A Blog devoted to Lakers News, Commentary, and Analysis
The Lakers’ last month of games has revealed the clear gap between them and the top teams in the NBA. While they continue to beat the teams they should, as evidenced by their back-to-back wins over the Grizzlies over the weekend. A lack of perimeter defense, perimeter shooting and bench scoring all have reared their […]
about 1 month ago | 3 reads
LOS ANGELES — While fans desire players to be as reliable as a calculator, the truth is they are human. And the consistency and dependability to reach a certain level of play are always a balancing act. This season, Deandre Ayton has been fairly consistent for the Lakers. He’s started every game he’s played in, logs […]
about 1 month ago | 2 reads
The Lakers badly needed a reset after a pretty rough stretch of games over the holidays. Fortunately, the Grizzlies offered themselves up as a middling team ready to take a couple of losses. Nothing about the last two games changes the problems or long-term outlook. But it does improve the mood ever so slightly. LeBron […]
about 1 month ago | 2 reads
The Lakers remain undefeated in clutch games with a comeback win against the Grizzlies on Sunday with a 120-114 win. With the win, LA completes the season sweep of Memphis. After giving up 65 points in the first half, the Lakers held the Grizzlies to 49 points in the second half. Each team started off […]
about 1 month ago | 3 reads
Early this season, Jarred Vanderbilt was on the outside looking in at playing time. Given his offensive limitations, head coach JJ Redick decided it was best to play others ahead of him. But after the Lakers lost three of their first five games in December, Redick gave Vando another look and he took advantage of […]
about 1 month ago | 5 reads
Gabe Vincent’s tenure with the Lakers has been defined by the amount of time he’s not been available rather than anything he’s done on the court. His first season in LA saw him play just 11 games while dealing with a knee injury. While he bounced back to play 72 games in his second season, […]
about 1 month ago | 1 read
After picking up a win in Friday’s meeting, the Lakers (21-11) will host the Grizzlies (15-19) again on Sunday. The Lakers have already clinched the season series by winning the two previous meetings and can sweep Memphis with one more victory. Start time and TV schedule Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Memphis Grizzlies When: 6:30 p.m. PT, Jan. […]
about 1 month ago | 4 reads
LeBron James may not be as good as he once was, but he’s still capable of turning it up when it’s needed. On Friday, it was, in fact, needed with the Lakers going to the wire against the Grizzlies. LeBron turned back the clock in the fourth quarter, scoring 10 points in the fourth with […]
about 1 month ago | 4 reads
LOS ANGELES — There are a handful of players more important to LA’s success this season than Jake LaRavia. But on Friday night, he took center stage for the Lakers. With Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura currently sidelined with calf issues, LaRavia stepped into the starting lineup and delivered 21 points and nine rebounds in LA’s […]
about 1 month ago | 3 reads
The Lakers take the first of two straight matchups against the Memphis Grizzlies with a 128-121 victory on Friday night. LA jumped to an early eight-point lead. Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia both knocked down triples. Former Laker Christian Koloko threw down a dunk off the assist from Ja Morant. Los Angeles was shooting 80% […]
about 1 month ago | 2 reads
The Lakers’ injury list has gotten longer and longer recently, with Austin Reaves, Gabe Vincent and even rookie Adou Thiero ruled out for an extended period of time. However, LA will likely have their starting-caliber forward, Rui Hachimura, back sooner rather than later. Before the Lakers played their last game of 2025 against the Pistons, […]
about 1 month ago | 4 reads
Lakers rookie Adou Thiero will start the new year with another injury. On New Year’s Eve, the Lakers reported that Thiero has been diagnosed with a right MCL sprain. He will be re-evaluated in approximately four weeks. This is another unfortunate setback for the rookie. Thiero spent all of the summer recovering from a knee […]
about 1 month ago | 5 reads
After a December that saw the Lakers win just five of their 12 games while posting the second-worst defense in the league and a third-worst net rating at -8.2, there may not be a team more eager to turn over the calendar into 2026 and begin a new year fresh than this one. But changing […]
about 1 month ago | 2 reads
The Lakes (20-11) will ring in the New Year with two straight matchups against the Memphis Grizzlies (15-18) this weekend. These will be the last two games between the teams this season as L.A. leads the series 2-0. Start time and TV schedule Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Memphis Grizzlies When: 7:30 p.m. PT, Jan. 2 Where: Crypto.com […]
about 1 month ago | 4 reads
LOS ANGELES — Watching the Lakers play against good teams this year is like watching a rerun of your favorite TV show where you know what’s going to happen. They’ll lose in blowout fashion and the opponent’s youth and athleticism will feel jarring compared to the lethargic tempo the Lakers play at. This has been […]
about 1 month ago | 3 reads
Well, if we’ve learned anything over the last two weeks, it’s that the Lakers absolutely do not have it. They have had different lineups, different rotations, different teams and different settings. In all but one — which barely counts since it is against the Kings — they not only lost, but did so in blowout […]
about 1 month ago | 2 reads
After a competitive game through the first three quarters, the Lakers completely let go of the rope in the fourth quarter. Rightfully, they were blown out by the Pistons, losing 128-106. After trailing by eight heading into the fourth, Detroit took full control of the sloppy Lakers, opening up a 20-point lead in the period. […]
about 1 month ago | 4 reads
Lakers head coach JJ Redick promised changes in the rotation before LA played Sacramento and he delivered. With the Lakers down a ball handler due to Austin Reaves’ calf injury, Redick relied more on Nick Smith Jr. and adjusted Luka Dončić‘s minutes. Typically, Luka plays the entire opening quarter, but in the Lakers’ win against […]
about 1 month ago | 1 read
Every year, each team has hits and misses in free agency. Some gambles work out, and others don’t. While the Lakers still have some work to do with their roster, one area they look good in is the center position. And that’s because Deandre Ayton has been so good. Ayton has started in all 26 […]
about 1 month ago | 5 reads
The Lakers have been prone to some frustrating lapses in games this season. Rarely, if at all, have they been able to put together a full 48-minute effort. At it’s worst, LA nearly blew a 20-point lead to the Suns in dramatic fashion, barely hanging on by the skin of their teeth…and by Dillon Brooks’ […]
about 1 month ago | 1 read
The Lakers (20-10) will play their last game of 2025as they host the Detroit Pistons (24-8) on Tuesday. This is the first meeting between the two teams this season. Start time and TV schedule Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Detroit Pistons When: 7:30 p.m. PT, Dec. 30 Where: Crypto.com Arena Watch: NBC, Spectrum Sportsnet The Lakers responded very […]
about 1 month ago | 3 reads
The Lakers will be down another starter on Tuesday as Rui Hachimura has been ruled out for the contest against the Pistons with right calf soreness. He joins Austin Reaves (left calf strain) and Gabe Vincent (lumbar back strain) as Lakers currently sidelined. This was foreshadowed a bit on Monday when head coach JJ Redick […]
about 1 month ago | 2 reads
Throughout recent years, Lakers fans have learned to keep at least a little bit of attention on South Bay throughout the season. In some cases, it’s to watch a player like Bronny James develop in his time with the team. Other times, it was to see potential undrafted gems develop into potential role players for […]
about 1 month ago | 2 reads
For the first time since his arrival in Los Angeles, LeBron James is not the leading vote-getter for the Lakers for the All-Star game. The NBA released the first returns for fan voting for the upcoming All-Star game in Los Angeles and Luka Dončić leads all players. LeBron James and Austin Reaves both are in […]
about 1 month ago | 3 reads
LOS ANGELES — Entering Sunday’s contest against the Kings, the Lakers were struggling. They were dealing with their first losing streak of the season, and after Lakers head coach JJ Redick said practice would be “uncomfortable” after their third straight defeat, everyone wanted to see how LA would respond. The Lakers reacted with their largest margin […]
about 1 month ago | 2 reads