Lakers Lounge

Happy Friday everyone! Anthony went live to answer some of your questions only to be surprised on air by friend of the show and former SSR co-host Sabreena Merchant. The two talk about how far back they've scaled their expectations, how much of the meh start to the season are real issues vs. the result of so many injuries, and, of course, to tell Anthony how wrong he is about the In-Season Tournament. This was a blast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthony reacts to the latest underwhelming performance against a good team even given lowered expectations with all the injuries. The offense needs more direction, and until they get it, nothing is going to change. He also closes with a trend he's noticed in NBA ownership as the league prepares for negotiations on its next media rights deal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A quarter of the way through the season, Anthony and Aaron take inventory on what they've seen from Darvin Ham as a head coach. There's plenty to like. There's also, unfortunately, plenty to question. Anthony also unveils a stat that almost literally left Aaron speechless. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Every so often you need a win like that. Anthony and Raj break it down, then look ahead to a big game a mere 24 hours later against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Woike (L.A. Times) stops by to discuss the struggles thus far on offense for the Lakers. Anthony reads a few stats that makes even Dan shiver a little. Then, they dive into the recent trade rumors and the impact they might already be having on guys. If you're hoping for Zach LaVine, we throw a damp blanket on some of that noise. Finally, the guys go through guys currently out but hopefully returning soon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthony starts the show wondering why exactly the Lakers should care about winning the In-Season Tournament. Sorry. We keep trying to get him to stop. Then, he discusses the Lakers' offense and a few stats that have him nervous moving forward. He wraps with a quick discussion on Zach LaVine and whether he fixes the Lakers' offensive issues. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthony... well, he goes full Anthony. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthony looks back on a Thanksgiving weekend that featured two very different games that featured some very familiar issues. In one case, the Lakers weren't able to overcome them. In the other, they were. He explains LeBron James' thought process in taking that one dumb three he seems to take late in every close game. He makes the case for Max Christie getting minutes even as guys get healthy. Fun weekend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthony is sick of the fake praise he feels for the In-Season Tournament. He and Aaron debate the tournament and all the NBA's other recent efforts to generate untapped revenue. From there, they discuss the actual Lakers and when it might make sense to finally bench Taurean Prince. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

LeBron James and Anthony Davis got to sit yet another fourth quarter. Austin Reaves actually handled pressure fairly well. D'Angelo Russell loves playing from way ahead. Taurean Prince continues to struggle. The Lakers appear to have lost Cam Reddish to a groin injury. Rui Hachimura has quietly made a solid case for an increased role. Even beyond all that, Anthony has noticed some potential similarities to that title team we all loved so much. He talks to Raj Chipalu about all of it on the heels of a dominant win against Utah. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthony is curious as he has watched this season to this point somewhat frustrated... Are you having fun? Harrison thinks so? Maybe? Anthony also has a theory that expands to the rest of the league on this topic. The guys then unveil their second power rankings of the season, and boy what an addition this segment has been. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthony is joined by Raj Chipalu (All Access Lakers) to discuss the Lakers thus far. Where do they land in relation to his expectations heading into the season? Jarred Vanderbilt might be on the mend. When he comes back, what should the rotation look like? D'Angelo Russell is once again a polarizing figure. What can he do to show he should remain a Laker for the entirety of this season? The Lakers have a results problem right now offensively. Should they stick with the process? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthony recaps a thrilling win that went right down to the wire. He highlights LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves, Cam Reddish, and Taurean Prince, then moves on to the macro of winning a game while you don't play well against a surprisingly good Houston Rockets team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Following 24 hours or so of nonstop Anthony Davis takes, Anthony has a simple question for Aaron: What is fair to expect of Anthony Davis on a nightly basis? What type of standard should we hold him to? The guys also talk about a tweet Anthony sent that has made his mentions a nuclear disaster and some weird trade rumors it feels way too early for. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthony rips Anthony Davis. It's really just as simple as saying that the Lakers lost because he didn't show up. Still, others deserved credit (LeBron James, D'Angelo Russell, Cam Reddish) and some deserved criticism (Austin Reaves, Darvin Ham), but this was about AD. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices