The Lakers got thumped by San Antonio on Wednesday, and in what is becoming a trend for this Lakers squad, when they lose, they lose. 

But this loss, more than others, seems to have created significant attention around the team, how it's constructed, and whether or not its flaws are correctable. Because the Spurs were faster than the Lakers, they put pressure on the defense the Lakers couldn't handle, and (more or less) kept them - and especially Austin Reaves - off the free throw line. 

The Lakers are going to struggle to get faster. They're going to have to be a defensive team that becomes greater than the sum of its parts. That's often a tall task, especially in the postseason. 

It also means JJ Redick needs to maximize what he has... and is he? 

A lot of this conversation can be boiled down to two role players - Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt. 

Should the Lakers finally pull the trigger on swapping Rui for Marcus Smart in the starting lineup? It would balance that group defensively in ways obvious even to podcast hosts. So why hasn't Redick pulled the trigger? And what about Vando, who is flawed but could at least in theory address some of the team's shortcomings, whether in defensive energy, offensive rebounding and general disruptiveness? 

Clearly Redick doesn't believe in Vanderbilt, or that the tradeoffs he presents are worth it. But are there ways to get him into the lineup while mitigating those? 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

SEGMENT 1: Why the loss to the Spurs seemed different. 

 

SEGMENT 2: Looking at Rui. Is a lineup change needed? 

 

SEGMENT 3: What about Vando? 

 

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