Laker Film Room - Dedicated to the Study of Lakers Basketball

After a sore knee kept LeBron James out against the 76ers and then the Lakers lost by double digits in Philly, it's easy to be dispirited with where the team finds itself today. But, a dominant performance from Anthony Davis, even in a losing effort, inspires some hope that things might not be so bad. Pete and Darius discuss how they're feeling about the team coming out of the Philly game and how...

Pete, Darius & Mike preview the Sixers game which will feature a white hot Joel Embiid and a prolific rebounder in Andre Drummond. They discuss whether they expect Dwight Howard to play, the Lakers' offensive rebounding issues, the importance of forging a team identity and some fun train facts.

Anthony Davis is back, Stanley Johnson started, Trevor Ariza didn't play, and the Lakers beat the Nets by keeping them at arm's length most of the night. Pete and Darius discuss the events of Tuesday night, drilling down into what stood out to them in AD's return and why his defensive performance is exactly what the Lakers needed from him. Later, the guys discuss Stanley Johnson's surprise shift i...

Anthony Davis is expected to return to the lineup on Tuesday night when the Lakers face off against the Nets in Brooklyn. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss what to expect from AD in his return, how the Lakers can integrate him into the lineup defensively, some of the lineup combinations they're most interested in seeing with him back, and why what the team has learned about themselves with AD out can...

The Lakers split a pair of games over the weekend, beating the Magic on Friday while losing to the Heat on Sunday. In both games, however, a consistent theme was the struggles of the current starting lineup. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss this new group of starters, their status as a placeholder group until Anthony Davis returns, and why Trevor Ariza's struggles stand out as worth monitoring in bo...

It wouldn't be the Lakers if there weren't some drama too. This was true when Dr. Buss bought the team and it remains true today. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss the team's history of managing the spotlight and accepting the drama that comes with playing for the Lakers and in Los Angeles, and also the benefits that come with it too. 

As has been all too common this season, the Lakers lost another game down the stretch -- this time against the Pacers and a red-hot shooting Caris LeVert who nearly outscored the entire Lakers team in the 4th quarter by himself. Pete and Darius discuss the game, using it as a microcosm for some of the Lakers larger issues and how the misalignment of players vs. scheme contributed to the team's def...

With recent reports that Frank Vogel's job may be in jeopardy, Pete, Mike, & Darius discuss the relevant context that has led to to this point.

The Lakers had one of their best wins of the year on Monday night, beating the Jazz with a combination of defensive execution and timely offense down the stretch. From Stanley Johnson's big night to LeBron's balanced floor game to some key lineup and tactical shifts from Frank Vogel and the coaching staff, Pete, Mike, and Darius breakdown the game and discuss why this type of bounceback performanc...

The Lakers suffered a blowout loss to the Nuggets on Saturday and a day later LeBron James sent out a tweet apologizing to the fans and saying that they'll be better. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss the loss to the Nuggets, but also LeBron's tweet and debate whether it's realistic to expect this version of the team to be better considering the talent and types of players they currently have on the...

In their loss to the Kings on Wednesday, some of the Lakers worst traits as a team were put on display. Pete, Mike, and Darius dissect the disappointing loss and explain where their concerns are and why the circumstances surrounding this game put an added level of importance on the team's resolve and resiliency heading into this next stretch of games against better opponents. 

What is Russell Westbrook's ideal role on this version of the Lakers? How aggressive does he need to be? What should the team be doing to help him thrive on offense? Does that change when Anthony Davis comes back? Due to injuries and COVID absences, the first half of the season hasn't been as informative as we'd have liked, but we have a better idea of how to answer these questions than we did ove...

The Lakers have hit the halfway point of the regular season, so there's no better time to reflect on what has happened to this point in the year, how much we do and do not know about this team, and where we think they're headed. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss some of their big picture takeaways through the halfway point -- from the injuries to the shift towards small ball to the load LeBron has ha...

The Lakers were mauled by the Grizzlies on Sunday night, showing both how good Memphis is as a team and how their specific personnel served as an antidote to many of the things the Lakers had been doing well in their win streak. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss the limitations of the Lakers small-ball approach and how the team's sloppy execution did them in vs. a Grizzlies team that offers specific...

With the Lakers playing more "microball" lineups that feature Russell Westbrook, should we worry they'll suffer the same fate as the 2019-20 Rockets? How much does this Lakers' season remind you of the cursed 2012-13 one? Where will Kendrick Nunn's minutes come from when he returns from injury? How does Anthony Davis fit into this new style of play? Pete, Mike, and Darius answer these questions an...

As the Lakers embrace small-ball and centerless lineups, where does Dwight Howard fit into the rotation? And after playing very well in his last two appearances, should the Lakers try to find a consistent role for him? Pete, Mike, and Darius evaluate Dwight at this stage of his career, discuss why he's still a useful player on a team that's skewing smaller, and forecast where he might be most valu...

LeBron James and Malik Monk came up huge down the stretch of the 4th quarter in a come from behind win over the Kings on Tuesday night, giving the Lakers their 3rd straight win in the process. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss the game, focusing on Monk and LeBron's partnership and how Monk's offensive skill set allows him to thrive in the two-man game actions the team ran to close out the win. Later...

With Stanley Johnson's 10-day contract expiring on Monday and Avery Bradley's contract guarantee date approaching this week, the Lakers have some roster decisions to make. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss Johnson's status and whether they expect him back on the team and then they get into Bradley's play of late and whether they'd guarantee his contract by this Friday's deadline. Later, the guys disc...

The Lakers were able to grind out a win vs. the Timberwolves on Sunday night, committing to playing their small-ball lineups even when they were struggling defensively and on the backboards. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss Frank Vogel's choice to stay small, the significance of giving these groups a chance to succeed and fail on their merits, and how the blueprint of playing this style is coming to...

The Lakers played a strong game vs. the Grizzlies, but weren't able to contain Ja Morant or hold on to a double digit 3rd quarter lead in a frustrating loss. Mike and Darius discuss the game, including LeBron's great night, where the game got away from the Lakers, and how both teams being shorthanded impacted the outcome. Later, the guys discuss Talen Horton-Tucker's recent struggles and anticipat...

The Lakers downsized their lineup and traveled to No Big Island on Tuesday night, ending their 5 game losing streak with a win over the Rockets in the process. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss the lineup shift and breakdown the positives they saw, particularly on offense. Later, the guys discuss Malik Monk's play and where he fits into the rotation when the team downsizes, some of ways the team has...

Despite the Lakers 16-18 start, unusual circumstances in the Western Conference have left the them within a game of the 5th seed. In this episode, Pete and Mike discuss the group of teams the Lakers will be competing with for playoff position, and the key stretches of the season that can help them get there. Visit https://www.tickpick.com/lfr/ to save $10 on your first order of tickets. 

Stanley Johnson looked like a natural fit in his debut with the Lakers, as the team added both him and Darren Collison to 10-day contracts. In this episode, Pete and Mike discuss why his synergy with the team makes sense, the continuing domination of the LeBron at the 5 groups, and how the Brooklyn game illuminated some of Russell Westbrook's worst attributes. Visit https://www.tickpick.com/lfr/ t...

Both the roster construction and circumstances of the season have lead LeBron James to play more and more as a big man. In this episode, Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss his continuing evolution as a player, and how the Lakers can continue to develop around LeBron's changing role.

Despite a great effort from LeBron James, the Suns pulled away from the depleted Lakers in the 2nd half to hand them another defeat. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss the game, including why even with so many players unavailable and the team expected to struggle, there were still reasons to be frustrated with how this game played out. Later the guys talk about finding the right balance between stars...