Jovan Buha welcomes Claire de Lune of The Guardian to discuss the Los Angeles Lakers’ adjustments for Game 3, Luka Doncic and our 2024-25 NBA awards ballots.

Jovan and Claire analyze Game 2 takeaways, Playoff Luka, LeBron James’ defense and health, LA’s offense, Game 3 adjustments, the rotation, our awards ballots and more.

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Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:05 Takeaways from Game 2

10:36 Playoff Luka is incredible

17:05 LeBron’s defense and health

24:53 LA needs to find more offense … somewhere

30:20 Game 3 adjustments

36:06 Reevaluating the rotation

44:53 Our awards ballots (including Lakers picks)

1:10:47 Outro

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Jovan Buha reacts to the Los Angeles Lakers' 94-85 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 2. The Western Conference first-round series is tied 1-1.

Jovan analyzes LA's bounce-back performance in Game 2, their blueprint to win the series, the Lakers' defensive domination, Playoff Luka, early Game 3 adjustments, and more.

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Chapters:

0:00 Intro

3:37 Buha's Big Picture: The blueprint for LA to win this series

10:44 Notable performers

17:03 Stats of the night: 6 fast-break points & 5-for-25 3-point shooting for MIN

19:19 Takeaway No. 1: This was a defensive masterclass from LA

26:06 Takeaway No. 2: Playoff Luka is special

29:31 Takeaway No. 3: Early Game 3 adjustments

37:07 Q&A

1:37:38 Outro

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Jovan Buha welcomes Khobi Price of the Southern California News Group to discuss the Lakers’ Game 1 loss and how they should adjust in Game 2. Then, he welcomes Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic to analyze the Minnesota Timberwolves’ performance and how they might adjust in Game 2.

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Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:18 Top-line takeaways from Game 1

6:52 Did Game 1 change how you view the series?

12:50 Should LA play Jaxson Hayes and Jarred Vanderbilt more?

23:21 Why LA has more to adjust offensively than defensively

37:27 What’s the most interesting tactical battle moving forward?

49:02 Welcome Jon Krawczynski!

50:27 Top-line takeaway from Wolves’ perspective?

54:13 What’s Minnesota looking to do in Game 2?

56:53 Jaden McDaniels as an X factor

1:03:08 Should LA defend Ant similarly to how MIN guards Luka?

1:09:12 Should LA target Minnesota’s smalls more?

1:14:32 How comfortable is Minnesota playing smaller?

1:19:37 How will MIN handle being up 1-0 mentally?

1:23:50 Outro

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Jovan Buha reacts to the Los Angeles Lakers' 117-95 Game 1 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday, April 19, 2025.

Jovan analyzes what's real and not from Game 1, Minnesota's size and athleticism advantages, the Lakers' game plan vs. Anthony Edwards, the playoff rotation, adjustments for Game 2, and more.

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Chapters:

0:00 Intro

2:36 Buha's Big Picture: This series is going to be tougher than anticipated for LA

14:18 Notable performers

22:30 Stat of the night: Minnesota's 25-6 edge in fast-break points

23:42 Takeaway No. 1: LA needs to reevaluate how they're defending Ant

30:26 Takeaway No. 2: The first look at the Lakers' playoff rotation

33:40 Takeaway No. 3: Adjustments for Game 2

37:02 Q&A

1:32:43 Outro

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Jovan Buha welcomes Tim (aka Cranjis McBasketball) of the Lakers Exceptionalism Podcast and Bball Index to preview the Los Angeles Lakers’ first-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Jovan and Tim discuss their biggest question for the Lakers and the Wolves, their player X factor for both teams, one statistical X factor and one series X factor before making their series prediction.

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Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:07 How Tim has been preparing for this series

6:05 Tim’s question for LA: How will the coaching staff adjust in the playoffs?

14:33 Jovan’s question for LA: How do their center-less looks fare vs. MIN’s size?

21:23 Tim’s question for MIN: Can they defend without conceding mismatches?

25:51 Jovan’s question for MIN: How are they going to guard Luka?

30:55 Tim’s Lakers X factor: Jaxson Hayes

40:20 Jovan’s Lakers X factor: Rui Hachimura

44:34 Tim’s Wolves X factor: Julius Randle

49:25 Jovan’s Wolves X factor: Jaden McDaniels

54:03 Tim’s statistical X factor: LA’s offensive scheme

59:44 Jovan’s statistical X factor: Turnover battle

1:04:02 Tim’s series X factor: How long can MIN avoid switching?

1:08:37 Jovan’s series X factor: Which frontline has to adjust more?

1:12:50 Tim’s series prediction

1:15:22 Jovan’s series prediction

1:18:13 Outro

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Jovan Buha reacts to the No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers matching up with the No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday, April 13, 2025.

Jovan shares his initial reaction and prediction for the Lakers-Wolves series before getting into audience questions.

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Chapters:

0:00 Intro

3:55 Lakers-Timberwolves opening thoughts

17:34 Q&A

1:27:37 Outro

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Jovan Buha reacts to the Los Angeles Lakers' 140-109 win over the Houston Rockets on Friday, April 11, 2025.

Jovan analyzes the Lakers clinching the No. 3 seed and winning 50 games, the madness of this season, LA's likely path and first-round opponent (depending on Sunday's results), Luka Doncic's 2-point improvement, rest vs. rhythm entering the playoffs, and more.

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Chapters:

0:00 Intro

2:34 Buha's Big Picture: LA clinches the No. 3 seed

17:17 Notable performers

21:07 Stat of the night: LA reaches 50 wins

21:39 Takeaway No. 1: Luka's increased efficiency inside the paint

24:38 Takeaway No. 2: The playoff path is crystallizing

38:28 Takeaway No. 3: Rest vs. rhythm

41:34 Q&A

1:49:26 Outro

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Jovan Buha welcomes Iztok Franko of digginbasketball to discuss Luka Doncic’s emotional return to Dallas and the state of the Lakers’ offense.

Jovan and Iztok discuss Luka playing through emotions, how he’s wired, Luka’s fit within the Lakers’ offense, LA’s defense in center-less lineups, why those groups are so difficult to match up with, how the Lakers are looking entering the playoffs, and more.

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Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:00 Luka’s emotions + dropping 45 points

4:57 Luka being built to withstand pressure

7:19 Additional observations from Lakers-Mavs

15:47 How has Luka acclimated as a Laker?

21:35 What should LA focus on with Luka and their offense entering the playoffs?

24:14 LA’s defense in center-less lineups

30:13 Why LA’s center-less groups are so difficult to match up with

39:48 Evaluating the Lakers’ potential first-round matchups

47:54 Optimism about LA one week from the playoffs

52:12 Outro

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Jovan Buha reacts to the Los Angeles Lakers' 112-97 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, April 9, 2025.

Jovan analyzes Luka Doncic's emotional return to Dallas, LA clinching a playoff spot and a top-five seed, their defense against Anthony Davis (and in general recently), the Lakers' potential playoff rotation, and more.

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Chapters:

0:00 Intro

2:29 Buha's Big Picture: LA secures a playoff spot and top-5 seed

9:25 Notable performers

14:51 Stat of the night: 14 steals (second-most of the season)

16:46 Takeaway No. 1: Luka's emotional return to Dallas

26:19 Takeaway No. 2: LA's defense continues upward trend

32:10 Takeaway No. 3: Playoff rotation preview?

36:51 Q&A

2:29:05 Outro

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Jovan Buha reacts to the Los Angeles Lakers' 136-120 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, April 8, 2025.

Jovan analyzes the ridiculous Luka Doncic ejection and ending to the game, why he thinks the Lakers can beat the Thunder in the playoffs after watching these past two games, his updated West first-round matchup rankings, a crucial game in Dallas (for many reasons), and more.

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Chapters:

0:00 Intro

0:35 My perspective on tonight's egregious ejection and ending

4:35 Buha's Big Picture: The Lakers can beat the Thunder in the playoffs

14:16 Notable performers

18:44 Stat of the night: LA was up 108-107 when Luka was ejected -- and then got outscored 29-12

19:05 Takeaway No. 1: More on tonight's ridiculousness

23:01 Takeaway No. 2: Looking ahead to a crucial game in Dallas

31:01 Takeaway No. 3: First-round matchup rankings update -- and how LA can lock up No. 3

34:35 Q&A

1:14:59 Outro

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