Podcast appearances and mentions of Trevor Ariza

Israel examines Kevin Durant's impact on the Warriors and their back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018 with Zaza Pachulia, JaVale McGee, and Bruce "Q" Fraser. Anthony Slater and Rachel Nichols discuss the complicated nature of KD's emotions and his relationship with the media. Pachulia directly addresses his role in Kawhi Leonard's 2017 WCF injury, and Trevor Ariza talks about why he thinks the Rockets should have won the 2018 Western Conference finals over Golden State. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Israel examines Kevin Durant's impact on the Warriors and their back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018 with Zaza Pachulia, JaVale McGee, and Bruce "Q" Fraser. Anthony Slater and Rachel Nichols discuss the complicated nature of KD's emotions and his relationship with the media. Pachulia directly addresses his role in Kawhi Leonard's 2017 WCF injury, and Trevor Ariza talks about why he thinks the Rockets should have won the 2018 Western Conference finals over Golden State. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Israel examines Kevin Durant's impact on the Warriors and their back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018 with Zaza Pachulia, JaVale McGee, and Bruce "Q" Fraser. Anthony Slater and Rachel Nichols discuss the complicated nature of KD's emotions and his relationship with the media. Pachulia directly addresses his role in Kawhi Leonard's 2017 WCF injury, and Trevor Ariza talks about why he thinks the Rockets should have won the 2018 Western Conference finals over Golden State. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Israel examines Kevin Durant's impact on the Warriors and their back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018 with Zaza Pachulia, JaVale McGee, and Bruce "Q" Fraser. Anthony Slater and Rachel Nichols discuss the complicated nature of KD's emotions and his relationship with the media. Pachulia directly addresses his role in Kawhi Leonard's 2017 WCF injury, and Trevor Ariza talks about why he thinks the Rockets should have won the 2018 Western Conference finals over Golden State. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NBA Champion and one of the greatest defensive players in the history of the sport, Metta World Peace pulled up to the 2510 show! If you know anything about Metta, then you know he always keeps it real. He breaks down the full story behind the “Malice at the Palace,” trash-talk with Kobe, Yao vs Shaq, competing with Trevor Ariza, and New York Basketball! You're in for a treat with this one. Fans, pull out a glass of the best tequila in the world, the one and only Gran Coramino and enjoy the show! #MettaWorldPeace #DeSeanJackson #LeSeanMcCoy Don't miss out on all the action this week at DraftKings! Download the DraftKings app today! Sign-up using https://dkng.co/2510 or through my promo code 2510 GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY). Void in ONT/OR/NH. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS). 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. Min. $5 bet. Max. $150 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets if your bet wins. Bonus Bets expire in 7 days (168 hours). Stake removed from payout. Terms: dkng.co/dk-offer-terms. Ends 1/5/25 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK. SUBSCRIBE ➡️ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9RYDqrHvVcQ-VfaiiU7nIw FOLLOW THE 25/10 SHOW ON SOCIAL: (Giveaways every week

2510 family, we have a treat for you! NBA champion Trevor Ariza joined us to highlight his long career in the league! He gave us some exclusive stories of playing alongside Kobe, shared with us the differences between MJ & LeBron, talked about the shift of competition in today's game, and more! Tune in!!! #TrevorAriza #DeSeanJackson #ShadyMcCoy Don't miss out on all the action this week at DraftKings! Download the DraftKings app today! Sign-up using https://dkng.co/2510 or through my promo code 2510 GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY). Void in ONT/OR/NH. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS). 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. Min. $5 bet. Max. $200 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets that expire in 7 days (168 hours). Stake removed from payout. Terms: dkng.co/dk-offer-terms. Ends 11/17/24 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.

After spending 18 years in the NBA, Trevor Ariza knows a thing or two about what it takes to be a pro. The LA native kicked it on set with Iman and Ahrrii Shumpert and chopped it up about what Kobe texted him two days after the ‘08 Finals, his NBA career, fatherhood, and what it's like raising a son who's a top basketball prospect. --- Stay connected with #UNINTERRUPTED: Instagram

Trevor Ariza is one of 149 players in NBA history to play over 1,000 career games. His 18-year journey included a rocky start with Stephon Marbury and the New York Knicks, a 2009 Championship with Kobe Bryant and the Lakers and a front row seat to the James Harden show in Houston with the Rockets.In today's episode, TA shares untold stories about Kobe Bryant, how he almost went Latrell Sprewell on Larry Brown, the D'antoni-fication of the Houston Rockets and much more.Follow Forgotten Seasons (@forgottenseasonsnba) for more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trevor Ariza is one of 149 players in NBA history to play over 1,000 career games. His 18-year journey included a rocky start with Stephon Marbury and the New York Knicks, a 2009 Championship with Kobe Bryant and the Lakers and a front row seat to the James Harden show in Houston with the Rockets. In today's episode, TA shares untold stories about Kobe Bryant, how he almost went Latrell Sprewell on Larry Brown, the D'antoni-fication of the Houston Rockets and much more. Follow Forgotten Seasons (@forgottenseasonsnba) for more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John gives his opinions on John Calipari leaving Kentucky to become the head coach at Arkansas and what it means for the future of both programs. He also discusses the Men's and Women's NCAA title games, and if Dawn Staley could be a good candidate for the Kentucky job. Trevor Ariza joins the show and they talk about Trevors legendary high school days in LA, winning an NBA title with the Lakers and what Trevor learned from Kobe that he brought to John on the Wizards.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers versus LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers -- who would have seen this coming? Tune in as the Toronto duo summarize their overall thoughts on the in-season tournament and the introduction of a new segment called "What They Said."(1:00) Boni and Felix talk about their experience with Rise Tribe(4:01) Toronto Raptors mock trades and where would DeMar DeRozan fit best? The Miami Heat or the New York Knicks?(11:19) In-season tournament final thoughts/pros and cons - is this another win for NBA commissioner Adam Silver?(20:14) What They Said: On the Point Forward Podcast hosted by Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner, Iguodala says that Paul George is the second most talented player in the league behind Kevin Durant. Do you agree? Who else would you add to the list?(24:56) On Club Shay Shay host Shannon Sharpe asks former NBA journeyman Trevor Ariza why he thinks Dwight Howard gets the "disrespected" treatment. Ariza goes on to say that Howard was too goofy and that the only person on the court who could be that type of guy AND be a killer on the court was Magic Johnson. Do you agree with Ariza? Who else off the top of your head gets disrespected in general?(28:27) Would You RatherPURCHASE YOUR TICKETS TO THE FAMJAM ON DECEMBER 16TH! See y'all there! Follow @rise_tribe and these Filipinx small businesses:@thepurplecoconut, @alpha_beautyyy, @beadedbyhaven, @slowjams.to, @mamas.mamon, @maybeperhapsoneday, @apothegeri, @raqi.bakesJoin the #fcpfam and follow @fcpthepodIf you're a fan of the game and want to join the convo, DM us on Instagram @fcpthepodIf you're a small business owner, entrepreneur, and/or a creative and would like your work to be advertised on our episodes, DM us on Instagram @fcpthepod ~ LET'S WIN TOGETHER! Check out us here - - https://linktr.ee/fullcpress.toShop: https://hoopnbrand.com/ use code FULLCOURT and get 15% off your orderThinking of starting a podcast of your own? CLICK HERE!Thanks for listening! Subscribe and download episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your shows!

Another NBA champ joins the guys as Trevor Ariza sits down for an exclusive interview with Matt and Stak on the latest ALL THE SMOKE. Ariza looks back on his 18-year career, including winning a championship with Kobe and the Lakers in 2009, playing with James Harden in Houston, losing to Boston in the 08' NBA finals and much more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stephen A., Shannon Sharpe, Pat McAfee, Jeff Saturday and Tim Legler respond to Trevor Ariza calling Kobe Bryant the G.O.A.T, if the committee got the CFP teams right and Stephen's A-List of Top 5 NFL teams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Use code DREAMERSPRO for $20 off your first SeatGeek order. https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/DREAMERSPRO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This special episode recaps some of the best moments from Club Shay Shay during the month of October. 0:00 - DaBaby explains why he played rugby over football and basketball, talks the different advice of 50 Cent and Kanye West and dealing with his brother committing suicide & father's death 14:02 - Trevor Ariza spills the tea as James Harden's former teammate On how Harden was in the locker room, talks James Harden being seen in strip clubs & popping bottles in Las Vegas and the Clippers' early struggles with Russell Westbrook, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Harden 29:20 -  Ric Flair Ric Flair does NOT include The Rock on his wrestling Mt. Rushmore but says who is, shares insane Andre the Giant stories and tearfully shares the heartbreaking story of discovering his son after tragically dying from an overdose 45:45 - DJ Khaled talks Rick Ross And Lil Wayne didn't hear Jay-Z's "God Did" verse until the song was released, thanking Jay-Z for performing at the Grammys with Khaled and his secrecy after making music 1:03:44 - Cordae shares his message to Megan Thee Stallion after Tory Lanez incident, talks advice he received from J. Cole and explains living with his manager to save money #VolumeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This special episode recaps some of the best moments from Club Shay Shay during the month of October. 0:00 - DaBaby explains why he played rugby over football and basketball, talks the different advice of 50 Cent and Kanye West and dealing with his brother committing suicide & father's death 14:02 - Trevor Ariza spills the tea as James Harden's former teammate On how Harden was in the locker room, talks James Harden being seen in strip clubs & popping bottles in Las Vegas and the Clippers' early struggles with Russell Westbrook, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Harden 29:20 -  Ric Flair Ric Flair does NOT include The Rock on his wrestling Mt. Rushmore but says who is, shares insane Andre the Giant stories and tearfully shares the heartbreaking story of discovering his son after tragically dying from an overdose 45:45 - DJ Khaled talks Rick Ross And Lil Wayne didn't hear Jay-Z's "God Did" verse until the song was released, thanking Jay-Z for performing at the Grammys with Khaled and his secrecy after making music 1:03:44 - Cordae shares his message to Megan Thee Stallion after Tory Lanez incident, talks advice he received from J. Cole and explains living with his manager to save money #VolumeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shannon Sharpe shoots the breeze with NBA champ Trevor Ariza at Club Shay Shay. Trevor Ariza talks about playing alongside legends Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Harden, and Chris Paul. He discusses the Clippers' star-studded experiment headlined by Russell Westbrook, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. Brace yourself – he's doing a reverse layup by picking Kobe over LeBron. #Volume #HerdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever wondered what's going on with Anthony Davis? Trevor's knowledge as a former teammate allows him to rationalize what's going on with "The Brow". Trevor tells the story LeBron dropping 50 on him back in high school after Trevor's uncle declared him a better player. Ariza also has some bold predictions, betting against a Golden State ring for Chris Paul and declaring Damian Lillard the three-point king over Steph Curry. Just for kicks, Trevor crafts a dream team of former teammates and faces the heat on Dwight Howard criticism. It's a slam dunk of laughs, insights, and some real locker room talk. Grab a front-row seat on Club Shay Shay – where the game is on, and the banter is always in overtime! #Volume #HerdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shannon Sharpe shoots the breeze with NBA champ Trevor Ariza at Club Shay Shay. Trevor Ariza talks about playing alongside legends Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Harden, and Chris Paul. He discusses the Clippers' star-studded experiment headlined by Russell Westbrook, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. Brace yourself – he's doing a reverse layup by picking Kobe over LeBron. #Volume #HerdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever wondered what's going on with Anthony Davis? Trevor's knowledge as a former teammate allows him to rationalize what's going on with "The Brow". Trevor tells the story LeBron dropping 50 on him back in high school after Trevor's uncle declared him a better player. Ariza also has some bold predictions, betting against a Golden State ring for Chris Paul and declaring Damian Lillard the three-point king over Steph Curry. Just for kicks, Trevor crafts a dream team of former teammates and faces the heat on Dwight Howard criticism. It's a slam dunk of laughs, insights, and some real locker room talk. Grab a front-row seat on Club Shay Shay – where the game is on, and the banter is always in overtime! #Volume #HerdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever wondered what's going on with Anthony Davis? Trevor's knowledge as a former teammate allows him to rationalize what's going on with "The Brow". Trevor tells the story LeBron dropping 50 on him back in high school after Trevor's uncle declared him a better player. Ariza also has some bold predictions, betting against a Golden State ring for Chris Paul and declaring Damian Lillard the three-point king over Steph Curry. Just for kicks, Trevor crafts a dream team of former teammates and faces the heat on Dwight Howard criticism. It's a slam dunk of laughs, insights, and some real locker room talk. Grab a front-row seat on Club Shay Shay – where the game is on, and the banter is always in overtime! #Volume #HerdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shannon Sharpe shoots the breeze with NBA champ Trevor Ariza at Club Shay Shay. Trevor Ariza talks about playing alongside legends Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Harden, and Chris Paul. He discusses the Clippers' star-studded experiment headlined by Russell Westbrook, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. Brace yourself – he's doing a reverse layup by picking Kobe over LeBron. #Volume #HerdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2009 NBA Champion Trevor Ariza sits down with Roger and talks life after basketball, mental health, why parking garages are so lucrative and much more!

Former NBA star Trevor Ariza and his ex-wife Bree Anderson have hashed out a settlement in their nasty divorce – weeks after he revealed his funds are running low since he retired from the NBA.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Former NBA star Trevor Ariza has demanded his estranged wife Bree Anderson be forced to cover any additional legal fees she racks up in their bitter divorce — arguing he has already coughed up a six-figure sum to help her, RadarOnline.com has learned.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ryan Blackburn discusses the latest situation between James Harden, Daryl Morey, and the Philadelphia 76ers featuring yet another trade demand. Then, he focuses on Christian Braun, the energetic Denver Nuggets wing entering his second year in the 2023-24 NBA season. What will Christian Braun be for the Nuggets in the coming years? Can he replace sixth man Bruce Brown in the championship rotation immediately? Can Braun even become a starter in the coming years for the Nuggets? Ryan discusses Braun, various player comparisons like Trevor Ariza and Matisse Thybulle, and what Braun must do to succeed with the Nuggets.

Yesterday I was in Lowe's looking for an anti-siphon valve, and a guy walked up behind me also looking for something. It sounded like he was looking for the same thing as me, so I showed it to him and he was like “no that's not it, it's like this.” And that's fine I was just sitting there anyway. So then the Lowe's employee walks over and he's looking around, and mumbling, and going “Oh that's not good”, and the original guy starts saying how he's just gonna have to order it online, and it used to be $5 and all this shit. So I get my thing and stand up, and the guy's wife says “I think he has the thing right there. And it's only $4.” So I hand it to him and he just takes it and leaves. What a loser! Anyway none of that is in the show today, which is mostly about Pasta Tools, Trevor Ariza's Money, rap battles, bougie popcorn, and AI pens. Nothing about my triumphant Lowe's story, though, unfortunately. Still worth a listen.Music for YKS is courtesy of Howell Dawdy, Craig Dickman, Mr. Baloney, and Mark Brendle. Additional research by Zeke Golvin. YKS is edited by Producer Dan. For ad-free episodes, access to the YKS Pisscord, and a whole bunch of other crapola, you're gonna wanna head on over to YKS Premium and give us a classic amount of money! By the way, the Pisscord is a Discord server. And I don't really know why we call it that. Pretty stupid actually, but guess what. Smart people are in there. Let's go bother them!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dwayne McClain played 105 career NBL games, averaged 25.4 points per game, finished third in MVP voting in 1993 and was a part of the All-NBL Teams in 1991-1993. He was the first NBL player to be sponsored by an international brand (Coca-Cola) and, along with Andrew Gaze, was the first NBL player to have his own signature shoe (with Reebok). The 'D-Train' joins host Dan Boyce on the show to discuss his time with the Sydney Kings, Gold Coast Rollers and Brisbane Bullets and his experiences playing in college and the NBA. Although fondly remembered in Australia for being a part of the exciting Kings squads of the 1990s, he also won an NCAA championship with Villanova where he was the game-high scorer against a supremely talented Georgetown team that featured Patrick Ewing. To win the championship McClain and Villanova University had to play 'The Perfect Game' and he takes through that period of his life and how it shaped the rest of his career. Tune in to hear all of this and a lot more. Topics include... Dwayne McClain returns to Australia (2:00) Winning the 1985 NCAA championship and being a part of ‘the perfect game' (6:00) A stint with the Indiana Pacers (12:30) Playing with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's All-Star team and discovering basketball in Australia (16:00) His first season in Sydney (18:00) His second season with the Kings and the 92 semi-final series against the Melbourne Tigers (19:30) 1993, his third year with the Kings and what led to the disappointing season (22:30) Trevor Ariza and his Sydney Kings connection (23:30) How McClain and the Sydney Kings parted ways (24:00) A short stint with the Gold Coast Rollers and then the Brisbane Bullets (26:00) How D-Train ended his time in the NBL (30:00) Basketball blood runs deep in the McClain family with NBA legend Chuck Person and Women's Basketball Hall of Famer Katrina McClain being his cousins (31:00) The nightlife in Sydney during the 1990s (34:00) The biggest learning moments and the highlights from Dwayne's basketball journey (35:30)Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms. Listen to our previous interviews with the biggest stars in Australian Basketball. Head to Aussie Hoopla to check out previous podcasts featuring; Australian Basketball Legends - Luc Longley, Andrew Gaze, Shane Heal, Mark Bradtke, Leroy Loggins, David Andersen, Andrew Vlahov, Phil Smyth, CJ Bruton, Chris Anstey, Brett Maher, John Rillie, Tony Ronaldson, Damian Martin, Brad Newley Current NBL Stars - Bryce Cotton, Chris Goulding, Tyler Harvey, Dejan Vasiljevic, Thomas Abercrombie, Daniel Johnson, Jason Cadee, Mitch McCarron, Anthony Drmic, Luke Travers Our Finest Coaching Minds - Brian Goorjian, Barry Barnes, Joey Wright, Adrian Hurley, Aaron Fearne, Rob Beveridge, Ian Stacker, Shawn Dennis, Dean Vickerman, Trevor Gleeson, Lindsey Gaze, Ken Cole, Will Weaver, Bruce Palmer NBA Stars Past & Present - Andrew Bogut, Matthew Dellavedova, Stephen Jackson, Randy Livingston, Torrey Craig, Jack White, Acie Earl, Josh Childress, Reggie Smith, Todd Lichti, Ryan Broekhoff, Doug Overton The NBL's Greatest Imports - Darryl McDonald, Ricky Grace, Derek Rucker, Leon Trimmingham, Scott Fisher, Lanard Copeland, Dwayne McClain, Darnell Mee, Shawn Redhage, Al Green, Steve Woodberry, Doug Overton, Kevin Lisch And the men who run things - Larry Kestelman, Mal Speed, Paul Maley, Vince Crivelli, Jeremy Loeliger, Chris Pongrass, Jeff Van Groningen, Bob Turner, Danny Mills All that and much more. Follow @AussieHoopla on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or email us at info@aussiehoopla.com

It's been a struggle all season for the Lakers to find supporting players to put around their Big 3 (it's been a struggle to keep the Big 3 on the floor, too, but that's a different story). Kent Bazemore, Wayne Ellington, and Trevor Ariza have all been ineffective. DeAndre Jordan, too. Kendrick Nunn is yet to play. A bright spot, though, has been the pickup of Stanley Johnson, who has brought badly needed athleticism on the defensive end, and quickly become a favorite of Frank Vogel.Wednesday, the Lakers reached an agreement with Johnson that will keep him around for the rest of the season, and give the Lakers first dibs on his services next year as well. It's a good deal for all involved, and it's not impossible that, stripped of the expectations that come with being a high lottery pick, Johnson, still only 25, could find a niche and develop with the Lakers. Not into a star - that ship has sailed - but as a valuable role player.It's a cool payoff for a player who worked very hard to make his way back to the NBA.From there... the great NBA writer Marc Stein has news about Russell Westbrook, and those rumors about a potential deal to the Houston Rockets for John Wall. It seems the Lakers, rightly, are unwilling to include a first round pick to rid themselves of Westbrook. But it's an applaudingly cheeky move from the Rockets to put that possibility out there, just in case things melt down and the Lakers get desperate.Meanwhile, Ramona Shelburne of ESPN wrote a great feature this week talking about Westbrook post-benching, and how he and the Lakers are trying to get the on-court results from this roster to match expectations. A couple important takeaways: There's no Plan B. The Lakers know they're pot-committed to this experiment. Westbrook's comfort zone extends well beyond what he's doing on the floor. HOSTS: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT 1: Stanley Johnson gets a contract. Cool for him, smart for the Lakers.SEGMENT 2: On Westbrook for Wall. The Lakers, it seems have their limits when it comes to undoing the Westbrook deal.SEGMENT 3: What goes into Westbrook's overall comfort? How have off court adjustments impacted him?Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15” and you'll get 15% off your next order.BetOnline AGThere is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus.PrizePicksDon't hesitate, check out PrizePicks.com and use promo code: “NBA” or go to your app store and download the app today. PrizePicks is daily fantasy made easy!TrueBillDon't fall for subscription scams. Start cancelling today at Truebill.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At long last, Anthony Davis is back in uniform! And not surprisingly, unless you've truly given up on any hope for this season and officially entered the gloom sphere, the Lakers looked notably better during a 106-96 win in Brooklyn over the Nets.It wasn't so much that Davis dominated while on the court. He only scored eight points, spent much of the game in foul trouble and often looked like a player still getting his timing back. But given his talent and importance to this team on both sides of the ball, his mere presence made a tangible difference, whether schematically or just psychologically. The Lakers are now, save Kendrick Nunn, whole again, with a rotation that's largely set, and Davis' availability allows them to play their best guys. (Trevor Ariza and Dwight Howard both went from starters to DNP-CD, and Stanley Johnson joined the first five.) Guys felt more comfortable taking chances defensively, knowing AD constituted the backline. Down the line, things fell into place.To be clear, Davis isn't a panacea by himself, and there's still a LOT of work to be done moving forward. But if the Lakers at least want an opportunity to reach their highest ceiling, however high you think that is, the opportunity ain't happening without AD.Plus, a member of Lakers Twitter may be getting a Frank Vogel back tat!Hosts: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT ONE: Anthony Davis returns! How did he look?SEGMENT TWO: How best to go about getting a Frank Vogel back tat?SEGMENT THREE: How AD's return affected the team's defense and psyche.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15” and you'll get 15% off your next order.BetOnline AGThere is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus.PrizePicksDon't hesitate, check out PrizePicks.com and use promo code: “NBA” or go to your app store and download the app today. PrizePicks is daily fantasy made easy!TrueBillDon't fall for subscription scams. Start cancelling today at Truebill.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the taste of Wednesday's hideous loss to the Kings still too fresh in the collective mouth of Lakers Nation, it's no surprise that Thursday's news was centered a lot around potential trades. Reports that the Lakers are interested in Toronto Raptors swingman Gary Trent Jr., who at only 23 has come into his own as a shooter and would certainly give the Lakers another threat on the perimeter. Could he be had for the standard Lakers package of Talen Horton-Tucker, Kendrick Nunn and draft considerations? Would that be a deal worth making for LA?Is the team any closer to a viable path to Detroit's Jerami Grant, now that the Knicks (an awkward but frequently mentioned potential suitor for the Pistons forward) acquired former Hawk Cam Reddish Thursday afternoon? How about a hypothetical uber-blockbuster that would send Westbrook to Philly for Simmons AND Tobias Harris, who is apparently available if it helps the Sixers move their disgruntled star.The RealGM trade constructor says a deal can be done. But would Philly, or any team, agree to take on Westbrook given his current performance and huge player option for next year?Those topics, plus a look at the team's supporting cast. Trevor Ariza is back in the lineup, but of late at least looks every bit of 36 years old. Stanley Johnson, meanwhile, continues playing hard but with more exposure it's easy to see his limitations, and why he was available for the Lakers to begin with.One question the Lakers have to consider: Is this team worth trying to rescue? Or would it be better to wait until the offseason, when it's easier to construct deals and the market is more stable?HOSTS: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT 1: Ariza and Johnson - How is this going to play out? Can either be significant contributors over the second half? What would that look like?SEGMENT 2: Looking at rumors around Gary Trent Jr.. If the Lakers could swing it, should they? Would Toronto agree to that?SEGMENT 3: How about a hypothetical built around Ben Simmons? Yes? No? Either way, it demonstrates how hard it will be to unwind the Russ deal.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15” and you'll get 15% off your next order.BetOnline AGThere is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus.PrizePicksDon't hesitate, check out PrizePicks.com and use promo code: “NBA” or go to your app store and download the app today. PrizePicks is daily fantasy made easy!TrueBillDon't fall for subscription scams. Start cancelling today at Truebill.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Not that you need to be told, but 2021 was not exactly a good 12 months for the Lakers. One season with high hopes flamed out in a wave of injuries, and another is on track to disappoint as well, thanks to another combination of bad health and bad roster choices. But that future isn't yet written! It's time to look back at the year that was, and find reasons for Lakers fans to be optimistic about what still could be for the 2021-22 squad.Any sense of hope, though, is contingent at least in part on winning all the winnable games the Lakers have in front of them, even with Anthony Davis still sidelined. That starts with the next four games on the schedule -- Friday vs. Portland, Sunday vs. Minnesota, then games against the Kings and Hawks. All at home. All teams below .500, two of them (the Wolves and Sacto) tightly packed behind the Lakers in the West. That these games are more important than Wednesday's loss in Memphis, or upcoming games against, say, Utah, explain where the team is right now.The Lakers will get some reinforcements, though, which should help them capitalize on what's coming. Austin Reaves, Trevor Ariza and Kent Bazemore will all be available this weekend, opening up more options for Frank Vogel/David Fizdale as the team leans into small lineups.It's time to shove the old year out the door, and welcome in a new one!HOSTS: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT 1: The Lakers have four very winnable games coming up, all at home. They need to take advantage.SEGMENT 2: The Lakers are getting (badly needed) players back. Is that going to squeeze Talen Horton-Tucker from the rotation? Why the Lakers could find themselves in a bit of a Catch-22.SEGMENT 3: Looking back at 2021, finding reasons for optimism in 2022.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15” and you'll get 15% off your next order.BetOnline AGThere is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus.PrizePicksDon't hesitate, check out PrizePicks.com and use promo code: “NBA” or go to your app store and download the app today. PrizePicks is daily fantasy made easy!TrueBillDon't fall for subscription scams. Start cancelling today at Truebill.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After the Lakers' tough loss to Phoenix on Tuesday, one of many moments of a continually tough season, interim head coach David Fizdale explained how LeBron James and Frank Vogel are working in concert to help the team stay patient, but also focused and accountable. Beyond this being good to hear from a process standpoint, it was also nice to hear just as verification of the two on the same page, given the rumors flying around that Vogel is coaching for his job. Frankly, you know things are getting weird when Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium was asked on Pat McAfee's show about internet chatter that LeBron may ask for a trade. A very far-fetched prospect indeed, but dumb rumors like this are only happening because the team is stuck at .500, Anthony Davis is hurt, LeBron ain't getting any younger, etc. As such, it's important for LeBron and Vogel to be unified.Meanwhile, should Trevor Ariza, who played well against the Suns, get moved into the starting lineup, presumably for Talen Horton-Tucker? How can his minutes, and the minutes of his fellow oldies, be kept down, whether starting or coming off the bench?And finally, Thursday's game against the Spurs marks the final game inside Staples Center, heretofore (or until the next naming rights deal) known as Crypto.Com Arena. A lot of fans don't like this change. Are they making something out of nothing? Or is the name of the building meaningfully connected to what's happened there?Hosts: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySegment 1: The Kamenetzkys discuss chatter that LeBron would want to be traded, plus his relationship with Frank VogelSegment 2: Should the Lakers consider starting Trevor Ariza, or just taking Talen Horton-Tucker out of that lineup?Segment 3: A lot of fans are unhappy about Staples Center getting a new name. Brian doesn't get it. Andy does.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15” and you'll get 15% off your next order.BetOnline AGThere is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus.PrizePicksDon't hesitate, check out PrizePicks.com and use promo code: “NBA” or go to your app store and download the app today. PrizePicks is daily fantasy made easy!TrueBillDon't fall for subscription scams. Start cancelling today at Truebill.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers were shorthanded entering Tuesday's game against the Phoenix Suns, arguably the best team in the NBA. L.A. has had zero continuity all season long, the Suns as much as any team in the league. The Lakers have a roster that is, to be sure, kinda weird. Phoenix has one of the most well-constructed groups you'll find.No surprise then that after a slow first half where they couldn't hit the broad side of a barn, the Suns used the final two quarters to pull away from the home team, beating the Lakers at Staples, 108-90. LeBron James played very well, Russell Westbrook did too (until some late turnovers, at least), illustrating how little margin for error the Lakers have right now. How they navigate games, particularly against good teams, is going to be tricky.On a positive note, the Lakers got a good performance from Trevor Ariza in his second game of the year, hitting all three of his triples and playing his typically steady, well-positioned defense. Talen Horton-Tucker, however, in his first game back from Covid protocols, was a disaster, as was Isaiah Thomas. Who can be a reliable "third guy" for the time being?Finally, Adam Silver has said the NBA won't be going on a Covid-related hiatus. Should it? Is it safe to keep playing? Or has the world changed enough with vaccines and treatments that the response has to change as well?HOSTS: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT 1: The Lakers lose on Tuesday, frankly as expected. What does it say about what's coming?SEGMENT 2: Ariza looked good, THT looked terrible, and the Lakers had better perform over their next few games, or they could have real problems in the Western Conference standings.SEGMENT 3: Should the NBA hit the brakes on the 2021-22 season, with Omicron ripping through the league and multiple teams dealing with outbreaks?Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15” and you'll get 15% off your next order.BetOnline AGThere is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus.PrizePicksDon't hesitate, check out PrizePicks.com and use promo code: “NBA” or go to your app store and download the app today. PrizePicks is daily fantasy made easy!TrueBillDon't fall for subscription scams. Start cancelling today at Truebill.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a season filled with a string of disappointments, from bad losses to injuries to, now, what appears to be a (hopefully contained) Covid outbreak, the Lakers have been short on genuinely good and joyous stories. The exception there has been undrafted rookie Austin Reaves, who started off as a ready-made substitute to make Alex Caruso-themed jokes, before building into a player the Lakers might be able to use more than expected, before becoming someone the Lakers needed in their rotation.Wednesday in Dallas, Reaves became a damned hero, nailing the game winner in overtime to give the Lakers a third straight win. He hit five of six from downtown, overall, and Frank Vogel said after he couldn't pull Reaves off the floor because his defense was too good. In the short term, the Lakers will give Reaves a lot of floor time because they don't have many players (Malik Monk, Talen Horton-Tucker and Dwight Howard are in the Covid protocols and Trevor Ariza is still not ready) but long term for a team desperate for predictable two-way players, Reaves is quickly becoming indispensable.Meanwhile, it wasn't a great night for the Big Three. None were bad, none were great, and yet the Lakers won. That hasn't been the norm through most of the season. It's because they got just enough when it was needed most, and the team was willing to commit for four quarters (plus five minutes) defensively. Yes, the Mavs struggled on their own, but LA put in the work.Are they turning a corner, not necessarily in their performance (they were held under 100 points in regulation, so the offense has some work left to do. But they won anyway. LeBron talked about it after - what does this say about the group's evolution?HOSTS: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT 1: Austin Reaves, the hero the Lakers want AND the hero the Lakers need. This is a really cool story.SEGMENT 2: The Big Three weren't great, but the Lakers won anyway. That's meaningful for this team, given their track record this season.SEGMENT 3: LeBron talked about the team's identity. How are they recalibrating their sense of collective self? How important is that for turning things around in a meaningful way?Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15” and you'll get 15% off your next order.BetOnline AGThere is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus.PrizePicksDon't hesitate, check out PrizePicks.com and use promo code: “NBA” or go to your app store and download the app today. PrizePicks is daily fantasy made easy!TrueBillDon't fall for subscription scams. Start cancelling today at Truebill.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

LeBron James won his eleventybillionth Conference Player of the Week award this week, to go along with other honoraries he's gained over the course of his career. Little things like Conference Player of the Month, MVP and Finals MVP. But while it's nice, and indicative of the way he's played of late, obviously LeBron doesn't care about that sort of thing. It is, however, one small sign that things are slowly turning around for L.A.. Or could be, at least.That's if LeBron can stay healthy, given his workload. And if Anthony Davis can recover quickly from his knee injury. And if Trevor Ariza returns quickly enough from his absence, and then contributes in the way the Lakers hope he can. So there are variables!Meanwhile, it's about time for some early season MVP predictions and straw polls, and what's notable for the Lakers isn't who is on the list, but that the people you'd expect to be on it aren't. Not that LeBron, Davis or Russell Westbrook are necessarily worthy of MVP votes, but it shows how nothing this season is going to plan. The MVP thing doesn't "matter" in any real way but it's a good proxy for how things are going. If by the end of the year Davis, James and even Westbrook gain some votes, it'll mean the Lakers have gone up in the standings and are seen again as high end contenders.If they don't... ooof.Meanwhile, LeBron revealed some of his sleeping habits on Sunday following the win over Orlando. And it has given the hosts all sorts of jealous feelings.Finally, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports that the Lakers are interested in both Detroit's Jerami Grant and Philly's Ben Simmons. How realistic are either one of these scenarios, on a scale of 0-10? What would adding Simmons mean, particularly if the Lakers did it while keeping Westbrook?Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15” and you'll get 15% off your next order.BetOnline AGThere is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus.PrizePicksDon't hesitate, check out PrizePicks.com and use promo code: “NBA” or go to your app store and download the app today. PrizePicks is daily fantasy made easy!TrueBillDon't fall for subscription scams. Start cancelling today at Truebill.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The wins against bad teams don't tend to impress, but given where the Lakers are in the standings and in their schedule, you can make a solid argument that games against OKC (Friday) and Orlando (Sunday) are the most important ones they play. Because as the schedule tightens up - and it will - some losses are going to come. The Lakers simply can't let games against terrible opposition get away from them. They took care of business Friday, and did it again Sunday, knocking off the Magic 106-94 at Staples.Once again, Anthony Davis was on the sidelines with a bum knee.Once again, LeBron James set a tone for the team and led them to victory. 30 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, three blocked shots. James was big on both sides of the ball, and after the game his high end play was the topic of conversation. First, as a sign he's getting healthier, but also prompting the totally legitimate question of whether or not this sort of engagement and production is sustainable through the rest of the year, or if it's a good idea to ask for it. (And, by extension, if it's a bad sign they might have to.)But beyond health, is any sensitivity to potential criticism of "LeGM" following the Russell Westbrook play part of his resurgence? There has been some chatter, and LeBron hears everything...Finally, Talen Horton-Tucker had one of his stronger games since returning to the starting lineup, with 19 points, three triples and six (6!) steals. After, Frank Vogel talked about why he's in the starting lineup and what is expected of him. Does he stay there, though, when Trevor Ariza returns and provides Vogel more optionality on defense?HOSTS: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT 1: LeBron leads the Lakers to a second straight win. Are the Lakers playing with fire by requiring him to do this much?SEGMENT 2: What accounts for LeBron's resurgence? Is it just health? Is there a little more at play? And are the Lakers finally catching a little bit of sustained good fortune? The kind that will give them enough space to actually start putting the pieces together in a meaningful way?SEGMENT 3: THT's space in the starting lineup. Why he's there, despite some spacing fits, and whether or not he stays.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15” and you'll get 15% off your next order.BetOnline AGThere is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus.PrizePicksDon't hesitate, check out PrizePicks.com and use promo code: “NBA” or go to your app store and download the app today. PrizePicks is daily fantasy made easy!TrueBillDon't fall for subscription scams. Start cancelling today at Truebill.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The struggle has been real for the Lakers this season. Not enough wins, period, but virtually nothing against any of the NBA's decent-or-better squads. The closest thing LA had to a signature win going into Tuesday's matchup with the Celtics at Staples was one over Miami... who was missing Jimmy Butler for most of the contest. But Boston came in playing well, with an offense that was clicking big time, and after a hot start from Jayson Tatum, the Lakers shut the visitors down, rolling to a 117-102 win.There was a lot going on - LA's Big Three all showed up. LeBron James set a tone early and finished with 30 points. Russell Westbrook, who has been the best and most consistent Laker over the last couple weeks, was again excellent, with 25 points and 11 assists against only four turnovers. Anthony Davis had 17 points, but was active inside, led the Lakers with 16 rebounds and had two blocks.Frank Vogel leaned into his smaller lineups. The Lakers pushed pace, hard.So is this the win that jump starts the squad? Was Frank Vogel feeling quite as chesty after this one as he did when the Lakers beat down the Kings last week? Is the lineup we saw tonight the one that'll stick going forward, with Trevor Ariza sliding in once available?And how much of tonight's hyper-engaged performance from LeBron can be linked to his comments about Vogel and his job security?So much to discuss on one of the happiest nights of the year for Lakers fans, and the team, too.HOSTS: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT 1: Winning big feels nice. Winning big against the Celtics? EVEN BETTER! The Lakers played some serious D behind a very serious LeBron, and the results were strong. Is this the blueprint?SEGMENT 2: Westbrook continues to play well. Are we done talking about his struggles? Are the lineup choices Vogel made the ones we'll see going forward?SEGMENT 3: Asked this week about Vogel's work, LeBron didn't throw him under the bus, but he didn't exactly deliver a full-throated endorsement of him, either. What's going on here?Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15” and you'll get 15% off your next order.BetOnline AGThere is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus.PrizePicksDon't hesitate, check out PrizePicks.com and use promo code: “NBA” or go to your app store and download the app today. PrizePicks is daily fantasy made easy!TrueBillDon't fall for subscription scams. Start cancelling today at Truebill.com/LOCKEDONNBA.ShopifyGo to SHOPIFY.com/lockedonnba for a FREE fourteen-day trial and get full access to Shopify's entire suite of features. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Avery Bradley's playing time (as in "why does he play so much?") has been a source of great controversy among Lakers fans and media. Well, Frank Vogel was asked by Brian himself on Monday after Lakers practice exactly what keeps Bradley in the lineup. As Vogel explained, a lot has to do with Bradley's mindset, which mirrors what his coach wants from a team that's not playing hard enough on a regular basis. And say what you will about Bradley, but he never takes off possessions. Still, is that a valid reason, when the numbers say way otherwise?Another interesting wrinkle from practice was a Q&A with Trevor Ariza, who's been largely out of sight while recovering from ankle surgery. There's still no timetable for a return, but that he spoke with the media at all would indicate he's relatively close. @DodgerDanD told the Kamenetzkys via Twitter (@kambrothers) that Vogel propping up the 37 year-old Ariza as a future difference maker is ridiculous. Is he right?And finally, another harsh fan comment, this time on the Locked On Lakers YouTube channel from "TK." In a nutshell, the poster thinks Anthony Davis is overrated and not doing nearly enough to elevate the Lakers.Hosts; Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT ONE: Frank Vogel explains his rationale for starting Avery Bradley. Does it hold water?SEGMENT TWO: More on Bradley, plus an update on Trevor Ariza. How much will he help?SEGMENT THREE: The Kamenetzkys react to a harsh comment about Anthony Davis?Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15” and you'll get 15% off your next order.BetOnline AGThere is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus.PrizePicksDon't hesitate, check out PrizePicks.com and use promo code: “NBA” or go to your app store and download the app today. PrizePicks is daily fantasy made easy!TrueBillDon't fall for subscription scams. Start cancelling today at Truebill.com/LOCKEDONNBA.ShopifyGo to SHOPIFY.com/lockedonnba for a FREE fourteen-day trial and get full access to Shopify's entire suite of features. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers are coming off a win where they held Houston to 85 points. Granted, the Rockets are a godawful team, with about six months of collective NBA experience between the players, but that's still a very low score. Is this a sign of the Lakers starting to drill down on Frank Vogel's defensive principles? Without getting ahead of ourselves... perhaps. Russell Westbrook talked after Monday's practice pretty candidly about how he needs to adjust some past habits of gambling and going for steals, and play within a more structured defensive scheme. Westbrook isn't known (rightly) as a particularly good defender, and correcting bad habits isn't simple, especially for superstars used to getting their way, but trying to is the first step. And an important one, since this team isn't blessed with enough plus defenders where guys can get away with doing their own thing.Along these lines, Avery Bradley's minutes have been steadily rising, which wasn't necessarily expected when he signed a late preseason non-guaranteed deal. But perhaps it should have been, because Vogel loves Bradley, and Bradley is a very conscientious, determined defender. It doesn't feel coincidental that he's starting to play more, nor does it feel as certain that his stay with the team will be short. If he's a permanent part of the rotation, particularly once guys like Trevor Ariza, Talen Horton-Tucker and Kendrick Nunn return, what will that mean for the divvying of minutes? For that matter, do we imagine him as a permanent part of a small ball starting lineup like Vogel ran out Sunday?Finally, Carmelo Anthony is thriving as a sixth man, but takes exception with a narrative where it's surprising that he'd accept this role. Does he have a point?HOSTS: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT ONE: Are the Lakers turning a defensive corner?SEGMENT TWO: Is Avery Bradley due for more minutes on a regular basis?SEGMENT THREE: Is Melo's reputation for stubbornness merited?Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!ShopifyGo to Shopify.com/lockedonnba for a FREE fourteen-day trial and get full access to Shopify's entire suite of features.Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15” and you'll get 15% off your next order.BetOnline AGThere is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus.Rock AutoAmazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you.Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: Locked On LakersFollow/Subscribe Anywhere: linktr.ee/LockedOnLakersFollow Locked On NBA: linktr.ee/LockedOnNBA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers are now above .500 after a 95-85 win over a seriously hapless Houston Rockets squad, and by flipping their typical script. For once, it was their defense that was most reliable, while the offense was spotty. Granted, it snuck up on Brian that the Lakers' offense has been so effective in the first place, but frankly, given the defense the front office sacrificed this offseason to improve the scoring, it ought to be better. Take away a penchant for awful turnovers, like the Lakers actually did on Sunday, and for the most part, that's been the case.But how much was the improved defense indicative of better execution vs. the fortune of a terrible opponent? It's hard to say. But similar to Carmelo Anthony's four block/two steal night, which isn't likely to be repeated anytime soon, as long as the Lakers can regularly do something in between tonight and their most pathetic, at least some issues can be fixed until the return of potentially helpful folks like Trevor Ariza, Talen Horton-Tucker and Kendrick Nunn. (This is another area where if the Lakers stopped turning the ball over so much, it would help a lot.)Finally, Frank Vogel changed the starting lineup, sliding Anthony Davis to center and putting Avery Bradley into the backcourt alongside Russell Westbrook. The decision was sparked in part by Dwight Howard's unavailability (neck stiffness), so they needed DeAndre Jordan as a backup center option. But it was something Vogel had considered anyway, and the Rockets were a good match for this experiment. Time will tell how often Vogel keeps this look, but either way, it felt like a sign of more minutes to come for Bradley.Hosts: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT 1: How the Lakers beat the Rockets (besides Houston just being terrible).SEGMENT 2: Are the Lakers starting to figure out things defensively?SEGMENT 3: What can be read into Sunday's different starting lineup?Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!ShopifyGo to Shopify.com/lockedonnba for a FREE fourteen-day trial and get full access to Shopify's entire suite of features.Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15” and you'll get 15% off your next order.BetOnline AGThere is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus.Rock AutoAmazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The sting of Wednesday's loss to Oklahoma City, in which the Lakers blew a 26-point lead, is still pretty fresh. The concern over a second straight missed game for LeBron James is palpable. Kendrick Nunn, Talen Horton-Tucker, Trevor Ariza and Wayne Ellington remain on the sidelines. The Lakers have not even staged a single practice with their full roster intact, and it's not going to get better anytime soon.So what exactly can accomplish right now?Those are the big issues for Friday's show, starting with LeBron's ankle injury. No word yet about his status for Friday's game against Cleveland at Staples Center, but whether he plays or not, given his injury history with the Lakers, how much concern should missed games in the first couple weeks create? Especially given how critical he is to the team's identity and on-court continuity?What about the defense? Guys are missing, for sure. How much impact will the return of important rotation players actually have? On the one hand, the guys they're missing are among the team's best defenders. On the other, we're not talking about a bunch of Defensive Player of the Year candidates, here. Are the Lakers going to be too reliant on LeBron and Anthony Davis to play high end defense for an entire season? What does that mean for their health, and the ability to produce on the other end? How good is good enough?Finally, it's time to check out Davis, who was the subject of an interesting mini-debate on Lakers Twitter about his performance thus far. How has his offense evolved? Where are the shots coming from this year relative to others in L.A.? Should Davis abandon the 3-point shot, which he's been encouraged to take for a while now?HOSTS: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT 1: Ok, LeBron's hurt. It's ok to be nervous, right? Because he's the sun around which the rest of this stuff orbits?SEGMENT 2: What's real and what's not through five games, particularly on defense. How much is fixable today, what might be fixed when guys get healthy, and once they are back... just how good can this team be?SEGMENT 3: Davis is managing very high expectations. How has he played? Is the shot selection as ideal as it should be? Spoiler alert: The answer to the last one has little to do with whether he plays center or power forward.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!SweatBlockGet it today for 20% off at SweatBlock.com with promo code LockedOn, or at Amazon and CVS.Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15” and you'll get 15% off your next order.BetOnline AGThere is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus.Rock AutoAmazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The last several days have not been kind to the Lakers. They've yet to win a preseason game. Trevor Ariza is out indefinitely after ankle surgery. Malik Monk is sidelined (albeit hopefully not for long) with a groin issue. And then came Monday's news that Talen Horton Tucker will require surgery to repair torn ligaments in his thumb. It's not yet known how long the recovery will take, but it goes without saying that the Lakers will be without their emerging young player for a sizable period.Beyond the loss of THT's individual skills, the Lakers are extremely low on dudes who could conceivably (much less credibly) play small forward. It's basically now LeBron James, Kent Bazemore... and crickets. This was already a thin position on the roster, but Rob Pelinka seemed content to keep the fifteenth roster spot open, rather than add some depth, Now that feels damn near impossible to justify. Whether James Ennis, Wes Matthews or whoever, the Lakers need a live body who can credibly play 10-15 minutes at the spot.On the positive side, Tuesday's preseason game against the Warriors should finally feature the long-awaited preseason debuts of LeBron, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook as a trio. What will the Kamenetzkys be watching for as we finally see what this looks like?Hosts: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT 1: What is the trickledown effect of Talen Horton-Horton out for the foreseeable future?SEGMENT 2: More on THT's injury, plus the need to find another legit small forward option.SEGMENT 3: What to watch for when LeBron, AD and Russ take the floor together.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!SweatBlockGet it today for 20% off at SweatBlock.com with promo code LockedOn, or at Amazon and CVS.Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15” and you'll get 15% off your next order.BetOnline AGThere is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus.Rock AutoAmazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Another day, another Lakers preseason loss. This time, it was 123-94 spanking at the hands of the Phoenix Suns, a continuation of a themes seen since training camp opened. The Lakers were shorthanded (Trevor Ariza, Talen Horton-Tucker and Malik Monk are injured, while LeBron James opted not to suit up), and the play on both sides of the ball was, shall we say, erratic. And the final score reflected a general lack of cohesion.Not that there were no positives to speak of. Anthony Davis played his best game of the preseason, and seems to be rounding steadily into form, whether in terms of his offensive aggression or his defensive impact. Carmelo Anthony connected on five three-pointers. And Kent Bazemore was a quintessential "three-and-D" player (particularly the "D" part, where he was quite disruptive to Phoenix's schemes). As raggedy as the game was, those three stood out with positive contributions.On the other hand, Russell Westbrook was pretty brutal, whether as a scorer or running the offense. Only three of his twelve shots fell, and those nine missed shots were matched with nine turnovers. To be clear, a big issue appears to be timing and a lack of familiarity with so many new teammates, which is to be expected to some degree. If anything, Westbrook may have been periodically overcompensating trying to move the ball around. Still, he's been a turnover machine in two preseason appearances, and it's still not entirely clear what his role is when he's not in charge of the ball.Then again, it's not entirely clear the Lakers have been getting the most from this preseason, anyway.Hosts: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT 1: The Kamenetzkys begin the show with the positive elements from the loss: AD. Melo. Bazemore (who seems to have cemented his case to start).SEGMENT 2: Game #2 for Russ? He's clearly trying hard to involve his teammates, but hooo boy...SEGMENT 3: Have the Lakers been getting everything out of the preseason they want? Or more specifically, everything they want that they can control?Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!SweatBlockGet it today for 20% off at SweatBlock.com with promo code LockedOn, or at Amazon and CVS.Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15” and you'll get 15% off your next order.BetOnline AGThere is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus.Rock AutoAmazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the season fast approaching, the Kamenetzkys decided to get a perspective from outside Los Angeles about where the Lakers stand. How outside? Try Melbourne, Australia, with Josh Lloyd, the host of Locked on NBA and Locked on NBA Fantasy, They broke down the Lakers on both sides of the ball, along with how things could shake out with so many new faces. Will the Big Three come together? Is Russell Westbrook an easier fit in certain respects than credited? Is a bounce back season coming for Anthony Davis?Plus, how do the Lakers shake out from a fantasy perspective, and a look around the NBA? What will become Kyrie Irving's uncertain status with the Nets, and does a destination for Ben Simmons actually exist?Hosts: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT 1: How much defense did the Lakers lose from last season, especially with Trevor Ariza out for at least two months? Will Ariza's absence shift the lineups towards bigger or smaller looks?SEGMENT 2: Lloyd prognosticates the upcoming season for Westbrook, Davis and the Laker offense.SEGMENT 3: Where should you draft each member of the Lakers' Big 3 in your fantasy league, p[us the Irving and Simmons drama.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!SweatBlockGet it today for 20% off at SweatBlock.com with promo code LockedOn, or at Amazon and CVS.Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15” and you'll get 15% off your next order.BetOnline AGThere is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus.Rock AutoAmazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's felt a bit concerning that training camp has yet to include the participation of veteran forward Trevor Ariza, who'd been dealing with a sore ankle. Well, the mood just shifted from "concerning" to "alarming." The Lakers announced shortly after Wednesday's 117-105 preseason loss to the Phoenix Suns that Ariza underwent an arthroscopic debridement procedure, and is expected to miss at least two months. Ariza may not be the most important member of the team, nor was he necessarily expected to play huge minutes this season. But they did anticipate the minutes Ariza played to be important ones, whether as a starter, a closer, or a bit of both. Plus, Ariza was among the few players on the roster lacking true small forwards who at least *sort of* fit the bill. As such, a thin position just grew more depleted.Where do the Lakers go from here, whether in terms of the rotation or potentially adding a player to the roster? Those questions get answered, as well as first impressions of Carmelo Anthony, following his preseason debut.Hosts: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT 1: How will Trevor Ariza's absence affect the Lakers' rotation? Does it force Frank Vogel to commit to going big... or going small?SEGMENT 2: With Ariza sidelined, do the Lakers have to use their open fifteenth roster spot?SEGMENT 3: Melo finally dons a Laker uni. How did he look, and what will his role be?Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!SweatBlockGet it today for 20% off at SweatBlock.com with promo code LockedOn, or at Amazon and CVS.Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15” and you'll get 15% off your next order.BetOnline AGThere is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus.Rock AutoAmazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With 24 hours before the Lakers' open camp, The Athletics' Sam Amick, Shams Charania and Bill Oram joined forces to write an extremely detailed breakdown of the Lakers' offseason, and all the different variables shaping events like the Russell Westbrook trade, a massive roster shakeup, and future plans for certain players. There's a lot from this opus to chop up, so the Kamenetzkys highlighted what they found most compelling and trenchant.Hosts: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT 1: According to The Athletic's various sources, the expected plan is currently for Anthony Davis to... start at center... with Wayne Ellington and Trevor Ariza filling out as the 2 and 3 alongside LeBron James and Westbrook. As usual, Andy is gonna need to see Davis in that role full-time (more or less) to believe it, but should that prove the case, there are obviously a ton of implications. Pretty much all of which are excellent.SEGMENT 2: LeBron has long denied doubling as the defacto General Manager of his teams throughout the years, including the Lakers. Nobody has ever believed him, and according to this report, with good reason.SEGMENT 3: The report details the Westbrook trade from the Wizards' perspective, and why they were more inclined to keep the point guard than many people assumed. Plus, only a one-year extension for Frank Vogel? What gives?Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! SweatBlock Get it today for 20% off at SweatBlock.com with promo code LockedOn, or at Amazon and CVS. Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15” and you'll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Indeed Get started RIGHT NOW with a SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLAR SPONSORED JOB CREDIT to upgrade your job post at Indeed.com/locked Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On Thu.'s ep. of No Dunks, the guys discuss yesterday's three minor trades: Bucks acquiring P.J. Tucker from the Rockets, the Suns acquiring Torrey Craig from the Bucks, and the Heat acquiring Trevor Ariza from the Thunder. That, plus Giannis stirs the Sixers' ire with his sit-down celebration, Luka Doncic and James Harden lead their squads to victory, Ja Morant and De'Aaron Fox hit game-winners, Pistons rookie Saddiq Bey is for real, rumors that Brad Stevens will leave the Celtics to coach Indiana University, Tas' background, and more.Subscribe to No Dunks on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/NoDunksIncSubscribe to The Athletic: http://www.theathletic.com/nodunks Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's trade season! The Milwaukee Bucks have their closing lineup after acquiring P.J. Tucker, the Miami Heat get Trevor Ariza, De'Aaron Fox and Ja Morant hit game-winners, Stephen Curry takes an awkward fall, the Brooklyn Nets move up the standing behind James Harden's 40-point triple-double, the Houston Rockets lose their 18th straight, and Luka Doncic shines against the Clippers.Subscribe to No Dunks on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/NoDunksIncSubscribe to The Athletic for $1/month on Mar. 22: http://www.theathletic.com/nodunks Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.