Lakers Lounge

Anthony runs through all the ways OKC's injuries (and the salary dumps this summer) impact this season and how the Lakers approach it. He then opens the mailbag where everyone is preeeeetty worries about the Lakers' backup center disaster. He laughs at the Celtics a bit to wrap things up.

OKC suffered two brutal injuries Sunday that completely alter what the entire Western Conference might look like. Anthony explains everything going on there and the impact that should have on how the Lakers approach this season.

Rob Pelinka has either had an elite center with no backup or a meh center with an ok backup ever since the Lakers won a ring with an elite center and depth behind him. Anthony explains how not learning from the mistakes made since that championship led directly to Kevon Looney being on this roster right now. He wraps with a couple more questions and a few minutes laughing at the Celtics/Jaylen Brown situations.

Anthony breaks down the Lakers' third win of the season against a Jazz team that presented some unique challenges. He marvel's at Luka's incredible production and Austin being a chameleon depending on what the Lakers need from possession to possession. Walker Kessler had his first bad game as a Laker and, in the process, highlighted just how thin the Lakers are behind him. Anthony wraps with a few questions from the live audience.

Maybe the craziest part of Luka's performance as how poorly it started. He and the Lakers dug themselves a hole in that first quarter that Austin Reaves helped chip away at until Luka brought some dynamite. Anthony discusses the game zoomed out, Doncic's performance, Austin's incredible efficiency to start the season and the impact habits had on this game's outcome.

We got a look at what the Lakers' ceiling lowers to if Walker Kessler doesn't have it and, well, it wasn't pretty. Anthony discusses that, then answers a few questions from the live audience.

Anthony and Pete discuss what they saw from the Lakers in that first game and look ahead to what they think they'll see from the team moving forward this season. What do they think will be this team's strengths? Weaknesses? Can anything be done about the backup center issues? Could this issue have been avoided?

Anthony and Pete really enjoyed that opening night game and think there's a ton to build on. They discuss what they saw from the team in an actual game and try to outline what they think will be strengths this season.

Anthony is worried about perimeter defense. Pete is a little less worried about that, but does have some concern about the rebounding. The guys discuss whether or how the Lakers can fix these issues internally or will eventually need to make a change.

Everyone can see it. The Lakers might have the worst backup center in the league. So, what can be done about it and could this have been avoided? The guys discuss that and rehash whether or not they would've just kept Deandre Ayton.