Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

All reports have indicated that the Lakers, under new owner Mark Walter, will be following the Dodgers model that has worked so successfully up the road at Chavez Ravine. 

Walter has already transferred old friend Lon Rosen from the Dodgers' front office to El Segundo, where he'll replace long time Jeanie Buss confidant Tim Harris in a senior business position. But for fans, what they want to see more than anything are changes on the basketball side of things. A taste of that came on Wednesday, when the Lakers announced they had hired former UVA head coach Tony Bennett to serve as a Draft Consultant. 

Bennett has never served in a role like this in the NBA, but comes to the org with tremendous respect and a solid pedigree, having turned out not just some high end players from his Cavaliers program, but a ton of role guys at the NBA level. That's critical, because most players are, in fact, drafted to be role players, and identifying who is most capable of playing a role is critical to success. 

So this is an example of the Dodgers model -- going out and finding as many good brains as possible, then paying them to provide expertise -- that fans will love. Those looking for something a little more fast-paced, however (i.e. dumping Rob Pelinka) are likely to be disappointed, because that doesn't really follow the Dodgers model, either. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

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The honeymoon isn't exactly over -- Lakers fans are still overwhelmingly happy to have him -- but the part of the Luka Dončić Era where he's fairly immune to criticism seems to be ending. 

After arguably his worst game (as a scorer at least) against the Magic on Tuesday, one in which he rather inexplicably passed up an opportunity to take a game winning shot off an ATO drawn up for him, Luka was at the center of The Discourse in NBA circles on Wednesday. Both fans and media had plenty of criticism. But how much of it is deserved? 

Certainly the one point everyone agrees on: Luka complains too much to officials, and the Lakers simply don't have the margin of error to support it. They play shorthanded on too many defensive possessions because he's pulled himself out of a play. 

But what about the other stuff? Shot selection? His defense? Does he function as a truly multifaceted, complete player? Is that why it can be hard to put a running mate next to him? 

At what point do legitimate criticisms become a matter of losing the forest for the trees? 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

SEGMENT 1: The criticism is coming for Luka as the Lakers slump.

SEGMENT 2: The paradox of greatness in the NBA. 

SEGMENT 3: Floor and ceiling for LA's star. 

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New President of Business Operations Lon Rosen met the media ahead of Tuesday's game against the Magic at Crypto.com. 

And as far as fans go, the most important thing he said was about the front office structure this summer. This from The Athletic's Dan Woike: "In a conversation with reporters, new Lakers president of business operations Lon Rosen says the plan is for Rob Pelinka, with input from Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi, will continue to handle basketball operations. Pelinka told reporters the plan is to have an expanded front office this summer."

So the bigger operation is coming, but it appears that Pelinka will be the one directing its expansion. 

This is not terribly surprising, but a certain section of Laker Nation was, to say the least, hoping that the franchise would get the overhaul they want, and get a new GM in the process. Pelinka's never had a big baskeball ops department, for a few different reasons. Who he chooses to bring in will be quite interesting. 

There's a LOT to do in what is shaping up to be the most consequential offseason for the Lakers in years. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

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The Lakers had this one, and then they didn't. Final score, 110-109 loss to Orlando at home, finishing the homestand at 4-4.

This one stung. Despite a scoreless first half from Austin Reaves (who finished with 17 points) and an 8-24 night from Luka Dončić, the Lakers had every opportunity to win on Tuesday. Their execution down the stretch, which had been consistently good all year, was not. And as a result, they lose for the first time after leading through three quarters.

The dark clouds that have started forming around the Lakers got a little darker.

Hosts: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

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The Lakers have a ton of work to do before they can realistically expect to make a run in the Western Conference playoffs. 

They don't have a lot of time to figure stuff out, but if they want to reach whatever ceiling exists for them, they need to both win games and improve in the process. That can start tonight vs. Orlando at the Crypt, a stretch of seven games against sub-.500 or banged up teams (or both). If the Lakers want to keep the shot they have to finish in the top four, and certainly to stay out of the play-in game, the next two weeks are filled with must wins. Orlando, Phoenix, Golden State, Sacramento, New Orleans, Denver, Indiana. 

This stretch needs to be 5-2 as a baseline, 6-1 ideally. 

Can they start developing the right chemistry to make it happen? 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

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Austin Reaves struggled big against the Celtics on Sunday. 

He has struggled relatively frequently against the NBA's best defenses this season, and had a rough go against the Minnesota Timberwolves in last year's playoffs. With huge decisions coming, it has a lot of people, whether fans or those who follow the league for a living, asking ahrd questions about his long term future in LA, especially as a running mate for Luka Dončić. 

Do they fit well enough together to make a viable 1-2? 

Should the Lakers pursue a more obvious fit with Luka? A true two-way wing that bolster's Luka's defensive shortcomings? 

Is that player available, even in a trade? 

Should the Lakers try to find rotation depth, then another All-Star elsewhere? 

Or should they pony up, because there isn't going to be a better option out there? 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

SEGMENT 1: Austin Reaves has had problems against big physical defenses. 

SEGMENT 2: What are the questions the Lakers need to ask? 

SEGMENT 3: If not Austin, who? 

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Sunday's blowout loss to the hated Celtics was desperately starved for moments Lakers fans could embrace, but unveiling Pat Riley's statue certainly qualified as a rousing success, even acknowledging the incredibly low bar to clear. The franchise icon instantly recalls memories of championships, innovative basketball, boundless fun, and an indelible culture. The immortalization of Riles was a no-brainer and arguably overdue, but happily, Riley and his family could enjoy this honor with Lakers Nation.

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For a quarter, it was competitive, but over the course of their 111-89 loss to Boston at home on Sunday afternoon, the Lakers slowly lost cohesion and composure, discipline and spirit. They were eventually overwhelmed by a far more aggressive and confident Celtics team. 

The Lakers gave up a big number to Jalen Brown, but were especially burned by a hyper-efficient Payton Pritchard, who lit them up for 30 points on only 14 field goal attempts. The Celtics also dominated the glass, including the offensive rebounding opportunities, and generally were the faster, more aggressive and stronger team, leaving the Lakers to spend a lot of time complaining to officials, especially as the game went on. 

LeBron and Luka were... at bes, fine? Fine-adjacent? Austin Reaves, however, was not good, and meanwhile the Lakers got 16 points from Deandre Ayton, Rui Hachimura, Marcus Smart, Jake LaRavia and Jarred Vanderbilt. 

As JJ Redick said after the game, they were awful offensively. 

Losing to the Celtics is something Lakers fans hate, anyway. Losing like this to the Celtics? Monday is going to be an angry one in Laker Nation. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: An ugly loss to Boston. 

SEGMENT 2: Why do the Lakers struggle against physical defenses? 

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For the first time in all season, the Lakers had the full roster intact and ready to play. And it looked in Friday's game against the Clippers that the Lakers might run away with things, so good was their shotmaking in the first half of the game. 

But ultimately, the Lakers needed to fight for this one, and it became a pretty satisfying 125-122 win. 

Luka Dončić led the way for the Lakers with 38 points, which included eight three pointers, along with six rebounds and 11 assists. Austin Reaves? Also excellent, scoring 29 points on 9-15 shooting, grabbing two steals, and drawing a late charge on Bennedict Mathurin that JJ Redick called "the play of the game." 

There were other solid performances (Redick noted Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart did a lot of great stuff) and overall the energy was good. Defense? Still needs some work, but with another tough game coming Sunday against Boston, a win on Friday was a big deal. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

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