Laker Film Room - Dedicated To The Study Of Lakers Basketball

After another defeat to the Hawks and heading into a big game against the Celtics, Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss the state of the Lakers, their spirit and competitiveness, their struggles on defense, Jarred Vanderbilt's offensive improvements, and the idea and value of spacing when building out lineups. And then later, the guys dive into the matchup with the Celtics and challenges they pose for the Lakers defense.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers got run off the floor by an energized Rockets team that took advantage of a combination of tired legs and low effort from a team that played a double overtime game just a couple days prior. Pete and Darius discuss the game and what went wrong, discuss the ongoing defensive struggles of the team's smaller lineups, and how the team needed more from their bench groups from an effort and energy standpoint. And then later, the guys express their concern for Tuesday's game vs. an explosive Hawks offense that will again test the Lakers perimeter defense.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers won an instant classic in double overtime against the Warriors on Saturday night in another epic duel between LeBron James and Steph Curry. Pete, Darius, and Mike discuss the game, the excitement in the building, LeBron's great play, D'Angelo Russell's strong 4th quarter and OT play, and much more. And then later the guys discuss the closing lineup that included Jarred Vanderbilt and whether that group should play more and, even, start games. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On Thursday the Lakers beat the Bulls on the strength of a hot-shooting night across the roster, but in particular from D'Angelo Russell. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss the win, the run that D-Lo is on, the emergence of Vanderbilt on offense and the aggressiveness he's showing on that end, and much more. And then later the guys discuss some of the defensive challenges the team is facing, potential ways to mitigate them, and how those can go hand in hand with some of the growth the team is making on offense. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the trade deadline less than two weeks away, Pete, Darius, and Mike discuss the landscape the Lakers are looking at in regards to their own roster and the internal analysis of whether to make a deal and, if so, what kind to make vs. how other teams around the league might be looking at the what the Lakers could be offering and whether that squares with making a deal at all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers played well and fought hard in the 2nd half, but still fell short to a red-hot Clippers team. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss the game, how the Lakers felt LeBron's absence on both sides of the ball, the continued strong play of D'Angelo Russell, and much more. And then later, the guys discuss the small forward position and how it plays a critical part in the Lakers team building efforts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers lost a bad game to the Nets on Friday, but then proceeded to blowout the Blazers on Sunday. Pete, Darius, and Mike discuss their frustration with the Nets loss, the differences they saw vs. the Blazers, their thoughts on the starting group with Rui Hachimura, and the different identities the various lineups offer the coaches. And then later, the guys get into the vibes of the team and try to separate fact from fiction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers head into a weekend of winnable games vs. the Nets and Blazers, but must bring the appropriate amount of seriousness and execution to those matchups or risk giving back the progress they have made recently. Darius and Mike preview both contests and then take a look at the team's potential to climb up the standings as a couple of teams in front of them in the west face some challenges in their own schedules.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers blew out the Mavericks with a strong second half showing, moving back to .500 in the process. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss the game, breaking down improvements they're seeing offensively from the team as a whole, Anthony Davis' centrality to the offense and his improvement handling double teams, and the difference they're seeing in D'Angelo Russell's and how his feel for the offense has really helped. Then later the guys discuss Austin Reaves and Jarred Vanderbit both looking like their old selves.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At the halfway point of the season the Lakers are 20-21 and in 10th place in a crowded and competitive Western Conference. Pete, Mike, and Darius dive into the standings, break down the different tiers, and debate potential risers, fallers, and where the Lakers fit into the mix. And then later, the guys look at the rest of January as a critical part of the Lakers schedule and discuss what a target record is for them to make a push in the standings.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers split their weekend games against the Jazz and Thunder, showing progress offensively in both games and instituting a starting lineup shift in the win vs. OKC. Pete and Darius discuss the games, what improvements they're seeing offensively, the challenges the new starting group is having on the backboards, the implementation of a zone defense from the bench groups, and much more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers got blown out by the Suns, and the loss brought back familiar questions about the team. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss the current state of the Lakers and how they see the results on the court relating back to process, cohesion, execution, schematic and rotation decisions, and the makeup of the roster. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lakers won a nailbiter against Toronto. Pete & Mike discuss this, Anthony Davis' offensive dominance, lineups that worked in the game, Austin's role in the starting lineup, D'Angelo Russell's importance to the team, & preview the upcoming game against the Suns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers made some roster moves, waiving D'Moi Hodge and Alex Fudge from their two-way contracts and signing forward Dylan Windler and point guard Skylar Mays to replace them. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss these moves, with a look at how the Mays addition impacts rookie Jalen Hood-Schifino and allows him to get more minutes in the G-League for reps and court time as part of his development. And then later, the guys discuss the team's ongoing pursuit of workable lineups -- particularly the groups that play with LeBron and AD, which have not been as productive this season as in year's past.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers had another eventful weekend, losing to Memphis on Friday but getting a much needed and quality win against the Clippers on Sunday to snap their four-game losing streak. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss those games, diving into the Lakers defense vs. Memphis, LeBron's strong all-around play vs. the Clippers, how the bigger lineups and defensive switching helped contain the Clippers offense, Christian Wood's play next to LeBron, D'Angelo Russell's return, and much more. And then later, the guys discuss Jarred Vanderbilt's play on both ends and some of the changes in how he's being used offensively. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers looked dispirited and discombobulated in a 110-96 home loss against a Miami team that was sharp & cohesive despite Jimmy Butler’s absence. Pete & Mike discuss the Lakers’ offensive confusion vs Miami’s zone, the turnovers and missed 3’s that resulted, and some of the options on the table as the team searches for answers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers enter 2024 looking for consistency and a foundation they can build on to carry them through a pivotal, home-heavy January that can make or break their season. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss this stretch of games, how instability has contributed to the team's struggles to this point, and the importance of finding a rotation and strategic approach and sticking with it to get the most out of this stretch. And then later the guys discuss the team's offensive approach, the benefits and challenges of building offenses that revolve around LeBron, and how playing through Anthony Davis can help this team find their stride on that end of the floor.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers closed out 2023 with back-to-back losses vs. the Wolves and Pelicans that dropped them back down to .500 on the season. Pete and Darius discuss the nature of those games, but zoom out to take a bigger picture look at the team's struggles on offense, the structure (or lack thereof) the team plays with on both sides of the ball, how that lack of structure impacts the role players, and much more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is Anthony Davis currently the NBA's best American player? The question might seem far-fetched at first, but when considering his offensive production and DPOY level defense, his case is much more realistic. With AD on a tear this month and having an incredibly impactful season on both sides of the ball, Mike and Darius discuss the state of his game, his place in the league, and debate where he sits amongst his American peers.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers recent lineup change remains a work in progress, with questions remaining on how to navigate not only the new personnel groupings but the strategic shifts within them. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss the updated starting five, the team's new switching defense, how to account for Austin Reaves within these schemes, why the Celtics and Thunder were test cases for playing top offenses with this style, and much more. And then later the guys discuss how the offense is impacted by the change and strategies that they can use to account for the spacing challenges of the new group. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices