Andy Kamenetzky here, the host of the daily Locked On Lakers podcast, with your daily Locked On Lakers newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Lakers and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
The Lakers have played 10 games. At 6-4, the overall record is solid enough. They’re keeping up in a brutal Western Conference where 11 teams are .500 or better, and a 12th (San Antonio) is just one game under. (By comparison, the 3rd seed in the East is Indiana, at 5-5.)
So what do we know about the team at this point?
Broadly speaking, things feel a lot like they did last year. Which really shouldn’t surprise anyone, since it’s basically last year’s team. You could argue it’s even a little worse, because Taurean Prince (maligned as he was) is currently a more reliable NBA player than Dalton Knecht. So it makes sense that the rebounding project that was so talked about in the preseason hasn’t really worked out in the regular season. The gulf between offense (top 5) and defense (bottom 5) is still there. The shooting volume is up slightly, but the success rate is down.
What’s good?
Anthony Davis was a fantastic last year, and looks even better this season. LeBron after a slow couple of games looks like LeBron, and Austin Reaves looks like he’s elevating. But (there’s always a but...) Max Christie? Oof. Rui Hachimura? Hit and miss. D’Angelo Russell? Coming off the bench... though not exactly in the same way and for the same reasons as last year.
Christian Wood? Jarred Vanderbilt? Still hurt.
So what have we learned about this team 10 games in?
Three Questions...
1. Where can the Lakers find internal improvement?
2. What happens if Vando and Wood are delayed indefinitely?
The second annual NBA In-Season Tournament/much catchier ‘NBA Cup’ begins tonight, kicking off roughly a month of tournament games that fall on Tuesdays and Fridays. Then, we get into the quarterfinals and conference semifinals, the rules of which I am still not 100% clear on and am not ashamed to admit.
The newness of the Cup is what makes people skeptical of it. It’s what made me skeptical of it last season. It’s difficult to introduce new things into competitive ecosystems that seem largely “set”, which is why it happens rarely. My skepticism of the tournament came from the need to gameify what is already a game, but then I thought about how often the “product” of the NBA (e.g. basketball) gets complained about and realized the league was trying something. Trying something different versus just complaining about what already exists for the sake of griping is also rare.
Part of the fun of the tournament in its current, very green iteration, is its messiness. Last season, athletes were clear about how they, too, were stumped on the rules. How did the point system work? What were the knockout rules? Why were the custom courts so garish? But for the most part, players leaned into it. Did the Lakers lean a little too hard into it by hanging the In-Season Tournament banner in the rafters? Absolutely. But these are Tuesday night games in November — nothing about them should be sacrosanct.
A genuine lift I noticed and liked about last season’s tournament, and my real point of defense, is how these games operated as additional runway for a handful of teams on the verge. The In-Season Tournament was where we started to see the Pacers flourish and use the breakneck speed that went on to become a critical component of their entirely unique offense. The Pelicans also treated the tournament as something different, approaching the games like an escape from the early season injury woes that derailed them (unfortunately in a very cruel deja vu, we’re seeing the same thing this season). There’s going to be more emerging teams and play styles showing themselves this time around.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Injury The NBA has a ‘missing stars’ problem with injuries piling up faster than normal. (Yahoo! Sports)
Rumor Did Giannis Antetokounmpo’s fake handshake prank launch a new NBA rivalry?
Preview The tiny town and legendary 1980s NBA team that built NBA Draft phenom Cooper Flagg (ESPN)
Analysis JJ Redick examined the Lakers’ bench depth, highlighting D’Angelo Russell’s potential to lead the second unit alongside promising contributions from Dalton Knecht and Jaxson Hayes. (Silver Screen and Roll) [Nov 11, 2024]
Analysis In another analysis, JJ Redick delved into the Lakers’ recent game, praising Anthony Davis’ defensive prowess and Jaxson Hayes’ impressive stats. (Silver Screen and Roll) [Nov 11, 2024]
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Monday’s NBA Fantasy Basketball Recap
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) reacts during the second half against the Sacramento Kings at Frost Bank Center.|Photo by Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
Monday’s NBA action featured five games, each packed with performances and injury updates that could reshape your fantasy basketball strategy.
Injury Updates Affecting Lineups
Damian Lillard’s entry into concussion protocol means he’ll miss Tuesday’s game, with a slim chance of returning by Wednesday. This quick turnaround is unusual, so keep an eye on updates. Meanwhile, Gary Trent Jr. is still dealing with back spasms, and despite his fantasy position eligibility, he’s not a point guard, averaging only two assists per game. The Milwaukee Bucks are experimenting with their lineup, with Pat Connaughton and Ryan Rollins as potential backup point guards. Giannis Antetokounmpo can handle point guard duties, but he needs support, especially with Khris Middleton unavailable.
Zion Williamson’s injury update is a blow to fantasy managers. He’s expected to be out for four to six weeks, longer than initially anticipated. If you have an IR spot, hold onto him, but be prepared for a potentially extended absence. Malik Monk’s ankle injury will keep him out for at least two weeks, affecting the Sacramento Kings’ lineup. Kevin Huerter and Keon Ellis could see increased value in the short term.
Game Highlights and Player Performances
The San Antonio Spurs pulled off a surprising 116-96 victory over the Sacramento Kings. Victor Wembanyama was the standout performer, delivering a stellar 34 points and 14 rebounds, solidifying his status as a top fantasy player. De’Aaron Fox’s assist numbers are concerning, especially with DeMar DeRozan’s arrival affecting his role. DeRozan’s on-court fit with the Kings remains a question mark. Kevin Huerter’s inconsistency continues, and while he had a hot streak, his recent performance was lacklustre. Keegan Murray’s struggles are evident, and I don’t see him breaking into the top 75 players this season.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Lakers podcasts.
Jarred Vanderbilt Remains Out Indefinitely. Should the Lakers Expect Him to Return This Season? The Lakers have had long stretches this year where news on Jarred Vanderbilt has essentially been non-existent. And for the most part, it has been a matter of no news not equaling good news. There’s no update because he’s not making progress. Well, sometimes getting news isn’t good, either.
Dalton Knecht Scores 37, Lakers Beat Utah for 6th Straight Win In a town that has seen its share of “manias” around young, exciting players (Fernandomania, Nomomania, and so on) it’s fair to think we’re probably one more big game from full blown Knectomania in Los Angeles. Dalton Knecht, who entered Tuesday’s game against Utah at the Crypt riding a big hot streak, got even hotter. He finished with 37, on a cartoonish 9-11 from 3-point range.
Should Dalton Knecht Stay in the Starting Lineup? The Lakers are riding a five-game winning streak, with a very good chance to make it six tonight at home against the 3-10 Utah Jazz. So while the hot start—the Lakers wake up Tuesday morning as the 3rd seed in the West—has fans rightly excited, it’s not all they’re talking about. First-rounder Dalton Knecht has, after a shaky start, grown red hot as a shooter.
