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.
Could Becoming a More Physical Team Help the Lakers Improve a Bad Defense?
The Lakers were a pretty bad defensive team last season.
This season, they’re pretty bad again. Which isn’t all that surprising when you consider it’s almost entirely the same roster as a year ago, and the major change (Dalton Knecht for Taurean Prince) probably makes them a little worse on that side of the ball. So in the wake of Saturday’s second half collapse against the Nuggets and a mounting body of evidence that they’re just not good enough on D as currently constructed/deployed to hang with the rest of the conference it’s natural to start looking for ways to get better that don’t center around “get different personnel.” Because at least for now, that’s really not an option.
They can, however, try to play differently. That’s what Austin Reaves talked about following a surprisingly vigorous practice Monday in El Segundo (given a back-to-back coming tonight in Phoenix and then tomorrow in San Antonio, kicking off five games in seven nights). “I think if you watch basketball for a long time, the teams that are ‘physical defensive teams’ might get away with a little more just because every possession you can’t call a foul... So we’re trying to get to that where we’re physical every possession and we have to make the refs call fouls. Our personnel, if we’re honest with ourselves, isn’t the best defensively. Obviously we got AD that covers up a lot, but we have to be physical out on the perimeter and especially when we’re boxing out. We got to do a better job defensively in transition as well.”
It’s hard to argue with anything he’s saying, but the question is whether the Lakers really have the personnel to make it work. It’s pretty clear they’re willing to try and turn the knobs in different ways, like the emphasis on offensive rebounding (corner crashing!) that seemed to dominate training camp. Well, the results haven’t been significantly stronger than last year. Why? Because they’re playing without some of the size they hoped for (no Vanderbilt, no Wood and Hachimura missing a couple games) and they just don’t have a lot of good defensive players.
So what and Redick actually do about this?
—BK
Overheard On This Episode...
1. “If only the bodily healing power of playing for the Lakers was as strong as the bodily healing power of playing against them.”
2. “It’s not that Jaxson Hayes is, you know, some world beating center or something like that but he is better than Christian Koloko.”
3. “The Lakers are not a disruptive team at all. They do not disrupt in terms of the way they defend.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo improves on greatness, again
Giannis, Damian Lillard and Brook Lopez lead the way for the Bucks in 2024
Our modern relationship with the concept of greatness is a strange thing. Certainly in NBA basketball, but even more broadly, we like to hold greatness up to its lack. Less readily do we accept greatness at face value, or allow for greatness to simply stand on its own. It needs a backdrop of failure, and maybe because of that, it is failure we’ve become better at discussing. When greatness persists, or proves to have staying power, it feels almost dull. We want greatness to come with persistent conflict, and we want our greats to prove it, again and again.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a prime modern example.
Over the weekend, Antetokounmpo made history. He became the NBA athlete to record the most 30-point games in a decade, beating out the obvious candidates of Steph Curry and LeBron James. That’s over 262 games with 30-plus-points. So far this season, he’s been averaging 32.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game, and shooting field goals at a 60.8% accurate clip. These numbers are staggering and yet, at a glance around discussion on the season, you’d think they were hum-drum.
Truth be told, conversation about the Bucks and Antetokounmpo seemed more engaged when both struggled early in the season. Those favourite, swirling questions of will-he-or-won’t-he be traded, or force a trade, rose with aplomb. A championship calibre team doing badly is always news, sure, but when its championship calibre superstar pushes through the struggles to virtually carry the team, we tend to turn our attention elsewhere.
Maybe it’s because the thing that’s given Antetokounmpo another gear this season — rediscovering the mid-range — is a part of the floor not as exciting as the three-point range teams like the Celtics are bombing from, but the bump has been drastic. Last season Antetokounmpo shot 35.1% from the mid-range and thus far this season he’s converting 47.8% of his mid-range attempts (of which he’s doubled, 2.4 to 4.3).
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
Preview Emirates NBA Cup play continues this week — here’s what lies ahead for all teams. (NBA)
Roster Before the 2025 NBA Draft, get familiar with 10 international prospects. (ESPN)
Analysis The Lakers are focusing on increasing their physicality in their NBA Cup game against the Suns. Coach Darvin Ham emphasized the need for more aggressive play. (Daily News)
Must Read Anthony Davis is also in the MVP conversation, showcasing his elite play despite being behind Nikola Jokic in the race. (CBS Sports)
Preview The Lakers head to Phoenix to take on the Suns in the latest NBA Cup group stage matchup. Read the preview.(NBA)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Monday’s Fantasy Basketball Recap - Hamstrings Strike In Orlando
Nov 23, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) shoots during the second half against the Detroit Pistons at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images | Mike Watters/Mike Watters-Imagn Images
Monday’s NBA action brought a whirlwind of performances, injuries, and strategic moves that could significantly impact your fantasy basketball lineup. Here are the major takeaways from the day, focusing on what’s most relevant for fantasy managers.
Injury Updates and Player Returns
- Devin Vassell is expected back on Wednesday, which is great news for those who have been patient with his knee issues. Meanwhile, Jordan Clarkson is out for Utah, creating opportunities for players like Colin Sexton and Isaiah Collier to step up. Keep an eye on Johnny Juzang as a potential deep-league add.
- Gary Harris suffered a hamstring injury, which could open up more minutes for Cole Anthony and Anthony Black. With Jalen Suggs also dealing with a hamstring issue, these players could see increased roles.
Waiver Wire Trends
- Moussa Diabate has become a hot commodity following Grant Williams’ injury. While Diabate’s scoring is limited, his defensive stats make him a valuable short-term add.
- Malcolm Brogdon is worth considering for streaming, though his long-term value remains uncertain. Similarly, Ty Jerome had a standout performance, but his shooting percentages are unlikely to be sustainable.
- Naji Marshall and T.J. McConnell are sensible additions given the current absences in their respective teams. McConnell, in particular, could provide solid assists and steals with several key players out.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Lakers podcasts.
Lakers Beat Warriors on Last Second Layup from Austin Reaves, Davis Leaves Early with Ankle Injury The Lakers lost Anthony Davis seven minutes into their Christmas Day tilt in San Francisco against the Warriors. Bah humbug, right? Not so fast. The Lakers circled the wagons, and got big performances up and down the roster, using an Austin Reaves bucket with a second left to beat Golden State, 115-113.
Turnovers Kill the Lakers in a 117-114 Loss to Detroit Pistons The Lakers offense has been stuck in the mud for the last few weeks. Monday at the Crypt against Detroit, the Lakers shot 54% from the floor, including 47% from 3-point range. They hit 20 of their 25 free throws, a perfectly solid 80%. The Lakers got a triple-double (28/11/11) from LeBron James. Max Christie chipped in with 17. So why did they ultimately lose 117-114 to the Pistons?
Why the Suddenly Hot Lakers Have a Chance to Rise in the Western Conference An 82-game season can have a ton of ebbs and flows, and often they feel extreme. Certainly that’s been the case for the Lakers, who have followed one of the most inept stretches of team defense with another that has been, quite literally, the league’s best over their last five games. Even more confusing, an offense that was once among the best in the league has totally cratered.
