Lakers Crush Warriors In Dominant Win

Hello, Lakers Nation. Welcome in to theLakersNation.com live post game show. I'm Trevor Lane. The Lakers get the big win over the Warriors, 129-101.

What a win for L.A. and a game that didn't require too much of a struggle for the Lakers in order to get the job done joining me now.

It's Matt, the Optimus Perolta. Hang on. There we go. There we go. Matt, how are you doing?

You know, I'm good Trevor. I love it when the Lakers can give me a stress-free win, especially on a Saturday night. So we'll take that.

Obviously not maybe the most inspiring win given the opponent and who they had available, but I think if you're the Lakers and you need to win as desperate as you do, we'll take it.

Yeah, I mean, this is not going to ease the concerns of it's not like anybody's now putting the Lakers firmly in the contender category or something just because they beat the Warriors.

But, you know, the Lakers were jumping back and forth between a three and a half and a four and a half point favorite going into the night.

So it's not like they were projected to win by, you know, 13 and a half or something like that. It was supposed to be a closer game.

The Lakers just absolutely cruised, crushed the Warriors. The Warriors couldn't get anything going from deep. The Lakers were hot, but I also thought the Lakers largely played well in this one.

They didn't play perfect basketball or anything, but they played well and were clearly the better team. So this was much needed though, Matt, especially coming off of the last three games.

This was a stress-free win and I think a good palette cleanse here for Lakers fans.

Yeah, I think pala cleansers a good way to put this and then for some people that aren't aware the Lakers do play again tomorrow.

So there's obviously some benefits there to blowing out a team like that on the first night of a back to back.

But like you said, it's not really much that you're going to write to, you're not going to write home about this win necessarily.

But I think for a team that just needs to get back in the right direction, this is a good start.

Yeah, I mean, this is this is a good start for that. By the way, Matt, did you know the Golden State is an above 500 team on the season?

They are currently in the plan tournament. So that, you know, I mean, again, no, it's not like a win over the thunder or something like that, but they aren't above 500 team.

Yes, they're missing Steph Curry, missing Christophe for Zing is they've got some players. I mean, of course, Jimmy Butler out for the season.

This is not a full strength Warriors team, but nonetheless, an important win for the Lakers. Anyway, let's get into some of the stats here.

A lot of people asking to is LeBron going to sit tomorrow. You already mentioned first night of a back to back.

Given the fact that he didn't have to do such heavy lifting tonight, 28 minutes, 22 points for LeBron James shot the hell out of the ball.

Four of six from deep was four for four at one point. Seven boards, nine assists. Does LeBron play tomorrow against the Kings?

I would like for him to play. I mean, he's been pretty good about playing back to back since the ramp up period. And so I think against the Kings and tonight, he only had to play 28 minutes, right?

So I don't see why not. It's going to be a home game to the Lakers need to just build some positive momentum, get some reps.

I know Ruby was out tonight, but for the most part, the rotation is basically available. And so these last 20 plus games or so, whatever it is, I would like to see the guys get some more reps together to make a final run.

So ultimately, I hope he plays. I understand if they hold him out, but I just think that the Lakers need to kind of build on this sort of momentum right now.

Yeah, I agree with you 100 percent. I think that he absolutely should play. And it's for the reasons you said, not only as we're watching the standings.

Is that an important thing? You can't take a game against Sacramento for granted. I know they are bad. They have the worst record, literally the worst record in the NBA right now.

But you can't take anything for granted. You never know what's going to happen to this league. Crazy things do happen and upsets can occur.

You have to lock in that win. We look at the standings has not updated yet with this Lakers win, but they're sitting in the sixth seed.

They're trying to stay ahead of Phoenix who just beat the Lakers the other night. The sons have the tiebreaker. You have to stack up as many wins as possible here.

But on top of that, Matt, one of the problems the Lakers have had the course of the season is they haven't had a healthy team together.

Yep. And so if this game is one of a limited number of opportunities that you have to actually put LeBron James,

Luke Adonch and John Austin Reeves on the floor to help your progress towards building whatever this team needs to be,

I think it's important on both fronts for LeBron to play tomorrow.

I mean, if I could add to that really, you also think about look at the Lakers schedule right now. There's not a lot of time for them to practice Trevor.

So I'm not saying that they need to treat games like practice. But when I'm talking about reps, this is exactly what I mean, right?

But like regardless of who the opponent is tomorrow, obviously the Kings at least should look like a win on paper right now.

But I think more importantly, you just got to get these guys building some chemistry and continuity. I think almost every player on this roster has brought it up at some point this season.

So I think now is the time to take advantage of those opportunities.

And then we've got Luke Adonchich. He had quite a game got going from three in the third quarter.

26 points, nine for 17 shooting, four for nine from deep, eight assists, six boards for Luca, one steal Austin Reeves.

Got some things going tonight, seven for 11 shooting, 18 points. I wanted to see him eclipse 20 didn't do it in this one.

But 18 points, three assists didn't have to exert himself too much in this game. Two of four from deep, Luke Canard off the bench was 16 points. He was fantastic.

Yeah, this game tonight, Jake LaRavia with 15 as well, Laker shoot 53% for the field, 46% from three. Matt, I guess this begs the question. Who's the star in your role?

I'm sorry, who is the superstar of the night? See, it's been so long since tonight.

I don't order on my awards. That's how long it's been. Not a good sign.

It's all right. I think you could, I think out of between LeBron and Luca, you can take your pick here. I'll take the birthday boy just because I feel like the third quarter stretch he had kind of blew the game open and basically killed any sort of momentum that the Warriors might have had.

So I'll go with Luca, but I mean LeBron had just as equally if not a more impressive game given just how almost effortless he made it look like tonight. So happy to go either from, but I'll roll with birthday boy Luca Donchich tonight.

And we'll make a superstar of the night.

Yeah, the award is in the mail. Luca will get one for his birthday here and then LeBron, I'll sing LeBron praises on this one. I think the big thing for LeBron tonight.

He made things look effortless. He was spreading the ball around the nine assists, but I love the four of six from deep. That's been one of my biggest concerns with the brown this season. It's not been so much that, you know, the athleticism is waning a bit or whatever.

Like all that stuff is expected when you're 41, but the 3.4 percentage really dropping off this season has been has been a problem for the Lakers, especially in that half court offense.

It's been a problem for them. And he's shooting what 29.9% from three to 30% after shooting 38% last year, 41% the season before.

If LeBron can get some positive regression with that 3.4 percentage, I don't buy that he's a 30% 3 point shooter. If we see this shot start to come back around.

That'll make a big difference for the Lakers offense and the half court. We're talking about putting the pieces together of Luca LeBron and Austin.

I think LeBron just getting some normal see from his three point shooting would do wonders for them. So I was pleased to see him not only taking the threes early in this game, but taking them with confidence, taking them with purpose and knocking down those shots.

He was four for four at one point, missed a couple late, but he was stepping into those threes early and often in this game, hitting them. We need to see more of that from him moving forward here.

Oh, absolutely. I also was happy to tweet out that some positive regression for LeBron was finally finally came. And I think this is what happens right the Lakers offense looks potent and the offenses have to keep it.

He's going to be honest on him when he's got an open shot and have to rush out to him. So yeah, obviously.

The Lakers offense, I think we know can be really, really good on basically every night, but when LeBron's got it going, especially, it's really tough to stop. I know a granted Golden State team decimated by injuries right now.

But I think overall, this is just a healthy sign for the Lakers moving forward and LeBron James, obviously.

As Jamie says, positive regression in LeBron's threes will be massive for this team down the stretch. If he can somehow hit 38% the rest of the way, things could get fun, especially Luca needs floor spacing.

And that's one of the challenges and part of what Luke can our breaks is that that floor spacing, but one of the challenges is if you have your starting five as is, which I do think this is probably your best bet. It's maybe not your ideal big picture starting lineup.

This is probably the best bet with the team is presently constructed with LeBron, Aten, smart, Luca and Reeves, though we'll talk about it in just a moment here.

But Marcus smart is not going to be defended much find the three point line. He was fine. Obviously tonight was two or four from three. If LeBron is also a guy that you can cheat off of that creates a lot of problems for that unit.

Again, it is indeed a really big deal if we're on gets going from three because Matt, if the Lakers are going to go anywhere this year and by going you where I mean second round of the playoffs, I'm not expecting them to get to the finals. I'm not expecting this to be a championship team.

But for the Lakers to reach their ceiling as a club, they have to reach their ceiling offensively. That's where they're going to have to really hit that next level.

Not there yet, but if they're going to be any kind of a threat, that's where we need to see the most growth between now and the final game of the regular season.

Oh, absolutely. I mean, that's kind of like the Lakers win condition is just outscoring teams at this point. I think that we've, I don't know if you've given up on them being anywhere close to an average defensive team, but I think I'm about there.

I think when they get enough stops and basically take advantage of every offensive possession after that, they've got a shot in basically every series, but I'm also not expecting, you know, championship team right this year.

I just think though that if they're going to beat anyone or make some noise, it's got to be on the offensive end.

Let's go here. Mission 86 says no staff and I don't care. That's my team right there. Good rhyme. We did good tonight. Now got to keep it going. Sac's going to try to punk us. Can't let that happen.

Time to make mints meet in cow town. Well, they're actually going back to LA home tomorrow. Yeah, it's a home game for the Lakers, which always perplex me. Like they're already that they're right there.

What is it 45 minutes over the Sacramento for them to play the game? Why not just well, whatever, that it's not that LA is that far either when you're just hopping on a plane.

But regardless, it is Sacramento back home for tomorrow's game. As far as Sacramento is going to try to punk us.

I mean, Sacramento is pretty old. They will. Yeah, they get right.

Is Russ playing right now for say I would admitted they have not watched a King's game in a little while because I don't hate myself.

It was in the last one. Yeah, so I'm sure I mean, that's a subplot as always, you know.

Yeah, Russ, Russ will do what they did get a win over the Mavs last game.

No, he did, he did not play last game. So look, the point is, if Russal Westbrook is playing, he's going to do everything he can to try to beat the Lakers.

And I think that will be something that'll matter for him. But the Lakers should take care of business against Sacramento. They should.

Should and I mean to your point about the travel thing. I mean, on the bright side, the Lakers do have another home game on Tuesday. So, you know, less travel time in between games. That's always nice.

Yeah. All right, let's go here.

More maxi less eaten. All right, let's talk about. I wanted to bring this up.

Yeah, Luca AR Braun trio improving. Yeah, I'm curious to see they were a minus 3.3 net Luca Austin and LeBron.

Obviously, that number is going to go up now. I wonder if they they get to net neutral.

After tonight's game, after having such a dominant win. But maxi instead of eight Matt, that was maybe the only thing I can really complain about from this game was the game started.

And DeAndre Aiton, who is not Clint Capella, was half-asseted down the floor.

Just a easy job got in fact, the Warriors first bucket was a dream on dunk, because DeAndre Aiton was.

I mean, nowhere close to hustling back. He was going maybe 50% pace, like he was not interested at all, getting back defensively.

Where you at on D.A. after tonight's performance and should it be maxi who you know, maxi the game is over. We're in garbage time and he's flying around a block shots.

Oh, man. I feel like the Aiton conversation is just taking a turn for the worst the past couple months and I feel like the past couple weeks.

I just have nothing great. And I mean, I've made it no secret. I just don't think he's been very enjoyable to watch from being completely honest.

I feel like I and look, I am not going to sit here and point fingers at just one player to blame everything on the Lakers recent struggles.

But I feel like he's a pretty good like avatar or symbol of just how things have looked some nights, you know.

And lack of daisicle, no second efforts, kind of just like casually out there running back and forth, try hard on a couple plays doesn't go straight, doesn't go his way, kind of stops that disengages.

It's that sort of behavior that I think like fans really just don't appreciate. And there's one thing where you know you're a bad team, but there's another one you can tell you they're just not trying.

And I think that's just sort of where I'm starting to fall with the all the deundry and haters this past offseason Trevor, I understand, I get it, I understand it's not fun.

I, you know, he said all the right things up top, but then you get to the second half of this. This was our worry, wasn't it?

Yeah, deundry.

This is what he this was the worry that we had the honeymoon phase that he said all the right things.

But when you got to the dog days of the season, he would revert to the deundry and that we did seen previously.

And that's kind of what you're getting. I mean, there were some plays where he went after them. He had 10 rebounds. There were some plays where he showed up, but it certainly was not the entire game.

And he started off on such a negative. I don't know if you caught it, Matt, but he started off so bad.

He did.

In terms of the energy that when it came time for him to go back in the game, JJ took his rotation away from him and gave it to Maxi.

That was the beginning of the second quarter.

I that's why I wanted to bring up out of everything in this whole game. What I thought the most interesting tidbit in it was the center rotation minutes because I when Maxi came in at the second quarter, I was like, did Jackson get hurt again? That was literally my first thought.

I genuinely was like, did we lose Jackson Hayes again? Because why is Maxi getting minutes this early into the game?

No, it was because D.A. was that bad. I think I think J.J. Rettich just effectively punished him in game there by.

One of his ships.

I mean, like, that's kind of like where my concern was at the trade deadline, too, like a lot of people are like, wing, wing, or we need more shooting.

And I'm like, honestly, like the center rotation does not seem settled. And Jackson's already been kind of nicked up here and there.

And then Deandra Aiden is just kind of just doing D.A. things, like just kind of like, I'm here to show up for my job. That's that's sort of the vibe I'm getting for him right now.

If those are your two guys, I was never comfortable. And so now the fact that Maxi and I don't want to take anything away from Maxi.

I think every time he's had a shift on the Lakers in crunch time or if he's playing like just garbage time in as I feel like his energy has been good.

So rightfully so, J.J. should be rewarding him. But I think overall it speaks to the larger picture of like the Lakers big man depth is not that great still.

No, they're really in the same spot they were in last summer.

In terms of needing to find a starting center because I think Deandra Aiden is not it. He's not your starting center.

Now, given the options, like it's not like I'm looking back on last summer and going, oh, man, what were they thinking? Like, yeah, the alternatives were 37 year old Brooke Lopez literally Clint Capella, gambling on Aiden's upside for a 27 year old center versus a 37 year old Brooke Lopez.

Plus he, he's Lucas shares an agent with him like it made sense for them to sign. I'm not upset with the Lakers for making that decision. It made sense.

It just is not working out right now. I wonder how much of a two is, is D.A. looking around right now and saying that nobody's given me more than 8.1 million next year.

I'm just, I'm not getting fed. There was a play early where D.A. got a guard switched on to win the post and Lucas shop step back three. Yep. Yeah.

I wonder if those moments are getting a little frustrating for that was a play. And Luca, I thought I had a very good game. But that was a moment where he should have fed the ball to D.A.

I wonder if D.A. has just resigned himself to picking up the player option. And so he's kind of like whatever. I'm not, I'm not earning a bigger deal next summer at this point.

So it just is what it is.

There's a, I don't know if, as a teacher Trevor, I don't know if you either don't like this or appreciate this, but there's a lot of senioritis.

Yes.

And for my folks out there that aren't completely entirely sure like, you know, when you've already decided what college you're going to and you don't really need to work hard anymore, you just kind of need to get by and wait for the year to end.

Exactly what Deandre Aiden's play style and effort looks like to be right now most nights is just I show up for my job. I get my game checks. But after that, you don't ask me to do too much.

But you met the, the vibe around this Lakers team going into the season. We were talking about how many Lakers players are going to be playing with the chip on their shoulder. How many of them have people that they want to prove wrong, right?

Skinny Luca, right? We talked, we talked all about that. But Deandre Aiden that it was all about how many people have said he doesn't try hard. He doesn't play on how he said this is, you know, what do you, this is what did he say?

He said pressure is a privilege, right? He talked all about that and how, and how he wants to step onto the big stage and be on a team where the winning is going to mean something and all those sorts of things.

Isn't he proving everybody right, right? All the critics of him are, isn't he proving them all right right now by looking the way that he does and not going out there and busting his ass every game?

Yeah, I mean, a lot of it seems like either it's almost like he he needs to be catered to and you need to feed his ego a little bit in order to get the best out of him.

And I think on a team that already has three alphas, it's just sorry shout out to the old bulls by the way.

Um, I just, I don't know, man, like you can you signed up knowing that this is what they were going to ask you to do.

I think JJ Reddick was pretty upfront. Also, like what students they signed Deandre Aiden, like, yeah, this is kind of how we want to utilize them.

Obviously he's going to get his touches, but like we need him to be a screener or roller rebound block shots.

Not a glamorous job.

And like honestly Trevor, like the uncomfortable question is who would you rather have between those two guys right now?

Probably click a fellow.

And that sucks to say, doesn't it?

Yep.

Yep.

That's where it is, man.

And like I wanted to talk to your last point, talk about your last point to you about, you know, the decision to side Deandre because I saw a lot of that to you this past week was just like.

Uh, the lakeers made a mistake with Deandre Aiden and I was like, I think a lot of that hindsight because.

Oh, yeah.

Consider potential upside price desperation factor for the lakeers. I just don't think there was a better option that was presented.

That's that's the type of gamble that you take.

Yeah.

There's no guarantee it's going to pay out, but if you're in that situation and those are your options, that's the type of gamble that you know, the only challenges he's probably picking up that player option, then what happens with them.

Could you actually dissuade if you make it clear, hey, you're not the starter next year.

Could he actually decline the player option? I don't know.

That'll be a challenge for the summer, I suppose.

Maybe they'll just start giving him the cold shoulder or something, so he doesn't pick up.

They've got a quiet fire room.

Yeah.

For all my corporate friends, I've been able to translate a lot of basketball this season into corporate speak. And so they just need to start quitting.

Yeah, they just got a quiet fire and basically like take away his role, don't give them any raises, no promises, ask for hard work, but don't don't expect any sort of extra attention or benefits for doing it.

They basically got to lead. It's like leading the horse to the well, right?

What? What happens when we get to the playoffs?

Because JJ has shown he will play the guys he trusts and only the guys he trusts.

What an uncomfortable question and situation to be in man, right?

Like, look, I don't think it's a surprise. I think Maxi got minutes A because it was a blowout, but B because I think JJ wants to know like, all right.

I think I got to roll with Jackson or Maxi if stuff hits the fan and the playoffs.

I agree. I think that's what we're going to see. Look, like this comment said, you're eating bashing is nauseating.

I want I want DA to prove I take no join this. I want DA to prove everyone wrong.

I want to say Deandre and went and hustled up and down the floor. He was awesome. He was blocking shots.

He was calling out screens. He was throwing down lobs and he was fantastic.

That's the conversation we want to be having.

We can't have that. You see what he's doing on the floor?

We can't have that conversation until the truth, right?

Those two things aren't going hand in hand right now. Trust me.

Trust me. We will be the first one singing his praises when he's playing well right now.

He's not. And I think the lack of effort is very noticeable.

Oh, for sure. I mean, like, he's just not really pleasant to watch.

Like, do you enjoy watching Deandre and play basketball right now, Trevor?

No. No. It's not. It's not a great experience because you see moments where he's not really going all out.

And, you know, this is something else that we talked about.

We for terms of who should be the Lakers Center, you know, moving forward.

I think whoever it is, it's becoming more and more, we talk about the Clint Capella role as being a prerequisite at the center position.

The DA has a better touch around the basket than Clint Capella does. He has better.

Clint Capella. We're not even specifically talking about Clint Capella.

We're talking about the set screens, roll hard to the basket, rebound, block shots,

skill set, right? That's the prerequisite to get you to the other things.

DA being able to show off his 15 footer, his footwork around the rim, things like that.

You have to find a player who's going to be very high motor at the five.

We talk a lot about high motor positions and how you need high motor wings on this team.

I really think whoever it is that they ultimately get into that center spot.

It's also got to be someone high motor.

And I think the Deandre experience has really driven that home.

Oh, for sure. I mean, like, I know it's way, way, way, way too early for draft talk.

And I don't even know if the lake will be making their pick this year, given all the posturing about having three first round picks to trade and whatnot.

But I think this is definitely just another need they go into the off season.

And I'm hoping for like what the third season in a row that they get this right finally.

And especially too, because like when you're thinking about Luca Donchich and if I'm presumably Austin Reeves, like Luca himself has always benefited from having that sort of center you just laid out.

And if you want to build a team that has been proven to work with Luca Donchich at the forefront, that's the kind of guy you got to go after.

So if that's the draft, that's for agency, if that's trade, I think almost that's more crucial than the 3 and D wing stuff that we've been clamoring about for years also.

So what's going on here says didn't you say in the off season that Luca is going to unlock DA.

He also needs to hold up his end of the bargain.

Who DA? Yeah.

Yeah, that that literally was the goal.

I mean, I'm talking about from conversations I had within the Lakers.

The conversation was, hey, DA the last time he looked good was when he had a transcendent guard that he was with.

That was Chris Paul, that unlocked him.

He's going to be able to do the same thing with him. That was the hope.

That was what they were rolling the dice on.

But just like what I talk about with the Lakers, we talk about in games where they're not showing energy.

I talk about the X's and O's, what they scheme up, the rotations, all of that.

None of that matters without the baseline level of compete, of try, right?

If that's not there, none of the other stuff matters.

And fortunately, most night, not every night, but most nights that baseline level of compete tends to be there across NBA teams.

The same holds true for Deandre. Yes, in theory, Luca could be somebody who could unlock a much better offensive performance out of Deandre.

But that baseline level of try has to be there. And if it's not, then you don't have anything.

Oh, yeah. I mean, like, I think that sort of stuff is a nonnegotiable.

I think that when you sort of talk about teams at like their peaks or at like the most optimal levels,

things like effort, energy, that sort of stuff was already kind of a given.

It's more of like a tactical thing at that point.

But in the Lakers case, they seem to have issues with those things I just mentioned.

And that seems to be a game to game thing.

It's very moody with this team.

It's super hard to get a read on them.

I still have trouble, you know, kind of putting my finger print on what is this team exactly.

And so with only a handful of games left, really, I think that's kind of concerning.

But then again, things could change quickly. I'm not necessarily betting on it.

But when you've got as much star talent as the Lakers do, you know, you always give you some room for error.

But I think in general, though, like, from the top down, the messaging and the level of play has screamed.

Let's just see what we're looking like in the summer.

Yes. Yeah. That's and I'm glad that you mentioned from the top down.

And so it's eaten, let up three straight layups in the paint, the exact same way.

Right to the same player and that's what got him pulled.

I mean, JJ pulled them immediately. That's how it was quick. Yeah.

Yeah. And I didn't blame JJ either.

I mean, that was you had to do that. You had to.

But I'm glad you mentioned from the top down because when we talk about the mental make up of this team.

And why, you know, why did they get outworked three games in a row?

They got outworked three games in a row.

The messaging, if they remember what they did at the trade deadline and their determination to not take on future salary.

That says a couple things to the guys that are on the team right now.

First of all, it says they didn't feel like there was enough here right now to make a real push or at least with what was available to them.

But the determination to keep the cap space drive this summer says there's a pretty good chance a good chunk of this team is not going to be back.

And I think that to me, as from an outsider perspective on this, I thought that seemed like it was weighing on the team.

And I think that brings a degree of unpredictability to them because tonight the shots were falling and the Lakers were having a good time tomorrow night could look very different.

And there isn't that consistent fight and effort level with this team.

I hope it's something they find as we continue on through the season, but they know they're probably not long for this team.

This team will look drastically different next October.

I mean, again, kind of going back to corporate speaker corporate talk.

If you're an employee and your leadership is basically telling you, yeah, we know we're not going to be super successful this year.

And if in order to get to where we really want to go ultimately, we're going to like need absolute.

Just like we need to work you guys to the boat and you need to try super hard everything.

That would wear on someone right like, especially if I know like my employer is not really keen on keeping the long term.

Like, why should I try so hard?

Yep, that's it. That's it.

Exactly.

Okay.

This was a big Lakers win.

They dominated. It was a cruise. They they were down to nothing.

Wired.

Immediately went on.

I think they went up what 10 to 2, 8 to 2 or 10 to do.

10 to 2.

10 to 2.

And they led the entire rest of the way.

So they trailed for like 40 seconds or something in this game right at the beginning.

And after that, it was a wire to wire win.

I don't want to be, you know, down in negative land.

After this win, we talked about eight and seven threes for Luke.

Luke Connard.

Oh, you know what?

Actually, we do have the Kings injury report is now out.

Just real quick.

Dylan Cardwell, Deandre Hunter, Zach Levine, Keegan Murray, Demonis Abonus, Isaiah Stevens, all out for Sacramento.

You know, there is no Russell Westbrook on this though, which means he is playing.

Oh, you come on.

I know it's, I know the Kings are the Kings, but I don't think Russ passes off on a chance to play the Lakers.

So that's not surprising.

I mean, like I said, they'll definitely try.

I'm hoping the Lakers don't have one of those weird games though.

Yeah.

You can't come out and have one of those weird games where you just don't put forth all the effort and you let another team hang around.

And then next thing you know, you have a fight on your hands.

You really don't want to do that tomorrow.

Anyway, Luke Connard.

This was the most threes he's taken in a game and made in a game as a Laker, seven attempts.

I thought the Lakers did a much better job getting him involved.

And I thought, Connard, I thought this was his best game.

I love Matt.

The defense is not good, obviously.

He competes.

He tries defensively, but he just needs not a good natural defensive player.

But I love that there is more to his game than just a set shot.

He does a really nice job reading the floor.

I would like him to see CMB a little more aggressive shooting the three tonight.

Obviously was more than fine.

But in general, I'd like to see him a little more aggressive shooting the three.

He's a little too eager to attack the closeouts.

But when he does attack closeouts, he's very, very good at reading the floor and understanding what is available to him and making the correct decisions.

I thought he played a very under control game.

He was a major weapon for the Lakers.

And Matt, there were a number of times out there where I just went.

God, he is so much better than Gabe Vincent.

It's not even close.

It's not even close.

Well, I mean, I think this is a good segue for starring your role.

It is.

Yeah.

I mean, like, look, I spoil alert.

It's Luke Connard for me.

And the reason I was giggling is because, for the umpteenth time, I think we just have a mile at this point.

I think when it comes to Luke, you knew what you were going to get in the three point shooting.

And as someone that didn't watch a ton of Hawks games this past year, I can say that I'm pleasantly surprised with the off-the-bound stuff.

And, you know, it's not necessarily just attacking closeouts and finishing.

He's also a good connective piece offensively.

Just keeping the bomb moving, relocating, spacing the floor, that sort of stuff.

Having someone that can do that and be a credible three point shooter opens up a ton for the Lakers.

And, you know, again, this is not a, you know, roast Gabe Vincent session.

But I just think having a legitimate rotation guy that can.

And it's been a while since I felt like a Lakers player like from three is like nearly automatic.

Like the three misses that he had.

I was like, I think he can make all these.

It's genuinely surprising to me when he misses, which is a compliment for any shooter.

But I think long story short, Luke's been awesome.

Obviously defensively, you just accept the shortcomings.

But I think offensively, especially as he gets more reps with Luke and Doddchitch.

I'm excited for what that partnership could look like the rest of the way.

Alright, let's just make it official here.

Let's go star in your role.

The star in your role.

Luke can art.

I'm an agreement.

I would also go with him.

You could give some love to a few other players.

Maxi being one who I thought in limited minutes.

Maxi was, I mean, hustling all three blocks in what 13 minutes.

I thought Maxi did a really nice job.

But I'm going to go Luke can art.

I thought he was excellent.

Is Ron throws in.

I so it wasn't a waste of a second round pick.

It still could be.

Yeah.

And Matt, this is this has been my big thing on Luke can art.

Is as long as he it is not a half a season thing.

And then he has gone this summer.

You're more than fine giving up a second round pick for him.

You're only second round pick remaining where it's not okay.

Is if and does Luke can art move the needle significantly to see

suddenly make the Lakers more of a contender.

No, I don't think so.

I think it's a good piece.

I think it's an important piece for the team.

But I don't think he suddenly makes you much more likely to actually make a deep playoff.

Run or anything.

So if you give up a second round pick for half of a season of Luke can art.

That's poor asset management.

If you give up a second round pick and you already have had the conversations

and we are not going to be privy to this.

But if you already have laid the groundwork so that there's a reasonable deal for

Luke can art waiting this summer that's going to keep him for the least the next couple of seasons.

No issues whatsoever given up that second round pick.

I just don't want to see this turn into half a season.

Then Luke can art walks away for nothing and see you later second round pick.

Yeah, that's always the fear is just burning light light and assets on fire.

I mean like look and I think you know the DFS decisions to let him walk in the off season.

I know we do some criticism for that, but also like he just has a big break.

You know, it's just one of those things where you hate to waste picks.

If you have no intention of keeping the players.

So I'm hoping that Luke is able to return to L.A.

At least on the couple seasons after this one.

I think that the Lakers really have to start thinking about what pieces fit around Luke at Austin

and continuing to keep that sort of core together.

We just have not seen that and obviously you acquire Luke a last year just throws all the long term plans out the window.

But this summer, particularly is very important.

Like Yannis trade rumors aside, like the Lakers need to figure out a way to beef up the supporting cast also.

And I think Luke could be a piece of that.

I'm not saying he's going to be like a crucial piece, but I think he's a good piece to have.

Yeah, look, it was a canard is not solving the Lakers biggest problems right now.

The biggest problems are the athleticism defense, the athleticism, the defense.

Having two way players effectively, right?

The canard is another more one way player.

But he is a guy who I think on the offensive end as a ball mover can really work with with this team moving forward.

You have to be he's another player where you have to be careful, which pieces you're putting around him.

But I do think that tonight was his best night as a Laker.

And I think that as we're as the Lakers start to integrate more things with him.

I want to continue to see more and more plays designed to get him open looks from behind the arc.

For sure. Yeah, I think he's earned it.

I mean, I like I said earlier, every time he shoots it, I think it's going in.

The Lakers probably feel that confident in them too.

We talked a little bit also earlier also about offense, needing to be the win condition for this L.A. team.

And so Luke canard, that's what he's got.

That's what he was brought here to do.

And if we're going to lean into that, we might as well lean all the way into it.

As Ellen lifeer says, I think Luke canard returns, but I feel like trev does not.

No, I'm hopeful that he will.

I just don't want to victory lap the trade until we know that he is actually going to be a piece of this team moving forward.

That's all.

Yeah.

That's all. And he should be resigned.

He should be resigned.

What's what's the number you like for Luke?

Well, actually, somebody in the chat just threw in one three years 25.

It's like mid level, like little less than that.

That's less than mid level.

Like if I can get.

It's like the deal for three years, right?

Yeah.

Yeah.

What is what is Luke canard on it?

Like that's, I know he's making 11 right now.

He probably isn't going to want to pay cut off of that.

Like the most I would go be like 330 ish.

Something like that, especially if I can get a team control on the last year of the deal.

Sure.

I'd be trying to get something like that.

I just don't know that an offer like that will be out there for him otherwise.

He's obviously like if we're getting crazy and it's, you know,

20 million or full MLE or something like that.

No, you can't go there.

He's a one way player still a very good player, but he's probably your.

What?

That's probably your like your eighth guy, your ninth guy on your roster on a good team.

An important piece, an important player.

But you're not going to be running Luke canard 35 minutes a night, especially in like a playoff series or something like that.

So I think you need to be willing to commit multiple years to him.

But you're not doing like crazy money or anything in part because you also need flexibility to do other stuff.

Yeah, he could be the Lakers version of like the Sam Houser or the Isaiah Joe's of the world.

That's like every every good team needs one of those dudes.

But I've said this for a while now to like death of the specialist in the NBA.

Like you can only do one thing then you're going to have a hard time sticking.

Um, the Lakers are finding that out very much so.

And, um, I don't think there's necessarily no space for them, but I just hope that you can have too many of those guys on your team now.

Yeah.

Um, can do the Lakers have bird rights on canard.

They do not.

He signed a one year deal with Atlanta.

So it's a one year contract that he's on.

So they don't have bird rights on him.

But, uh, that doesn't matter that much with the Lakers projected to be a cap space team.

Anyway, that's not a huge issue or anything.

It's not like he's got some super low cap hold.

You're going to take advantage of like Austin and then go over the cap, signing him once you spend all your money.

It's not, not a huge problem.

Yep.

Uh, all right.

Let's go here.

Master lock Charles Barkley's backhanded apology to Lakers fans.

Oh, that was funny at halftime.

I kind of giggled at that.

What do you like?

I don't have the Lakers as a contender.

Yeah.

Clearly Barkley will love to take shots at the Lakers when, when he can.

Um, what, what do you think about him doing that kind of the sarcastic comment?

Or I guess did you take that as sarcasm?

Oh, yeah.

It's 1000% sarcasm.

Okay.

Like there's, there's no way.

Um, I don't know.

Like national, I, I mean, I'll just be honest with you Trevor.

I don't take that shot too seriously anyway.

Um, but if you want to just talk about national media, uh, taking shots at the Lakers,

like that's just not new.

I mean, anytime you can take shots at the Lakers, you always will.

And they just got too many targets, right?

Like you either don't like the way Luca complains to referees.

You don't like LeBron for whatever reason.

Uh, Shaq went in on DeAndre in a little bit.

Like there's, there's a ton of reasons, right?

And I guess for me as a fan, like I understand them.

Do I think they're unnecessary?

Yeah.

But at the same time, like,

I try to be empathetic Trevor.

I think about how much producers and networks want these guys to keep talking about the Lakers.

And I think if I was not a fan and they're not even that good of a team,

I would probably also get fed up talking about them.

Yeah, I, I understand that.

I get where people get frustrated talking about the Lakers all the time and everything.

Well, I mean, if you're a fan of another team, do you hear a lot of Lakers talk?

Yes.

I don't mind it.

Yeah.

Um, I do understand that.

That said, I mean, from a historical side, like the NBA is not where the NBA is right now without the Lakers.

Of course.

They are the foundation upon which the league does.

We know it was built.

The Lakers and Celtics rivalry in the 80s ultimately created the modern NBA and the way that it is.

And obviously a lot of credit to the great Dr. Jerry Buss.

And the way the league is gone was was largely set upon that path by that era.

Um, so the, the Lakers will always be intertwined in a lot of the major discussions.

I mean, help.

How many years did we see the Lakers play on Christmas, even when it was the kids pre LeBron coming?

They will have a Christmas day slot forever.

Yeah.

It's always going to be a thing where you're always going to talk about the Los Angeles Lakers.

It's the way that it is.

Um, they are one of the most popular sports franchises on the planet.

And, um, I don't know.

If you don't like talking about them, you're in the, you're in the wrong business.

I mean, and I, I think this is just coming down to pipeline.

And I think people that maybe are not in the LA market really maybe have grasped yet.

But just this whole organizational shift that I think is just coming with the lawn-rozen thing.

We're probably to get more stuff as the months go by.

The Lakers as an enterprise are changing.

Trevor, like not even just on the court, but functionally as a business.

They will be massively different.

And I think when they make all the moves that I think we're all expecting come summertime or before that, we will have a ton more to talk about.

So I just don't think it's going away, especially Luke had just turned 27 today.

We should probably greet him happy birthday.

Happy birthday, Luca.

Happy birthday, Luca.

Glad we got a dub for you guys on your birthday.

But he's 27.

He signed an extension.

He didn't have to, but he did it.

The Lakers are going to be relevant.

No matter what anyone says, regardless of Charles Barkley, regardless of the guys on TNT and the other network, the Lakers are going to be relevant.

Is it going to suck for those guys to have to keep talking about them?

Probably, but for us fans, like it's just the reality.

Like stars drive the league.

The Lakers help drive the league.

They'll always be part of the conversation.

Yep.

100% hit the nail on the head.

All right, let's go here.

Argonne said, Trevor explained to me why in previous games, we were doing so much switch defense.

When we have so many players who have liability on defense, shouldn't we fight the switch to protect our guys?

Well, we met you also need to be able to execute a knowledge.

That's the challenge, right?

Because if you say, well, we're just not going to switch.

Okay, then you're giving up an open look, right?

That's why they're switching is so they don't give up open shots.

Yeah, I mean, switching, you don't want to call it lazy.

It is what it is, but it's the easiest way to kind of guard against perimeter jump shots is just switching anything you see up top.

You decide to head or show and recover and things of that nature.

Then you get yourself into some sticky situations, especially when you got teams that can ace, face the floor and shoot it really well and be.

Have guys that can get by defenders up top.

Like that's always been the Lakers main issue is the perimeter defense, like point of attack defense.

I think it's gotten really, really famous in the past couple of years.

And I think you're seeing why the whole league is driving kick create an advantage.

Sucking defenders in the bait kick out swing swing swing until you get the open guy.

Like I know that that seems like really rudimentary.

The way you lay it out that way, but it's just the reality of it.

And the Lakers into JJ's kind of like a frustrations is that you've got two options.

You the switch or you play zone.

Yeah, that's really all they're doing right now is either switching or playing zone and that's.

That's in part why they need to get more defensive talent on this team ultimately.

That's why they they need to add pieces that can handle other schemes and things that nature.

But and there are some interesting intricacies to it, right?

We do see them blitz the ball.

He knows sometimes and do things like that.

But JJ doesn't have the kind of defensive players to run a lot of other stuff.

You're switching because otherwise you're getting beat and you're giving up an advantage.

Sometimes sometimes there are a little too eager to switch Matt.

Like if another team he just hints that they might run a screen.

The Lakers like, Oh, okay.

Cool. Here's switch.

And that can be frustrating at times when especially if you have a particularly quick guard or what have your wing.

That is effectively able to just choose which defender they want on them because the Lakers aren't going to fight the switch.

It can be frustrating in those moments.

But ultimately that's not that's not going to change this season.

That's a next season with different personnel type change.

See, okay.

So I think the more we talk the more I start to look at this, this win is kind of like its own thing.

And I realize like how I guess for me like today's win.

If anything, emphasize the fact that the Lakers are a very good middle class team.

Yeah.

Right.

Where they're going to beat the teams that are not that are not in that top tier.

They've got the ability to do that.

But they're not going to beat the like the when we're talking about teams like the Thunder, we talk about teams even like Denver, teams like that.

They've got the ability to throw so many different looks at you.

The Lakers don't have as many options to turn to.

Their weaknesses are more pronounced.

And I think that's ultimately what we'll hold them back when we get to the playoffs.

Yeah.

I mean, like, you know, I think as fans, you even start to feel the players frustrations are just like overall like nonchalotonous or just like apathy almost sometimes.

Like you just know like it all doesn't really matter in the end.

Like if the end goal is a championship and you know you're not good enough to get there.

Like how else can you not feel by like simulating till the end of the season and just kind of get into the summer where you have a better idea where you stand.

Right.

I'm grateful for a win because if we had to come on here and talk about a loss to the shorthanded Warriors team.

Man, completely different conversation or Evan, but I just think overall like the picture is there's fatigue across everyone, the organization across the fans, the locker room, I bet.

Like everyone is just waiting for all the changes to come and then we can finally start to take this to you seriously.

So I think what I want to kind of speak to is like forgiveness if like we're not overly joy that the lake was one because obviously that's what we want every single night.

But I just think that like it's always been championships for this franchise and if you kind of talk about it, if you look at it from that perspective, a lot of this almost feels I don't want to say meeting was but it does feel like we're training toward another wasted season.

This is yeah, this is all like right now of course you win as many games as you can of course go as far in the playoffs as you can.

But a lot of what we're what they're doing right now is also evaluating what's going to stick for next season and beyond right like that's that's the bigger key here.

This team is not going to be the team for the foreseeable future with this group and that's just that's the way that it is.

And so are they are they just treading water and doing that for the mean of the season to a little bit I guess if the goal is championship.

I think there's I think there's an understanding that you're probably not winning the whole thing this year.

I would like to see the team though go out and play hard every single night.

Sure.

Because you never said look we also would have said hey Indy's not getting to the finals last year.

You know we would have said it was going to be Boston and Cleveland in the Eastern Conference finals last year.

No question nobody could put a stop to that and then it wound up being New York and Indy and Indy got all the way to the NBA fight like there's.

Basketball has less particularly a seven game series less upset upsets occur then say I don't know hockey right sure.

But that said there's a reason why you play the games so you never want to say never who knows maybe they go on in their own miraculous run.

But most likely this team is really just a team that's setting up for what they're really going to put together this summer.

Okay so here's the question I was going to ask you and I think maybe the schedule is going to allow for this answer to come up in the next couple weeks.

But you know I think a lot of fans might be wondering why we're talking so negatively about the team and if there's anything that can do that they can do to change our tune.

So I'll put it this way Trevor so they play the Kings tomorrow to get the pelicans on Tuesday to non-negotiable wins.

Yeah.

Must win those.

Yeah absolutely not non-negotiables and then after that you get the nuggets so you need you need a statement game summer so you get the nuggets after that.

Another game that's a non-negotiable to me the Pacers at home like you got to get that one.

That's that's next Friday and then you get the nicks and then the timber wolves somewhere in the next 10 days Trevor the Lakers need to put up some quality wins.

Yes.

Yeah look if the Lakers they need to win three in a row right now they need to win the next three no question you cannot take those games for granted.

Winning those winning three in a row will not have anybody saying all the Lakers are back.

Oh they figured it out no because you're not your your the teams you're playing are not that level.

You want to get people to start.

I don't know believing is the right word but start being a little more optimistic about the Lakers yeah take them a little more seriously.

Uh nicks wolves nuggets yeah in two of those three.

And like when two of those three then we then we can talk.

I think you got a win I'm like not convincingly like not like this game but like you need like a 10 12 point win over the nicks or something.

Like you you need to show us that like you take a punch you fight back and then you take control of the game and that's and that's it like I want one of those.

Well and you need like even tonight right the second game in a row they got an eight second violation unforced just by not walking the ball.

There's a perilous turn over right man like yeah that's the you got to clean up that's you have to look like a serious team for 48 minutes.

And that's been a problem the Lakers have looked like a serious team for portions of games but not for 48 minutes again tonight was great it was a great win.

This doesn't suggest though that their problems are self if they look like a serious team for 48 minutes against those three clubs against the wolves the nuggets.

That will be in the next that will be I think a much bigger indication that they are truly getting on the right path than anything they do over the next three games.

That said you damn well better lock in the wins over these next three games because they're not going to be easy to come by in the future.

That's why I call them not negotiables right like if you want to take them seriously like I can't even start there like that should already be the expectation the standard like I should just have zero questions about those two games coming up.

It's the ones afterwards where you've not been impressive against good teams all season you either you know you go hard and you win games like these or you lose them big.

And then the one of the few competitive games was a game winner against the magic who were also short handed that night.

I just need to see more from this team and I think we're sadly running out of time to see it but if you if there was ever a time for them to change people's minds it is literally right now.

You got to be ramp you got to be playing your best basketball over the next six weeks or so and really ramping up for the playoffs and hopefully they can get there.

This comment said you don't know how refreshing this win was I could care less about how short handed the warriors were I just one of one good.

The bar is so low man but but there's some truth to this too because the Lakers they've been obviously they were not good in the clutch in the last what two of the last three games when they got in clutch time they lost the game.

But in general you think about the Lakers wins of the course of the season wide part of it is yes they have a really good record in crunch time there.

But they're also basically only winning games in crunch time there are there have been very few kick back relax and we're going to coast across the finish line when so we should not.

This does not change the problems that the Lakers face but we should also not overlook and not appreciate a win like this because it's not something that's happened very often for the Lakers this season.

I look I will always prefer wins over losses yes that's just how it always should be like the basis of sport and competition is to win and so I obviously am happy that they win because I would hate to have come on here and talked about how the Lakers blew a game or lost to another short handed team like that just would have been infuriating so I think for my health my mental health and honestly my physical health sometimes Trevor like it's just better when they win.

That being said though like I guess like you zoom out and you've been doing this for a long time like you just kind of know like this game ultimately does not mean a ton given the direction that they're in but in the short term with where they are you're just happy they did win.

Yes absolutely we will take it and happy that one the way they did on the first leg of a back to back you know that yeah sure that the guys didn't have the log major minutes either that that can matter.

This comment said Trevor maybe it's too inside baseball super curious if your post game views are affected by bone headed Lakers losses.

Oh absolutely in a lot of ways so a typically like I blow out particularly the worst case for me in terms of viewership a blowout loss.

Of course the worst thing that's the worst thing because that's where Lakers fans they they turn the game off and they go do something else right out of anger and spite in all of that.

That's the worst case a blowout win like tonight also not necessarily the best thing because in terms of just the total number of viewers because again the games over the subs are in and people go and do other stuff.

The best thing is a close win like a close win that's when everybody's pilot in and what especially like something extraordinary like a buzzer beater or something like that that gets a lot of fans really amped up and fired up them want to go and talk about it and get into these shows a close loss is in second place to that and it's a fairly decent second a close loss.

You'll have people want to come in and complain and that sort of stuff and so we'll get high viewership there but blowout where the game is decided very early then we'll tend to see the numbers go down for those and that's just that comes with we know that it comes with the territory and be doing this for a long time so it's the way that it that it goes.

In general when Lakers fans are seeing the team win more people are getting engaged more people are buying in more people are wanting to come and be part of when they when the losses start to mount when they start to pile up and people start to get frustrated we do see viewership numbers tend to drop as as you would expect the only the only exception and this was kind of funny the way this was Matt was before LeBron came when this show first started I was literally doing the show at my kitchen table.

They would they are numbers would go up whenever the Lakers would lose and go down when they would win because they were tanking and so that was that was always kind of I thought a little bit backwards but it is not been like that and in some time.

I will the only thing I will add to this and to the end to answer the question Trevor is that the guests such as myself do not cherry pick games when they win we agree to to come on here win or lose before the games are placed.

Yes that is funny how many people do think that that's why I brought it up because they're like oh Matt's probably only on because the Lakers won today and I'm like nope I told Trevor earlier this week I got Saturday for you my friend and I think this is right before the magic game on Tuesday.

So yeah I swear it's not when the Lakers are going good and we have fun stuff to talk about like I've I'll eat lumps like I come on here when they lose also so just know guys we're not cherry picking games me and anyone else that comes on here.

That's right that's right all right let's go here when prime Odom be even better in today's game a lot of those guys would be so good now all the tweener dudes would have been awesome.

You know Matt one of the things that I always like to like to look at two is people will point to a guy like L.O. and say well but he didn't he didn't shoot the three well enough.

If I think it's a key distinction are you taking a player from let's say you go you travel back 15 years even a little bit more and you grab Lamar Odom at that point and you just bring him to today or are you talking about Lamar Odom comes up in today's game where the three is more of a necessity to shoot.

Yeah like if we're assuming the latter Lamar Odom is phenomenal in today's NBA and he was already a great player but I could picture a Lamar Odom where the three was more an emphasized part of his development and he's a 35 plus percent three point shooter he would be so damn good in today's NBA.

I mean six ten point guard basically that's what he would have grown up as like there was jumbo initiator not even jumbo initiator because that dude was just he was just a tall lanky power forward who could handle and pass like so under rate and you know it's funny you said 15 years ago that's six man of the year Lamar Odom year.

Yeah so you put that guy on this lake you're seeing there they're rolling god man Trevor would have Trevor Risa would have been great would have been awesome now even a guy like Luke Walton would have been perfect.

Yeah a lot of guys like I think like when it's fun to panic like like back at the old lake you're seeing to just think about the roll guys like those scenes are stacked.

Yeah yeah I mean they they had got they they didn't always have a lot of depth on the end of the bench but they had they had core eight nine guys yeah their core eight or nine guys were very very good and and you're in your I mean think about what you know an mwp you mentioned Trevor Risa some of the those kind of guys that you can add that you could potentially add into a team like this man they had some really good guys that you could count I mean Derek Fisher hitting clutch shots in the playoffs right you've got guys.

That you've got guys that are role players but could step up in big moments Sasha playing off with the good on church right now it'd be fun like that would be fun yeah like especially that error too when he was drilling more middies but if you just hold him to stand in the corner more like Sasha would have been he would have gotten paid.

Oh sure yeah so not trying to homer and relive the good good old days but I think it just speaks to like some players are just ahead of their time or just not in the right area.

Absolutely all right D.A. could not get position on dream on green heat to see it still desperately need that win good to see the optimist and Trevor together yeah always always joy when when Matt's able to come on here and it talks

from Lakers basketball as far as not getting position on dream that doesn't surprise me though.

Yeah it doesn't yeah I mean stream on like I know like everyone still looks he's six six this shouldn't be an issue but he's one of the best defensive players of all time for a reason and I think that'll just forever be his calling cards so I'm not surprised but I mean like if you want to just talk about D.A. though like you could definitely see like it bumps me out man like watching D.A. tonight against the Warriors makes me miss Anthony Davis even more because he would have just absolutely destroyed a match up like today.

Yeah just it makes me sad but you would think that the Lakers have a big man that could dominate the match up like this and they did not but you know again they won so I'm not going to complain too much I we already spent plenty of time talking about the Andreate and I don't take him not being able to get position on dream on green as one of the negatives from there were other things that we already spoke about that that were negatives from his game tonight but not getting position on dream on I don't think was was one of them for sure.

Now time he needs to have a big game tomorrow he needs to you know he needs to take advantage of some of these opportunities and have some really big big performances if you if you just needed to inflate numbers Trevor today tomorrow and Tuesday would be the times yes yep I mean we could oh my god Matt I just remembered our old friend the Andre Jordan is starting now for the Pell's.

Deandre off if this if DA is not better than Deandre Jordan when they play the Pelicans people are going to lose their minds like even more so that that will be that will be the truly like nail in the coffin of Deandreate and as a Laker if he gets outworked by Deandre Jordan this week.

I you know what I don't know if I'm there quite yet but I mean if we're just talking disastrous scenarios or things to really start complaining about that's that's pretty high on the list.

What's the what is the like what is your confidence level that DA is going to get the better of that match up right now.

Oh good lord.

The fact that I have to think about it is already sad and the fact that I don't think I can go any higher than like seven.

It is also probably equal 7% 7 out of 10 70% yeah sorry sorry on a scale of one to 10 10 being I am up most confident in one being I just don't believe him at all it's like a six and a half seven yeah yep it I'm with you he should he should get the better of that match up should keyword should but I'm not entirely confident that he will we'll see I you know and that that's really the

maddening thing with it all mad is that he can he absolutely can that's the worst part it's the worst part like that's why I said earlier it's one thing if you're just bad.

It's another one I know you could be better and you're just not trying for whatever reason it is yep yep.

All right we need Cleba and Timmy Timmy was playing with South Bay tonight featured more and less of the others hustle energy on selfish can ask you a do you think the Timmy two way spot is still warranted.

What do you think that he should lose it well I mean like look if I'm the Lakers right like and I guess I'm just trying to think long term like I want more defensive minded guys.

I'm not trying to ease out completely but I'm just wondering like at what point do you start cycling to these two ways and trying to find guys that you know will stick.

I think drew to me is the of the two way players right now I think drew to me is the most capable or the guy I have the most trust in it's actually put into a game right now.

That said skill set wise you're right I mean his he's not quick laterally doesn't have great size the three the three ball if he can hit that obviously he's a he's a five but he's the size of a four and isn't a great athlete he has great post moves he has great touch.

Is he ever going to be a full time like rotation player in the NBA I don't know I don't know that he's going to get to that we did see some good things out of him.

I think that skill set wise there's a greater chance of like manion being a rotation player and we've seen even less of him but just because we know he's got the defensive shops that you need and we know there's a very low ceiling on Timmy's defensive abilities but it's almost like he's his skill set isn't a fit but he's almost too good to move on from though and that's the hard part right because you do need a specific skill set from.

To add to this team and so are you okay with moving on from a better player to take a chance on a guy who isn't as likely to hit isn't as good but if that player does their skill set is a bigger deal.

I mean I think that's a good question to have it's like a talent versus fit thing or an upside thing.

I guess I'm of the mindset of just I don't know if the long term future exists with Timmy and the Lakers I think like what you said talented as a prospect and would be like a perfect and a bench guy maybe at some point but if we're talking about guys and I to me I look at two way guys is almost like a lot of tickets at a certain point just like.

The odds of them being anywhere near good is already pretty slim so I guess i'm okay with just kind of turning these guys out and seeing what might stick i'm not saying that like guys don't deserve time to develop but I think.

At first you got to identify what what they're good at and see like how that might fit with the larger picture with Luca and Austin and the rest of the Lakers roster and that's kind of where I start to get into like these combos of like.

I like the player individually but like if i'm building the Lakers out like what kind of guys do I need and i'm not sure that's necessarily a bit.

What did you think of Kobe buffkin.

He's intrigued he's intriguing I like guards with size first off I think that's like thing and if you've seen any of his glee highlights I know the guy can shoot just hasn't gotten a ton of opportunities with the parent team and like.

Meeting full games to show it but I think something's intriguing there so like I'd rather gamble on a guy like buffkin who has the draft pedigree also over a guy like to that's just me personally.

Buffkin has not shot well you know in the NBA but he's played very well in the g league we just haven't seen that translate just yet yeah.

But you've got him under contract next year you know maybe you hang on to him and.

I don't know like he's he's a guy were realistically you.

I know this will be his third year but you kind of want to see him play like maybe even play him in summer league.

I'd be playing him to I think those guys need as many reps as they can get and and then we'll see where they go from there.

For sure I mean Dalton is I that's a I think if there was ever like a definition of like a change of scenery guy I feel like that's Dalton connect at this point.

Kobe buffkin like I said like I'm not expecting a ton but if I'm just going to just roll the dice on some dudes and see what sticks like I don't mind gambling on a kid that's young and still has some basketball left.

All right this one says Kobe would have loved EA not haven't heard a not joke in a while.

But yeah I was talking about that with Scorpio sky was on last show last post game and I posed the question to him.

What would have happened had Kobe been on this team or if Kobe were on this team right now with the Andrean.

I can only I mean does he fart in the locker room like Dwight does because that's the only thing that would I think at that and that's the only thing that we're kind of missing at this point.

Man Deandra Aiden to me is a character dude like I don't I would love to he's funny I would love to just hang out with him like away from a basketball court just get to know him a little bit he just seems like a character.

He's that David Miniman piece was hilarious for so many different reasons so sad so it was also it was it seemed like it was mostly geared favorably like the Lakers need D.A.

To be really good and he and they're going to they're so reliant upon him and he can get them to the next love they had quotes from Austin in there and everything about you know him being the X factor for the Lakers and all this kind of stuff.

And then that one damn clink and it was right after he said exactly what he needed to say I just need to play with energy the ball finds energy all this like stop right there and you're good.

He says the one clink of hell and it like it just it overwrote everything else that was it was it you know the season like post-op.

Trevor or the just like the debrief of the season that quote is going to get thrown in all the montages.

Oh man.

All of them man.

They should do for a highlight reel they should do Deandre Aiden but but like mix in a few highlights of clink of hell.

Oh my gosh yeah it's just come on dude like this was not it's like we said this so the coaching staff must have given you a heads up way before you agree to sign up.

You got bought out like you had to have known.

Yep absolutely all right um Keon said I missed the game and just got here can you summarize what happened.

Yeah I got you I can do it in like ten words the Lakers went down early but then one big.

Yeah and by went down early it was two nothing.

And then they I mean just cruised they they did they won every quarter.

Don't like it they won every quarter even the fourth even garbage time the entire fourth quarter was essentially garbage time.

They just they cruised they crushed the Warriors it was not close.

Golden State look awful they looked out and they've gotten some wins but Golden State looked at I'm sure Warriors fans are not happy right now because they look horrible.

I mean like not to rub it into the Warriors fans even though you know as a Lakers fan I'm sure there's a lot of opportunities for that right now.

I mean you'd rather if you want any sort of solace Trevor if you want to take any sort of meeting from this game.

It's that the Lakers are a better position moving forward than the Warriors are.

Are they light years ahead.

I don't know if I go that far Trevor I mean if they've got the two timeline thing they said they would they would execute the two timeline thing they've done it just not very well.

No no they had two timelines now where those timelines are going I don't know but but they had them.

Just when you thought you couldn't be any dumber you go and do something like this and totally redeem yourself.

That's we're getting loopy this is a part of the show where we're not.

Our pets heads are falling off.

I don't know I don't know if I've seen a better comment in this.

Please tell me you you know this reference.

Oh Trevor I'm sorry I'm going to let you down but I knew you're doing something.

Oh no.

What is it don't tell me don't tell actually now tell me I don't know this.

Okay so I don't know if you've seen the gym carry stuff that's been going around.

Oh no it is happening with gym carry.

Sorry there's a lot of other world events stuff going on right.

There's a few more important things going on the world but the internet is convinced that gym carry has been replaced by like a clone or something like that.

That's because it changes to his facial features as though you know Hollywood celebrities never get any kind of work done right.

But that's that's the thing right that's been going that's been going around.

I mean I bring him up because these are quotes from the classic gym carry movie.

Oh Dumber Dumber Dumber Dumber dude yeah do you want to hear the most annoying sound of the world I'm not going to do it now.

Yes there it is right that's one of my favorite clips dude yeah I don't know why I did not.

Sorry the brain is melting right now.

So as I think I just thought it was an approach given that I keep seeing this on my time particularly on on threats.

Like all this gym carry has been replaced and he's a clone and it's Avril Levine all over again and all this kind of stuff right.

And crazy news.

That's exactly when it's true.

Okay I'm not I'm not completely out of the gym carry a loop.

There you go.

This shows off the rails Trevor sooner or later we're going to just be talking about fish which is another side.

We're going to wind up talking about fish tanks.

Still have work but a nice bounce back game.

Yes yes very nice bounce back game.

Like I said I don't want to sound completely done with this season because I will always give myself a little bit of margin here.

But if the Lakers are going to do anything worthwhile talking about it's they've got to start winning games against good teams like that's just like a.

That's just the reality of the situation there and like I what are you going to do Trevor walk into the playoffs and assume that they can win four play straight playoffs series without having proven it.

No you got it you got to put they have to get statement wins they have to.

What's the last one they've had.

Uh the last statement win.

Austin's buzzer beat against Minnesota.

When was that was in October.

I'm going to just clarify for the viewers at home and the listeners like we are talking about games at the Lakers have had.

Literally more than half the season ago.

Yeah.

That was the last one.

And that sucks.

That sucks.

That sucks.

Um was this the first game that the Lakers had played seriously for the full 48 minutes.

It was very surprising and made me really happy.

Did they play seriously for 48 minutes.

That's just what I was about to say like are we sure they did.

I think I don't think you and I don't think you can be expected to because they didn't play serious in the fourth quarter.

Nor did they need to.

Nor did they need to.

I can't count this one as that.

Um I haven't done a relationship analogy in a while but it almost feels like the guys that they're in the long term relationship at this point and you're just kind of given bare minimum because you know that's that's how you guys can cruise by at this point.

That's almost what this is man like they knew the wars were not going to be good.

They took a lead and then they basically did just enough.

I thought they played the executive pretty well offensively for most of the game.

I'm more look at the fourth quarters when they really just kind of said okay let's coast across the fish and I don't blame them for that at all.

No I don't think so but my point is like look where they're playing though.

Like can you imagine if they had some other teams that like we're able to keep up with them for just like would you have continued to see the ball move the way it did.

Or are you like if the Warriors came like I'm not I will not a shade.

I am not a shame to say this it is but like in the second quarter or whenever it was when the Warriors started to come back a little bit.

I was like oh god here we go.

Like how could you not you're you're starting to hit in those threes and yeah.

And they got it and it was like not even anything like a consequence right I think they got within like 12 or 14.

And it was funny because I had just said on the play by play okay four minutes left in this this half.

Which you don't want to do if you're the Lakers is allow the Warriors to cut this to like 14 or 12 or something like that.

And then they go into halftime feeling good and with some momentum and sure enough they cut it down to 12 but then the Lakers responded and they bumped the right back up.

I think what was it like 18 and a half time.

Yeah 18 or something and like the other thing I don't know if you even mentioned it but like I just don't expect the Lakers to be this hot from beyond the art every single game.

No, no.

Like that's my thing like it's almost like an outlier I'm not saying that they weren't going to win this game regardless of the three point shooting but I just feel like.

This game versus their season average or what you would expect the Lakers to shoot this was just not the norm and so don't get me wrong like they walk into a playoff series shooting this hot every single game I will give them a shot every time.

But I just will refuse to bet on that because this team has shown me post even with Lucanard like they just will never be the high volume high percentage to point shooting team I think they can be.

I think some of their guys like Lucan LeBron sometime take way too hard threes off the bounce like it's not usually within the flow of the offense so like I think that's another thing that they can get better at is just generating quality looks.

But overall Trevor if they shoot this well every single game I would feel a lot more optimistic about them I just not really necessarily expecting that and so therefore I think we still have the same issues with this team all they have to do shoot 46% from three.

Oh yeah so easy easy done everyone needs to shoot the Lucanard average there it is no problem no problem.

D.A. is Kwame Brown with bigger hands.

Okay I will say though at least DeAndre getting got to a second contract that was like lucrative.

Yeah I did NBA TV couple months ago with Eddie Johnson who is the sons commentator yeah and when he found out I cover the Lakers he said he said how are you guys liking DeAndre and I said.

You know he's been pretty good at that point he was doing pretty well and we talked about where he was doing well he goes you know what his problem is he's got 80 bitty baby hands.

You know that's an underrated thing man like hand size like for a big guy especially to or the other way around when you got big hands as a smaller guy.

Like I really wonder who does have bigger hands Kwame or Eden.

I don't think he has a very big.

I don't think Kwame's are that either because the way he fumbled the ball the time do you remember that yeah.

But Eden kind of does it too.

He does but like at least he's got good touch around the room which begs me to think his answer like probably average.

But yeah no not not not great.

And then it also makes me think of the crevendorant coi Leonard picture them in viral after all star game.

Yeah.

Yeah like that to me is insane.

So side tangent to you but like I think like as a regular normy person Trevor when I shook James were these hand for the first time.

Oh yeah right literally enveloped like my arm.

So when we're talking about these guys having small hands these are still very massive human beings.

It's like when we're talking about a veteran minimum contract being being pocket change in the NBA.

Like life changing money for everyone else in the in the world right.

Yeah it's all it's all relative.

All right let's get to the master lock of the night the most annoying obviously this is a nice relaxing win.

What was the most annoying thing from this chat fired off let me know what was the most annoying thing from tonight's game.

Master lock of the night.

Master lock of the night.

We're master locking in we that's been the most negative things so far that we've talked about tonight has been DA.

I mean I feel like he's almost kind of like the default low hanging fruit right right the DA's effort.

DA's audacity.

I yeah I just don't really know.

I mean Jemang green is like I he didn't even do anything to annoy today because they were getting blown out like.

Yeah there's not even wish Luca happy birthday.

I guess for me like the lack of intrigue in this game can I master lock that sure.

Like it wasn't like a particularly exciting game like I like that the lake is one.

And I'm sure when ESPN had this on their schedule they went.

This is going to be awesome bring us the ratings and then yeah this is this is what we got.

Let's go.

Master lock Charles Barkley sure that's a good one.

Yeah we'll take that one like I didn't appreciate the comments of that they were unnecessary.

I thought they're like cheap shots but you know you got to you got to make the show relevant and get your kids so.

So I just want to give you a very good one.

The first step interview while the game was live.

I mean what a long it wasn't was step for any other player having a long player interview taking up the portion of the screen while the game is live.

Yeah.

Can they not do that like right before like the break comeback or like you know like before commercial like I don't know like I feel like we could

be better about like you know interview and game time happen at the same time.

on if they're at least still talking about what's happening in the game and then mixing

up. That's fine. Yeah, that normally isn't the way that it goes. I think, uh, I think

the, like the, the, the peacock broadcast do that. Like they got like the people, like

on the benches. Yeah. They're kind of like listening in on the coaching and the huddles

and then they kind of report back as the game. So I think that's cool. Charles Barkley and

Dylan Brooks, the all NBA masterlock team. Jay Crowder, Jaymond Greens probably on

there. Jaymond's got masterlocked quite a bit. Jay Crowder. Yeah. Dylan Brooks of course

gets masterlocked every day. I'll say masterlock. Yeah, we, you know, we got to get Chris masters

here one year. Like we got to do like an anniversary episode and we just got to go through

the best masterlocked. The best masterlocks of all time. Yeah, we'll do like funniest ones.

We'll do like the most angry ones. We'll do, well, then we'll just do like a best of that

would be awesome. A trip down memory lane with the masterlock. Oh, come on. Oh, Solomon

Hill. Oh, good one. Yeah. Rob LeBron, that Rob LeBron of an MVP. LeBron has another MVP

under his belt. Had Solomon Hill not rolled up on his ankle. And the Lakers, I, Matt, I think

could you imagine there is a, uh, there is a universe out there somewhere in the multiverse,

where Anthony Davis and LeBron James do not get hurt in 2021. The Lakers are back to back

champions. The Russell Westbrook trade never happens. And I, I, I so want America Chavez

to come here and bring us to that. You know, because I want to see what the team looks

like right now. They, you talk about just some of the key inflection points in Lakers

history. Um, I think about that one a lot, dude. Like, if the Lakers had just kept that

team together and they stayed healthy, like Anthony Davis is growing, doesn't get hurt.

ACP announced Coruso don't miss games in that first. Like a lot of people forget that.

It wasn't just AD that was hurt. Like AC missed a game. KCP miss, I think you, um, and

remember that was the year nobody could shoot in the playoffs. Even KCP, KCP was 19% for

the playoffs or something. I think they were just tired. And we said that it was the

concern. And, and Dennis decided to shrink and all this other stuff. Okay. That was

when, well, didn't sure to get COVID right before the playoffs started. Oh my god.

I thought that happened. And then he, um, and maybe I'm missing memory. It was the next

year or something like that. But, um, but there was, I think it was something like 70 days

between the, the game set, the final game, game six of the NBA finals and the start of

the next season. Yeah, super short turnaround because of the postpone season and everything.

Yeah. No, I mean, like the Lakers, I remember this is my first season, the Lakers Nation

.com, by the way, like the season ended in October. And then they were back to playing games,

like in the end of November, just in like the game of December, basically. Uh, it's not

got. Oh, wait. Oh, no, no, the Celtics referee. That dude. Oh, Eric Lewis, permanent one.

That's a good one. Yep. Uh, yeah, we could do this forever. But like if anyone has a project,

it has a lot of free time, just index all the videos, pull up some master locks. That would

be a fun thing to kind of go through. Yeah, the master locks of all time. Okay. So tomorrow,

the Lakers take on the Sacramento, I guess Matt to kind of wrap up. What do you want to see?

Aside from just a win, what do you want to see from the Lakers tomorrow against the Kings?

We already went over who's going to be out of action for Sacramento, just to reiterate,

Dylan Cardwell, DeAndre Hunter, Zach LeBean, Keegan Murray, Demonissa bonus, all out. What

do you want to see from the Lakers tomorrow? I mean, ideally something like this again, right?

Like if you're going to be a middle class team, then, you know, make sure that you're taking

care of business and you're doing it correctly. I just would not, I would like to just avoid any

sort of close calls or closing counters with this team. Like I know they're, they're short-handed

and I know that they're not going anywhere this season, but you don't take the bonus for granted

in the NBA. So honestly, Trevor, I just want a convincing win again. I'm not expecting 30 plus points,

but I would like for them to be like another stress-free night where the stars don't have to play a

lot of ton of minutes and we can continue to rest guys or load managers as much as possible. So

I think ultimately that's, it's really that. I mean, kind of build off this one too, execute

offensively, run your sets offensively, try to create some havoc and resistance where you can,

and you know, you just go from there and then on Tuesday, same thing. Like really, the script is

take care of the teams you should and then, you know, put up more of a consistent effort and fight

against the better teams. Like that's kind of like the expectation the rest of the way.

Exactly. This comment said Masterluck Matt for not knowing Dumb and Dumber.

I know I own that one.

I do think that given, by the way, that the lines just came out, the Lakers are 12 and a half point

favorite tomorrow. That seems almost kind of low. You think it is. I mean, what was the line for

the night? I would have taken it. It was it was Lakers, either three and a half or four and a half

depending on when you were. That's it. I would have definitely taken like up to like six and a half,

seven and a half. Yeah. Yeah.

Wanted to ask this question said, what will it take for you guys to even have hope of the

Lakers being contenders? I think it's what we've been talking about. I think there has to be

a number of statement wins where they show that they have a way to overcome some of the significant

weaknesses that they have. You do that and hey, like LeBron, Luca, playoffs, Austria, yeah,

things can happen. But we need to see that they've got the ability to overcome their deficiencies.

My point is like they need to go like on like a wall second half run from like last year.

Yeah. Yeah. Like they do. Like they just need to beat good teams consistently. They need to do it in

a way that makes me think that they can continue to do that. Like I don't want like an outlier

kind of streak of wins. Like I want them to be consistent. Like I want them to like play the right

way every single night and then kind of let the chips fall where they made like I again, I'm not

expecting them to win every single game the rest of the way, but they absolutely need like to win

the majority of them. I think Shaq on the broadcast throughout like a 17 and seven and I'm like,

honestly, that's almost sort of the stretch that I'm talking about. That that feels like a lot.

No, but that's that's kind of what the question is. What cult do you need to like what do you

need to see to have hope? It'd be something like that. Some like a really impressive streak where you

go, Oh, some like we've been talking about putting the puzzle pieces together. Like on this

roster and trying to mix and match the lineups and all that, you need to see some puzzle pieces

come into place and suddenly they're up at another level. That's that's what you need to see.

For sure. All right. Not going to lie. Lakers should find more minutes for Clebo. Yeah. I mean,

he's earned some. He's earned him, especially if D if DA picks it up. He's got he's a much higher

ceiling than Maxi, but if DA is just kind of scrolling along the path rest of the season,

kind of might as well put Maxi out there. I mean, if you're just looking for answers and this one

is repeatedly showing you that it's not it's not him. Then yeah, you have no choice. But I agree with

you. Like, look, no one as much as we've said about D'Andre in tonight, the fact of the matter

remains that if you ever want to kick his butt into high gear and play the role that they're

asking him to play, I think you can be very successful. It's just now we've got to see it again.

Yep. Exactly. All right. Let's go here. We'll finish with this. Said my high school basketball team,

just won a district championship tonight and hearing tonight's news that we won big is just great

for me to hear tonight. Congratulations. Congratulations. It's really happy for you and glad you were

able to get that. Were you on the team? Was G fresh on the team? Because if so,

congrats to you, my friend. For sure. For sure. Oh, here we got last one. Can you please

talk about potential playoff matchups and what are favorable and unfavorable matchups? How can

the Lakers manage to win a series? I think the Lakers struggle with right now just because the

weaknesses they have. I think there's a number of teams in the West that you don't want to run

into in the playoffs. Let's see. So the Lakers are still locked into six right now, right? Yes.

I'll put it straight up. Yeah. I was going to say if they were to start today, they would play the

rockets in the first round, which we've already seen that matchup and that one's rough.

Who do you think like what team out of let's say the Lakers finish in whatever the five to say

whatever, you're going to play one of the other top six teams in round one. You're not going to

finish two one or two. Which team do you have most confidence against OKC, San Antonio, Houston,

Denver, Minnesota? Oh, I'm just setting myself up to get clipped by the other team.

Well, I mean, no, I know. No, I think it's somewhere between Houston or Minnesota to me.

I don't feel great about picking either of those ones, but if you're just saying best chances,

because like, look, I mean, you can argue maybe the spurs, like the inexperienced stuff,

but like the youth collective athleticism, the shooting, the WebB factor, like he,

yeah, I just, I don't feel great about the spurs. So I think I just take my shots with the rockets

who I think have some good upside. And I know like they're kind of like a style that does not

match the Lakers strengths that are like they tech Lakers. We just is really well. And so I would

struggle against that one. But if I'm just, if I got to just live and die with one of these teams,

I'll go with Minnesota or Houston. And I will just bank on the star power kind of coming

through in those matchups because I think like you would make an argument against Denver,

San Antonio, Oklahoma City. Like I know Luca is the top three top five guy, but you could argue

guys on those teams are better than him. And I think that's sort of where the Lakers might run into

trouble. I would not have the Lakers as the favorite against any of the five teams above them

right now. Same. But San Antonio is problematic because they are so fast. Yeah. And they have

the athleticism on the wings and the Lakers really struggled with that. Okay, C is the same thing.

It's these teams that can play the high pressure defense that have really given the Lakers

problems. Yeah. This season, Houston, the problem Matt is this like Houston, Denver, Minnesota.

I think those are teams that I could see a path. But in all three of those matchups,

Deandre Aiden has to be solid. Like they beat Minnesota twice already this season. And DA

was pretty damn good in both of those games. And he needed to be pretty good. We're not seeing,

that was back in October and November. DA doesn't look like he did in October and November anymore.

So that's where I struggled like you throw D.A. at Yokech and what's going to happen to throw him

at even go bear right now. I thought he outplayed go bear when they played the Wolves earlier this

season. I'm not confident that's going to happen again. But I would say it's those three in some

order. Houston, Denver, Minnesota with San Antonio and okay, C being I think the two teams you really

want to try to avoid. Yeah, maybe I've got too much Denver PTSD. But I mean, I think with Luca,

things that that changes a little bit, but he does change that matchup quite a bit. What I,

what I hate here Trevor is that all five teams above the Lakers have very clearly,

demonstrably better centers than the Lakers do. Yes. Well, I mean, Minnesota, you know,

Rudy versus D.A. You just brought that up. Maybe that's an open argument. But the other four, like,

that's a tough one. And like when I said like they attack the Lakers, like the weakness is really well,

it's just not a good matchup for any of those guys. And I'm not picking them to win in any of

those series, like as of today. Yeah. What do you think would be the closest series?

I think Houston or Minnesota still. Yeah. I mean, but I think you're splitting hairs almost.

I think Houston's problems in the half court. Yep. That's that's where we go. Houston has the

biggest of these groups. Houston has the, the most Lakers level weakness where the Lakers,

they are to clear athleticism deficit, can struggle defensively, have a foot speed deficit.

Houston has a clear weakness. And that's when you make them play in the half court.

And that's what playoff basketball is. Like we saw that last year when they played the Warriors,

they struggled a ton of not Kevin Durant solves a lot of that. But my point still says that like,

if there's one out of all these contending teams that are above the Lakers right now,

that Houston's got a glaring weakness kind of like the Lakers do. It's just maybe not as bad.

That's what the Lakers have. But that's what I got to have to lean into. Like I Denver,

Yokeh and in the playoffs, especially with the way that Jamal Murray's playing this year also,

like that scares me. Minnesota with the ant taking another level. That scares me. San Antonio with

all the youth athleticism in every position. That's a tough matchup. And then OK,

see, like that's just a no brainer also. So does not vote well for the Lakers. And I think as you

run through this exercise, you start to get, you start to understand why the players feel the way

they do, maybe. Sure. I mean, look, if they were in the East, we'd feel a lot better about the Lakers

getting through, obviously. That said, it's LeBron, it's Luca, it's, you know, I mean, playoff time,

you never say never. There's a reason why you play the games. And the Lakers right now, they

don't have the tiebreaker for the sons. So right now, the job has got to be staying out of the play.

And that's, that's the job right now. Yeah. All right, everybody. Tomorrow night, 6 30 PM,

civic time, Lakers take on the Kings. We'll see if the Lakers can make it back to back wins.

Be live right here on the Lakers Nation.com YouTube channel, breaking down the game as it happens,

coming out tonight was like a party. It was a good time. Hopefully tomorrow night will also

be like a party. Thank you, Matt Peralta for coming on and hanging out. I miss talking Lakers

basketball with you. Likewise, my friend. I'm glad I can keep you entertained. It's probably

more fun to talk about this game than watch it, to be honest, but I'm glad I was able to provide

some entertainment for the you and the folks tonight. So I always appreciate that. It was indeed.

A lot of fun. Thank you, everybody. And Lakers Kings tomorrow. Let's go. Until then, everybody.

See you. And stay safe.