Laker Film Room - Dedicated to the Study of Lakers Basketball

With the NBA trade deadline coming in a little over two weeks, the Lakers again have a decision to make about what path they want to choose and whether they will make a move to improve this year's team and better position them for a playoff run. In part one of their updated look at the Lakers trade needs, Pete and Darius discuss the different paths on the table for the front office and discuss what they believe the perspectives are from the team's decision makers.  Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers split a pair of games over the weekend, narrowly escaping against the Nets and then losing to the Clippers after a failed comeback from being down by 20-plus points again. Pete and Darius discuss the games, but zoom out to talk about some of the troubling trends they're seeing, particularly on offense against switching defenses and against the better teams they've faced since swapping out D'Angelo Russell for Dorian Finney-Smith.  Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After a brief stint of playing a two-big lineup in the Lakers comeback win vs. the Heat, JJ Redick has said he will go back to that look for short stretches more often moving forward. Pete and Darius react to what this sort of shift can mean for the team, why these groups struggled earlier in the season, ways to make them be more successful moving forward, and much more.  Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers had a great comeback win against the Heat on Wednesday, snapping their three game losing streak and showing a resilience they'd lacked in recent losses to the Mavs and Spurs. Pete and Darius discuss the win, highlighting Austin's success as a playmaker, LeBron closing out the game, the team breaking through against Miami's zone, Rui bouncing back, and much more.  Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers face off against the Heat on Wednesday night, an important game with a chance to halt their three-game losing streak and play a team that offers a serious brand of hoops that the Lakers can strive towards. Pete and Darius discuss the game through the lens of the Lakers needing to improve their own level of seriousness and preparedness as the halfway point of the season nears. Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After building up a double-digit lead deep into the 3rd quarter, the Lakers got blown out in the final 15 minutes against the Spurs, letting go of the rope and showing a concerning lack of adjustments to how the Spurs were beating them. Pete and Darius discuss the game, the strategies that worked and then didn't later on, and whether they think the group is on the right track or not on both sides of the ball and with their lineup decisions. Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers will return to action against the Spurs on Monday night, the first game back after the L.A. wildfires postponed the team's two previous games. Pete and Darius return by zooming out to discuss the team's re-entry into gameplay and how Jarred Vanderbilt's progress towards a return fits into the coaching staff's shift towards playing more small-ball lineups. And then later the guys reminisce about Michael Cooper's career as the Lakers prepare to retire his jersey. Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers got their butts kicked by a shorthanded Mavs team on Tuesday, leaving Texas 0-2 on their road trip and needing to look in the mirror about what type of team they want to be. Pete and Darius discuss the game, zeroing in on the team's game plan and execution as the Lakers struggled to score against Dallas' double-teams in the post and while getting exposed on the perimeter while switching heavily defensively. Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With a month left until the trade deadline and having just made a deal for a key rotation player, the Lakers are in an evaluation period while prepping for their next set of decisions on whether to make additional changes in their pursuit of making a deep playoff run. Pete and Darius discuss what this evaluation should entail, why Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent are central characters in this process, and much more. Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers lost a tough game to the Rockets on Sunday, but showed resiliency and gained some insight into their team in the process. Pete and Darius discuss the game, highlighting how Houston gained their big lead, the Lakers wonderful 3rd quarter to fight back, JJ Redick's quick and incisive substitutions, LeBron and Austin Reaves' on-ball play, and much more. Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Raj Chipalu joins Pete to discuss the Lakers win over Portland, first impressions of Dorian Finney-Smith, Max Christie’s emergence, and what Raj has noticed while covering Bronny, Olivari, and the South Bay Lakers. Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers had a measuring stick game against the Cavs and fell short, dropping their final game of 2024. Pete and Darius react to the game, giving the Cavs their just due as an offensive juggernaut, but also speaking to what they liked from the Lakers end and what their first reactions were to Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton getting their first minutes for the team. Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Cavs bring the league's best record with them to Los Angeles to face off against the Lakers in the final game of the calendar year. Pete and Darius talk about the challenges Cleveland brings to the matchup, what they hope to see from Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton who are expected to be available in this game, and what they think the Lakers can do tactically on both sides of the floor to slow down a great Cavs offense and score against their two-big lineups.  Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Should Dorian Finney-Smith replace Rui Hachimura in the starting lineup? How does trading for DFS impact the LeBron-led bench groups that have struggled this season? And now that D'Angelo Russell is gone, how does Austin Reaves' role change and what are his next steps to further develop in the lead guard role that he's played so well as in the last couple of games? Pete and Darius answer these questions and more as they continue to react to the Lakers' trade on Sunday.  Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers made a trade, sending D'Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis and three 2nd round picks to Brooklyn in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton. Pete and Darius react to the deal by saying goodbye to D-Lo, looking at how Finney-Smith fits on defense, and then beginning to explore lineups and the shift in identity this deal furthers. Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers swept their two-game road trip in Sacramento, beating them again on Saturday behind another strong defensive performance. Pete and Darius discuss the win, focusing on LeBron's great night overall — especially on defense — and how his recent uptick in defensive intensity is helping to shift the team's identity. And then later they get into how the team's improvement defensively has come with a drop off offensively and whether they can recapture some of their early season offensive success while still playing high-level defense.  Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the first of their back-to-back matchups, the Lakers beat the Kings with a strong defensive performance that continues the recent upward trend of the team performing better on that side of the ball. Pete and Darius discuss the game through that defensive lens, highlighting Anthony Davis' incredible night blocking shots and controlling the glass, Rui and LeBron playing great within the team's schemes, Max Christie's continued ascension on the ball at the point of attack, and much more.  Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who should the Lakers actually target via trade? How willing should they be to trade future draft picks to facilitate deals? What is the team's biggest need and what type of move seems most likely to happen? Pete and Darius answer these questions and more in part three of their guide to the trade season.  Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who will actually be available at the trade deadline? Pete & Darius build out and discuss the merits of a list of potential Lakers targets in Part 2 of their guide to trade season.  Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With most of the league becoming trade eligible on December 15th, the window for making deals is officially open. In part one of their comprehensive look at what the Lakers should do in advance of the trade deadline, Pete and Darius look at the long term strategy of the team, how much they should value their tradable future draft picks, the differences between a pre and post-LeBron era team, and much more.  Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices