A Blog devoted to Lakers News, Commentary, and Analysis
In what’s become a far too familiar script, the Lakers fell to the Thunder in Saturday’s Game 3 and now trail 3-0. A deficit that’s never been overcome in NBA history. LA’s season is now on the brink of ending on Monday as they attempt to extend the series back to Oklahoma City in Game […]
This WNBA offseason was a whirlwind, featuring a lengthy negotiation over a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) followed by a massive free agency pool and a draft. The dust has settled and the Sparks have created a roster that’s built to win right now. They’ve brought back the best parts of last year’s team, including […]
The Sparks made a bit of a splash prior to their season-opener on Sunday by signing Kate Martin to a developmental contract. Martin is entering her third year in the NBA, having spent a season with the Aces and Valkyries. She was waived late in the preseason by Golden State. “Kate is a gifted shooter, […]
The Lakers headed into Game 3 in search of proof. Proof that they could find a strategy that worked. Proof that they could find a lineup that clicked. Proof that they could beat the Oklahoma City Thunder. By the end of Saturday night, the only proof they had was that they could not do any […]
LOS ANGELES — The location of the Thunder-Lakers series switched from OKC to LA, but nothing else changed. It was still a contest where the Lakers had to play to perfection to win and the Thunder just had to be good enough. Like the other matchups, it went OKC’s way as they won 131-108 to […]
While it doesn’t make the losses feel any more frustrating in the moment, there is something comforting in the long run knowing that the team you’re losing to is just a better team. It was apparent before Saturday, but Game 3 made it abundantly clear that the Lakers are simply levels below the Thunder. LA […]
It was deja vu all over again for the Lakers on Saturday as they battled early, led at halftime and lost in a blowout to the Thunder in Game 3, 131-108. LA now trails the series 3-0. The purple and gold used red-hot shooting in the first half to hold a 59-57 lead at the […]
Earlier this season, JJ Redick mentioned that the best players in the NBA are showmen. They love being on the grandest stage and putting on an incredible performance for an audience that demands it. In the NBA, there is no stage bigger than the playoffs. It’s a circumstance where the best can cement their legacy […]
Success in the regular season doesn’t always carry over to the playoffs. The difference is bigger than ever, as lower seeds are advancing more often. The games get tougher, players play harder and defenses focus for all 48 minutes. A playoff riser is a term for players who elevate their game and perform at their […]
The series between the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder shifts to LA, where Game 3 will be held on Saturday. The purple and gold aim to protect homecourt by finally getting a win over the Thunder. Start time and TV schedule Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder When: 6:30 p.m. PT, May 7 Where: […]
The game of basketball can be complex. But often, its solutions can be simple. For the Lakers, there are two things they consistently haven’t been able to do this postseason: grab rebounds and control the basketball. Against Houston in the first round, they eventually won the battle of the boards as the series progressed, but […]
Two games in four days in Oklahoma City have the Lakers quickly trailing 2-0 in the series, a daunting deficit, considering the opponent they are facing and the fact that history is not on their side. The team that wins the first two of a series advances 92% of the time. The purple and gold […]
When a team loses in blowout fashion like the Lakers did in Game 2 against the Thunder, there isn’t just one reason. There are plenty of things that didn’t go LA’s way in this contest. The Lakers had far too many turnovers with 21, multiple bench players didn’t give the team much, and Deandre Ayton […]
The Lakers came into their series against the Thunder aware that fouls and officiating would be a talking point. Before the series even started, head coach JJ Redick made sarcastic comments about how little OKC fouls. There was no laughing at the final whistle of Thursday’s Game 2 loss, though. Following a night when LA […]
One of the things that separates good teams from great teams is depth. Look back to the 2020 Lakers. They had 10 realistic options they could turn to in the playoffs and all had moments. They could pull in an Alex Caruso for a Game 6 to seal the series, a move that made them […]
Winning on the road is tough, but beating the Thunder in OKC feels impossible. The Lakers did a lot right in their Game 2 loss. They got a much better offensive game from Austin Reaves, won the points-in-the-paint battle 52-46 and Rui Hachimura remained elite, scoring 16 points on 60% shooting. But the Thunder outscored […]
The Lakers once again saw a tight game turn into a double-digit loss on Thursday. LA held a lead midway through the third but again saw the Thunder pull away in the fourth to win by double digits, 125-107. The purple and gold had one of its best quarters of the postseason in the second, […]
The Lakers’ offense has been struggling all postseason long, and Game 1 against the Thunder was no exception. Los Angeles failed to crack 100 points, losing on the road to OKC. In fact, in their last five playoff games, LA has only scored above the century mark once. Despite the inability to put the ball […]
It’s easy to have camaraderie when teams are winning. Jokes are funnier, roles are embraced and the game of basketball is pure bliss. How you respond to adversity, though, says a lot more about your team. So far, the Lakers remain united even after falling behind 1-0 in their series against the Thunder. There are […]
The series between the Lakers and Thunder remains in Oklahoma City, with Game 2 on Thursday. The purple and gold aim to even the series at 1-1. Start time and TV schedule Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder When: 6:30 p.m. PT, May 7 Where: Paycom Center Watch: Prime Video The first playoff game between the […]
Game 1 against the Thunder was the biggest game of the season for the Lakers, and Austin Reaves didn’t show up. He was historically bad, shooting 3-16 from the field, which was the worst shooting night a Laker has had in a postseason in over three decades. It’s just one game, and there can be […]
While losing Game 1 against the Thunder was tough for the Lakers, winning Game 2 won’t get much easier. The team released its injury report ahead of their next contest, listing Jarred Vanderbilt as doubtful and Luke Kennard as questionable. For Vando, not being automatically ruled out is actually good news. He suffered a gruesome […]
Because we live in a world of 24/7 media coverage, there’s bound to be lots of really bad takes. The latest involved Luka Dončić and his trip to Spain. After suffering his hamstring injury, Luka pretty quickly jetted to Europe for injections in hopes of accelerating his return to the court. However, as we now […]
Luka Dončić spoke to the media for the first time since suffering his hamstring strain in early April on Wednesday following the Lakers’ practice. The news was mixed, but the biggest takeaway is that he is far from a return. Luka was told his original timeline for returning was eight weeks. Since he went down […]
No team won more games than the Thunder this season. A well-oiled machine with back-to-back 60-win regular seasons flexed its basketball muscle Tuesday night. While the final score is not entirely indicative of a back-and-forth affair, a dominant team performance nonetheless forced LA back to the drawing board. Facing the clear-cut deepest team in the […]