Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

There are all sorts of different signposts along the path towards building a team in the offseason, whether in the trade or free agent markets. But things can shift as you go from point A to B to C. One of the big ones? The playoffs. Think about last season, when major injuries to Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton radically changed the plans for the Celtics and Pacers respectively, and added motion to the offseason markets. 

This year, there is already talk of the Warriors doing a significant retool to try and make one more run with Steph Curry. Could the Rockets be in for another retool (around Kevin Durant and others?) given a shaky first round performance and some chemistry questions? With the Magic up 3-1 over the Pistons and Detroit's All-Star center Jalen Duren having a terrible series, there's some chatter that his max rookie extension, believed to be a formality, might not be automatic. And who knows what the Nuggets will do in an offseason where Peyton Watson is a free agent, and they have some very challenging roster choices to make? 

The Lakers, of course, have their decisions to make, including about the future of Austin Reaves. 

So how has the future started to bend to new events? 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

5-Hour ENERGY

KALSHI

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Game 4 wasn't much fun to watch, that's for sure, but like the pros do, sometimes you have to go back and review stuff. 

So where did the Lakers go wrong? 

Looking back at the ... action, it was pretty clear first and foremost the Lakers were playing on tired legs. But it's also clear the Rockets have changed up enough things that the Lakers, after six very cold quarters, need to respond. They need to find ways to get LeBron touches in more advantageous positions, without him having to put the ball on the floor to make something happen. Houston's ball pressure is hurting Luke Kennard. Can they create enough action to again make him a weapon, where his gravity (which comes from shot quality) allows him to then get into the teeth of a defense? How about shot selection, generally? Are the Lakers taking shots when they're available? Forcing too much? 

Kinda yes to both? 

Given the state of things, it seems pretty clear that the Lakers are going to pour everything they have into Game 5 in an effort to put this series to bed. And they should. Especially until Austin Reaves is for sure back on the floor, because their limitations didn't go away just because they took 3-0 series lead. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

SEGMENT 1: Houston has stepped up defensively. 

SEGMENT 2: LeBron needs more (scheme) help. 

SEGMENT 3: How Austin helps if he returns in Game 5. 

5-Hour ENERGY

KALSHI

DoorDash
From tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.
Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.
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5-Hour ENERGY

KALSHI

DoorDash
From tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.
Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.
DoorDash. In your bag all season long.

Indeed

Gametime

FanDuel

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The Lakers looked tired on Sunday in Game 4, doing everything a step slower than they had been, with responses that were a hair less quick and shotmaking that was more than a hair less successful. All of that was enough to lead to a turnover fueled blowout loss. 

As is often the case in the playoffs, one game can make people feel a lot different about a series. And had Game 4 happened in Game 1, people would have freaked out for sure. But the Lakers are still up 3-1, and need to win one of the next three, two of which will happen in LA. They should also get Austin Reaves back reasonably soon, if not for Wednesday's Game 5. 

In the meantime, the Rockets did a lot of stuff that hurt the Lakers, including: 

So what can the Lakers do in Game 5 to close things out? 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

5-Hour ENERGY

KALSHI

DoorDash
From tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.
Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.
DoorDash. In your bag all season long.

Indeed

Gametime

FanDuel

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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Everyone was wondering what it might look like if Houston finally found the range offensively while the Lakers went cold. 

The answer: a 115-96 Game 4 loss to the Rockets in Houston. 

It was an ugly set of outputs for the Lakers, who were obviously trying (it's the playoffs) but didn't have a lot of juice. The scoring collapsed. The turnovers (24, overall) were frequent. The defense wasn't great. But mostly the Lakers looked really sluggish on O while the Rockets finally hit some shots. The leading scorer for LA was Deandre Ayton with 19, and he was ejected after a questionable Flagrant 2 call. LeBron finished with 10 points on 2-9 shooting, and his nine assists were spoiled by eight turnovers. 

LA got 16 points combined from Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart. 

The Lakers played once again without Austin Reaves, who warmed up and decided he wasn't quite ready. Houston, meanwhile, was without Kevin Durant, who in theory could miss another week or two.

So the series moves to Los Angeles for Game 5, a game the Lakers would very, very much like to win and close this thing out. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers get thumped in Game 4. 

SEGMENT 2: LeBron tired, limited, and had company in being tired and limited. 

SEGMENT 3: Any worries?  Do the Lakers close out Wednesday? 

5-Hour ENERGY

KALSHI

DoorDash
From tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.
Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.
DoorDash. In your bag all season long.

Indeed

Gametime

FanDuel

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How did that happen? People will be trying to figure out exactly what happened for a while, but the bottom line is this: Down six without the ball and under :30 seconds left to play, the Lakers managed to tie the game and then win it in OT. They beat the Houston Rockets in Houston, 112-108 to take a 3-0 lead in the series. 

They'll try to close it out Sunday in Houston. 

LeBron James led the way with 29, including a critical triple to tie the game. Marcus Smart had 21 points to go with 10 assists, five steals and a pair of blocks. Rui Hachimura was red hot out of the gate, and finished with 22. 

It was a stunning collapse by the Rockets, no doubt, but one that was made possible by consistent high-end effort from the Lakers. They didn't quit on the game, and were richly rewarded. 

And it looks like Austin Reaves could be available for Game 4 on Sunday, too. 

Things are, to say the least, looking good. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

5-Hour ENERGY

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Before the team headed out to Houston for Friday's Game 3, center Deandre Ayton met with the media and talked about his excitement not just at playing defense in this series, but playing incredibly versatile defense, not just against centers but one through five on switches.

Ayton does move well in space, and obviously needs to prove his ability to follow through and do this at a high level, but more than anything, it reflects his investment in doing the right things for the Lakers, and trying to meet the moment and what the team needs from him, especially with Luka and Reaves sidelined. It frustrates some fans (and media like) that Ayton seems to need these sorts of affirmations, and that the team has had to do so much legwork to get him into a mindset like this, and then keep him there.

It would be great if Ayton arrived with the proverbial Mamba Mentality, but that's not how he's wired. But over the course of the year, with some ups and downs, the Lakers have managed to get real buy in from Ayton, and it's translating to performance at the right moment. In a lot of ways, whether reflecting the team culture instilled by JJ Redick and Co., or individual support from guys like Marcus Smart.

So how does that translate into Friday's game?

And what else should folks be looking for as the Lakers try to take an even more commanding lead?

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

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5-Hour ENERGY

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The Lakers, already riding high with a 2-0 lead in their series against the Houston Rockets as the show travels to Texas for Friday's Game 3, got a nice boost with the news that Austin Reaves, out with an oblique injury, has been upgraded to Questionable. That doesn't mean he'll play - and with the series lead the Lakers might choose to give him a little more time to heal, even if he could suit up Friday - but just the listing is going to rightly excite Lakers fans. 

Meanwhile, the Rockets are listing Kevin Durant as questionable, this time with an ankle injury. It seems like a long shot that he'd actually sit, but given that he's already nursing a knee injury, anything that limits him further is not great for a struggling Houston team. 

Meanwhile, the Lakers are winning the series in part because they're winning what JJ Redick calls "the little battles." 

"There’s a natural flow to the series where the team that wins can relax a little bit and the team that loses comes out and plays with more desperation. I thought our guys at least matched their sense of desperation. Our second efforts, all that stuff. You’ve got to win a bunch of little fights, that can be your catch position, that can be your screens, that can be creating separation, that can be boxing out. But this team requires you to win a bunch of little fights.”

This is a team that needs to be good at that stuff anyway, but without two stars, they need to be even more attentive, and have been for sure. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

SEGMENT 1: Reaves upgraded, Durant downgraded. 

SEGMENT 2: Winning the little battles. 

SEGMENT 3: What to watch for in Game 3. 

5-Hour ENERGY

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In a series where the Lakers came in as heavy underdogs, the Lakers now have a 2-0 lead heading into Game 2 in Houston. 

So are they now series favorites? 

A lot goes into that. Are the Lakers playing above their heads right now? Do you think Houston's offense can improve? if so, how much? Insofar as the Lakrs are concerned, it should be heartening to see that, while maybe the shotmaking has been a little elevated, there's little LA is doing that feels unsustainable, and the discipline and confidence with which they're playing seems unlikely to waver, even if Houston takes a game or two. Which they probably will at some point. 

These Lakers are guys who have been in the playoffs, and are less likely to be rattled by them. And it's helpful too to know the Rockets have a clear weakness. In a Round 2 against OKC, maybe you need more luck. But against the Rockets? 

And that Houston D, is it even as good as advertised? 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

5-Hour ENERGY

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Before things kicked off in their series against the Houston Rockets, the hosts of this space were confident in one thing: The Lakers would set a bar and make the Rockets clear it to beat them. LA is too resilient and composed to fall apart and fold. 

The expectation, though, was that the Rockets would have enough talent on hand to put down those plucky Lakers in five or six. 

Well... not so far! The Lakers have indeed set an admirably high bar, but the Rockets haven't even come close to coming over it. In fact, Houston has been borderline inept on the offensive end, leaving them down 2-0 heading into Friday's Game 3. So can the Rockets change their fortunes? Are they actually that bad, or is some positive regression inevitable? And what about the Lakers? How much more upside is available to them, particularly on offense? 

The Lakers aren't going to quit setting a standard Houston is going to have to exceed. Do these Rockets have it in them to get it done? 

We break it down with Jackson Gatlin of Locked On Rockets in another postseason crossover episode! 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, with Jackson Gatlin.

SEGMENT 1: Why are the Lakers up 2-0? 

SEGMENT 2: Is the Rockets offense really this bad? 

SEGMENT 3: What comes next? 

5-Hour ENERGY

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Indeed

Gametime

FanDuel

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Without question, Rockets center Alperen Şengün has the better pedigree and resume than either Deandre Ayton or Jaxson Hayes. However, over the course of two games between the Lakers and Rockets, the Laker centers have demonstratively outplayed and out-impacted their two-time All-Star counterpart. How is this happening, and why is it so critical to the Lakers' 2-0 series lead?

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5-Hour ENERGY

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Gametime

FanDuel

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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