Podcast appearances and mentions of dennis schr

The Lakers had to win Game 3 at Crypto.com to keep any reasonable hopes for the season alive. The Nuggets clearly had no interest in giving the Lakers any hope. Jamal Murray picked up right where he left off after Thursday's absurd fourth quarter pushed the Nuggets to victory in Game 2, lighting the Lakers up in the first quarter Saturday to give Denver a big early lead. The Lakers did what they could to fight back, but were playing uphill for the entire game, and simply didn't have the juice to pull it out. Denver was simply too good down the stretch. Murray finished with 37, Nikola Jokic 24, despite fighting foul trouble all game. Meanwhile, the Lakers got 28 from Anthony Davis and 23 each from LeBron James and Austin Reaves, but it wasn't enough. Not nearly so, on a night where D'Angelo Russell, Dennis Schröder and Jarred Vanderbilt combined for 10 points, and the team was once again under 33% from 3-point range. Down 0-3, it would seem the season is functionally over. There's still Game 4 on Monday, and at the least the Lakers would like to send things back to Denver. But no question, history suggests LA's season ended on Saturday. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let's ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Last minute tickets. Lowest Price. Guaranteed. Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order. PrizePicks First time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDON FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don't miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. Birddogs Go to birddogs.com/lockedonnba and when you enter promo code, LOCKEDONNBA, they'll throw in a free custom birddogs Yeti-style tumbler with every order. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kyle and Tyler share their instant reactions to the Los Angeles Lakers closing out Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Golden State Warriors. They talk about the elite guard play from the Lakers, Dennis Schröder's puzzling ejection, the lack of help around Stephen Curry, and Klay Thompson's tough shooting night (1:33). Next, the guys discuss Anthony Davis's defensive impact and whether or not this is the end of the Warriors dynasty before making predictions on the Western Conference Finals (16:38). Later, they break down the Miami Heat ending the New York Knicks' playoff run despite Jalen Brunson's standout performance (34:06). Hosts: J. Kyle Mann and Tyler Parker Producer: Kai Grady Additional Production Supervision: Ben Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There was always a good chance the Lakers could lose Game 5. Golden State wasn't just facing elimination, down 3-1 in the series, but perhaps the end of their championship era, with talk of summer time changes in the air should they be eliminated. The Lakers could always lean in on Game 6 Friday at Crypto.com. So the final score (121-106) isn't necessarily a big deal. How they lost? Oh yeah, that's a problem. Anthony Davis absorbed a careless forearm from Warriors center Kevon Looney about halfway through the final quarter. Davis, clearly shaken, went straight to the bench, and then was taken to the tunnel where he was wheeled out. Hopefully as a precaution, but it's not good. Davis could be facing entry into the league's concussion protocol, which (even if Davis wakes up tomorrow and feels like a new man) could put his availability for Friday in question. An by the looks of it immediately following the injury, a quick recovery is hardly guaranteed. (Though Darvin Ham said postgame that he thought Davis was already looking much better. Keep in mind, Dr. Ham also said D'Angelo Russell was totes ok when he hurt his ankle, and he missed a ton of time.) Meanwhile, LeBron appeared to tweak an ankle. So did Dennis Schröder. Austin Reaves took a tremendous amount of punishment. All in all, this game went about as poorly as the Lakers could have scripted it. Now, it's about Game 6, and who is going to be able to play in it. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Anthony Davis take a forearm to the head, and leaves the game early. What happens going forward? SEGMENT 2: What else went wrong for the Lakers, who were struggling to stay connected to the Warriors throughout? SEGMENT 3: What if AD can't play Game 6? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let's ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Last minute tickets. Lowest Price. Guaranteed. Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order. PrizePicks First time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDON FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don't miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the first round, the Lakers went up 1-0 against Memphis, and had a golden opportunity to win Game 2 with star Grizzlies guard Ja Morant on the sidelines. Instead, they played a horrible, indifferent game and blew a great opportunity. There are many, many reasons to believe LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the rest of the Lakers won't make the same mistake again in San Francisco. For starters, there are an AWFUL lot of people watching this series, and vanity can be a powerful motivating tool. But more than that, this series is just a little too special for either team to show that level of indifference. Expect the Lakers to play hard. But can they play this well again? Can they keep the free throw disparity large? Can the Lakers finally have a good shooting game? The Warriors are asking themselves similar Q's, and will undoubtedly come out as if their season depends on a win, because from a practical standpoint it probably does. The Lakers, on the other hand, can get greedy. One guy who can help? D'Angelo Russell, who has been a bit of a bellweather for the Lakers this postseason. When he plays well and scores, the Lakers tend to win. When the shot is way off? Not good for LA. And Dennis Schröder is exactly the type of role player who can have an outsized impact on this series, in part because of his role as a defender. Both Russell and Schroder are making a case for their presence in LA next year, but with Schröder it's a little more complicated. Finally, did Rob Pelinka deserve more Executive of the Year love? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: The Lakers have a chance to get greedy in Game 2. Expect a better show than the one they put in vs. Memphis in Game 2. SEGMENT 2: Is D'Angelo Russell the canary in a coal mine for the Lakers? As he goes, so goes the team? SEGMENT 3: Dennis Schröder had a huge Game 1, and the Lakers need more if it going forward. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let's ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Last minute tickets. Lowest Price. Guaranteed. Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order. BetterHelp This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at Betterhelp.com/LockedOnNBA and get 10% off your first month.  PrizePicks First time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDON FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don't miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In continuing their preview of the Lakers vs. Warriors 2nd round series, Pete and Darius turn their focus to the Lakers offense vs. the Warriors defense. From navigating the Warriors switching defense to leveraging their size in transition and on cuts to how the Lakers can create advantage in the P&R, the guys hit several keys to the Lakers being able to keep pace on offense. Then later, the guys discuss the Rui Hachimura and Dennis Schröder's roles on both ends, and get into the importance of D-Lo and Austin Reaves' offensive games vs. the Warriors defensive guards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Die neue Folge analysiert das Aus der Milwaukee Bucks, nennt mögliche Folgen und diskutiert einen etwaigen Nachfolger für Coach Mike Budenholzer. Ebenfalls im Programm: Jimmy Butler, Russell Westbrook, die New York Knicks, Tom Thibodeau, Dennis Schröder, Victor Oladipo, die Zukunft (mehr …) The post War die Bucks-Saison ein Fehlschlag? Kommt jetzt Nick Nurse? Westbrook Superstar? Nicht genug Props für Jimmy Butler? first appeared on Got Nexxt – Der NBA und Basketball Podcast.

Led by a 20/20 night from LeBron James and great all around team effort, the Lakers won an OT thriller vs. the Grizzlies to take a 3-1 lead in their 1st round series. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss the game, hitting on LeBron's big buckets to force overtime and then seal the game in OT, D'Angelo Russell's big shots in the 4th quarter, Dennis Schröder's defense, and all of Austin Reaves' timely plays. Then later, they guys discuss Anthony Davis' role in the Lakers' defensive identity on a night he struggled on offense.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers advanced to the NBA Playoffs after a comeback victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Play-In tournament. Allie Clifton, Chris McGee and Mike Bresnahan highlight Dennis Schröder's role as they prepare for Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies in the 1st Round, as well debate whether they are more concerned or encouraged about the Lakers' chances after the last week of games. Plus, more reason why Allie is the best teammate.

Harrison forces Anthony to apologize to Dennis Schröder. Honestly, what else could you need? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers are in Minnesota Friday for a critical matchup against the Timberwolves, with the seven-seed on the line for L.A. It's a great opportunity to climb further up the standings, but to also show that Wednesday's thrashing of Chicago, fueled by a killer starting lineup of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves and Jarred Vanderbilt was no fluke. (Russell may also be entering this game with a little extra on his mind, this being the first game against the team that just traded him, much less in that city.) But despite the first five crushing it, the second unit struggled in ways that cause concern, in part because there were too many minutes with just Dennis Schröder on the court as a ball-handling play-maker. While staggering Reaves, D'Lo and LeBron feels like a simple way of keeping two facilitators on the court at all times, it also raises the question of whether it would just be simpler to play Reaves off the bench again to lead a second unit that was recently a real strength. What are the pluses and minutes? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Will D'Angelo Russell be looking for a revenge game in his first outing against the Timberwolves? SEGMENT 2: Would it be simpler/cleaner to play Austin Reaves starter's minutes, but off the bench? SEGMENT 3: More discussion about the rotation, and Malik Beasley's role in it. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order. Ultimate Pro Basketball GM To download the game just visit probasketballgm.com or look it up on the app stores. Our listeners get a 100% free boost to their franchise when using the promo LOCKEDON (ALL CAPS) in the game store. PrizePicks First time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDON FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don't miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers went into Friday night's matchup at the Crypt with the OKC Thunder in one more must-win situation. In another stomach-churner, the Lakers got some clutch play from Anthony Davis (37 points), Dennis Schröder (21), and Lonnie Walker IV(20) which gave the Lakers a 116-109 victory, getting the team to .500 and 8th place in the Western Conference. Tune in as Joe Soro from lakersball.com and SynBlades.com, Jamie Sweet of ⁠⁠lakerholics.com, Stone Hansen from the Upside Swings NBA Draft podcast, "MagicMan in the Morning" host Sean Grice, and Gerald Glassford from the Lakers Fast Break talk about what happened with the game, where the Lakers stand in the Western Conference, and how the back-to-back in Chicago may be tougher than you think. It's a Friday night showdown on tap right here at the Lakers Fast Break podcast! Catch our LIVE Lakers Fast Break Watch Parties every game when you sign up to Playback.tv and head to our channel ⁠⁠https://www.playback.tv/lakersfastbreak⁠⁠ For the latest updates on the NBA Draft, head over to Stone Hanen's show, The Upside Swings NBA Draft Podcast today at ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...⁠⁠ Please Like, Share, and Subscribe to our channel and our social media @lakersfastbreak on Twitter. If you have questions for us give us a shout-out on Twitter, YouTube, or Facebook, or send us your thoughts to lakersfastbreak@yahoo.com or become a supporter of the Lakers Fast Break today at ⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/lakers-fast-break/support⁠⁠ Presented by our friends at the ⁠⁠Hoop Heads Podcast Network⁠⁠, ⁠⁠NBA Draft Junkies⁠⁠, ⁠⁠lakerholics.com⁠⁠, ⁠⁠lakersball.com⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Pop Culture Cosmos⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Inside Sports Fantasy Football⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Vampires and Vitae⁠⁠, ⁠⁠SynBlades.com⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube's John Mikaelian⁠⁠, the novel Congratulations, You Suck (available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble), ⁠⁠The Happy Hoarder⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠Retro City Games⁠⁠! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lakers-fast-break/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lakers-fast-break/support

It's taken more than a year, but the Lakers have returned to the .500 mark. Behind a huge game from Anthony Davis (37 points, 15-21 shooting) on a night the Lakers badly needed it (no LeBron, and D'Angelo Russell was a late scratch with a bad hip), Davis provided a bonafide superstar performance, playing well from the first quarter to the end. He had company, too! Lonnie Walker IV, given a chance to play thanks to the Russell injury, took advantage of the opportunity, scoring 20 points and hitting half of his eight 3-point attempts. Darvin Ham let him close the game, a nice show of trust in a guy who earned the opportunity, based on his play Friday, but hadn't been in the rotation for a while. Dennis Schröder was great down the stretch, Jarred Vanderbilt made Shai Gilgeous-Alexander work for each of his 27 points, and overall the Lakers defense was nails in the second half. LA only scored 43 points in the final 24 minutes, but held OKC to 19 in the fourth. That's gettin' it done. With the win, the Lakers are now in a tie with Minnesota for the 7-seed in the West, with Chicago coming to the Crypt on Sunday. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order. Ultimate Pro Basketball GM To download the game just visit probasketballgm.com or look it up on the app stores. Our listeners get a 100% free boost to their franchise when using the promo LOCKEDON (ALL CAPS) in the game store. PrizePicks First time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDON FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don't miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From pairing Anthony Davis with Wenyen Gabriel to the virtues of the Lakers new three-guard alignment featuring D'Angelo Russell, Dennis Schröder, and Austin Reaves, Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss some recent developments that have been working for the Lakers and why. Then later, they get into some of the things that have not worked as well and how LeBron's eventual return impacts their view on whether change is needed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers are expected to get some serious lineup relief tonight vs. Toronto, with D'Angelo Russell returning to the floor after a six game absence. And none too soon, because while the team has performed admirably with Dennis Schröder and Austin Reaves functioning as primary ball-handlers and team organizers, it's not a role that either is perfectly suited to play. Having Russell back in the lineup returns both guys to a more natural role - Schröder as an attacking guard off the bench, and Reaves as a natural facilitator and connecter, but not necessarily a point guard. Darvin Ham gets more options, which is something every coach appreciates. Plus, Russell's ability as a shooter should open the floor not just for interior players like Anthony Davis or Jarred Vanderbilt, but should also take some of the heat off a guy like Malik Beasley, who struggled in D'Lo's absence. Mo Bamba, unfortunately, will be out for about a month with an ankle sprain, robbing the Lakers not just of their only source of rim protection not named Anthony Davis, but also the opportunity to see how Bamba fits with this Lakers roster. They have choices to make this offseason, and Bamba (who has a team option for about $10 mil next year) is one of them. Even if the Lakers make the playoffs and Bamba is able to return by then, they're simply not going to get the kind of sample size of games/minutes they'd have liked. But while the Bamba injury hurts, the opportunity to have Russell back and playing well in a Western Conference that seems even more wide open following injuries to Luka Doncic on an already slumping Mavs squad, Brandon Ingram on a Pelicans team that is barely keeping its head above water, and then Kevin Durant on the Suns, who will miss a few weeks with an ankle injury. Phoenix isn't a team the Lakers are likely to catch, but it means when they play the Suns later this month, Durant is likely going to be in street clothes. From a scheduling standpoint, things just continue to open up for LA. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: D'Angelo Russell returns to the lineup. What's the impact on LA's rotation? SEGMENT 2: Mo Bamba will miss a month, a blow not just for this year, but for thinking of next season, too. SEGMENT 3: An interesting YouTube page comment pointing to a low key benefit of bringing this deeper group back next year, plus a look at more ways things are breaking in favor of the Lakers. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order. Ultimate Pro Basketball GM To download the game just visit probasketballgm.com or look it up on the app stores. Our listeners get a 100% free boost to their franchise when using the promo LOCKEDON (ALL CAPS) in the game store. PrizePicks First time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDON BetterHelp This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at Betterhelp.com/LockedOnNBA and get on your way to being your best self. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don't miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers went to Oklahoma City on the second of a back-to-back knowing they wouldn't have LeBron James and D'Angelo Russell but also found out for "precautionary" reasons the team would also be without Anthony Davis. But behind a great second half from Dennis Schröder (who rolled an ankle) and solid play from Austin Reaves and Troy Brown Jr., the Lakers leave OKC with a 123-117 victory over the Thunder. Tune in as Stone Hansen from the Upside Swings NBA Draft podcast, Joe Soro from SynBlades.com/lakersball.com, "MagicMan" Sean Grice, and Gerald Glassford from the Lakers Fast Break share thoughts on a big victory for the team, where it leaves them in the standings, why the Lakers sat down AD for the Thunder vs. the Grizzlies, and how the new additions stack up for the long haul. Plus Stone answers your questions on the NBA Draft as he talks about possible Laker pickups and who is generating some early NBA draft buzz. And the guys weigh in on the hot debate, do you eat cereal and should you have your breakfast at night? A big win without the star players leaves the Lakers knocking on the door of the play-in on the latest Lakers Fast Break podcast! Catch our LIVE Lakers Fast Break Watch Parties every game when you sign up to Playback.tv and head to our channel https://www.playback.tv/lakersfastbreak Please Like, Share, and Subscribe to our channel and our social media @lakersfastbreak on Twitter. If you have questions for us give us a shout-out on Twitter, YouTube, or Facebook, or send us your thoughts to lakersfastbreak@yahoo.com or become a supporter of the Lakers Fast Break today at https://anchor.fm/lakers-fast-break/support Gear up with your favorite Lakers Fast Break shirts and gifts in our Pop Culture Cosmos TeePublic store at https://www.teepublic.com/user/pop-culture-cosmos Presented by our friends at the Hoop Heads Podcast Network, NBA Draft Junkies, lakerholics.com, lakersball.com, Pop Culture Cosmos, Inside Sports Fantasy Football, Vampires and Vitae, SynBlades.com, YouTube's John Mikaelian, the novel Congratulations, You Suck (available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble), The Happy Hoarder, and Retro City Games! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lakers-fast-break/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lakers-fast-break/support

Without LeBron, Anthony Davis, and D'Angelo Russell, the Lakers got a much needed and important win over the Thunder on Wednesday night. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss the game and highlight the individual performances that carried the team, including Dennis Schröder's big second half, Austin Reaves' near perfect shooting night, Rui Hachimura's defense and rebounding, and Troy Brown's hot shooting and hard nosed defense.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthony offers up an apology to Dennis Schröder, then wonders what the hell is going on with the Lakers' injuries, as they continue to refuse to be even kind of transparent on the matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Was können die Blazers tun, um endlich wieder eine Mitfavorit zu sein? Ist Jordan Poole ein Franchise Player? Was bringt die Zukunft für Dennie Schröder? All diese und noch viele andere Fragen behandelt der heutige Fragenpod. Und: 48% bei Myprotein.com sparen (mehr …) The post Bleiben die Blazers schlecht? Jordan Poole Franchise Player? Die Zukunft von Dennis Schröder? first appeared on Got Nexxt – Der NBA und Basketball Podcast.

Darvin Ham, to his credit, ripped the bandaid off and moved Dennis Schröder to the bench. The Lakers then won a game against a west playoff team wire to wire. Might be a correlation there. Maybe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Much of Monday's show was dedicated to the question of whether Dennis Schröder ought to be in the starting lineup for the Lakers and Darvin Ham. Apparently, it wasn't enough to quell any controversy, particularly after the Lakers were wiped out in Portland and Schröder was a non-factor. When LeBron James returns, perhaps as early as tonight against the Pelicans at home, should Schröder remain? Because D'Angelo Russell is going to start, along with James and Anthony Davis and, presumably for the moment at least, Rui Hachimura? And if it's not Schröder, who should it be? Malik Beasley? Troy Brown, Jr.? Jarred Vanderbilt? Austin Reaves? As much as fans are unhappy with Ham's choices, there may not be a clear cut, obvious answer, here. Each has its appeal, each brings some problems. Especially when considering the rotation more holistically. From there, it's a deep dive into the newest Lakers. David Locke, host of Locked on Jazz (and our boss!) joins the show to deliver a scouting report on the former Jazz men. What does Beasley bring? What, to use the terminology of Jazz coach Will Hardy, is his superpower, and how can the Lakers take advantage of it? Is he best suited to be a starter? Can he hold up enough defensively to become a key contributor for the Lakers down the stretch? Because the defense? It wasn't great in Utah. What about Vanderbilt? On the one hand, his energy was infectious in Utah, and often helped elevate the Jazz. But then, as Locke notes, you'd look at the advanced numbers and see the team was often worse with him out there. What gives? What are his strengths and weaknesses as a defender? What space does he have to grow? Great insight on players who will be critical for the Lakers as they try to make a playoff push. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: If Dennis Schröder doesn't start, who should? SEGMENT 2: David Locke joins to scout Malik Beasley. Can he bring enough offense to balance some questions on the other end? SEGMENT 3: Locke on Vanderbilt. The eye test says one thing. Do the analytics say another? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order. PrizePicks First time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDON LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBA FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Place your first FIVE DOLLAR bet to get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Free Bets – win or lose! Visit Fanduel.com/LockedOn today to get started FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers will have at least one more game to play without LeBron James, who almost surely will miss Monday's game against Portland, and that shines a light (or a brighter light, to be specific) on the new guys. D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt (with Mo Bamba serving the last of his four game suspension) will be needed to help elevate the Lakers past the Blazers -- a team they're chasing in the West. So what changes will they bring? Does the additional shooting from Russell and Beasley, who have averaged seven and eight-plus 3-pointers a game this year on quality percentages, fundamentally alter the team's offense? Nobody left on the roster pushes pace like Russell Westbrook, but at the same time, nobody was a more awkward fit in the team's halfcourt sets, which have been... well, underwhelming throughout the year. Much of Darvin Ham's decision-making around personnel choices has seemed to be oriented around creating and capitalizing on opportunities to run. In part, it can be argued, because the team was so clunky in the halfcourt. So what are the chances Ham embraces different lineups, perhaps with more size, knowing the personnel are now available to go bigger (Vanderbilt, Rui Hachimura, Wenyen Gabriel)? How does the complexion of the guard-heavy lineups change without the presence of Westbrook and Pat Beverley? Is a three-guard lineup without them quite as problematic, given the replacements? All stuff we'll learn more about, particularly once LeBron is back in the lineup. Finally, GM Rob Pelinka spoke about "Pre-Agency" ahead of Saturday's big win over the Warriors. What is he getting at there, and why should Lakers fans be encouraged by it? Bottom line, the Lakers have a chance to build a young core of players that are legit rotation players, occupying a range of salary slots. All of this stuff is important for flexibility, especially for a team without a lot of draft capital to work with. And they got more value (in quantity, and likely quality) by making moves now than they could have had in the summertime. And, as Pelinka noted, the team also has the chance to create the type of cap space they've typically chased. (They just don't need to use it.) HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: The Lakers have another game (at least) without LeBron. That puts more pressure on the new guys to come through. SEGMENT 2: Could Darvin Ham's rotation choices change now that the complexion of the team has changed, too? SEGMENT 3: Pelinka and "Pre-Agency." Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order. PrizePicks First time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDON LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBA FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Place your first FIVE DOLLAR bet to get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Free Bets – win or lose! Visit Fanduel.com/LockedOn today to get started FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

LeBron James is banged up, but the Lakers don't have time to tread water in his absence. They have to win games no matter who is in uniform. So with James on the sidelines, the Lakers debuted their new guys (most of them, at least, since Mo Bamba is suspended for one more game, still) against Golden State in San Francisco. And no question, having three quality rotation players (Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt, D'Angelo Russell) available was a big deal. The Lakers were led by Dennis Schröder with 26 points, but got 15 from Russell, 12 from Vanderbilt, and even Beasley (who missed all six of his 3-point attempts) showed what his presence could do, because he forces people to pay attention to him either as a shooter or a rim attacker. The Lakers played well defensively, despite integrating new players. Anthony Davis still seems off and was ugly offensively Saturday night (5-19 from the floor) but he did lift his intensity in the fourth quarter, and had two massive blocks down the stretch to keep Golden State's attack at bay. All in all, you could see the potential of what the Lakers look like now. Half court sets looked cleaner with Russell than Russell Westbrook, the scoring in the backcourt has been lifted, and Vanderbilt's presence in the frontcourt will be a big help. The Lakers have two more games before the All-Star break, both against teams they're chasing. LeBron isn't expected to play on Monday in Portland, and could miss Wednesday's tilt vs. New Orleans, too. Doesn't matter, the Lakers need to find ways to win those games. Saturday they showed they can. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order. PrizePicks First time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDON LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBA FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Place your first FIVE DOLLAR bet to get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Free Bets – win or lose! Visit Fanduel.com/LockedOn today to get started FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For all the excitement about getting Anthony Davis back in the lineup, and for putting newly acquired forward Rui Hachimura into it, there was still the grind-of-the-NBA nature of Wednesday's game. It was the second night of a back-to-back, against a lousy and slumping San Antonio team that has done precious little winning of late. It's not unusual to see teams do the bare minimum to get by, which it seemed the Lakers were willing to do in a 113-104 win that was competitive into the fourth quarter. The game was disjointed, as Darvin Ham negotiated a minutes restriction for Davis and found minutes for Hachimura. But it was easy to see the impact of both. Davis technically didn't pick up right where he left off - there was about four minutes of rusty play before he got it back into gear, finishing with 21 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks in only 26 minutes. Hachimura, who also came off the bench, seemed a little nervous early before finding a groove, finishing with 12 points and six rebounds. So what did it mean to have those two guys in the lineup? The downstream impacts were significant. Thomas Bryant played 21 minutes, but Wenyen Gabriel didn't play at all. But the three guard lineups, specifically Dennis Schröder, Patrick Beverley and Russell Westbrook, were also part of the game, much to the consternation of Lakers Twitter. So is Ham going to cling to small ball? What does this look like when Austin Reaves and Lonnie Walker IV are available again, which is expected over the next week or so? At the least, guys are going to get squeezed. Players like Walker and Troy Brown might find minutes more difficult to come by, particularly if Hachimura ends up in the starting lineup. Ham is going to have a lot more branches on his option tree, that's for certain. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: The Lakers get it done against San Antonio in a workmanlike, clock-punching fashion. LeBron got help, and didn't have to carry the offense, which is great! SEGMENT 2: More on AD's return and how he looked. Plus, Hachimura's debut! SEGMENT 3: So what's coming next with the rotation, now that the roster is inching towards health? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order. PrizePicks First time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDON LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBA FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Place your first FIVE DOLLAR bet to get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Free Bets – win or lose! Visit Fanduel.com/LockedOn today to get started FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers looked to continue the good vibes as they headed to Portland to face off against the Trail Blazers. A great early start for the Lakers folded quickly with their worst second quarter this season as Portland went on a 45-13 run. But the Lakers behind LeBron's 37, Thomas Bryant's 31, and clutch play from Dennis Schröder and Patrick Beverley and the Lakers have their 2nd largest second-half comeback in team history leading to a 121-112 victory. Tune in as Joe Soro from lakersball.com/SynBlades.com and Gerald Glassford from the Lakers Fast Break recap the game, what went so wrong in that second quarter, and what went so right the rest of the game. Plus we bring you up to speed on where the Lakers stand with their 22-25 record in the Western Conference and what the reality is for the team to get into the playoff chase before Anthony Davis' expected return later this week. All this and we remember the great Kobe Bryant on the anniversary of his 81-point game right here on the Lakers Fast Break podcast! Catch our LIVE Lakers Fast Break Watch Parties every game when you sign up to Playback.tv and head to our channel https://www.playback.tv/lakersfastbreak Please Like, Share, and Subscribe to our channel and our social media @lakersfastbreak on Twitter. If you have questions for us give us a shout-out on Twitter, YouTube, or Facebook, or send us your thoughts to lakersfastbreak@yahoo.com. Gear up with your favorite Lakers Fast Break shirts and gifts in our Pop Culture Cosmos TeePublic store at https://www.teepublic.com/user/pop-culture-cosmos Presented by our friends at the Hoop Heads Podcast Network, NBA Draft Junkies, lakerholics.com, lakersball.com, Pop Culture Cosmos, Inside Sports Fantasy Football, Vampires and Vitae, SynBlades.com, YouTube's John Mikaelian, the novel Congratulations, You Suck (available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble), The Happy Hoarder, and Retro City Games! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lakers-fast-break/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lakers-fast-break/support

They always say that basketball is a game of runs. The Lakers and Blazers took that to some serious extremes Sunday night in Portland. The Lakers got out to an 18-4 lead, and were then outscored 57-28 over the rest of the half, including 45-13 in the second quarter, the worst Q2 point differential in franchise history. LA came out of halftime, though, and plastered Portland, winning the third quarter by 20 points before running away with things in the fourth. As a result, the Lakers get their second big win of the weekend, and keep themselves in that tight bunch of teams muddying up the middle of the Western Conference. LeBron James was huge, particularly in the second half, finishing with 37 points on only 24 field goal attempts, along with 11 rebounds, four dimes and two blocks. But he had plenty of help. Thomas Bryant scored a career high 31 points on only 15 shots, Dennis Schröder poured in 24 points and dished out eight assists, and Patrick Beverley's defensive energy on Damian Lillard helped pull the Lakers back into the game. This was further evidence that the Lakers, for all of their flaws, do not quit on games. Not to get all cheesy and stuff, but there's a spirit with this group that shows up every game. It was there Friday when they hung in against the Grizzlies before stealing it at the end, and it was there in Portland when they refused to turn the page down 25 at the half. So you look at the Western Conference standings, and save Denver and Memphis, no teams are truly distinguishing themselves, and from about 4 through 13, all the teams seem like they're about the same. Obviously plenty of teams (Lakers included) are missing huge pieces and plenty could change over the course of the next 35ish games, but right now? And oh, things continue to look good on the Anthony Davis front. More updates from Darvin Ham. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: The Lakers score an epic comeback, which says something about the character of this group. SEGMENT 2: The Patrick Beverley Experience isn't always a good one, but Sunday, his energy (along with Bryant and Schröder was critical for a team that needed to believe in something a little crazy just to make the comeback. SEGMENT 3: Where LA stands heading into a huge game Tuesday against the Clippers. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order. PrizePicks First time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDON LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBA FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Place your first FIVE DOLLAR bet to get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Free Bets – win or lose! Visit Fanduel.com/LockedOn today to get started FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers finish up the homestand in dire need of assistance as they faced Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies at The Crypt on Friday. But even with a subpar performance from LeBron, and despite getting destroyed on the inside by Memphis, the Lakers get some last-second Dennis Schröder heroics to win 122-121. Tune in as Joe Soro from lakersball.com/SynBlades.com, "MagicMan" Sean Grice, and Gerald Glassford from the Lakers Fast Break share thoughts on the game, provide an Anthony Davis update, come up with possible trade scenarios, and theorize if the Lakers can get back on the right track before AD's return. We celebrate a last-minute win for once on another great Lakers Fast Break podcast! Catch our LIVE Lakers Fast Break Watch Parties every game when you sign up to Playback.tv and head to our channel https://www.playback.tv/lakersfastbreak Please Like, Share, and Subscribe to our channel and our social media @lakersfastbreak on Twitter. If you have questions for us give us a shout-out on Twitter, YouTube, or Facebook, or send us your thoughts to lakersfastbreak@yahoo.com. Gear up with your favorite Lakers Fast Break shirts and gifts in our Pop Culture Cosmos TeePublic store at https://www.teepublic.com/user/pop-culture-cosmos Presented by our friends at the Hoop Heads Podcast Network, NBA Draft Junkies, lakerholics.com, lakersball.com, Pop Culture Cosmos, Inside Sports Fantasy Football, Vampires and Vitae, SynBlades.com, YouTube's John Mikaelian, the novel Congratulations, You Suck (available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble), The Happy Hoarder, and Retro City Games! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lakers-fast-break/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lakers-fast-break/support

Say what you want about the Lakers this season, about Darvin Ham's coaching, about Westbrook's efficiency, LeBron's 3-point shooting or anything else - they do not quit on games, even after a series of heartbreaking and often frustrating losses. Friday at home against Memphis, winners of 11 straight games, that resolve was on full display. Because there were multiple opportunities for the Lakers to pat themselves on the back for a good effort and go ahead and fold up for the night, but they didn't. Memphis couldn't put the Lakers away, and in the end Dennis Schröder came up with a massive steal, bucket and free throw to give the Lakers a lead in the final moments. And they held on! This was a huge game not just in the standings, but also for morale, especially because it comes the same night there was positive news about Anthony Davis reported by multiple outlets. Davis, it appears, could be back as early as this time next week, rather than deeper into February. That give him a chance to play for the Lakers on their brutal east coast swing that starts next week. His presence, literally and figuratively, would be huge. A great Friday all around. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! PrizePicks First time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDON LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBA Rocket Money Stop throwing your money away. Cancel unwanted subscriptions – and manage your expenses the easy way – by going to RocketMoney.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers head to SacTown for the second of a back-to-back, this time against the playoff-hungry Kings. And with an outstanding team effort from LeBron, Dennis Schröder, Thomas Bryant, and Russell Westbrook and the Lakers outpace the Kings and squeak out a 136-134 victory. Tune in as Joe Soro of lakersball.com/SynBlades.com and Gerald Glassford from the Lakers Fast Break break down the game, what went right and wrong, and how they sit in the Western Conference. We're talking Lakers as only we can right here on the Lakers Fast Break podcast! Gerald's headset today is the ThinkWrite Technologies Victory 250XG Gaming Headset. For more info check it out today on #Amazon at https://amzn.to/3WQf7xe or https://thinkwrite.com/ Catch our LIVE Lakers Fast Break Watch Parties every game when you sign up to Playback.tv and head to our channel https://www.playback.tv/lakersfastbreak Please Like, Share, and Subscribe to our channel and our social media @lakersfastbreak on Twitter. If you have questions for us give us a shout-out on Twitter, YouTube, or Facebook, or send us your thoughts to lakersfastbreak@yahoo.com. Gear up with your favorite Lakers Fast Break shirts and gifts in our Pop Culture Cosmos TeePublic store at https://www.teepublic.com/user/pop-culture-cosmos Presented by our friends at the Hoop Heads Podcast Network, NBA Draft Junkies, lakerholics.com, lakersball.com, Pop Culture Cosmos, Inside Sports Fantasy Football, Vampires and Vitae, SynBlades.com, YouTube's John Mikaelian, the novel Congratulations, You Suck (available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble), The Happy Hoarder, and Retro City Games! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lakers-fast-break/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lakers-fast-break/support

The day started poorly for the Lakers, who announced that Austin Reaves (hamstring) and Lonnie Walker IV (knee) will miss the next two weeks (at least), and meanwhile Troy Brown (quad) wouldn't be able to play Friday against the Hawks at Crypto. The Lakers were down so many bodies they signed veteran SG/SF Sterling Brown (not the actor), and had him suit up. So would the Lakers suffer on the court, giving back a game after a fantastic win Wednesday over Miami? Absolutely not! LeBron James was again excellent, but he had tons of help. Dennis Schröder stayed hot, scoring 21 points. Thomas Bryant was 8-12 from the floor, and had 13 rebounds. Russell Westbrook was strong, and Kendrick Nunn (remember him?) had easily his best game as a Laker. 23 points in just under 27 minutes. With so many guys on the shelf, Nunn will get more minutes now out of necessity, and doesn't need to look over his shoulder quite as much. Maybe that's the thing that can help him reach the form that prompted the Lakers to sign him, and podcast hosts to believe he could/would be a serious contributor? It would be a nice silver lining to the injuries Nunn used this time to find his form, and became a useful player heading into the second half of the season. We'll see what happens in Sacramento Saturday night, but the Lakers have quietly gone 16-11 since the 2-10 start. Guys are playing well around James. The light at the end of the tunnel maybe, just maybe, is actually light, not a train. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! PrizePicks First time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDON LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers come back home to the Crypto.com arena to find themselves without LeBron James, who is out with a Non-COVID illness. But that did not stop a short-handed Lakers team from surprising the Jimmy Butler-led Miami Heat as LA fends them off with a gutty performance 112-109. Tune in as Joe Soro from lakersball.com/SynBlades.com and Gerald Glassford from the Lakers Fast Break give praise where it needs to go with great performances from Dennis Schröder, Thomas Bryant, and Russell Westbrook, speculate if the good play can continue without LeBron in the lineup, and what Joe may do for his next food challenge! The guys are in a good mood and ready to fight the internet trolls on our latest Lakers Fast Break podcast! Gerald's headset today is the ThinkWrite Technologies Victory 250XG Gaming Headset. For more info check it out today on #Amazon at https://amzn.to/3WQf7xe or https://thinkwrite.com/ Catch our LIVE Lakers Fast Break Watch Parties every game when you sign up to Playback.tv and head to our channel https://www.playback.tv/lakersfastbreak Please Like, Share, and Subscribe to our channel and our social media @lakersfastbreak on Twitter. If you have questions for us give us a shout-out on Twitter, YouTube, or Facebook, or send us your thoughts to lakersfastbreak@yahoo.com. Gear up with your favorite Lakers Fast Break shirts and gifts in our Pop Culture Cosmos TeePublic store at https://www.teepublic.com/user/pop-cu... Presented by our friends at the Hoop Heads Podcast Network, NBA Draft Junkies, lakerholics.com, lakersball.com, Pop Culture Cosmos, Inside Sports Fantasy Football, Vampires and Vitae, SynBlades.com, YouTube's John Mikaelian, the novel Congratulations, You Suck (available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble), The Happy Hoarder, and Retro City Games! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lakers-fast-break/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lakers-fast-break/support

No LeBron James, no Anthony Davis, no Lonnie Walker IV, no Troy Brown Jr. in the second half... no problem for the Lakers. Behind 32 points from Dennis Schröder, the Lakers scored their most improbable win of the season, 112-109 over the Miami Heat at the Crypt. The Lakers played an incredibly gritty game, fighting off multiple pushes from a Heat squad playing basically at full strength. The win, which steals one back for the Lakers from the pile of games they had no business losing, moves the team to 17-21, with the Hawks coming to town on Friday. So the Lakers, after that 2-10 start, have gone a much more respectable 15-11. It's not a pace that would make the 73-win Warriors blush, but it's not nothing, either. Especially given the choppy health of the roster (most notably, an injured Anthony Davis). So is this team worth trying to rescue? Should Rob Pelinka go all in around the Davis/James core? Even if it costs every asset left in the cupboard? We talk about this and more with John Nichols, aka LaJethro Jenkins, of the Jenkins and Jonez podcast, and Out of Pocket on WaveTV. After discussing easily the most stunning win of the year, behind a gangbusters effort from Schröder, it's on to the paradox that is Russell Westbrook. While he was productive on Wednesday (18/8/9), Russ also had seven turnovers and was almost singlehandedly responsible for Miami's late first half run. So while he's found a niche this season with the Lakers, he's still a fascinating figure in the league. What happens next year? Is he now a sixth man going forward, the kind that will be sought after this season is over? Where does he fit? Could it even be... in LA? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: The Lakers win an improbable one, and it is extremely helpful. SEGMENT 2: What becomes of Russell Westbrook after this season? SEGMENT 3: Is it still worth going all in for this season? What happens if the Lakers don't? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! PrizePicks First time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDON LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A shorthanded Lakers team beat the Heat for one of their best wins of the season Wednesday night. Pete, Darius, and Mike discuss the game, focusing on Dennis Schröder's big night, Thomas Bryant's resilience and his big 4th quarter, and why the mentality and makeup of this group of players is proving so endearing to fans.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers face a tough back-to-back against Cleveland & Toronto, and will be doing so without Wenyen Gabriel, who will be out at least a week with a sprained shoulder. The guys discuss the team's frontcourt options, Dennis Schröder's effectiveness in a new role, and what they have their eye on in tonight's matchup vs the Cavs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After yet another dominant display to help the Lakers to a win, Anthony Davis has pieced together his best stretch of regular season games as a Laker. Jacob and Honi discuss Davis, Austin Reaves and the returns of Dennis Schröder and Thomas Bryant. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The journey of 1,000 miles, otherwise known as "Operation Get Back to .500" begins with one step. That's tonight, as the Lakers play a promising-but-not-yet-good Detroit Pistons team at the Crypt. They'll have reinforcements, with Dennis Schroder and Thomas Bryant likely joining the lineup, and more importantly, with LeBron James a real possibility to suit up. He was a full participant in Thursday's practice for the Lakers - albeit a non-contact practice for all involved - and Darvin Ham said James was running and jumping, looking "great." So if LeBron can play, the Lakers really have no excuse to drop a game to the lowly Pistons, right? And they really should beat a San Antonio squad rapidly coming back to earth after a quick start, right? They can't get back to .500 in a day or a week or even a month, likely. This is a project. And while technically, it doesn't matter which teams they beat en route to a return to contention, it sure is easier if you beat the bad teams. Plus, vibes. They are very bad after losing to Detroit. Meanwhile, he's not winning the race right now, but where does Russell Westbrook rank in the Sixth Man of the Year competition? What would it take for him to have a real shot at taking home the hardware? Certainly the storyline is compelling, but what else has to happen? Finally, our friend Darius Soriano wrote a great story for SilverScreenandRoll about the Lakers draft capital, how people tend to describe it inaccurately, and why that matters. It led to a fun Twitter conversation, which leads to a fun podcast conversation. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: LeBron is back, maybe! Either way, the Lakers need to win tonight. SEGMENT 2: Could Westbrook become a legit Sixth Man candidate? SEGMENT 3: What the Lakers really have going forward in the Draft. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBA PrizePicks First time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDON SweatBlock If you or someone you love is experiencing embarrassing sweat or odor try SweatBlock. Save20% with promo code Locked On at sweatblock.com. Also available on Amazon. RocketMoney Cancel unnecessary subscriptions with Rocket Money today. Go to RocketMoney.com/LockedOn BetterHelp This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. As the world's largest therapy service, BetterHelp has matched 3 million people with professionally licensed and vetted therapists available 100% online. Learn more and save 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA MasterClass With MasterClass, you can learn from the world's best minds - anytime, anywhere, and at your own pace. his holiday, give one annual membership and get one free! Go to MASTERCLASS.com/LOCKEDON today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers were able to get Anthony Davis going, but the Jazz's shot making combined with more 3rd quarter struggles to sink the Lakers and drop them to 2-8 on the season. Pete and Darius discuss the game vs. the Jazz, focusing on how a game like that one might affect morale and the longer term implications of a team with bigger goals, but that hasn't yet been able to find its footing. Then later, the guys discuss how small tweaks in lineups and the potential returns of Thomas Bryant and Dennis Schröder can positively impact the team.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wednesday's thrilling overtime win over New Orleans felt like a change of pace for the Lakers not just because they won - but because it spared everyone some genuine heartbreak and the Lakers were actually the beneficiary of some good fortune (namely two critical missed free throws). Plus, it gave everyone indelible moment, from Matt Ryan drilling a game-tying 3-pointer to Austin Reaves making the clutch pass to get it to him to Darvin Ham drawing up the play to begin with. It's the sort of thing that can help change the atmosphere around a team that has been struggling to find sustained reasons for optimism. Wednesday, the Lakers managed to win without a great game from LeBron James. They overcame some late adversity. They got contributions from Lonnie Walker IV (28 points) and Troy Brown (15 points, 10 rebounds), along with Ryan (11 points). Russell Westbrook continues to be impactful off the bench, contributing a first half that was probably his best run as a Laker. Was it quite as good in the second? No, but that's ok! Ham clearly doesn't feel obligated to play him late come hell or high water. It's all part of a rapidly evolving rotation, one that doesn't seem to include Kendrick Nunn, that is shrinking floor time for Patrick Beverley, and will soon welcome Dennis Schröder back into the mix. If the Lakers can keep themselves in striking distance of the playoff ladder, how Ham continues to shape a lineup is going to be fascinating to watch. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Matt Ryan!!! SEGMENT 2: Russell Westbrook had another good game, and we learned a ton about how Ham sees his role going forward. SEGMENT 3: Ham's rotation is evolving, and fast. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBA PrizePicks First time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDON Subscribe to the Locked On Lakers Podcast

The Lakers start the 2022-23 season tonight in San Francisco against the Warriors. Last season was an unmitigated disaster. What will this season bring? Yes, it's time for some big, bold predictions about the Lakers, the Western Conference, and more! How many games will LeBron James play? How about Anthony Davis? Will Russell Westbrook finish in the running for... Sixth Man of the Year? Will he be traded before the end of the year? Will Kendrick Nunn get the bag? And most importantly, will the Lakers miss the playoffs entirely? Make the play in? The regular playoffs? Will they even win a round? It's all on the table on the predictions podcast! Plus... Dennis Schröder underwent surgery on his thumb Monday, and will be out of action for around a month. It's hard to know exactly what this does to the team's rotation - not much was solidified during the preseason, and he only played nine minutes of it, anyway - but Schröder's absence does potentially free up minutes for a crowded backcourt, and might even give Darvin Ham an easier opening to just start Westbrook on the bench on opening night. And if that's the direction Ham wants to go anyway, better to put him there now, before it looks like a demotion. (Or more of a demotion, at least.) The journey to 82-0 begins today! HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: The injury bug bites early. What does Schröder's injury mean for the rotation? SEGMENT 2: PREDICTIONS, of the BOLDEST KIND! How many games for AD and LeBron? Is Westbrook a 6MOY candidate? SEGMENT 3: Where do the Lakers finish? How many wins? Which part of the playoff ladder... assuming they find a rung of any kind? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBA PrizePicks First time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDON RocketMoney Cancel unnecessary subscriptions with Rocket Money today. Go to RocketMoney.com/LockedOn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On Monday, Dennis Schröder met with the media for the first time since signing with the team in free agency. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss Dennis' comments, specifically looking at how his relationship with Darvin Ham can impact general vibe of Dennis' return. Then later, the guys dive into whether they have concerns about Ham being able to maintain buy-in from a deep guard rotation, and further discuss how they see Dennis' offensive game fitting in this return stint vs. his first go-round with the Lakers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers are giving real consideration to playing Anthony Davis at center this season, something that was a question last year, and even during the title year as well. Beyond any positive and negative impacts on Davis's play (there certainly weren't any on display Sunday night, when Davis started at the five and throttled Golden State), there are tremendous logistical advantages for the Lakers, given the construction of the roster. Still, reaction to Tuesday's show, which went deep on this question, was strong, and resistance was centered around one major issue: health. A host of commenters on the Locked On Lakers YouTube page expressed the believe that Davis is simply too fragile to play center, and that he's better protected at power forward. The physical rigors are too much against bigger bodies serving as one of the points of the theory. But does it actually make a difference? Could the position he plays really impact how healthy Davis stays throughout the year? There are reasons to question that theory. Meanwhile, it was two years ago Tuesday the Lakers won their title in Orlando. Crazy on multiple levels, not the least of which being we're starting our third season of basketball since that moment. But also because the success of that season seems not two, but two hundred years in the rear view mirror. Because the fortunes of the team have changed so drastically, because the future outlook has grown so much cloudier, because the roster has turned over three times since then, to the point that LeBron James and Anthony Davis are all that's left. Heck, two guys (Rajon Rondo and Dwight Howard) have come back and left again since then. Finally, is there any chance of hard feelings lingering from Dennis Schröder in his return to the Lakers, given the bag he dropped in his departure? And what do the Lakers risk by putting off a trade of Westbrook or anyone else? How much time is needed in the season for the impact of an acquisition to actually make a difference? Should that be a consideration? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Two years ago, the Lakers won a title. Not seasons, on the calendar. Feels a lot longer than that. SEGMENT 2: Is Anthony Davis too fragile to play center? SEGMENT 3: How much time do the Lakers need to make an in-season trade matter? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBA PrizePicks First time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDON Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is not a new topic of conversation, but it's back in the news cycle. Asked about the possibility of Anthony Davis starting at center (as he did Sunday, when he scored 28 points in 21 minutes) as opposed to power forward this season, Lakers head coach Darvin Ham said it's under "heavy consideration" for reasons that are pretty obvious: Davis has thrived at the five as a Laker. The Lakers have thrived with Davis at the five. The team's best players are all in the backcourt. The best opportunity to give them the most playing time demands Davis play center and open up more minutes at small forward that would otherwise be used by LeBron (James). The team's centers have been ok-to-meh to this point in the preseason. They will almost surely finish most games with Davis at center, so why not start him there? So how likely is it that Ham will go ahead and pull the trigger? If he does, what does it mean for the starting lineup? Who fills the void at the three, especially while Troy Brown is injured? Juan Toscano-Anderson? Austin Reaves? Lonnie Walker IV? Ham has options. One more now, too, since the backcourt officially includes Dennis Schröder, who should be available to play Wednesday against Minnesota in what might be the first true tune up game with a (mostly) full rotation of guys for Ham to use. How will he sort all of it out? Where does Dennis fit in? Finally, Monday's show explored some of the issues connected to Rob Pelinka's recently announced contract extension... but not all of them. We dive a little deeper, looking at questions of what Jeanie Buss prioritizes, and whether Pelinka is up for the big challenge facing the team in the next few seasons. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Darvin Ham says Davis could start at the five. Good idea? SEGMENT 2: What does it do for the rotation if Ham makes the move? SEGMENT 3: More on Rob Pelinka's extension with the Lakers and why it could be simultaneously correct and deeply worrisome. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBA PrizePicks First time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDON Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who has been the Lakers best center through three preseason games? Does Wenyen Gabriel's play impact how the big man rotation plays out? After Lonnie Walker's debut, how does he project to fit into a rotation that already has a lot of guards? And will that be impacted even more with Dennis Schröder's pending return? Pete and Darius debate these topics and more as they explore the Lakers camp battles for roles and rotation minutes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As always, context matters in the preseason. The Lakers lost again Thursday, but played without LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, Kendrick Nunn, Patrick Beverley, Dennis Schröder and Troy Brown Jr.. Doesn't matter if you think this season won't be that good, if you remove those seven dudes from any game the results will be ugly. Particularly since the Wolves used their regular rotation. Still, there were highlights, including the season debut of Lonnie Walker IV and a bust out game for Thomas Bryant. Walker was given a lot of responsibility, running the offense in addition to trying to spark it, and broadly the results were positive. A couple highlight reel plays mixed in with some surprisingly good passing. He finished with three assists, but it rightly should have been much higher. This was not a Lakers squad that capitalized on every opportunity to give a teammate a dime. Moreover, Walker was praised by Darvin Ham for his effort and intensity on defense. His give-a-bleep factor (especially regarding attention-to-detail stuff like off ball positioning, etc.) on that side of the ball hasn't been high enough to this point in his career, by his own admission. If he's gonna play this year, he's gonna have to at least TRY to defend. That's the minimum. Bryant, meanwhile, hasn't had a ton of steady playing time, but nonetheless this was his best game of the three. 10 trips to the free throw line - making eight, which already makes Bryant an outlier relative to last year - plus seven rebounds in 26 minutes of play. More games like this can help make Ham's rotation choices difficult, and the more hard choices Ham has to make the better. (Affirmative choices, obviously. "I don't want to play any of these clowns" isn't what anyone wants.) HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: AD doesn't play, again. Any concern? Walker makes his debut. SEGMENT 2: The good and bad of Walker, focusing on the better-than-expected passing. SEGMENT 3: A good game for Bryant, helping bolster a center rotation that hasn't quite hit expectations to this point. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBA PrizePicks First time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDON Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Illuminati are eager to see how the Dennis Schröder signing impacts Russell Westbrook and his role in Los Angeles. Meanwhile in the desert, the palace intrigue of the Phoenix Suns continues to unravel as the Robert Sarver fallout deepens. Who is Jahm Najafi and why are Colin Kaepernick and Larry Fitzgerald involved? Not satisfied, we consult with Truth Teller Domonique Foxworth of ESPN, who lends his experience as a former NFLPA and NBPA exec negotiating with owners and league executives in the room where it happens. Subscribe to Basketball Illuminati! On Apple or Spotify Merch: Shirts - Hat 1 - Hat 2 Email us: basketballilluminati@gmail.com Twitter: @bballilluminati Instagram: @basketballilluminati Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Illuminati are eager to see how the Dennis Schröder signing impacts Russell Westbrook and his role in Los Angeles. Meanwhile in the desert, the palace intrigue of the Phoenix Suns continues to unravel as the Robert Sarver fallout deepens. Who is Jahm Najafi and why are Colin Kaepernick and Larry Fitzgerald involved? Not satisfied, we consult with Truth Teller Domonique Foxworth of ESPN, who lends his experience as a former NFLPA and NBPA exec negotiating with owners and league executives in the room where it happens. Subscribe to Basketball Illuminati! On Apple or Spotify Merch: Shirts - Hat 1 - Hat 2 Email us: basketballilluminati@gmail.com Twitter: @bballilluminati Instagram: @basketballilluminati Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Lakers don't have a lot of wings on their roster, but after signing Dennis Schröder they have several good guards who can all play fast and can defend the perimeter with quickness and range. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss the team's commitment to speed, how they can leverage it on both sides of the ball, and some of their concerns of how that speed can be countered with size by good teams. Then later, the guys discuss how much better defensive talent at the guard spots can translate to rebounding and how much that matters if they want to be a good transition team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers made weekend news signing free agent guard Dennis Schröder to a one-year deal, bringing him back for a second run in El Segundo. Through the weekend, more reporting emerged explaining why the Lakers thought it was a good idea reunite with the mercurial German. There was a good performance at Eurobasket, which is some pretty high end competition. And that he went to play there without the security of an NBA deal in hand. (A cynic would note that added need for him to go play, in order to get one.) There was lobbying from Schröder to return, and some strong statements about righting unfinished business on his Instagram page that demonstrates a desire to contribute to the purple and gold. And, of course, some practical understanding that more depth could come in handy, given lingering question marks around Kendrick Nunn's health and a fairly well-established injury history with Patrick Beverley (he's missed a ton of games over the last few seasons). Plus LeBron James, and natural worries about his body at age 39. But how exactly do the Lakers plan on getting all these guys on the floor? Well, they're gonna have to go small, first of all. And it might also mean using Beverley in creative ways, as a 3-and-D guy often assigned to be the team's primary wing defender. Now, a lot of work is being done defining "wing," here. Can't imagine the Lakers spend a lot of time letting Beverley spend games running with, say, Jayson Tatum. But what about bigger 2-guards? Do they plan on using Austin Reaves more as a 3? What about Lonnie Walker IV? Bottom line, while the Lakers can claim they'll play all six members of the backcourt, practically speaking it's nearly impossible, if any of Thomas Bryant, Damian Jones, Juan Toscano-Anderson, and Troy Brown ever get to take off their warmups. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Why did the Lakers bring Schröder back? SEGMENT 2: How much does Schröder's Eurobasket success really matter? Is Pat Bev as primary wing defender a sustainable strategy? SEGMENT 3: How exactly can the Lakers play all six of their guards? Step one, go real small. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! RocketMoney Cancel unnecessary subscriptions with Rocket Money today. Go to RocketMoney.com/LockedOn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers surprised everyone when they came to a free agent agreement with Dennis Schröder over the weekend. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss the signing from all angles, focusing on how Schröder can help the teams on both sides of the ball, how his presence impacts Russell Westbrook, and why this signing only further highlights the Lakers hole on the wing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It was long rumored as a possibility, and Friday it happened. The Lakers reportedly are bringing back former PG Dennis Schröder on a one year, veteran's minimum deal worth just north of $2.5 million. Like many things the Lakers have done this offseason, it's a move that raises just as many questions as it answers. On the one hand, Schröder is definitely better than your average player at that salary. On the other, he just adds another body to an already crowded backcourt, one that might struggle to play with some of those other bodies, and put still more bodies on the bench for lack of available minutes. Unless, of course... The Lakers think they're on the verge of trading Russell Westbrook. Or they think Kendrick Nunn might not be quite as healthy as they hope. Or they worry about Patrick Beverley's health. Or they think they'll just reduce Westbrook's role significantly, or entirely. Or that they plan to run a lot - A LOT - of small lineups, so that guys like Austin Reaves can get the appropriate amount of playing time. Big picture, the Lakers are looking at a very, very wonky and unbalanced roster right now, that in many ways mitigates the ability to use all of their best players effectively. Maybe the roster changes, but maybe not, as reporting indicates the Lakers really are looking at the potential solution to their Russ problem to be running out the clock and going into next offseason with cap space and two first rounders still in their possession. So. Many. Questions. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Schröder is back! In a vacuum, what does he add to the roster? SEGMENT 2: How the Lakers got here is another example of wildly bad asset management. SEGMENT 3: How do they actually get Schroder on the court, with all other guards? What's the ripple effect if they do? Is a trade going to happen? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

So, all that stuff? Just kidding. Nothing to see here, anymore. Yep, Tuesday saw Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets agree to move forward together in pursuit of an NBA championship. Nothing about this is particularly surprising - short of an overwhelming offer Brooklyn had zero incentive to move Durant and KD had almost no leverage to force the team's hand - but it is nonetheless revealing. The landscape in the NBA has changed and superstars flexing, or trying to flex, are finding that context can make a big difference in determining whether that flex works. For the Lakers, there are long term implications around stars and star culture, but the more immediate impact? No Kyrie Irving. If Durant ain't moving, neither is Kyrie. So where to the Lakers go now, knowing that their top trade target is off the market, and there aren't exactly a ton of teams clamoring to take Russell Westbrook off their hands? Does it put more pressure on them to engineer a deal with the Pacers, trying to preserve as good of terms as possible even if it means giving up both first rounders for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield? Does it help them enough? Is there really a better deal to be had down the road, with just two first round picks and little young talent to dangle? In many ways, the Lakers again are deep into Argo territory, trying to find the best bad option they have. And what about Dennis Schröder? Is there a chance LA's favorite German point guard could make a return this season? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Kevin Durant is staying in Brooklyn. Because of course he is. SEGMENT 2: Kyrie is off the market, so where do the Lakers go from here? SEGMENT 3: Is there more pressure to make a deal with Indiana? And is Dennis Schröder a good idea? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices