Laker Film Room - Dedicated to the Study of Lakers Basketball

The Lakers got one of their better wins of the season, locking in defensively to beat the Thunder on Monday night. Pete, Darius, and Mike discuss the game, the defensive performances of Austin Reaves and Spencer Dinwiddie, the attention to detail within the game plan defensively by the rest of the team, and much more. And then later, the guys preview Wednesday's game against the Kings and discuss...

The Lakers lost their 8th consecutive game to the Nuggets over the weekend, and did so in a familiar fashion with Denver's execution and shot making seizing the game down the stretch. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss the game, the challenges of defending the Nuggets, the decision to play Cam Reddish over D'Angelo Russell down the stretch, and much more. And then later, the guys preview Monday's matc...

It was not their best played game, but the Lakers fended off a feisty Wizards team to get a win in overtime and finish February with a 9-3 record. Pete, Darius, and Mike discuss the team's low energy, the challenges of getting a team's best shot every night, the emotional ride of a game like that, and understanding what is needed in order to do just enough to get a win. And then later, the guys di...

The Lakers stunned the Clippers with a huge 4th quarter comeback fueled by the brilliance of LeBron James and catalyzed by energetic defense to get a great win Wednesday night. Pete, Darius, and Mike discuss how it all transpired and highlight how the game turned around, why LeBron's defense was nearly as important as his shot making, the key part Cam Reddish and Jaxson Hayes played in the comebac...

After a few days off, the Lakers head into tonight's matchup with the Clippers with the possibility of Cam Reddish returning to the lineup and beginning a stretch of the schedule that is very home friendly. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss how Cam's pending return could impact the rotation and how the choices the coaches make could play into the traps of earlier season challenges on the backboards....

The Lakers suffered a disappointing loss to the Suns on Sunday, giving up a monster 1st quarter and then falling short in their comeback attempts over the rest of the game. Darius and Mike discuss the rough first quarter, Anthony Davis' matchup with Jusuf Nurkic, the Suns' big bench groups, and the Lakers own lineup choices to counter Phoenix's size. And then later, the guys discuss the standings...

The LeBron-less Lakers hung tight for nearly a half, but gave up a run to close the 2nd quarter and never threatened the game again in a loss to the Warriors on Thursday night. Pete and Darius discuss the game, how the Warriors scrambled the Lakers schemes on both sides of the ball, the challenges faced by the Lakers guards against the Warriors defense, and much more. 

The guys return from the All-Star break to discuss LeBron & Wood’s injuries, how the team can build on its offensive momentum, and preview tonight’s game vs the resurgent Warriors.

The Lakers enter the All-Star break with a 30-26 record and real momentum. Pete, Mike, and Darius reflect on the team to this point, highlighting the challenges and growing pains on offense, the shift towards bigger lineups, the individual play of Austin Reaves and D'Angelo Russell, and much more. And then later the guys discuss the last part of the season and the choices the coaches will be confr...

After winning in Utah on the 2nd night of a back-to-back without LeBron James, the Lakers head into the All-Star break as winners of three in a row and six of their last seven games. Pete and Darius discuss the win over the Jazz and the great rhythm they're in offensively. And then later, the guys discuss Rui Hachimura's recent play and how his offensive versatility is proving so useful, while als...

Pete & Mike discuss the win over the Pistons, the humming offense as of late within the 5-out motion offense, the integration of Spencer Dinwiddie on offense & defense, how this latest iteration of the team allows for a lesser load on LeBron & Anthony Davis for the rest of the regular season, and look ahead to the NBA standings, with the Lakers publicly stating that they want to avoid...

With roughly two-thirds of the NBA season over, the Lakers are a couple games over .500 and (mostly) have a sense of what their team will look like the rest of the season. Pete and Darius discuss what they hope to see from the team in the short and long term on both sides of the ball, how the team's growth on offense can help compensate for their defense, where Spencer Dinwiddie fits into this equ...

After a quiet trade deadline, the Lakers made some noise in the buyout market by signing Spencer Dinwiddie after he was traded to, and subsequently waived by, the Raptors. Pete, Darius, and Mike discuss the Dinwiddie acquisition and explore how he might help on offense, how he will need to be accommodated for on defense, and the overall value add of getting a talent like his for just an open roste...

The Lakers unveiled their statue for Kobe Bryant in a wonderful ceremony, but then lost a hard-fought game to the Nuggets where Denver made the critical plays down the stretch to pull things out. Mike and Darius discuss the events of the entire day, starting with the ceremony, the statue, and what stood out to them and then diving into the game and how the Nuggets' continuity, togetherness, and sc...

The Lakers head into Thursday's trade deadline in a much different position than last year when it seemed inevitable and necessary for a trade to be made. Darius and Mike discuss the current state of the team heading into the deadline, whether they think a deal is on the horizon, and, if a deal is made, how big it could be. And then later the guys look at the West standings heading into the upcomi...

The Lakers closed out their road trip with a win in Charlotte and now head into a busy week that will include the trade deadline and a celebration of Kobe Bryant at the unveiling of his statue on Thursday. Pete and Darius dive into these topics and more, hitting on D'Angelo Russell's strong play, what the trade deadline may or may not bring, and share some initial thoughts on celebrating Kobe as w...

The Lakers wrapped up their weekend with a hard fought win against the red-hot Knicks and have a chance to go 4-2 on their road trip if they can beat the Hornets on Monday. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss the game vs. the Knicks, the starting lineup shift, and the upcoming week the team is facing with the trade deadline on the horizon and the Kobe statue ceremony later this week. And then later the...

Without LeBron and Anthony Davis available, the Lakers went into Boston and played with effort, energy, and determination to beat the Celtics to get one of their best wins of the season. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss the total team effort to get the win, how Jarred Vanderbilt and Jaxson Hayes set the tone, Austin Reaves stepping up as a scorer and on-ball player, D'Angelo Russell's passing, Rui's...

After another defeat to the Hawks and heading into a big game against the Celtics, Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss the state of the Lakers, their spirit and competitiveness, their struggles on defense, Jarred Vanderbilt's offensive improvements, and the idea and value of spacing when building out lineups. And then later, the guys dive into the matchup with the Celtics and challenges they pose for t...

The Lakers got run off the floor by an energized Rockets team that took advantage of a combination of tired legs and low effort from a team that played a double overtime game just a couple days prior. Pete and Darius discuss the game and what went wrong, discuss the ongoing defensive struggles of the team's smaller lineups, and how the team needed more from their bench groups from an effort and en...

The Lakers won an instant classic in double overtime against the Warriors on Saturday night in another epic duel between LeBron James and Steph Curry. Pete, Darius, and Mike discuss the game, the excitement in the building, LeBron's great play, D'Angelo Russell's strong 4th quarter and OT play, and much more. And then later the guys discuss the closing lineup that included Jarred Vanderbilt and wh...

On Thursday the Lakers beat the Bulls on the strength of a hot-shooting night across the roster, but in particular from D'Angelo Russell. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss the win, the run that D-Lo is on, the emergence of Vanderbilt on offense and the aggressiveness he's showing on that end, and much more. And then later the guys discuss some of the defensive challenges the team is facing, potential...

With the trade deadline less than two weeks away, Pete, Darius, and Mike discuss the landscape the Lakers are looking at in regards to their own roster and the internal analysis of whether to make a deal and, if so, what kind to make vs. how other teams around the league might be looking at the what the Lakers could be offering and whether that squares with making a deal at all.

The Lakers played well and fought hard in the 2nd half, but still fell short to a red-hot Clippers team. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss the game, how the Lakers felt LeBron's absence on both sides of the ball, the continued strong play of D'Angelo Russell, and much more. And then later, the guys discuss the small forward position and how it plays a critical part in the Lakers team building efforts...

The Lakers lost a bad game to the Nets on Friday, but then proceeded to blowout the Blazers on Sunday. Pete, Darius, and Mike discuss their frustration with the Nets loss, the differences they saw vs. the Blazers, their thoughts on the starting group with Rui Hachimura, and the different identities the various lineups offer the coaches. And then later, the guys get into the vibes of the team and t...