Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

PHOTO CREDIT: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

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Spice up your season with rich pumpkin flavor and bold cinnamon swagger in every sip. Pumpkin Spice 5-hour ENERGY®️ shots are available for a limited time in stores and on https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon.
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This season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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The Lakers have done well in their offseason signings, which is one big reason the season is off to a good start.
The biggest ticket item -- center Walker Kessler -- has been exactly as advertised, providing a pick and roll threat to put pressure on the rim offensively, while being a transformative talent on the other end. Sandro Mamukelashvili is showing himself to be a worthy investment. Quentin Grimes hasn't contributed much offensively, but is playing a big role on defense. There are signs of life in Collin Sexton.
But the biggest bang for LA's buck has arguably come from its two cheapest players. Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams have both been excellent, exceeding expectations, and are playing on veteran's minimum deals. That's just a massive win for a team that hasn't been great on the margins, and will need to be going forward.
The good news for Rob Pelinka -- by committing to a structure and a blueprint this offseason for the Luka/Reaves/Kessler core, it should be easier for him to hit on the type of player he needs when the team is shopping.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

PHOTO CREDIT: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!
5-Hour ENERGY
Spice up your season with rich pumpkin flavor and bold cinnamon swagger in every sip. Pumpkin Spice 5-hour ENERGY®️ shots are available for a limited time in stores and on https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon.
KALSHI
Today's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next.
Gametime
Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.
FanDuel
This season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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The Lakers have a few guys on the shelf following Wednesday's win in Milwaukee, but Thursday the news was relatively good, to neutral, to perhaps concerning depending on your POV.
First and foremost, Luka Dončić is reportedly doing fine after tweaking his ankle late in the game. JJ Redick seemed fairly unconcerned after the win, The Athletic's Dan Woike reported that Luka himself said he was fine, and then Thursday ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Luka woke up this morning without pain in the ankle. So so far, things seem ok. Meanwhile, Grimes tried to give it a go Wednesday morning, and was ultimately kept out for precautionary reasons. So hopefully by Sunday, he's good to go. No word at all on Sexton, which given the nature of his injury (conked heads with Milwaukee's Ryan Rollins and opened up a cut that required sutures), could mean everything is more or less fine. The question mark is Reaves.
Nothing from the Lakers Thursday, but surely the team will have some sort of update on Friday after practice.
What would it mean if Reaves has to miss time? Well, a lot of that depends on who else is available, but silver lining, assuming Grimes is ok, three or four games to stretch his wings a little couldn't hurt.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers have depth.

SEGMENT 2: What happens if Reaves misses time?

SEGMENT 3: ESPN has the Lakers on a contenders list!

PHOTO CREDIT: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!
5-Hour ENERGY
Spice up your season with rich pumpkin flavor and bold cinnamon swagger in every sip. Pumpkin Spice 5-hour ENERGY®️ shots are available for a limited time in stores and on https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon.
KALSHI
Today's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next.
Gametime
Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.
FanDuel
This season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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The final score Wednesday night in Milwaukee -- 123-112 -- was a little tighter than the game would suggest. For the most part, the Lakers had this game well in hand, despite looking like they were operating at exactly the amount of energy required to get the job done.
Which is fine, it's a long season. Luka had a relatively inefficient, but easy-breezy 32 points, and Austin Reaves had 18 in 25 minutes. Sandro Mamukelashvili was great, with another 23 points.
The issue is that both were forced from the game with injuries. Reaves hurt his heel and didn't return, and Doncic turned an ankle on a late triple, was pulled and went straight to the locker room.
And just for fun, Collin Sexton split his eye open on a head-to-head collision.
The Lakers do have three days off before playing Sunday afternoon, but it remains to be seen how expensive a win this was.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Lakers win, but at what cost?

SEGMENT 2: What to do going forward?

SEGMENT 3: Mamu keeps rolling.

PHOTO CREDIT: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!
5-Hour ENERGY
Spice up your season with rich pumpkin flavor and bold cinnamon swagger in every sip. Pumpkin Spice 5-hour ENERGY®️ shots are available for a limited time in stores and on https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon.
KALSHI
Today's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next.
Gametime
Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.
FanDuel
This season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started.
FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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The Lakers are getting exactly what they hoped they'd get from Walker Kessler defensively.
He's contesting shots at an incredibly high rate inside, and forcing miss after miss. The Lakers are completely different team on that side of the ball because of the activity and deterrence that Kessler provides. And because this is basically what he was doing in Utah, there's no reason to believe that the impact won't be consistent throughout the season.
And so Kessler gets a ton of credit for changing the way the Lakers play defense. As do guys like Matisse Thybulle, Quentin Grimes and Ziaire Williams.
And you know who else?
How about Luka Dončić? In years past, it's been easy to argue that Luka has been a better defender than he gets credit for. That he does some things well, and isn't the civ that seems to be his rep. But this year? Luka hasn't just been better than perception, or a net neutral. He's been legitimately good. He's a big reason the Lakers defense doesn't crater when Kessler is off the floor.
And if the Lakers can find ways to keep him healthy and fresh enough to keep this up, it transforms their potential. And the way people view Luka, broadly.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

PHOTO CREDIT: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!
5-Hour ENERGY
Spice up your season with rich pumpkin flavor and bold cinnamon swagger in every sip. Pumpkin Spice 5-hour ENERGY®️ shots are available for a limited time in stores and on https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon.
KALSHI
Today's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next.
Gametime
Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.
FanDuel
This season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.