and they beat LA 108-106. This was a fantastic game, with huge punches thrown by both teams, and massive emotional swings. Both teams were banged up. There were significant injuries during the game, to Anthony Davis first and foremost (a shoulder that functionally removed him from LA's offense for the last 18 minutes or so), but also Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and for a moment, at least, LeBron. The Lakers lost this game on the margins in many ways - untimely offensive rebounds given up, open shots that needed to go down - and spots that aren't exactly marginal, like nine missed free throws. by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

36 min listen

Will Jarred Vanderbilt Return? Will Jamal Murray Be Available? Lakers-Nuggets Game 5 Preview!: Playoff series often hinge on the fairly random prospect of who is available and who is not when the games need to be played. You can be the second best team in the East, but if Giannis and Dame are injured, you might just lose in the first round to Indiana. The Lakers, while they've enjoyed a good run of health from Anthony Davis and LeBron James (and this is the most important thing, obviously) they've been unable to really play big in ways that would benefit them against the Nuggets because of injuries. Now Christian Wood is back, having returned for Game 3. And Jarred Vanderbilt has been upgraded from out to questionable for tonight's Game 5 in Denver. Wood didn't play in Game 4. He might not play in Game 5. But if Vanderbilt is available, even acknowledging that he likely won't be fully healthy and certainly won't have his full level of fitness, would Darvin Ham put him in the game? by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

36 min listen

The Lakers Avoid Sweep, Win Game 4 vs. Nuggets 119-108, Anthony Davis, LeBron Dominate. by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

25 min listen

Lakers Lose Game 3, 112-105, Now 3-0 vs. Nuggets. Is a Sweep Inevitable?: Let's face it, the Lakers put themselves in a position where winning their series against the Denver Nuggets would be very, very, VERY challenging after they blew a 20-point lead in Denver to fall down 0-2. But to even have a shred of hope, Game 3 had to be a win. It wasn't. The Lakers dropped yet another game to the Nuggets, this time by a 112-105 final score. Once again the Lakers got off to a solid start, going up by as much as 12, and once again Denver came back. In relatively short order, the Nuggets ate up the deficit and built themselves a lead. And given how much trouble the Lakers have had scoring points this series, the idea they could make up a 10-plus point gap felt... unlikely. For LA, Anthony Davis, like he did in Game 1, did his part and then some, finishing with 33 points and 15 rebounds. LeBron James was solid (26/6/9), but three turnovers—including two in a critical stretch in the third by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

35 min listen

Did Darvin Throw Anthony Davis Under the Bus (Even If by Accident)? Plus, Lakers-Nuggets Game 3 Preview.: The biggest headline to emerge from the total collapse of Game 2, where the Lakers allowed a 20-point second half lead to disappear, was after, when Anthony Davis said the Lakers have stretches on both sides of the ball where they don't know what they're doing. This was a very pointed criticism, to say the least. Wednesday, Darvin Ham was asked about AD's comments and ... made it worse. ""I just think sometimes the plays don't turn out the way you think they should. The frustration sets in a little bit. But I don't think it's, for us, not being organized. I think I have incredibly talented coaches all along my staff and we pride ourselves on, whether it's a practice or shootaround, games, whatever, we pride ourselves on being highly efficient and organization. So I would just chalk that up to being frustrated, you know it's an emotional game the way it ended and all of that. Bu by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

32 min listen

Do the Lakers Have the Confidence to Recover From Game 2? Plus, Anthony Davis Unloads...: Monday was a brutal night all around for the Lakers. They blew a 20-point lead in Denver against the Nuggets in Game 2, and while it doesn't end their chances of winning the series it certainly does some very serious damage to their hopes. Psychologically, too, blowing a 20-point second half lead is not an easy thing to recover from. But that's what the Lakers have to do, and if they're going to be successful they have to figure out how to keep the offense from experiencing the long stretches of stagnation that have plagued them through the first two games. Monday, as Denver started to chip away at the lead, the Lakers became excruciatingly slow. Maybe it was because they were trying to bleed the clock? Maybe they were just looking to slow things down as Denver was building momentum? Maybe LeBron was tired, and needed to conserve energy? How about a lack of confidence in what they were trying by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

32 min listen

Lakers Blow 20-Point Lead, Lose Game 2 vs. Nuggets 101-99 On Murray Buzzer-Beater: For most of Monday's Game 2 in Denver, the Lakers were in position to send the series back to Los Angeles tied at 1 game each. At points, it looked like they were guaranteed to do it, pushing their lead up to 20 in the second half. But little by little, Denver chipped away. LA's offense went into a near full hibernation in the second half (38 points) and while they did manage to get a few big buckets down the stretch — a pair of triples from LeBron, a drive and finish from D'Angelo Russell, a baseline jumper from Austin Reaves — it wasn't nearly enough to make up for the loooooooooong stretches of totally stagnant, ineffective offense. Tied on the last possession, the Nuggets put the ball in Jamal Murray's hands and let him do what Murray does. Stepback jumper over Davis. Game. 101-99, Denver up 2-0, Lakers on life support. The Lakers got a superhuman effort from Anthony Davis in the first half, espe by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

35 min listen

Lakers Vs. Nuggets, Game 2: What Adjustments Can the Lakers Make In Must-Win Game?: Saturday's Game 1 in Denver was undoubtedly disappointing, and once again put in stark relief the challenge facing the Lakers against the team most experts expect to represent the West in the NBA Finals this year. It also makes tonight's Game 2 a must-win, because the odds of this Lakers team showing enough high-end consistency to beat the Nuggets four times in five tries feels... unrealistic. So it's about breaking through tonight, and proving to themselves as much as everyone else that it's possible for the Los Angeles Lakers to beat the Denver Nuggets. So what has to get better? For starters, the offense has to function much more efficiently throughout the game. No minutes-long stretches where the shot selection is bad or turnovers throw the offense off kilter, or playcalling and structure go the way of the dodo. Because the Lakers lost that game offensively, not on D. Next, the best players on t by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

35 min listen

Lakers Lose Game 1 vs. Nuggets 114-103: Russell Struggles, LeBron Fades Late: The Lakers, as LeBron James noted before the series against Denver kicked off Saturday with Game 1, will need to play near-flawless basketball to move past the Nuggets into the second round. Fair to say on Saturday they didn't clear the bar in their 114-103 loss. It wasn't all terrible. The Lakers actually led by double digits in the second quarter before Denver came roaring back. Still, LA led by three at the half. But in the second half, the Lakers fell apart offensively. Completely and totally. 43 points just isn't going to get it done. And overall, the offensive effort had too many massive holes. Start with a 6-20, 1-9 night from D'Angelo Russell. But Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura were total non-factors. The Lakers had one bench player (Taurean Prince) score. Even worse, the Lakers only had one bench player shoot. LeBron, while productive overall, was a non-factor in the fourth quarter and turned t by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

24 min listen

Lakers-Nuggets Series Preview: Davis v. Jokic, DLo vs. Murray, LeBron vs. the Odds, and more!: The overwhelming consensus has the defending champion Denver Nuggets winning their first-round series against the Lakers, and relatively easily. And it makes sense why, given all their credentials and that Nikola Jokic/Jamal Murray pairing. But the Lakers have played extremely well over the last few months, and the starting lineup of LeBron James/Anthony Davis/Rui Hachimura/Austin Reaves/D'Angelo Russell has often been deadly piling up points. Hachimura and Russell are having career years. James looks healthy. The team can actually make outside shots. Gabe Vincent is perhaps primed for a key role as a defensive specialist. There's actually a playable backup big in Jaxson Hayes. If nothing else, it feels like the Lakers are in a better place to beat the odds than last season, when the Nuggets swept them in the Western Conference Finals. Our guest, basketball analyst and former college baller by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

37 min listen

Why the Lakers Have a Better Chance to Beat the Nuggets Than People Think: Everyone has the Nuggets beating the Lakers. Everyone. And why not? Denver are the defending NBA champions. They're elite. And they've won seven straight games over the Lakers. The same Los Angeles Lakers that were a bit of a basket case all year long, never caught any consistency, and built no faith with anyone. So it's a foregone conclusion, right? Maybe not! Because there are real reasons to believe that the Lakers have a chance to surprise some people. Not made up stuff that doesn't mean anything, or not super unrealistic stuff that can't possibly happen. The Lakers have a real opportunity to do a lot better than many are expecting. There are legitimate reasons to feel optimistic about LA's chances to make things happen in this series. First, the whole "seven straight wins" thing between the Nuggets and Lakers isn't meaningless, but it's also misleading. All of the games have been competitive, and five by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

32 min listen

The Lakers Beat Pelicans 110-106, Advance to Face Nuggets in the First Round of the Playoffs: This win didn't quite look like the others, but in the end the Lakers got what they came for, and once again defeated the New Orleans Pelicans, winning Tuesday in the 7/8 Play-In Game. It's the fourth time in five this season LA has topped the Pelicans, and the second time in three days - both on the road - and this one is undoubtedly the most significant. It pushes the Lakers into the first round of the main draw, where they'll kick off a series against the Nuggets beginning Saturday in Denver. It's been a very long time since the Lakers beat Denver, and there will be plenty to say about that series between now and Saturday, but for today it's worth noting how the Lakers got it done on Tuesday, and how that might influence things going forward. Because while Anthony Davis and LeBron James played hard (Davis through back spasms) and gave it what they had, neither was efficient offensively by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

34 min listen

Play-In Preview, Lakers Vs. Pelicans: Can LeBron Stop Zion Again? Who Stops Anthony Davis?: The Lakers spanked the Pelicans on Sunday to earn their way to the 8-seed and... a repeat of Sunday's game in New Orleans. This time, however, the winner of the game advances straight into the rest of the postseason, finishing as the West's 7-seed and winning a chance to travel to Denver this weekend. The loser plays the winner of Wednesday's game between Sacramento and Golden State. On paper, at least, the Lakers would seem to be the favorites. Three wins in four games over New Orleans, with an average mergin of victory exceeding 26 points. That's some real dominance and indicates the Lakers have structural advantages in the matchup. LeBron James, in addition to being excellent, is also a bad matchup for Zion Williamson, who can't use his strength to bully James around offensively and can't outthink the supercomputer that is LeBron, either. The Pellies don't have a great matchup guarding J by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

34 min listen

Lakers Dominate Pelicans, 124-108, Rematch Tuesday For Seven Seed Play-In.: The Lakers played about as poorly as a team can Friday in Memphis without actually losing. Sunday, they made up for it in a huge way. Win, and the Lakers would solidify an 8-seed, and a chance to get into the postseason bracket with only one win (while earning the luxury of a do-over, if needed). Lose, and they're the 10. Win twice, or go home, both on the road. It was pretty clear which option the Lakers preferred. The came out hot early, with a determined and focused effort to take control. They increased their lead big into the half (17 points) and won the third quarter by five to refuse the Pelicans even an inch of opportunity. Anthony Davis (30 points) and LeBron James (28 points, 17 assists) were both dominant, and had more than enough help from Austin Reaves (20 points ) and D'Angelo Russell (18 points, 5-10 from downtown). The defensive effort was stellar as well. Now the Lakers, as the 8-seed, ta by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

35 min listen

Undeserving Lakers Escape From Memphis With a 123-120 Win Over Grizzlies.: They didn't deserve it, but the Lakers got the win anyway. Against a Memphis Grizzlies team that had 13 players on the injured list, eight players in uniform, and zero players who started the season playing meaningful minutes for an NBA team, the Lakers still needed all 48 minutes to come away with a 123-120 win. How much good it does them depends on what else happens around the conference, but at least the Lakers kept the dream of moving up alive. Even if they shouldn't have been allowed to. This was, very likely, the most annoying win of the year. But it was a win, which beats the alternative. We'll see if the time LeBron (41 minutes) and Anthony Davis (43 minutes) spent on the floor that they absolutely shouldn't have needed to hurts on Sunday. But for now, at least, the Lakers got the thing that mattered most. Even if how they did it was kind of appalling. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky Suppor by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

15 min listen

LeBron, Anthony Davis Travel for Lakers-Grizzlies. Plus, Should Darvin Ham Shorten the Rotation?: Given the disappointment of Wednesday's results and the box it puts the Lakers in from a standings perspective - they're far more likely now to be a 10 seed than anything else - there was at least some speculation that the Lakers might just leave a recovering Anthony Davis and LeBron James at home, at least for Friday's game in Memphis. Let them fully recover before playing again, and see if Sunday in New Orleans matters. There were certainly arguments to be made against that plan, and apparently those are the ones the Lakers went with. Davis and James both were on the plane, and are in position to play tonight. Davis is probable, and LeBron, who has been questionable (unless he's out) for basically every game this season, and will be questionable (or out) for every game he plays until he retires is, well, questionable. But there's no indication he won't play. The Lakers are going to pl by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

31 min listen

Locked On Lakers Trailer: Locked On Lakers podcast is your daily ticket to stay ahead of the game and the first to know the latest news, analysis, and insider info for the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA. by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

1 min listen

Is It Fair for Lakers Fans to Criticize Anthony Davis for Missing the Warriors Game?: Anthony Davis has been outstanding for the Lakers this season. He's put up numbers. He's been available, piling up minutes despite a variety of ailments. He's anchored a Lakers defense that often becomes catastrophically bad without him available. But the timing of his latest injury/illness couldn't have been worse. Davis has missed the team's last seven quarters, and they happened to be seven of the most important quarters the Lakers have played all season. And while his symptoms (headache, nausea) sound like they're concussion related, the Lakers have said he's not in the protocols. Which means he was sick, and in a Kobe Bryant town, the idea that illness would keep a star out of a game as important as Tuesday's? Doesn't sit well. And plenty of fans have hammered AD over it. But is it fair? And beyond that, why are fans so quick to turn on Davis in a moment like this? Then there are the prac by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

31 min listen

With Anthony Davis Out, Lakers Lose 134-120 to Golden State Warriors... Likely to Finish 10th In the West.: The Lakers have been the beneficiaries of good health from LeBron James and Anthony Davis... until right about now. Sunday, LeBron missed a key game against Minnesota with an illness, and Anthony Davis was knocked out at the end of the first quarter after being whacked in the head. Tuesday, in a game that would add tremendous clarity -- good or bad -- to where the Lakers might finish in the West, Davis was still on the sidelines with a headache and nausea (we'll leave it to the armchair physicians to decide what that sounds like) and LeBron was still feeling awful, arriving at the arena just before game time. And, not surprisingly, the Lakers struggled big time against a Golden State team playing excellent basketball. It didn't help that the Warriors were white hot from 3-point range (LA's defensive shortcomings notwithstanding), hitting 26 triples en route to a 134-120 win o by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

35 min listen

Lakers Face Must-Win Game Against Golden State Warriors... Plus, What's D'Angelo Russell's Future with the Team?: Things are getting really tight in the Western Conference, and number of combinations and permutations when it comes to potential end-of-the-year standings could make your eyes bleed. The Lakers could still finish anywhere from 6th (with a lot of help) to 10th (if they don't help themselves). And suffice to say, if they have any prayer of rising higher than their current lot (9th) they need to win out, starting tonight at home against the Warriors. It's the last home game of the regular season, and the Lakers can either solidify the opportunity to host at least one of their (potentially) two play-in games, or leave themselves vulnerable to having to win two games on the road just to make the main draw. Win, on the other hand, and everything from eight to six is still live, at least for another day. It won't be easy. The Warriors are playing very good basketball after by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

33 min listen

Anthony Davis Re-Injures Eye During Lakers' 127-117 Loss to Timberwolves, Fall Back to Nine Seed: LeBron James (flu-like symptons) was already out of the lineup Sunday for LA's matchup against the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves at the Crypt. Still, they got off to a great start, led 37-33 after the first quarter, and kept the lead into the second... until Anthony Davis was whacked across the face, re-injuring the same eye he hurt against Golden State last month. He did not return, and at that point the Wolves went on a massive run and the Lakers really couldn't do much to stop it. By halftime, Minnesota was up 15. LA played hard in the third and managed to get the deficit down to four, but couldn't keep up the momentum. To their credit, the Lakers fought hard all game, but the talent/size disparity facing one of the West's best was just too much to deal with. Minnesota has a lot to play for and was surely conscious of letting off the accelerator despite the lead. Once the Lakers g by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

33 min listen

Davis, LeBron and Russell Shine as Lakers Beat Cavaliers 116-97, Move up to 8 Seed for Play-In.: Thanks to an excellent road trip and a well-timed skid from the Sacramento Kings, the Lakers showed up at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday with a chance to move, however temporarily, into the 8th spot in the Western Conference. That would, however, require a strong effort against the Cleveland Cavaliers, who entered as the 3-seed in the Eastern Conference. So no pushover there. Winner winner, chicken dinner. LA beats the Cavs, 116-97. After a back-and-forth first quarter, the Lakers took control of the game, and after letting Cleveland take the lead in the third following a huge run, the Lakers took it right back and never let the Cavs back into the game. Ultimately, it was one of their better games inside this hot streak, especially on the defensive end. The Lakers were particularly effective against Cleveland's guard combo of Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell, holding them to 36 points on by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

16 min listen

Rui Hachimura Has Juiced the Lakers' Offense, and Michael Cooper May be Entering the Hall of Fame.: The path this season for Rui Hachimura hasn't exactly been super duper smooth. There have been injuries, inconsistent performance, and extremely inconsistent stretches of playing time. His path to the starting lineup at the beginning of last month was somewhat accidental. But since he got there? Man alive, has he played well, and the Lakers have thrived. To the point that in March, he was the most efficient player in the NBA. His attention to detail defensively, Darvin Ham says, has increased. He's rebounding the ball with increased vigor, something the Lakers really, really, REALLY needed him to do. Darvin Ham says he's finally gightened up on the details enough to merit this type of role. OThers might argue he could have been doing it a lot longer if given a chance. It's an interesting part of the broader saga for the Lakers this season, one where moves that could be at least som by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

35 min listen

Lakers Finish 5-1 Road Trip with 125-120 Win Over Wizards. Jarred Vanderbilt Close to Return?: When you get to the last game of a six game road trip, there are all sorts of ways to view the game. Some might land on "just win, style points don't count," especially given the Lakers were playing on the second night of a back-to-back and didn't get to Washington until 3 in the morning. Others might look at the opponent—the absolutely awful Washington Wizards—and believe the "how" matters. Your POV on this sort of thing will definitely color your reaction to LA's 125-120 win, one that looked like it might be a carbon copy of Tuesday's win over Toronto... until it wasn't. Where the Lakers used a huge third quarter to pull away from the Raptors and never gave them a chance to get back into it, the Lakers on Wednesday built a big lead, then allowed a 15-0 run that got Washington right back in. After another big push, Darvin Ham emptied the bench, only to have to re-insert his starters for by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

32 min listen

Lakers Roll Raptors 128-111, 4-1 on Road Trip... But Will They Ever Move Up in the Standings?: The Lakers this season have generally played to the level of their competition. That's a nice thing in games against, say, Milwaukee or Oklahoma City. But it's been an issue against the lousy teams in the league as well. Tuesday in Toronto, the Lakers faced off against a Toronto Raptors team that had lost 13 straight games, and simply could not afford a letdown. This was a game they needed to win... And it was one of their better games of the season against a team like this one. After a slow start, the Lakers took control about halfway through the first quarter. They hit a minor lull near the half, but then came out in the third and completely blew the game open with a 36-21 quarter and in the end, the players you want to see playing in the fourth (Maxwell Lewis, Colin Castleton, etc.) were on the floor, and Anthony Davis and LeBron James were both under 30 minutes. Only one starter (D'An by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

35 min listen

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LOCKED ON LAKERS -- 1/28/19 -- Mailbag: How tough is making the playoffs going to be?

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