Laker Film Room - Dedicated to the Study of Lakers Basketball

After an amazingly disappointing season, needing to hire a new head coach, and facing pressure to get the organization back on track, Rob Pelinka has his most important offseason as a Lakers executive. Pete and Darius discuss the challenge Pelinka faces and why his ability to build consensus while also showing accountability will be key in whatever success he has.

With the playoffs on the horizon, Pete, Mike, and Darius take one last look back at the regular season to discuss who they would place on the All-NBA team this year. Should we still have positional designations? Will Jokic and Embiid both make 1st team? How much does games played matter? Do LeBron and Kevin Durant slide down because of missed games? The guys answer these questions and much more.

In part 2 of their discussion on the Lakers firing Frank Vogel, Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss where things went so wrong this year by reflecting on the shift in team building approach after the team's 2020 championship, how Vogel and Russell Westbrook never seemed to value the same things, and how the lack of alignment between the roster and Vogel's basketball philosophies led to a rigidity that...

In a move that has been on the horizon for weeks, the Lakers parted ways with Frank Vogel on Monday, ending his tenure as head coach after 3 seasons. In part one of their discussion of the move, Pete, Mike, and Darius revisit the circumstances of Vogel's hire, how his philosophies as a head coach perfectly matched his 1st Lakers roster, and how it all came together in their run to a championship.

How many teams can actually win the NBA championship this season? Can the Grizzlies defy their experience level to make a deep run or even win the title? Will the Mavs frontcourt and wing depth hurt them vs. the other west teams? Is Brooklyn totally out of it, even with Kevin Durant? Who should be favored between the Suns and the Bucks? With the Lakers out of the playoff picture, Pete, Mike, and D...

The Lakers' playoff hopes faded into memory on Tuesday, effectively bringing a lost season to its conclusion. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss the team's collapse, and how early mistakes and misfortunes led to the cascading series of events that doomed the season.

Whenever a Lakers season disappoints, an offseason of rumor and drama surely follows. With the Lakers all by certain to miss the Play-In Tournament, Pete, Mike & Darius discuss lessons learned from previous tumultuous offseasons.

An inspired effort from a clearly hobbled Anthony Davis and a very efficient scoring night from Russell Westbrook weren't enough for the Lakers to hang in with Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets on Sunday, all but ending the Lakers chances at the play-in game in the process. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss both the game and the season at large, breaking down how some of the positives weren't enough and t...

The Lakers’ hopes of making the play-in took a nearly fatal hit as they fell to the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night. Pete & Darius discuss the elements of a game that was a microcosm of a lost season.

Has the play-in tournament devalued the regular season? Can tweaks like a shorter regular season or fewer playoff teams make the regular season more competitive and interesting night to night? Does a team like the Lakers -- that is more than 10 games under .500 -- even deserve a chance at the post-season? Pete, Mike, and Darius answer these questions and more as they debate the state of the regula...

After Luka & the Mavs dismantled the Lakers, Pete & Mike briefly discuss the game, the toll that the lack of continuity has exacted upon the team over the years, the current picture in the West & the latest on AD.

With the Lakers' precarious position in the standings, Mike gives us up-to-the-minute news on Anthony Davis' return status. Then, he & Pete discuss how the Lakers' lack of size emphasizes AD's importance & how front court minutes might be affected, who to start alongside of AD, Melo's recent struggles & belief.

The Lakers lost another gut-punch game on Sunday, falling to the Pelicans after surrendering a 20 point halftime lead in a brutal 3rd quarter, and then not having enough to fend off the charging Pelicans late. Pete and Darius discuss the loss, their frustrations in watching the team give up another big lead, and LeBron's struggles after spraining his ankle. Then later, the guys debate how much a g...

Sunday's game vs. the Pelicans is not only important to the standings, but serves as a likely play-in preview. And with the team facing off another time in the next handful of days, Pete, Mike, and Darius examine the matchups on both sides of the ball, detailing why New Orleans' individual talent poses such a problem for the Lakers defense and how their paint-packing defensive approach can be coun...

The Lakers played the 76ers tough on Wednesday night, but without LeBron James the talent gap and Philly's defensive pressure were enough to keep the Lakers at arm's length. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss the game, focusing on the Lakers' continued improvement offensively and what they're doing on that side of the ball that's working. Then later, the guys discuss Stanley Johnson's overall game, hi...

Whether it's the path through the play-in to qualify for the playoffs or in Wednesday night's game vs. the 76ers, the Lakers are going to have to deal with the goliaths of the NBA in important games the rest of this season. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss how the Lakers need to play against the game's best big men, why Anthony Davis is the best -- but not only -- solution, and why the speed and mot...

A dominant LeBron game, an efficient and impactful Westbrook performance on offense, a hot shooting night from DJ Augustin, and a very well coached Frank Vogel game got the Lakers a big win in Cleveland. Is this team finding its stride? Has Russ turned a corner? How does LeBron continue to do  this ? Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss the Lakers win over the Cavs and try to answer these questions and...

The Lakers spent their weekend playing 7 really good quarters of basketball over two games, but it was that final quarter that cost them a win in Washington. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss the Lakers strong play over those two games, how they carried over their effort from the win in Toronto to the Wizards game, and how that 4th quarter in Washington was emblematic of what they've been all season....

The Lakers have a long history of #1 overall picks and a current roster full of accomplished players who aren't used to being the underdog. Pete & Darius discuss the team navigating unfamiliar territory in a league that's relishing the opportunity to settle scores against them.

The Lakers have a history of sudden falls from contention status, only to rise back up and vault themselves back into the conversation of the league's best teams in just as sudden a turn. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss how the team's struggles this season -- and their path back out of this hole -- can be informed by the past cycles this franchise has seen and how the lessons learned from this fina...

The Lakers lost to the Raptors on Monday night in a game that was not as close as the final margin. Pete and Darius break down the game, focusing on how the Raptors small-ball lineups stood in stark contrast to how the Lakers micro groups and the advantages Toronto gained from their size discrepancy on the wings. Then later the guys discuss Wenyen Gabriel's fit on the roster and why they think he...

Vastly different opponents brought out two different versions of the Lakers this weekend. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss how these games illustrated the benefits and limitations of microball, the team’s tendency to fold at the first sign of adversity, and the team’s lack of attention to detail in the drive & kick game.

The Eastern Conference gave us a good old fashioned rivalry game on Thursday night when the Nets and 76ers faced off in Philly, bringing all the drama of their trade deadline exchange along with them. Pete, Mike, and Darius use the Nets big win as an entry point to discuss a competitive East playoff race, who their favorites are, and why it feels like as many as 5 teams could end up winning the co...

A theme of this Lakers season has been their inability to conjure the respect and motivation to play engaged basketball vs. teams that aren't very good or that have bad records. This showed up again on Wednesday night in an overtime loss to the Rockets. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss the potential root causes of this approach the Lakers so often take, and how much responsibility LeBron does and sh...

How are the Lakers young players developing this season? How is it different trying to develop on a Lakers team, with LeBron James, and with championship aspirations? What growth have some of the Lakers young players made and in what ways has that met or exceeded expectations? Pete, Mike, and Darius look at Talen Horton-Tucker, Austin Reaves, and Malik Monk's seasons to this point and try to answe...