Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers got up early, taking fast control of Sunday's game at home against the Sacramento Kings, using the same balanced first quarter offense that served them well Saturday against the Warriors. Up 38-16 after 12 minutes, they threw it in cruise control a little early, letting the Kings get to within 10 in the third before again putting things in fifth gear. 

From there, the Lakers built up a big lead, maintained it, and as it was on Saturday the Lakers didn't have to play any starters for more than 29 minutes. With a busy schedule coming, this extra rest becomes a big deal. 

Luka Dončić led the way with an easy 28 points, and paced the team with nine assists. LeBron James had 24, Deandre Ayton was a very efficient 6-6 from the floor, and Luke Kennard was again a catalyst off the bench. 

Everyone understands that the Warriors and Kings are not good teams right now. That said, if you drew up a script for what you'd want these games to look like, it almost certainly would have resembled the actual game play very closely. 

And if nothing else, the dark cloud that had been forming over the team has started to lift. With a game against New Orleans Tuesday (a bad Pels team that has played a little better of late) the Lakers have an excellent opportunity to keep the momentum going. 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

 

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers get an early lead, maintain it to beat Sacramento. 

 

SEGMENT 2: Finding a formula? 

 

SEGMENT 3: What feels sustainable here? 

 

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To say the Lakers needed a palate cleanser is a major understatement. Having lost three in a row, a fourth on Saturday against a shorthanded Golden State team could have led to disaster. 

Instead, the Lakers got a reminder that they can, in fact, play quality basketball, taking control early of a Warriors team that couldn't hit a shot and ever giving it up. Final score, 129-101

It was a balanced effort for the Lakers. 22 points from LeBron James, 28 from Luka Dončić -- all three got extended rest in the fourth quarter -- supplemented by double-digit performances from Luke Kennard (16) and Jake LaRavia (15). The Lakers took care of the ball, were generally attentive defensively, and kept the energy up all evening. You could tell as well in their body language that they badly needed a game like this one. 

Good too that they got to cruise, because they need to be ready and strong Sunday in Sacramento. 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

 

 

Everydayer Club
If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub

 

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!

TurboTax

This year you’re getting a major upgrade — Intuit TurboTax now has in-person locations nationwide. Visit http://TurboTax.com/local to book your appointment today.

Betterhelp

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. BetterHelp makes it easy to get matched online with a qualified therapist.  Sign up and get 10% off at http://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA. 

 

5-Hour ENERGY

Have your cake & drink it too. Birthday cake-flavor is back, no fork needed. Vanilla-y cakey flavor, caffeinated kick, and no sugar. It's party time. Order Now at 5-hourENERGY.com or Amazon.

Indeed

Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast

Gametime

Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.

FanDuel

FanDuel is giving you a way to turn that energy into even bigger potential wins with a College Basketball Parlay Profit Boost.Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started — Play Your Game.

 

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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Oh, Deandre Ayton. 

As the Lakers season has tailed off after a hot start, so too has Ayton's play. He is both symptom and disease, becoming less involved offensively and less engaged overall, which makes him less involved, which makes him less engaged, and so on. But because Ayton can't give himself the ball, he's also a good measure for how little the ball moves these days with the offense. That said, Ayton (who doesn't exactly have much equity anywhere around the league) was the focus of unwanted attention following a feature from ESPN's Dave McMenamin. 

He made a very poor comparison to himself and Rockets center Clint Capela that isn't aging well (and has only been alive for a few days), and other aspects of his colorful personality have emerged as well. 

We recorded this episode before the Lakers lost Thursday in Phoenix -- Ayton was particularly bad -- but we opened to a lot of questions. 

What curve is Ayton being graded on? Is he a bust for the Lakers? Has he met expectations for this season, based on his salary with the Lakers? What now? Because when Ayton plays well, the Lakers tend to win. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

 

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If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub

 

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DoorDash
From tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.
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5-Hour ENERGY

Have your cake & drink it too. Birthday cake-flavor is back, no fork needed. Vanilla-y cakey flavor, caffeinated kick, and no sugar. It's party time. Order Now at 5-hourENERGY.com or Amazon.

Indeed

Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast

Gametime

Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.

FanDuel

Use your Profit Boost on an NBA future and get entered for your chance to win a trip to the NBA Finals.

Play your game with FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started.

 

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The Lakers found an interesting way to change the subject after a terrible loss to the Magic on Tuesday.

Thursday, the Lakers went into Phoenix to face a Suns squad without both Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks, and still found a way to lose, 113-110. As it was against Orlando, the Lakers had opportunities to pull ahead and absolutely could have won, but instead lost in the final seconds of the game, failing to connect on a shot that would have (on Tuesday) won the game or (on Thursday) sent it into OT.

Luka Dončić rebounded from a terrible game Tuesday to finish with 41/8/8, but neither Austin Reaves nor LeBron James provided enough offensive support, and broadly speaking the offense as a whole completely collapsed. No movement. No cutting. Not much of anything. The Lakers, despite having Luka, LeBron and AR were out-assisted by a Phoenix team missing a ton of talent.

This feels like a loss that could be the start of a very bad spiral. The Lakers are, as Reaves said after, very frustrated, and it shows. If they can't get things aligned quickly, there's a reasonable chance the whole thing crashes out.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

 

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If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub

 

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Turbo Tax

For a limited time, you can have your taxes done by a local TurboTax expert for just $150 — all in, if a TurboTax expert didn’t file for you last year. Just file by February 28. Take taxes off your plate and get back to your life.

Visit https://TurboTax.com/local to book your appointment today.

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.

PrizePicks
Download the PrizePicks app today and use codeLOCKEDONNFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup.
Click Here: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNBA

5-Hour ENERGY

Have your cake & drink it too. Birthday cake-flavor is back, no fork needed. Vanilla-y cakey flavor, caffeinated kick, and no sugar. It's party time. Order Now at 5-hourENERGY.com or Amazon.

Indeed

Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast

Gametime

Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.

FanDuel

Use your Profit Boost on an NBA future and get entered for your chance to win a trip to the NBA Finals.

Play your game with FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started.

 

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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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 

 

Everydayer Club
If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub

 

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!

Turbo Tax

For a limited time, you can have your taxes done by a local TurboTax expert for just $150 — all in, if a TurboTax expert didn’t file for you last year. Just file by February 28. Take taxes off your plate and get back to your life.

Visit https://TurboTax.com/local to book your appointment today.

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.

PrizePicks
Download the PrizePicks app today and use codeLOCKEDONNFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup.
Click Here: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNBA

5-Hour ENERGY

Have your cake & drink it too. Birthday cake-flavor is back, no fork needed. Vanilla-y cakey flavor, caffeinated kick, and no sugar. It's party time. Order Now at 5-hourENERGY.com or Amazon.

Indeed

Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast

Gametime

Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.

FanDuel

Use your Profit Boost on an NBA future and get entered for your chance to win a trip to the NBA Finals.

Play your game with FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started.

 

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)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.