One of my favorite niche movie characters is “the Keymaker” from the Matrix trilogy. If you’re not familiar with him, you can read up on the character, but a cliff’s notes explanation is that he represents is the idea of creating a path to a solution that was not there before. Or, said another way, […]
Lakers Analysis
Lakers vs. Nuggets: Western Conference Finals Preview
It may not be what we expected, but it’s what we’ve got. The Lakers were supposed to face the Clippers in the Western Conference Finals starting on Friday. But instead of the other LA team making history by finally advancing out of the 2nd round, they made a different type of history by blowing a […]
Hello There, Playoff LeBron
It was just over 18 months ago now that LeBron James received skeptical looks and, in some circles, outright jeers. He was coming off a badly pulled groin on Christmas day that kept him out 17 games and looking to course-correct the Lakers back into the playoff hunt in his first season with the team. […]
A Small Adjustment to Help LeBron vs. the Rockets
If you want more of an instant reaction with deeper analysis to the Lakers game 1 loss to the Rockets, please give a listen to our LFR Pod recap that went up earlier today. Pete and I went long on what the Rockets were doing to get the Lakers out of sorts, our issues with […]
Lakers vs. Blazers Playoff Preview
It’s been a long time coming, Lakers fans. For the first time since Kobe Bryant ruptured his achilles to carry his team there, the Lakers are back in the playoffs. It’s been an arduous path back. I won’t go through all the ups and downs now, but there’s been many fits and starts, many ups […]
Are the Lakers Problems Real or a Product of Apathy?
In the six games they have played since the NBA’s restart the Lakers have been one of the NBA’s worst teams. With a 2-4 record, only the Grizzlies, Kings, and Wizards have won fewer games. Though they boast the league’s 3rd best defensive rating during this stretch, they’re last offensively and their -7.1 net rating […]
Lakers Season (restart) Preview – Five Things of Interest
While the scrimmages were fun (hello, Dion Waiters!), those games did not actually count. They were good cardio and a nice reintroduction of the players in the bubble to NBA basketball, but beyond that all anyone was really hoping for was to come out of them as healthy as they could be. The Lakers did […]
Anthony Davis and the Leadership We Do Not See
LeBron James is the Lakers leader. He’s the player whose words are paid most attention to (particularly by media and fans), the player whose footsteps are followed by his teammates. When there’s a big moment for this team, it’s James who everyone looks to for guidance and direction; it’s James who sets the tone via […]
Lakers Play Series: Post Split
My favorite play from the Lakers this season wasn’t when LeBron drove out of a mid-post isolation vs. Giannis in the win over the Bucks, the LeBron drive vs. Marcus Morris in the win over the Clippers that basically clinched the game, or even the “hammer” action play the team ran for Danny Green to […]
On the Bucks, the Clippers, and the Value of the Lakers Regular Season Success
Through 60 games the Lakers are 47-13. They have the 2nd best record in the league and the top record in the western conference. They’re top 5 in both offensive and defensive efficiency. There’s very little this team doesn’t do well; very few metrics that do not paint them as one of the league’s best […]