Laker Film Room - Dedicated to the Study of Lakers Basketball

After starting slowly and struggling defensively early on, the Lakers got back on track with a win over the Hornets, moving to 8-3 on the season. Pete and Darius discuss the game, highlighting the team’s defensive struggles to start out, Luka setting the tone offensively, Austin Reaves making his return, and Marcus Smart’s defensive playmaking in the 2nd half. And then later, the guys discuss Rui...

The Lakers suffered their worst loss of the season, getting blown out by a severely undermanned Hawks team on Saturday. Pete and Darius discuss the game, but zoom out to highlight the challenges the Lakers face when they are not mentally focused, why they view this game as an outlier performance, how the team is missing Austin Reaves and anxious for a potential return vs. the Hornets, and much mor...

What do you think is contributing to the Lakers good vibes besides them winning games? What are the Lakers biggest concerns for the 82 game regular season vs. trying to win 16 in the playoffs? In hindsight, why were some people so down on the Lakers heading into the season? Pete and Darius answer these questions and more in the latest LFR mailbag. Support Pete here : Patreon: https://www.patreon.c...

Again without Austin Reaves and Lebron, the Lakers won their 5th consecutive game with a victory over the Spurs on Wednesday. Pete and Darius dive into the details, discussing the heavily officiated game that put both Luka and Wemby in foul trouble, Luka’s productivity on a night he did not shoot well, Deandre Ayton continuing to impress, and much more. Support Pete here : Patreon: https://www.pat...

The Thunder are the NBA’s best team and serve as a target the Lakers can shoot for when charting their path towards being a contender. Pete and Darius discuss what goes into chasing, and potentially catching, a team like OKC and how that differs between the regular season and the playoffs. And then later, the guys preview Wednesday’s game against the Spurs and Victor Wembanyama. Support Pete here...

With Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves joining LeBron on the injured list, the Lakers got huge performances from Nick Smith Jr., Deandre Ayton, and Rui Hachimura to beat the Blazers in one of their most fun games of the young season. Pete and Darius break down the game and highlight those performances, plus Marcus Smart’s importance, Jake LaRavia’s connecting play, and much more. Support Pete here : P...

The Lakers moved to 5-2 after wins against the Grizzlies and Heat over the weekend. Pete and Darius discuss both victories, highlighting Luka’s return, Jake LaRavia’s continued strong play, Marcus Smart’s impact, Bronny’s best game as a Laker, and much more. Support Pete here : Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: ht...

The Lakers head into the weekend with games against Memphis and Miami, and the possibility that Luka Dončić will return to the lineup. Pete and Darius preview both games, and highlight their expectations on both sides of the ball against two teams that play fast offensively and present unique defensive challenges against the team’s shot creators. Support Pete here : Patreon: https://www.patreon.co...

Pete and Darius are joined by special guest Jason Timpf to discuss the Lakers through five games and how they think this team can best integrate LeBron James when he returns from injury. They dive into LeBron’s versatility and ability to play off ball next to Luka and Austin Reaves, why LeBron’s defensive know-how is a great fit next to Deandre Ayton, and much more. Support Pete here : Patreon: ht...

Austin Reaves did it again, hitting a buzzer-beating game winner while also tying his career high with 16 assists against the T’Wolves while both Luka and LeBron sat out with injury. Pete and Darius react to another huge Reaves performance, highlight Jake LaRavia’s pivotal scoring night and best game as a Laker, and much more. And then later, the guys discuss the finalization of the Lakers’ sale w...

Despite another big game from Austin Reaves, the extremely shorthanded Lakers fell to the Blazers on Monday on the 2nd night of a back to back. Pete and Darius discuss the game, their frustrations with the team's injuries and player availability, Austin Reaves' continued great play and production vs. the physical Portland defense, and their impressions of the team's end-of-bench players who are ge...

The Lakers went 2-0 over the weekend, with Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves dominating offensively to lift the Lakers over the Wolves and Kings. Pete and Darius discuss Luka’s huge night vs. Minnesota, Austin’s monstrous performance against the Kings with Luka out injured, how Deandre Ayton’s offense is elevating the Lakers pick and roll attack, Marcus Smart’s defensive impact, and much more. Support...

The Lakers are back in action, looking for revenge against the T’Wolves in a rematch from the playoffs. Pete and Darius preview the game by discussing whether JJ Redick will change his starting lineup, who should replace Gabe Vincent if a change is made, a specific lineup they’re interested in seeing, where Minnesota could be vulnerable offensively, and much more. Support Pete here : Patreon: http...

Pete and Darius are joined by Iztok Franko to discuss Deandre Ayton as a pick-and-roll partner for Luka Dončić, why Ayton’s broad skill set could end up being more valuable than a traditional lob threat, the need to develop the right timing in their partnership, and much more. Support Pete here : Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom...

In the first of a new series on LFR, Pete is joined by @Anpherknee to discuss a classic double OT showdown between OKC & Houston on OKC's ring night, including how OKC's role players helped them persevere through the malaise that comes with seeing the banner go up, how Houston generates 3's with their jumbo lineup, how the Laker game almost seemed like a different sport in comparison, and more...

The Lakers dropped their season opener to the Warriors in a game where Luka Dončić was fantastic, but the Warriors 3rd quarter run gave them a lead they never surrendered. Pete and Darius discuss the loss and highlight the team’s sloppy play, the Warriors defense, Luka’s big night, the starter’s struggles and Redick’s role in 3rd quarter collapse, and much more. Support Pete here : Patreon: https:...

Opening night is here and the Lakers open up with a matchup against the Warriors. Pete and Darius preview the game, discussing what changes in this matchup without LeBron available, the challenges of defending the Warriors offense led by Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler, dealing with the Warriors shooting bigs, how the Lakers offense can make inroads vs. the Warriors aggressive defense, the importance...

On the eve of opening night, Pete and Darius preview the Lakers season by discussing their big picture views of the team heading into the season, the importance of the start of the year without LeBron, what excites them about the team’s offense, where their concerns are defensively, JJ Redick’s biggest challenge, and much more. Support Pete here : Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy...

The Lakers play their preseason finale agains the Kings on Friday night. Pete and Darius preview the game as a potential dress rehearsal for the regular season and discuss their preferred starting lineup with LeBron out, what a proposed rotation could look like, and much more. And then later, the guys zoom out to look at the Western Conference and take a closer look at a team that has potential to...

The Lakers lost to the Mavericks in Las Vegas to fall to 1-4 in the preseason, but played well with a shorthanded group where several rotation players had excellent nights. Pete and Darius discuss the game, including Gabe Vincent’s scorching start and fit in the team’s offense and another good showing from Rui Hachimura. And then later, the guys begin to look ahead to Friday’s preseason finale and...

Luka Dončić and Marcus Smart made their preseason debuts for the Lakers, but the team lost to the Suns to fall to 1-3 in the preseason. Pete and Darius discuss Luka’s hot start, Smart easing his way into things, Austin Reaves’ continued great play, the struggles of the deep bench players, and much more. Support Pete here : Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom⁠ Buy Me a Coffee: ⁠https://...

Luka Dončić and Marcus Smart are expected to make their preseason debuts for the Lakers against the Suns on Tuesday. Pete and Darius discuss what they are excited for from both players, how the Luka and Deandre Ayton pick and roll can thrive, why some of the bench groups can naturally gel with both players back, and much more. Support Pete here : Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy...

The Lakers beat the Warriors for their first win of the preseason on Sunday. Pete and Darius react to the win and discuss what stood out to them, including Deandre Ayton’s role on offense, Austin Reaves continuing to level up, Rui and Jake Laravia looking more comfortable, and much more. Support Pete here : Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/la...

LeBron James will be reevaluated in 3-4 weeks after being diagnosed with sciatica. Pete and Darius react to the news and discuss how this impacts the Lakers on both sides of the ball and the different ways the team will miss LeBron, whether there are any positives that can come out of this for any of the other players, and much more. Support Pete here : Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmro...

With opening night less than two weeks away and the Lakers dealing with injuries and holding players out of practice in training camp, Pete and Darius discuss whether the team will be ready for for the start of the season or stuck playing catchup. And then later the guys discuss some of the ways the Lakers can utilize Luka Dončić offensively to build on what was successful last season after they t...