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.
Lakers Let One Get Away, Despite 70 Points from LeBron and A.D.
In the Western Conference, teams that don’t close games they were in position to win will feel it in the end.
That’s certainly what happened to the Lakers on Thursday night. To be sure, the visiting Orlando Magic, even without its star (Paolo Banchero) and playing shorthanded beyond that (no Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, no Wendell Carter, Jr.) still represented a challenging opponent. To their credit, the Magic have played quite well of late, winning six of seven coming into the game.
But the Lakers had a lead at the half, and leads down the stretch. They missed six fre throws in the fourth quarter.
They didn’t collapse, they didn’t overlook their opponent. It wasn’t anything egregious... but it was a game the Lakers should have won.
And it also, in the process, it was a reminder that the six-game win streak the Lakers were sporting heading into Thursday’s matchup didn’t erase some of the shortcomings that reared their collective heads during, say, the unsuccessful first road trip of the season. The Lakers were hammered on the glass, for example. They got precious little from the bench, outside D’Angelo Russell... who wasn’t exactly efficient (3-10 overall, 1-7 from 3-point range). On a night where LeBron James and Anthony Davis combined for 70 points on robust percentages (26-44), the Lakers didn’t need a ton from the supporting cast, yet they still didn’t clear the bar.
Why? Austin Reaves, for starters, was awful, playing arguably his worst game of the season. Gabe Vincent, Christian Koloko and Max Christie combined for three shots (all from Christie). Not enough.
So were the Lakers “exposed” on Thursday? Hardly. Was it a reminder of the work left to do, and the shortcomings the team has, despite the winning? Absolutely. And it’s one they’ll surely wish they had back.
Overheard On This Episode...
1. “The six game win streak is dead. The Lakers had an opportunity to keep it going and couldn’t close the deal.”
2. “Mo Wagner had 19 points off the bench. The Lakers had 14 points off the bench. As a team like. And this has been an issue throughout the season.”
3. “This was as bad of a game as Reeves has played probably this season. And in a while. Like, Reeves was a kind of a train wreck on both sides of the ball.”
They’ve had close wins, technical wins, nail-biters and blow-outs; they’ve (reportedly) turned down superstars and and currently sit third in the west with a record of 11-5 — In a Western Conference finally coming alive, can the Houston Rockets keep this up?
The Rockets are on pace to tie or surpass the franchise’s win record of 64, set by a team led by James Harden in 2017-2018. It was Harden’s — and all the failed years of being in the running for title contention — ghost that still hung over the franchise as recently as last season, no matter that Harden himself has been part of three different rosters since he sulked his way out of Houston. Everything from the Rockets brand of basketball to the team’s waylaid trajectory back into competition had been set and then upended by him.
It was something of an exorcism then, that Houston handily beat Harden’s current team, the Clippers, in back-to-back games this week.
What feels especially lasting about the winning pace the Rockets have set is that there’s plenty room for the team to improve. Houston’s sitting at 25th overall in field goal percentage, 27th in three-point percentage, and is still claiming the ninth overall offensive ranking in the league. Their starters have all been shooting well below their career bests, and yet, nothing about the Rockets’ wins have looked harried.
For a team that has an average of just four years NBA experience between them, there’s a wealth of patience. When the Rockets have been pressed this season, or teams like the Pacers and Bulls have tried to rush them with pace, they fall back on snapping passes and sinking into ball movement. There are still sequences of ISO ball and flubbed defensive rotations, but Houston has leaned into their transitions as opportunities to reset. No doubt in part to having the always unflappable Fred VanVleet driving this thing, plus the veteran offensive ballasts of Jeff Green and Dillon Brooks.
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.
Legacy Will NBA expansion bring the SuperSonics back to Seattle? Find out. (The Athletic)
Biz Amid their early-season tank, the Sixers expected to scour the trade market for power forwards. (Real GM)
Replay The Lakers suffered a tough loss to the Magic, with missed free throws and rebounds highlighting their struggles in a close game. (Silver Screen and Roll)
Analysis JJ Redick discusses the Lakers’ poor performance at the free-throw line and on the boards, emphasizing the need for improvement in these areas to secure future wins. Key stats paint a clear picture of the team’s deficiencies. (Silver Screen and Roll)
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Franz Wagner A First Round Fantasy Basketball Player?
Nov 21, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) celebrates with guard Jalen Suggs (4) after defeating the Los Angeles Lakers with a 3-point basket with 2.5 seconds left in the game at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
The Orlando Magic edged out the LA Lakers with a 119-118 victory. The game was a showcase of talent and strategy, with the Magic overcoming a deficit to secure the win. Franz Wagner was the standout performer, continuing his impressive form with a stellar 37 points, six rebounds, and 11 assists. His all-around game, including four steals and four threes, solidified his status as a top fantasy asset. Wagner’s recent performances have elevated him to first-round value in fantasy leagues, making him a potential sell-high candidate, though his current form might make holding onto him equally appealing.
Dalton Knecht’s Role and Performance
Dalton Knecht played a significant role for the Lakers, logging the most minutes on the team. While his 17 points, four rebounds, and one assist were solid, they highlighted the limitations in his fantasy profile. Knecht’s reliance on scoring and shooting efficiency means that while he’s a valuable asset, his contributions in other categories remain limited. Fantasy managers should monitor his role closely, especially as the Lakers adjust their rotations.
Anthony Black’s Consistency Concerns
Anthony Black’s performance was less consistent, with 4 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists on 25% shooting. While his recent games have shown flashes of potential, this outing underscores the volatility in his production. Fantasy managers who picked up Black for his upside should consider holding him through the Magic’s favourable schedule but remain cautious about his long-term consistency.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Lakers podcasts.
Lakers Let Game Get Away, Lose to Orlando Despite 70 Points from LeBron and Anthony Davis In the Western Conference, teams that don’t close games they were in position to win will feel it in the end. That’s certainly what happened to the Lakers on Thursday night. To be sure, the visiting Orlando Magic, even without its star (Paolo Banchero) and playing shorthanded beyond that (no Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, no Wendell Carter, Jr.) still represented a challenging opponent. To their credit, the Magic have played quite well of late, winning six of seven coming into the game.
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.
