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.
Can the Lakers Turn a 5-Game Win Streak Into Sustained Success?
They haven’t always looked great in the process, but the Lakers are on a five game winning streak heading into Tuesday’s game at home against the Jazz. That’s a very, very, very good opportunity to make it six straight.
It’s easy to get wrapped up in aesthetics and style points, but there is no such thing as a bad five-game winning streak in the NBA. And there’s definitely no such thing as a bad six-game streak. And it’s worth noting that the Lakers, while unquestionably catching a break here and there (especially when it comes to the health of the opposition), have also played these games (and run their record to 9-4) while facing some adversity of their own. LA’s frontcourt, already thinned out by injuries to Christian Wood and Jarred Vanderbilt, has had to absorb absences from Rui Hachimura, Cam Reddish and Jaxson Hayes. The backup center (Christian Koloko) missed about a year and a half before finally being cleared by the NBA to play again.
So it’s not all sunshine and roses. And all you can do is play the games on the schedule, so if they haven’t beaten enough good teams of late, that’s true, but is that their fault?
It’s always easy to get wrapped up in what feels like fool’s gold with a team doing better than expected, which the Lakers certainly are. But that shouldn’t come at the expense of things that are good, are sustainable, and certainly matter. That can be Anthony Davis, playing at an MVP level. LeBron James still looks like LeBron James. Austin Reaves is taking steps, and Dalton Knecht looks very much like a player with a skill set that could be meaningful, even as a rookie.
Are they going to finish with a top 4 record in the conference? I’d bet against it. But that doesn’t mean they’re not playing quality ball, and won’t keep it up. It’s ok, sometimes, to highlight the positive, even while acknowledging the imperfections.
—BK
Three Big Questions (From This Episode)...
1. Is the play of LeBron and AD fully sustainable?
2. Are LA’s vulnerabilities more pronounced than their conference rivals?
3. Is Dalton Knecht just on a hot streak? Or is this the start of a ramp up to a high level of play?
After historic back-to-back nights over the weekend I hope the Kings’ De’Aaron Fox is on your radar. Fox delivered a 60 point game against the Timberwolves on Friday (the Kings, after all that, could not wrestle away the win) and then 49 points against the Jazz in a winning game on Saturday. While these scoring numbers are certainly a touch more astronomical than Fox’s norm, he’s still an athlete who’s averaged 25 points per game in the last three seasons.
Beyond pure shooting, Fox is a pleasure to watch. I mean that in an artful sense, like taking your time in a gallery or museum and letting your eyes rove over every flourish and detail. Fox has a knack for hang time, able to lightly adjust his body mid-air to tweak the angle of his jumper just so. It’s a bane to defenders because it’s nearly impossible to pre-calculate where Fox will wind up releasing the ball, but it’s startling, and fun, to see.
His passing follows the same rules. Namely: his own. One hand flings and scoops to teammates running down the lane, or flashing out to the wing, dependent on the sort of timing it takes trust and seasons of practice to nail. It speaks to the cohesiveness of the Kings, a team many are still quick to dismiss from contention but who will prove a difficult team to match up against once their roster returns to full strength.
Cade Cunningham
Admittedly, I hadn’t been paying that close of attention to Cade Cunningham, even with my well documented dedication to the Detroit Pistons. I changed that last Friday when the team was in Toronto to face the Raptors, and I spent a good chunk of pregame warmups watching Cunningham run through his drills.
There’s a new level of patience to Cade, who’s been — by circumstance — forced into holding pattern since he entered the NBA. This new level filters through his game. There’s still the juddery, at times mesmerizing, stop-start motion of his handle and with it the ability to force the pace he wants in a game, but now Cade’s letting the game come to him. Where there simply isn’t time to draw out a possession, or altering one might upend his team’s momentum (momentum has been something Detroit is relying on this season, to their benefit), Cade instead adopts the rhythm of the floor in motion. Now into his forth season, his maturation is evident, and it’s winning games.
Jabari Smith
It’s felt a touch disingenuous, how down on Jabari Smith those in the wider sphere of the Houston Rockets have been this season. Yes, he’s had some slow shooting nights, and made some frustrating decisions, but he’s also come back in the games that follow those less than stellar performances and done all the right things — leading to wins.
Smith’s a third year player in the league on a franchise that only really started to get the foundation of their rebuild right last season. He’s learning to adjust to quicker pace, tighter and more effortful defence (the Rockets are the league’s best rebounders), and what it means to actually compete versus playing at the whims of a single game, on a game-to-game basis. There’s continuity showing here, and it’s great.
Smith tends to have his best rebounding games when he’s also scoring, which just tells me that energy generated on one end of the floor is essential for him at the other. It’s also true of younger players — and teams, like the Rockets — learning what it is to stay consistent through a game’s many tide-turns.
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
Biz Deep breaths. The NBA has settled its broadcast lawsuits, and “Inside the NBA” is here to stay. (Sportico)
Preview Major changes could soon be coming to the All-Star Game. (ESPN)
Analysis The “unicorn” era of Anthony Davis may be over, but could the “Lakers AD” era just be starting? (The Ringer)
Analysis Christian Koloko stepped up for the Lakers against the Pelicans, impressing with his all-around performance. Coach JJ Redick praised his contribution, highlighting Koloko’s potential as a reliable backup. (Silver Screen and Roll)
Recap LeBron James’ clutch shooting helped the Lakers secure a 104-99 victory over the Pelicans. Anthony Davis and rookie Dalton Knecht also delivered standout performances. (Daily News)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Sunday’s NBA Fantasy Basketball Roundup
Nov 17, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) reacts after being called for a foul against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the fourth quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images|Nick Wosika/Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
As we dive into the latest NBA action, it’s clear that Sunday was packed with intriguing performances and unexpected developments. With 10 games on the schedule, there was no shortage of excitement and fantasy implications to unpack.
Injury Updates and Opportunities
The Sacramento Kings are dealing with some significant injury news. Domantas Sabonis, usually a reliable presence, is doubtful with a back issue, potentially missing his second consecutive game. This opens up opportunities for players like Kevin Huerter and Trey Lyles to step up. Meanwhile, DeMar DeRozan is officially out for his third consecutive game.
Key Performances and Fantasy Implications
The Minnesota Timberwolves’ victory over the Phoenix Suns highlighted some strategic missteps by the Suns. Starting Mason Plumlee and Jusuf Nurkic together against Minnesota’s big lineup didn’t pay off, with Nurkic playing only 14 minutes. His inconsistent performances make him a risky fantasy option, as his playing time and production fluctuate wildly.
On the Timberwolves’ side, Mike Conley’s increased minutes are worth noting. While his scoring was minimal, his contributions in other areas helped secure the win. Naz Reid, despite his scoring potential, continues to struggle defensively, which could limit his fantasy upside.
Click the button below to see why one of KD’s newest running mates could be worth a look, and how Charlotte’s injury concerns will affect your lineup.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Lakers podcasts.
Can the Lakers Turn a 5-Game Win Streak Into Sustained Success? The Lakers haven’t always looked great in the process, but they are on a five game winning streak heading into Tuesday’s game at home against the Jazz. That’s a very, very, very good opportunity to make it six straight. It’s easy to get wrapped up in aesthetics and style points, but there is no such thing as a bad five-game winning streak in the NBA. And there’s definitely no such thing as a bad six-game streak.
Lakers Start Their NBA Cup Title Defense vs. Spurs and Wembanyama. Should they Try to Repeat? Last season, the Lakers became the first team to win the NBA’s in-season tournament.That means this year, they’re the first team to try and defend that title. Of course, while the in-season tournament (now the NBA Cup) was a much bigger success than most anticipated, fans certainly remember how much the Lakers struggled following the tournament.
LeBron Has 3rd Straight Triple-Double, Dalton Knecht Puts up 19 in Lakers 128-123 Win vs. Grizzlies Definitionally, everything LeBron James does at this point in his career is historic, because nobody in NBA history has ever, at age 39, done what James is doing. But that doesn’t mean all the history is created equal. James came through on Wednesday with another triple-double (his third straight) on a night the Lakers really needed him.
