Jovan Buha welcomes Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times to grade the Los Angeles Lakers at the midway point of the season.

Jovan and Dan analyze the Lakers at the 41-game mark, their trade deadline plans, if they should go all-in like Phoenix, player and coach grades, the breaking news that Jarred Vanderbilt is returning, and more.

If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing, rating and reviewing.Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:42 Thank you for 20K subscribers

2:48 LA at the midway point of the season

9:36 Which way are the Lakers leaning at the deadline?

16:47 Should LA be going all-in?

22:51 Criteria for player grades

23:35 LeBron James

29:33 Anthony Davis

35:25 Austin Reaves

43:16 Rui Hachimura

50:08 Jarred Vanderbilt is returning on Saturday vs. GSW

51:48 Max Christie

57:28 Gabe Vincent

58:35 Dorian Finney-Smith

59:16 Dalton Knecht

1:00:23 Jaxson Hayes & Cam Reddish

1:01:02 Shake Milton

1:01:51 Jalen Hood-Schifino

1:07:01 Incomplete grades (Vanderbilt & Christian Wood)

1:07:14 Bronny James

1:09:55 JJ Redick

1:16:35 Closing thoughts

1:20:15 Outro

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jovan Buha reacts to the Los Angeles Lakers' 111-88 win over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.

Jovan analyzes the Lakers' largest margin of victory of the season, LA at the midway, Dorian Finney-Smith rounding into form, Jonas Valanciunas, and more.

If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing, rating and reviewing.

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

2:50 Overarching takeaway: LA's easiest win of the season

6:00 Stat of the night: Dorian Finney-Smith scoring 16 points (and what it says about the offense)

8:26 Takeaway No. 1: Taking stock of LA at the midway point of the season

15:59 Takeaway No. 2: DFS' role and minutes restriction

22:03 Takeaway No. 3: Jonas Valanciunas scouting report

28:02 Q&A

1:11:07 Outro

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jovan Buha breaks down the biggest storylines for the Los Angeles Lakers at the halfway point of the season.

Jovan analyzes the Dorian Finney-Smith trade, the three paths the Lakers can take at the 2025 trade deadline, LA’s needs on the trade market, their struggles vs. good teams, Austin Reaves’ emergence as the No. 3 option, LeBron James’ shooting, two-big lineups, and more.

If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing, rating and reviewing.

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:22 Storyline No. 1: The Dorian Finney-Smith trade

9:51 Storyline No. 2: LA’s paths at the trade deadline

16:16 Storyline No. 3: The Lakers’ needs on the trade market

24:36 Storyline No. 4: Their struggles vs. good teams

29:46 Storyline No. 5: Austin Reaves is a legitimate No. 3 option

35:01 Storyline No. 6: LeBron James, the 40-year-old sniper

38:19 Storyline No. 7: Two-big lineups show some promise

42:55 Storylines No. 8-10: Trey Jemison/Backend of the roster/Switching scheme

47:24 Outro

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jovan Buha reacts to the Los Angeles Lakers' 116-102 loss to the LA Clippers on Sunday, January 19, 2025.

Jovan analyzes the Lakers' continued struggles to above-.500 teams, the concerning postgame comments from LeBron James and JJ Redick, the brief success of the two-big lineups, LA's lack of identity midway through the season, and more.

If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing, rating and reviewing.

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

2:29 Overarching takeaway: Another concerning loss to a good team

5:11 Stat of the night: Ivica Zubac's eight offensive rebounds

7:26 Takeaway No. 1: LeBron James, JJ Redick postgame comments

13:25 Takeaway No. 2: Two-big lineup shows some progress

20:37 Takeaway No. 3: What type of team do the Lakers want to be?

25:30 Q&A

1:31:53 Outro

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jovan Buha reacts to the Los Angeles Lakers' 102-101 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday, January 17, 2025.

Jovan analyzes Austin Reaves' career night, the elite level of shot-making from Reaves and LeBron James, the concerning context of the win, why defense is LA's biggest need on the trade market, Trey Jemison's debut, and more.  

If you enjoy this type of NBA content, please like, comment and subscribe!

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:04 Overarching takeaway: A win is a win but this one was concerning

8:53 Stat of the night: Austin Reaves' career-high 38 points

9:54 Takeaway No. 1: Reaves' continued growth as a No. 3 option

15:11 Takeaway No. 2: LA *needs* to add better defenders at the deadline

21:20 Takeaway No. 3: Trey Jemison first impressions

26:01 Q&A

1:12:15 Outro

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jovan Buha welcomes Khobi Price of the Southern California News Group to discuss the Los Angeles Lakers' plan to play bigger.

Jovan and Khobi analyze the Lakers’ comeback win over Miami, what using more two-big looks could mean, whether LA should be switching as much as they do, potential trade targets, bigger frontcourts, and more.

If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing, rating and reviewing.

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

2:33 Where the Lakers are at post-DFS trade

6:50 What does LA using two-big looks mean?

19:25 How much should LA be switching?

31:32 What is LA’s biggest need three weeks away from the deadline?

40:53 How would Bruce Brown Jr. or Lonzo Ball fit?

47:11 Playoff concerns for Jarred Vanderbilt + Rui Hachimura

52:49 The benefits of playing bigger frontcourt lineups

1:04:25 Outro

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jovan Buha reacts to the Los Angeles Lakers' 117-108 win over the Miami Heat on Wednesday, January 15, 2025.

Jovan analyzes the Lakers' second-half comeback, JJ Redick's shootaround message to his group, LA's defense forcing Miami turnovers, Austin Reaves and LeBron James dissecting Miami's zones, Rui Hachimua and Gabe Vincent stepping up with Dorian Finney-Smith out, the Quincy Olivari/Trey Jemison two-way news, and more.

If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing, rating and reviewing.

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:13 Overarching takeaway: Why this was a much-needed win given LA's recent struggles

5:22 Stat of the night: 20 Miami turnovers

9:20 Takeaway No. 1: LA is at a crossroads and must decide what team they want to become

15:41 Takeaway No. 2: Rui Hachimura & Gabe Vincent step up with DFS out

19:47 Takeaway No. 3: Quincy Olivari/Trey Jemison + Jarred Vanderbilt + Nick Richards (forgot to mention DFS + schedule change)

25:38 Shout-out Ethan/@enarcs

26:06 Q&A

1:12:51 Outro

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jovan Buha analyzes five fixes for the Los Angeles Lakers following their post-trade skid.

Jovan examines the Lakers’ switching defense, the starting lineup, the rotation, the offensive organization, Anthony Davis’ involvement, the City Edition jerseys, and more.

If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing, rating and reviewing.

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:45 Fix No. 1: Stop switching so much

12:59 Fix No. 2: Start DFS over Rui

21:12 Fix No. 3: Adjusting the rotation again

25:11 Fix No. 4: Offensive organization + feeding AD

31:01 Fix No. 5: Make a trade (or two)

34:53 Bonus fix: Stop wearing the City Edition jerseys

36:37 Outro

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jovan Buha reacts to the Los Angeles Lakers' 126-102 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, January 13, 2025. 

Jovan analyzes LA's first back since the wildfires and postponements, why he's giving them some grace, their fourth-quarter collapse, the switching defense continuing to struggle, the Michael Cooper jersey retirement ceremony, and more.

If you enjoy this type of NBA content, please like, comment and subscribe!

Chapters: 

0:00 Intro

1:47 Overarching takeaway

6:17 Stat of the night

7:56 Takeaway No. 1: LA needs to stop switching as frequently (again)

12:50 Takeaway No. 2: The latest Jarred Vanderbilt update

15:16 Takeaway No. 3: Michael Cooper's jersey retirement ceremony

18:11 Q&A

1:11:16 Outro

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jovan Buha answers your Los Angeles Lakers questions on Sunday, January 12, 2025.

Jovan analyzes the news that the Lakers are playing against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, various trade possibilities, Jarred Vanderbilt's impending return, why Bruce Brown Jr. checks multiple boxes for LA, why Walker Kessler is Jovan's No. 1 target, Zach LaVine's fit, if the Lakers are likely to trade a first-round pick, and more.

If you enjoy this type of NBA content, please like, comment and subscribe!

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:55 Q&A

1:36:30 Outro

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you again to the first responders, firefighters, police, nurses, doctors, community leaders, volunteers, and anyone helping during this time.

Please consider supporting LAFD and donating here: https://supportlafd.kindful.com/

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices