Buha's Block with Jovan Buha

In Episode 18, Jovan Buha answer your Lakers questions in my latest mailbag.

Jovan discusses the best-case scenario with D'Angelo Russell this summer, if the Lakers can come back and beat the Denver Nuggets, the different offseason paths LA can take, if coming back to beat Denver and winning a fifth ring would make LeBron James the unanimous GOAT, if LeBron and Anthony Davis will have their jerseys retired in Los Angeles, and much more.

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Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:30 Question: Is Rob Pelinka’s seat getting warm?
2:59 Question: What’s the best-case scenario for LA with DLo’s contract?
8:20 Question: Should the Lakers trade Rui because of this series?
12:39 Question: Will Jamal Murray play in Game 5?
13:40 Question: Can the Lakers come back and win this series?
17:42 Question: Favorite ice cream flavor?
18:56 Question: Multiple-choice options for LA offseason
19:13 Question: Would beating Denver & winning 5th ring make LeBron the unanimous GOAT?
20:30 Question: What are the options if LeBron & DLo leave?
23:06 Question: Favorite players & team I don’t want to win title
26:06 Question: What changes should the Lakers make?
32:24 Question: Will LeBron & AD’s jerseys be retired?
33:40 Question: How should/will the Lakers handle Vando if he plays?
36:45 Outro

Jovan Buha reacts to the Los Angeles Lakers' 119-108 win over the Denver Nuggets in Game 4 of their first-round NBA playoff series at Crypto.com Arena on Saturday, April 27, 2024.

Jovan covers how LA finally beat Denver, the psychological impact after 11 straight losses, reasons for optimism, why Anthony Davis has been awesome and has me cursing, LeBron James taking over in the fourth quarter, D'Angelo Russell's bounce-back game, Game 5 and more.

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Chapters:
0:00 Intro
20:22 Takeaway No. 1: The Nuggets can actually bleed
26:29 Takeaway No. 2: 70.8 percent
33:58 Takeaway No. 3: AD deserves his flowers
40:04 Outro

Jovan Buha reacts to the Los Angeles Lakers' 112-105 loss to the Denver Nuggets in Game 3 of their first-round NBA playoff series at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday, April 25, 2024.

Jovan covers why this series is essentially over, D'Angelo Russell's disappearance against Denver, some of the tough decisions the Lakers will have to make this offseason, where the season went wrong, how LA was too small in this series, why they need to think about building a roster to compete with Denver and more.

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Chapters:
0:00 Intro
12:24 Takeaway No. 1: This series is over
19:09 Takeaway No. 2: DLo’s Denver disappearing act
25:28 Takeaway No. 3: LA is just too small
31:48 Outro

In Episode 17 of Buha’s Block, Jovan Buha breaks down three adjustments the Los Angeles Lakers need to make in Game 3 and beyond against the Denver Nuggets in their first-round NBA playoff series.

Jovan covers the importance of not going down 3-0 in the series, the Lakers needing to keep Anthony Davis on Nikola Jokic, LA’s second-half offensive collapses, why the rotation should be tighter, how LA can counter Denver’s defensive adjustments in Game 2 and more.

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Chapters
0:00 Intro
4:43 One note about the defense
9:47 Adjustment No. 1: Prioritize pace and offensive organization
18:26 Adjustment No. 2: Tighten the rotation even more
28:28 Adjustment No. 3: Don’t let Denver dictate terms of engagement
37:05 Outro

Jovan Buha reacts to the Los Angeles Lakers' 101-99 loss to the Denver Nuggets in Game 2 of their first-round NBA playoff series at Ball Arena on Monday, April 22, 2024.

Jovan covers why this is the worst of the 10 straight losses to Denver, how the Lakers blew a 20-point second-half lead, why they lost on a Jamal Murray buzzer-beater, why this feels more like a 3-0 series deficit than a 2-0 deficit, deja vu in crunch-time, their inexcusable lapses in Game 86 and more.

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Chapters:
0:00 Intro
18:47 Takeaway No. 1: 2-0 but feels like 3-0
24:47 Takeaway No. 2: Deja vu
33:00 Takeaway No. 3: Inexcusable lapses in Game 86
41:27 Outro

In Episode 16, Jovan Buha welcomes Sean Davis of Lakers Nation to break down the adjustments the Los Angeles Lakers should make for Game 2 and the rest of their first-round series against the Denver Nuggets.

Jovan and Sean discuss what they're encouraged about for LA from Game 1, their offensive and defensive adjustments for Game 2, how Christian Wood potentially fits into this series, what the Lakers need from D'Angelo Russell, how they would tweak the rotation, why Game 2 is essentially a Game 7 and more.

Follow Sean on Twitter/X here: @Sean_Davi

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Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:36 More or less encouraged for LA after Game 1?
5:00 How would you reimplement Christian Wood in this series?
11:09 What offensive adjustments can LA make for Game 2?
22:46 What defensive adjustments can LA make for Game 2?
36:42 Is this just a bad matchup for DLo? How should LA handle him?
51:52 What rotational adjustments can LA make for Game 2?
1:02:22 Why Game 2 is essentially Game 7
1:07:23 Outro

Jovan Buha reacts to the Los Angeles Lakers' 114-103 loss to the Denver Nuggets in Game 1 of their first-round NBA playoff series at Ball Arena on Saturday, April 20, 2024.

Jovan Buha covers LA's offensive struggles in the second half, the performances of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers' inability to slow Nikola Jokic and Denver's shooters, D'Angelo Russell's poor performance on both ends of the floor, some adjustments for Game 2 and more.

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Chapters:
0:00 Intro
8:55 Takeaway No. 1: The offense collapsed in the second half
14:13 Takeaway No. 2: LA has to mix up coverages vs. Jokic
20:04 Takeaway No. 3: DLo needs to be better
29:44 Takeaways recap
30:23 Outro

In Episode 15, Jovan Buha welcomes Tim a.k.a. Cranjis McBasketball of the Lakers Exceptionalism podcast and BBall Index to preview the first-round NBA playoff series between the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets.

Jovan and Tim discuss one question for each team, one player X-factor for each team and one series X-factor before making our series prediction. We touch on Darvin Ham's playcalling, LA vs. Denver in the clutch, LeBron James' 3-point shooting, Denver's bench, Anthony Davis' two-way ask, D'Angelo Russell, Jamal Murray's shotmaking and more.

Check out the Lakers Exceptionalism podcast here: Lakers Exceptionalism
Follow Tim on YouTube:  @LakersExceptionalism
You can also follow him on Twitter: @Tim_NBA

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Chapters:
(0:00) Intro
(1:09) Tim’s Lakers question: Does Darvin Ham call plays at a high rate?
(8:23) Jovan’s Lakers question: Can LA hang with Denver in the clutch?
(13:11) Who should the Lakers close games with?
(17:07) Jovan shares his out-of-the-box closing configuration
(21:00) Tim counters but then starts to like the idea
(24:06) Tim’s Nuggets question: Can their bench be effective?
(28:09) Jovan’s Nuggets question: How does Denver handle this version of LeBron James?
(32:44) Tim’s Lakers X-factor: Anthony Davis
(38:38) Jovan’s Lakers X-factor: D’Angelo Russell
(45:10) Tim’s Nuggets X-factor: Jamal Murray’s shotmaking
(48:53) Jovan’s Nuggets X-factor: Michael Porter Jr.
(52:38) Tim’s series X-factor: Which starting PG’s defense will be tested more?
(57:26) Jovan’s series X-factor: Can LeBron and AD finally outplay Murray?
(1:02:26) Jovan’s series prediction
(1:05:45) Tim’s series prediction
(1:10:03) Outro

In Episode 14, Jovan Buha answers your Lakers questions in his latest mailbag.

Jovan covers where the Lakers rank among all playoff teams, if the Lakers are better than they were last season, the best way to defend the Denver Nuggets, Max Christie's future, the latest non-updates on Christian Wood and Jarred Vanderbilt, his favorite games/moments of the season and more.

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Chapters:
(0:00) Intro
(0:49) Question 1: Where do the Lakers rank among playoff teams?
(3:55) Question 2: Is LA better than last season? But so is this West?
(7:33) Question 3: What's the best way to defend Denver's starters?
(16:02) Question 4: Will Max Christie remain a Laker? Role next season?
(19:19) Question 5: Any Christian Wood update?
(20:34) Question 6: Is a Jarred Vanderbilt return possible in the playoffs?
(22:58) Question 7: Favorite game/moment of the season so far?
(26:58) Outro

Jovan Buha reacts to the Lakers' 110-106 win over the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.

Jovan covers LA preserving through poor shooting performances for LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Davis playing through back spasms, LA figuring out a way to hold on, the supporting cast stepping up, a couple of key benefits to winning the game, a quick Denver preview and more.

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Chapters:
(0:00) Intro
(11:59) Takeaway No. 1: A gritty, gutsy road performance
(16:00) Takeaway No. 2: The benefits of LA winning this game
(19:18) Takeaway No. 3: Quick Nuggets thoughts
(27:07) Outro