Lakers Lounge

Anthony and Raj dive into Anthony's report on Darvin Ham potentially keeping his job even if the Lakers don't make it out of the first round. No, this wasn't Anthony saying Ham will be back, only that the chances are higher than perhaps Lakers fans would like.

Anthony watched Pelicans-Thunder and couldn't stop thinking about how much better off the Lakers would be had they played OKC.

Anthony discusses the lack of patience the Lakers have to have with D'Angelo Russell in game two, and just how much is riding on this game.

The game happened. Anthony is a beaten-down man. Raj is also hurting. This one HURTS. Come commiserate with them.

Anthony asked Raj for a reason to believe in the Lakers heading into game two. Raj didn't disappoint. Neither did Anthony.

Anthony and Ryan Blackburn (Pickaxe And Roll) take one last look at the series before it gets underway officially on Saturday. This is part two of a home-and-home podcast, with part one taking place on his feed. In this episode, the guys talk about Michael Porter Jr.'s state of mind given what's gone on with his brothers. Then, in terms of actual basketball, the guys look at a few matchups and out...

Anthony welcomes old friend Adam Mares onto the show to discuss Lakers-Nuggets, starting with a look at the various factors that have swung in the Lakers' favor compared to last year. Yes, the gap has closed, even Adam acknowledges this. But has it closed by enough to give the Lakers a real chance?

Anthony and Adam spend some time on a few more x-factors in the series: Rui Hachimura and Michael Porter Jr. They talk about why the Lakers tend to struggle the way they do against Denver and wrap with some final predictions.

Anthony and Aaron wrap up their discussion on Lakers-Nuggets by looking at the depth differences, and then Anthony risks his whole damn friendship with Aaron by asking about the state of the Warriors. There really are a ton of similarities between that team in The Bay and the Lakers.

The Lakers have a shot at redemption. A few variables have slid in their direction. This series should be more competitive, but what are their actually chances here? The guys go through their thoughts on it all and finish with their predictions.

After an insane play-in game between the Lakers and Pelicans, Anthony is joined by Raj and Sabreena to break it all down. LeBron James and Anthony Davis weren't at their best but the Lakers did just enough to outlast the Pelicans (with the help, unfortunately, of a poorly timed Zion Williamson injury).

Gabe Vincent, Jaxson Hayes, Bruce Brown, crazy hot shooting... All lesser-covered potential variables that could swing in the Lakers' favor heading into this much-anticipated series against the world champs. Anthony, Raj and Sabreena dive in headfirst and get to some live viewer comments.

Anthony welcomes Harrison onto the show to discuss the last 24 hours, in which Harrison's mentions and quotes have devolved into one of the deepest, darkest circles of hell. Even still, neither has relented on the logic behind tanking even as they know the Lakers would never in a zillion years entertain it. They also preview the play-in game and discuss some other matchups the Lakers could be faci...

After the Lakers beat the Pelicans to lock up the eight seed, Anthony can't help but wonder if the Lakers are better off losing in their first play-in game to avoid playing the Denver Nuggets. Raj (and the vast majority of everyone everwhere) disagrees VEHEMENTLY.

Anthony and Raj discuss Darvin Ham's handling of the Lakers' final game and wonder if it takes the highest stakes to get Ham to operate like a competent NBA head coach.

Anthony and Aaron discuss Wonka. Yup. You read that right. We promise it's worth it. From there, the two dive into the play-in scenarios and matchups for the Lakers. Who would they most like to see in that setting? Who would they least like to see? Anthony also explains why somehow making the eight seed doesn't just give them the best chance at making the playoffs, but also a MUCH better chance at...

Anthony brings back Sabreena Merchant to talk about the season Darvin Ham has had and whether she thinks there's any chance he's back next year. Her answer surprised him to an almost alarming extent.

Anthony and Sabreena try to figure out how they'll remember this season if it does end within the next week or so. Anthony also never passes up an opportunity to talk women's basketball with Sabreena and there's obviously a ton to talk about.

Anthony offers up some extra context on the situation facing the Lakers, and how ready they are for it. Then, because it was something he was wondering about today, he wonders aloud whether the Pelicans would be wise to take the first they can get from the Lakers this summer, or gamble on the Lakers being worse next year. He wraps by taking questions.

Anthony and Raj talk about the stretch of the game that may have ended this Lakers season, and how it was a perfect encapsulation of Darvin Ham's disasterclass all year.

Anthony Davis didn't play. LeBron James was sick. The Warriors couldn't miss. The Lakers likely weren't going to win that one regardless, but Darvin Ham still found a way to mangle the game.

The Lakers went from feeling pretty good about their chances at maybe moving out of the play-in tournament to... well, yeah. Anthony recaps a tough day in Laker Land as the Lakers lost LeBron James before the game, then lost Anthony Davis during the game, and finally, lost the actual game.

The Lakers have kept chugging along, racking up wins at a much greater rate than earlier this season. Problem is, so have all their competition. That finally changed when the Knicks beat the Kings. Anthony and Aaron talk about the standings after the night's action, their expectations for the team to wrap up the regular season, and a tough question Anthony had for Aaron.

Following a game that highlighted a bunch of the things that make this team so frustrating at times, Anthony and Harrison go full disappointed-dad to describe how they felt about the effort and the culture that makes it seem like it's ok. To make things as positive as they should be given the way the team is playing, though, the guys take a look at the basketball everyone is playing since Rui Hach...

The Lakers took care of business on the front end of a back-to-back and now have a real chance at having LeBron James and Anthony Davis available for the second. Anthony discusses that as well as a few other notes from a nice, calm win over the Raptors.