The Lakers need to get LeBron James through the regular season with as little wear and tear as possible. 

Easier said than done, obviously, given the challenging nature of the West, and the grind of an 82-game schedule. One idea, says Lakers great Shaquille O'Neal, is simply to take fewer shots and play more of a "Magic" type facilitator role. Let Anthony Davis handle the heavy lifting, and even allow Austin Reaves to be the team's #2 scorer. 

It sounds like a nice plan, but it's got some problems. 

Can the Lakers afford to load up more on Davis, who already carries the team's defense in some pretty absurd ways? 

Is Austin Reaves capable of being a consistent second option offensively? 

Do you really want LeBron being that deferential while he plays? Are there other ways -- better ways -- to lighten his workload? 

The answers to all of those questions, and more, are the focus of this episode, which naturally leads to the question of whether or not Reaves is capable of being the team's 3rd best player? Would he need to improve? How much better would he need to get for him to be a 3rd guy comparable to the 3rd best player on title teams? What's the best way to compare these guys, anyway, since not all "3rd bests" are asked to do the same thing. 

What does all of this say about the Lakers roster? 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Shaq says LeBron should take a step back. 

SEGMENT 2: Is this the best way to keep LeBron AND Davis fresh? 

SEGMENT 3: Is AR capable of being a 3rd guy? Right now how does he stack up against other players cast in that role? 

For your next listen, check out the Locked On NBA podcast, where the season never ends providing national expertise with a local perspective. Click HERE to listen now. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your Team. Every Day.

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!

eBay Motors
From brakes to exhaust kits and beyond, eBay Motors has over 122 million parts to keep your ride-or-die alive. With all the parts you need at the prices you want, it’s easy to bring home that big win. Keep your ride-or-die alive at EbayMotors.com. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers.

Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.

FanDuel
Now through September 22nd, ALL FanDuel customers can bet FIVE DOLLARS and get a THREE WEEK free trial of NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube and YouTube TV. Visit FANDUEL.COM/LOCKEDON 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)