Pete and I react to news that Avery Bradley will be making his return to the court Wednesday night in Orlando. How does that affect the rotation and what can we expect from him? Then, we look back on some analysis we had regarding the offense and how Frank Vogel's approach to it is paying dividends now.
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LOCKED ON LAKERS -- 12/11 -- How should Frank Vogel work Avery Bradley back into the rotation?

Locked On Lakers podcast is your daily ticket to stay ahead of the game and the first to know the latest news, analysis, and insider info for the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA. Hosts Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, who have covered the Purple and Gold since 2005 for media outlets including the LA Times, ESPN and The Athletic, offer traditional journalism, informal commentary, and offbeat humor to provide expert, local analysis. Locked On Lakers takes you beyond the scoreboard for the inside scoops on the biggest stories from within the Lakers locker room and all over the NBA. The Locked On Lakers podcast is part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your Team. Every Day.

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This win didn't quite look like the others, but in the end the Lakers got what they came for, and once again defeated the New Orleans Pelicans, winning Tuesday in the 7/8 Play-In Game.  It's the fourth time in five this season LA has topped the Pelicans, and the second time in three days - both on the road - and this one is undoubtedly the most significant. It pushes the Lakers into the first round of the main draw, where they'll kick off a series against the Nuggets beginning Saturday in Denver. 

It's been a very long time since the Lakers beat Denver, and there will be plenty to say about that series between now and Saturday, but for today it's worth noting how the Lakers got it done on Tuesday, and how that might influence things going forward. 

Because while Anthony Davis and LeBron James played hard (Davis through back spasms) and gave it what they had, neither was efficient offensively (12-36 combined from the floor). The Lakers as a team didn't crack 42% from the floor. But they didn't turn the ball over (eight total TOs), they were solid from 3-point range (over 40%), and they made their FTs (26-29, including 9-9 in the fourth quarter). 

And most importantly, other guys stepped up, whether D'Angelo Russell with big early production combined with a critical steal and a clutch corner triple, or Gabe Vincent playing high end defense and scoring nine points (which doesn't soundn like much until you remember he had seven over his last six games combined.) 

The Lakers had to grind this one out. They had to play defense. They had to hit their free throws down the stretch. They had to win without the best performances from their stars. It was, in short, a fantastic dress rehearsal for what's coming. 

But for now, rest. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky



SEGMENT 1: The Lakers beat New Orleans, advance to face Denver. 

SEGMENT 2: The supporting cast picked up the stars in a big team win. 

SEGMENT 3: Gabe Vincent steps up, D'Angelo Russell has a challenge in front of him. 



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The Lakers Beat Pelicans 110-106, Advance to Face Nuggets in the First Round of the Playoffs

The Lakers spanked the Pelicans on Sunday to earn their way to the 8-seed and... a repeat of Sunday's game in New Orleans. This time, however, the winner of the game advances straight into the rest of the postseason, finishing as the West's 7-seed and winning a chance to travel to Denver this weekend. 

The loser plays the winner of Wednesday's game between Sacramento and Golden State. 

On paper, at least, the Lakers would seem to be the favorites. Three wins in four games over New Orleans, with an average mergin of victory exceeding 26 points. That's some real dominance and indicates the Lakers have structural advantages in the matchup. LeBron James, in addition to being excellent, is also a bad matchup for Zion Williamson, who can't use his strength to bully James around  offensively and can't outthink the supercomputer that is LeBron, either. The Pellies don't have a great matchup guarding James, either. And meanwhile, as Sunday showed, they're not rich in guys who match up well with Anthony Davis. 

On the other hand, the Pelicans have been, at least until a bit of an injury-induced lull at the end of the year, among the best teams in the conference for much of the second half. There is plenty of talent there, and no shortage of shooting. 

So what's going to happen? We break it down in a fantastic crossover episode with Jake Madison, host of Locked On Pelicans. 

What are the matchups to watch? How might the Pelicans turn things around against LA? What are the big strategic plays available for both teams? 

Plus, should either group be looking to tank the game in order to change their odds for a longer playoff run? 



HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, with Jake Madison

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers get another crack at the Pels, after throttling them good three out of four games this year. 



SEGMENT 2: LeBron vs. Zion. 



SEGMENT 3: How the Pelicans can turn the tables on LA. 



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Play-In Preview, Lakers Vs. Pelicans: Can LeBron Stop Zion Again? Who Stops Anthony Davis?

The Lakers played about as poorly as a team can Friday in Memphis without actually losing. 

Sunday, they made up for it in a huge way. Win, and the Lakers would solidify an 8-seed, and a chance to get into the postseason bracket with only one win (while earning the luxury of a do-over, if needed). Lose, and they're the 10. Win twice, or go home, both on the road. 

It was pretty clear which option the Lakers preferred. The came out hot early, with a determined and focused effort to take control. They increased their lead big into the half (17 points) and won the third quarter by five to refuse the Pelicans even an inch of opportunity. Anthony Davis (30 points) and LeBron James (28 points, 17 assists) were both dominant, and had more than enough help from Austin Reaves (20 points ) and D'Angelo Russell (18 points, 5-10 from downtown). The defensive effort was stellar as well. 

Now the Lakers, as the 8-seed, take on New Orleans on Tuesday with a chance to move through into the first round. The opportunity is there- LA's margin of victory in the three they've won over the Pellies is massive. And the game they lost was on the second night of a back-to-back, with multiple players missing. Advantage Lakers. That would earn them four full days of rest before visiting Denver (sigh) in the first round. 

Speaking of that, some of the more artful on Lakers social media are suggesting the Lakers might want to lose on purpose Tuesday, then go ahead and win on Friday in the second game of the play-in, thus earning the 8-seed and a date with top-seeded Oklahoma City, a much, much better matchup for LA. 

Is this an idea worth entertaning? 



HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky



SEGMENT 1: The Lakers throttle New Orleans, in one of their best games of the year. 

SEGMENT 2: Anthony Davis and LeBron James dominate. The supporting cast is there. And it's pretty clear the Pelicans just don't match up well with the Lakers. 



SEGMENT 3: Should the Lakers try to avoid Denver in the first round? 



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Lakers Dominate Pelicans, 124-108, Rematch Tuesday For Seven Seed Play-In.

They didn't deserve it, but the Lakers got the win anyway. 

Against a Memphis Grizzlies team that had 13 players on the injured list, eight players in uniform, and zero players who started the season playing meaningful minutes for an NBA team, the Lakers still needed all 48 minutes to come away with a 123-120 win. How much good it does them depends on what else happens around the conference, but at least the Lakers kept the dream of moving up alive. 

Even if they shouldn't have been allowed to. 

This was, very likely, the most annoying win of the year. But it was a win, which beats the alternative. We'll see if the time LeBron (41 minutes) and Anthony Davis (43 minutes) spent on the floor that they absolutely shouldn't have needed to hurts on Sunday. But for now, at least, the Lakers got the thing that mattered most. Even if how they did it was kind of appalling. 



HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky



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Undeserving Lakers Escape From Memphis With a 123-120 Win Over Grizzlies.

Given the disappointment of Wednesday's results and the box it puts the Lakers in from a standings perspective - they're far more likely now to be a 10 seed than anything else - there was at least some speculation that the Lakers might just leave a recovering Anthony Davis and LeBron James at home, at least for Friday's game in Memphis. Let them fully recover before playing again, and see if Sunday in New Orleans matters.

There were certainly arguments to be made against that plan, and apparently those are the ones the Lakers went with. Davis and James both were on the plane, and are in position to play tonight. Davis is probable, and LeBron, who has been questionable (unless he's out) for basically every game this season, and will be questionable (or out) for every game he plays until he retires is, well, questionable.

But there's no indication he won't play.

The Lakers are going to play this thing out, try to win a couple games and hope they get a little help from other teams around the conference. Is that the right call? 

Meanwhile, Thursday's show asked if Anthony Davis was being treated unfairly by Lakers fans after missing Wednesday's game, and it's fair to say that if the show's YouTube page is any indication, said fans are split pretty evenly on the issue between "leave him alone" and "dude should have tried/played/sucked it up." Reflective, for sure, of the unique position he occupies in the minds of LA's faithful. 

Finally, this week there was some chatter on The Hoop Collective podcast over at ESPN about the future of LeBron in LA. Everything from the length of the deal to whether he'd get a no-trade clause. How will the Lakers approach all of this? 



HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky



SEGMENT 1: AD and LeBron are traveling, but fans are still annoyed at Davis. Some of them, at least. 

SEGMENT 2: Should the Lakers shorten the rotation?

SEGMENT 3: The Lakers and LeBron are wedded to each other for the duration. 

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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)

LOCKED ON LAKERS -- 12/11 -- How should Frank Vogel work Avery Bradley back into the rotation?

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