Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

Six weeks ago, it was a different conversation. But now? 

The vibes around the Lakers are immaculate. Granted, winning nine in a row and getting some separation in the Western Conference is enough to make a team feel good about itself, but is there more going on here? How do the vibes contribute to the winning? What about the way in which they're winning is helping contribute to the vibes? And why do the vibes matter, anyway? 

And what about timing? As we've seen these things can shift, and quickly. But with about 10 games left in the regular season, does the way the Lakers are playing carry a little extra significance? 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

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It seemed like a possibility, and Sunday it came through -- the NBA has rescinded the technical foul it called on Luka Dončić in Saturday's game in Orlando. It would have been Luka's 16th, and forced his suspension for Monday's game in Detroit. 

Now he can play, and it gives the Lakers a solid advantage against a Pistons team that won't have Cade Cunningham, or one of his backups in Marcus Sasser. The Lakers will be potentially shorthanded as well, with both Rui Hachimura and Marcus Smart added to the injury list as questionable, joining Maxi Kleber, who has been upgraded to questionable. 

Still with all three of their stars and a nine game win streak, the Lakers have a much better shot at this game than it would have seemed 10 days ago. And with a couple more victories, the Lakers will have a shot to truly craft their lead up to the postseason. 

Meanwhile, LeBron doesn't know ABBA, and the Lakers benefitted from a favorable last two minute report. These things do even out over a season. 

SEGMENT 1: Luka can play! 

SEGMENT 2: A nice two minute report for LA. 

SEGMENT 3: An opportunity knocks. 

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It wasn't easy, but the win streak continues. After a very challenging second half in which both teams completely lost the thread offensively, the Lakers needed a last second shot from Luke Kennard to push them past Orlando, 105-104. 

That's nine straight wins for the purple and gold, who continue to put some space between themselves and the other contenders in the West. 

Luka Dončić finished with 33, most of that coming in the first half, and Austin Reaves had 26. 

Luka also picked up his 16th technical foul, which will leave him suspended for LA's next game in Detroit. JJ Redick says they're going to try and get it rescinded, so stay tuned. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

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Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba.

Robinhood
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Now available across the U.S. Download the Robinhood app now to begin. Futures and cleared swaps trading involves significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. Event contracts are offered by Robinhood Derivatives, LLC., a registered futures commission merchant and swap firm.

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The Lakers are rolling, having won eight straight games and staking a claim to the third seed in the West. 

Luka Dončić is starting to change the conversation around the MVP race. LeBron James is thriving in a reconsidered role with the team, where his usage goes down but his impact stays high. Marcus Smart is Marcus Smarting, and Deandre Ayton is, at least for now, delivering consistent effort nightly. 

Austin Reaves, however, has been more inconsistent. 

Some games have been spectacular, some quiet on the scoring front but busy in other spots. He's not been bad, but Reaves also hasn't played at the necessary level, night in and night out. His usage/workload has increased, and he's playing as many minutes as anyone in the league. So what explains the inconsistency? Should the Lakers be worried? 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

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Luka Dončić dropped 40 points Wednesday night in Houston. Pretty good! 

Well, with the Lakers road weary, having reached their hotel in Miami around 5:30 am, Luka went even bigger on Thursday. 60 points, on 18-30 from the floor, 15-19 from the line. And the Lakers needed every point, using a big third quarter and a strong fourth to hold off the Heat, 134-126. LeBron James added a triple-double (19/15/10), and from there the Lakers got just enough to get over the finish line. 

But this one was all about Luka. To say he's elevating over the last month-plus is an understatement. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers get 60 points from Luka, beat Miami. 

SEGMENT 2: LeBron trip-dub.

SEGMENT 3: Lakers peaking? 

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The Lakers arrived in Miami at about 4:30 am following Wednesday's critical win in Houston. To say the least, turning around and playing at 5 pm local time won't be easy. All three of the team's stars are listed as questionable, and nobody should be surprised if any combination of them don't play. 

(And if the NBA has an issue with it, blame the schedule maker.) 

Moreover, the Heat present a variety of challenges based on personnel and playing style that would be notable under normal circumstances, and heightened given the context. The flip side: Given how the Lakers bench has scuffled of late, would it be the worst thing in the world for some of these guys to have a high usage game and get the opportunity to find a groove? 

One guy who is back on the ball? Deandre Ayton, who as Dan Woike wrote about at The Athletic, seems to have been doing a lot of introspection of late, to his benefit and the team's. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

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Monday, the Lakers picked up a big win in Houston, giving them a little bit of separation in the Western Conference standings and an opportunity to do something bigger on Wednesday night, in the back end of an unusual two game set against the same opponent on their home floor. 

Once again, the Lakers came through. 

Led by a huge game, including a massive fourth quarter, from Luka Dončić -- 40 points, nine rebounds, 10 assists -- the Lakers picked up another victory, 124-116. This gives LA yet another tiebreaker in the Western Conference standings, a trifecta against their three closest competitors in the standings (Denver, Houston, Minnesota). LeBron James was fantastic as well, dominating in the open floor in particular en route to 30 points on 13-14 shooting, including a ton of dunks. 

Austin Reaves had 14 points and eight assists against only one TO, Deandre Ayton had 18, matching Houston's All Star center Alperen Sengun, who returned to the lineup after missing Monday's game. 

The Lakers will now head to Miami, getting in VERY early Thursday morning. Don't be shocked if the Lakers treat it as a scheduled loss, which they can do if needed, given the progress over the last month. 

Huge win. Huge. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

SEGMENT 1: Luka powers another win for the Lakers. 

SEGMENT 2: The LeBron Formula on steroids. 

SEGMENT 3: Lakers control their destiny. 

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Minutes for the Big 3 have gone from a major liability to a major strength for the Lakers. 

And because of it, how folks view the rest of the regular season and postseason (and offseason, though those conversations can wait) is undergoing a serious transformation. So how did we get here? Monday in Houston, JJ Redick talked about how the Lakers have rethought the usage of their top three players, with Luka Dončić obviously maintaining his place at the top of the food chain, but engineering a shift between Austin Reaves and LeBron James that elevates Reaves on the ball, and lowers LeBron's usage to historic levels. 

Why has it worked? What does it say about the strengths and weaknesses of each player? And perhaps most importantly, about the culture of buy-in LA has built? 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

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The Lakers pulled off a big win Monday in Houston, taking the first of this somewhat unusual two game set against the same team in their city. 

Game 2 has a lot a stake, most notably that the winner has what could become a very, very critical tiebreaker for winning the season series. And for the Lakers, not only would they get that advantage, they'd do it while putting another game in between themselves and Houston. So big stuff for sure. 

It will, though, be a tougher test for the Lakers, since Rockets All-Star Alperen Sengun is expected to play in this one. What changes with Sengun back? A lot. But it also might make on player for the Lakers happier. Meanwhile, the Lakers are unlikely to hold Kevin Durant down as effectively in the second go, but at the same time, will Austin Reaves miss all of his triples? What stays the same, and what changes, from Monday. 

Finally, would the Lakers be wise to ask the NBA to start Luka Dončić with 12 T's next season? We kid... sort of. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

SEGMENT 2: Can the Lakers keep KD down? 

SEGMENT 3: Luka minds his manners, and thrives. 

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So the Lakers are playing much better, having moved up to a third seed and with a win Wednesday in Houston will secure tiebreakers against all three of the teams closest to them in the Western Conference standings (Minnesota, Denver and the Rockets). So with that team success, is it time for Luka Dončić to be more than a passing consideration in the MVP conversation? 

His numbers on the year are great, and have been particularly good since the All-Star break. Including on the defensive side of things! 

So should Luka be right up there with the Nikola Jokic's of the world? What happens if the Lakers keep winning? 

And more importantly, is THIS Luka the one that can carry the Lakers deeper into the postseason than people expect? 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

ZocDoc

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Robinhood
You’re no longer just a spectator. Play by play. You decide. Trade Every Play with Robinhood.
Now available across the U.S. Download the Robinhood app now to begin. Futures and cleared swaps trading involves significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. Event contracts are offered by Robinhood Derivatives, LLC., a registered futures commission merchant and swap firm.

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