Minnesota runs a drop-heavy defensive coverage that's built around Rudy Gobert's abilities as a rim protector, but as JJ Redick has said...drop is death against Luka. The guys discuss how the Lakers will try to get the Wolves out of their preferred defensive alignments, why the Wolves have more cards to play than just the drop, who the Lakers are likeliest to target, and more.

The Lakers switch-heavy defense invites mismatch hunting and the 1-on-1 scenarios that Ant can thrive in. The guys discuss what makes Ant such a threat in isolation, how the Lakers will try to defend him with multiple players, and Julius Randle’s importance as a secondary shot creator for the Wolves.

The guys give their initial, big picture impressions of the Lakers vs Wolves matchup.

The regular season ended with the Lakers winning 50 games and locking in the #3 seed. The guys reflect on the dramatic twists and turns of this year’s 82-game marathon.

Jason Timpf joins Pete to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the 5 teams that the Lakers might face in the 1st Round of the NBA playoffs

Pete and Darius discuss the Dallas game, the emotions of the night for everyone involved, and how Luka rose to meet the moment with a great performance. And then later, the guys discuss LeBron's great 4th quarter, the team's defensive effort and gameplan to defend Anthony Davis, and much more.

The Lakers fell short after a Luka Dončić ejection in the 4th quarter and a late game Thunder run. Pete and Darius discuss the game, lamenting Luka's ejection but also diving into the high-level back and forth that preceded it, including great offensive performances from both teams in the 1st half and then the Lakers come back in the 3rd behind a stifling defensive effort that reminded of Sunday's win. And then later the guys discuss Tuesday's surprising news of Denver firing head coach Mike Malone and GM Calvin Booth.

Pete and Darius discuss the team's strategy for the looming back-to-back against the Thunder and Mavericks, and then dive into specifics on both sides of the ball that they'd like to see as the team refines its approach and prepares for the postseason against four very different opponents who offer specific challenges. .

The Lakers got one of their most impressive wins of the season, dominating the Thunder in OKC. Pete and Darius break down the win, highlighting Luka Dončić beating OKC's switches and leading the way on offense, the team's defensive gameplan vs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the rest of the Thunder, LeBron's leadership and understanding of the moment, and much more.

The Lakers lost a tough game to the Warriors, which could end up impacting the standings and also revealed where the team still needs to improve on both sides of the ball as they push towards the playoffs. Pete and Darius discuss the game, where the Lakers fell short offensively and on the defensive backboards, Luka's struggles to score efficiently, the lack of bench production, LeBron and Austin's good nights, and much more.

The Lakers played almost the entire 2nd Half vs Houston without a center, continuing a trend that’s emerged since LeBron & Rui returned from injury. The guys discuss why the team’s “small ball” groups aren’t so small, the variety of styles they can play within those llineups, and more.

The Western Conference playoff race is as wild as ever, and the Lakers have a chance to finish as high as the #2 seed. The guys discuss the race to the playoffs, the Lakers favorable tiebreaker situation, upcoming schedules for the teams vying for position, the unbelievable ending to the DEN/MIN game, and more.

The Lakers won a defensive slugfest against the Rockets. Pete and Darius discuss the game, diving into the preparedness of the team and commitment to the game plan, the Lakers ability to play small and still rebound well enough, the bench scoring and shot making from Gabe and DFS, and much more.

Pete and Darius break down what the Lakers did offensively in the win over the Grizzlies and the synergy between LeBron, Luka and Austin, the intentionality of involving all of them in actions, and how they varied their approach based on what the matchups dictated. And then later, the guys discuss how this can be a template moving forward, how the Rockets game will test this approach, and the general challenges Houston offers on both sides of the ball.

The Lakers lost in brutal fashion against the Bulls. Pete and Darius run the gamut of emotions after the loss, offering both frustration over what transpired while also discussing a hopeful path forward for the Lakers after all the good the team did to position themselves to win.

Pete and Darius discuss LeBron's night, from his early scoring struggles to his great all around floor game that culminated with that final winning bucket. And then later the guys dive into Austin's huge 2nd quarter, Luka's continued brilliance as a scorer, Vando's impact, Rui's importance to the Lakers' offense, and close things out by discussing the news of Jordan Goodwin's new contract with the team.

Pete and Darius discuss LeBron James' role in the Lakers defense, how his return from injury and ramping back up impacts all that he does for the team on that end of the floor, and much more. And then later, the guys ongoing lineup questions and the decisions facing JJ Redick, particularly when looking at the bench groups led by Luka Dončić vs. those led by LeBron and Austin Reaves.

The Lakers lost their third straight game, this time falling to the Magic in the first of their four game road trip. Pete and Darius discuss the game, the ongoing defensive struggles, how those challenges relate LeBron and Rui Hachimura's return from injury, the search for lineup consistency with everyone available to play, and much more.

The Lakers have lost back to back games, the first in a blowout when nearly every rotation player sat when the team played their sixth game in eight nights and then the second another blowout loss, this time with the full rotation available against the upstart Bulls who simply dominated them. Pete and Darius zero in on the Bulls game and discuss whether some of the defensive challenges the Lakers faced are part of larger concern or just a one-off. And then later the guys discuss Jarred Vanderbilt, where he fits best within lineup groupings, his role on offense, and much more.

Lakers beat a short handed Nuggets team, fueled by an incredible Luka Dončić scoring binge in the 1st quarter. Pete and Darius break down the win, diving deep into Luka's ability to put pressure on the defense as a scorer and the diversity he shows in how and where he attacks from. And then later, the guys discuss Austin Reaves' continued strong play and much more.