Dec. 13, 2021
The wins against bad teams don't tend to impress, but given where the Lakers are in the standings and in their schedule, you can make a solid argument that games against OKC (Friday) and Orlando (Sunday) are the most important ones they play. Because as the schedule tightens up - and it will - some losses are going to come. The Lakers simply can't let games against terrible opposition get away from them. They took care of business Friday, and did it again Sunday, knocking off the Magic 106-94 at Staples.
Once again, Anthony Davis was on the sidelines with a bum knee.
Once again, LeBron James set a tone for the team and led them to victory. 30 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, three blocked shots. James was big on both sides of the ball, and after the game his high end play was the topic of conversation. First, as a sign he's getting healthier, but also prompting the totally legitimate question of whether or not this sort of engagement and production is sustainable through the rest of the year, or if it's a good idea to ask for it. (And, by extension, if it's a bad sign they might have to.)
But beyond health, is any sensitivity to potential criticism of "LeGM" following the Russell Westbrook play part of his resurgence? There has been some chatter, and LeBron hears everything...
Finally, Talen Horton-Tucker had one of his stronger games since returning to the starting lineup, with 19 points, three triples and six (6!) steals. After, Frank Vogel talked about why he's in the starting lineup and what is expected of him. Does he stay there, though, when Trevor Ariza returns and provides Vogel more optionality on defense?
HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky
SEGMENT 1: LeBron leads the Lakers to a second straight win. Are the Lakers playing with fire by requiring him to do this much?
SEGMENT 2: What accounts for LeBron's resurgence? Is it just health? Is there a little more at play? And are the Lakers finally catching a little bit of sustained good fortune? The kind that will give them enough space to actually start putting the pieces together in a meaningful way?
SEGMENT 3: THT's space in the starting lineup. Why he's there, despite some spacing fits, and whether or not he stays.
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