LeBron's injured ankle will keep him out of the Lakers next two games -- and maybe even longer. How concerned should we be? What can the Lakers do to compensate for his absence or, when he does return, a more physically limited LeBron? Pete, Darius, and Mike provide perspective on what steps the team can take moving forward. Later, the guys discuss Marc Gasol's strong game vs. the Nuggets and what that could mean for his place in the rotation as the team adjusts to life without LeBron and Dennis Schröder.

The Lakers next stretch of games features a slew of playoff ready teams who offer the opportunity to get a good picture of how resilient the Lakers are and what approach they will take in getting ready for the playoffs (or, if things break against them, the play-in). Pete, Darius, and Mike discuss how they think the team will respond to this stretch and what changes to approach they'd like to see the team make defensively and with the rotation to get on track and prepare for the postseason.

The Lakers not playing well is now an ongoing theme, with their latest effort against the Raptors only deepening their recent tailspin. Pete, Mike, and Darius take stock in the team, zeroing in on the team's approach to prioritizing health over continuity and urgency, and how Anthony Davis' play is symbolic of the current morass the team is stuck in.

With LeBron James' return getting closer by the day, the prospect of the Lakers getting back to full strength is becoming more a reality. Pete, Darius, and Mike break down how his return can help reorient this team from a mental approach and preparedness perspective, particularly on defense when playing with both AD and Drummond. Later, the team discusses potential playoff matchups and how the prospect of AD playing more center in those matchups than he has during the regular season can better position the team for success, even if it means displacing talented players like Drummond, Harrell, and Gasol in the process.

The Lakers lost to the Wizards to end their road trip with a disappointing 1-3 record, showing a noticeable lack of urgency and engagement along the way. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss the current state of the team and how much LeBron's impending return will help this team get back on track from the standpoint of focus and showing more desperation as the regular season nears its close.

The Lakers got back on track by beating the Orlando Magic on Monday, getting the best game from AD since his return and a great closing kick from Dennis Schröder to seal the win. However, the game also highlighted some of the issues the team is trying to manage as they wait for LeBron to get back from injury while also trying to ramp up as the playoffs get closer. Pete, Mike, and Darius debate how much those issues will matter once LeBron does return and how much benefit of the doubt this Lakers team should get when they're the defending champions, but also depending on a lot of new players who have not had a lot of time to play together this season.

The Lakers dropped their 2nd consecutive game vs. the Mavericks on Saturday in one of the more frustrating games of the year. Rather than dive into the specific details of that game, however, Pete, Mike, and Darius zoom out to discuss the big themes of continuity and chemistry of this current Lakers group and how, with only 12 games left in the season, the Lakers can move forward together to ramp up for the playoffs while still trying to get AD back to full speed and waiting for LeBron to get back from his own injury.

Anthony Davis returned to the Lakers starting lineup after missing the previous 30 games. In this episode, Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss both the rust and flashes of brilliance he showed in his first game back, their first impressions of his pairing with Andre Drummond, and much more.

Anthony Davis will return to the Lakers lineup soon and with that there are a lot of questions about the adjustments the rest of the team will need to make to having him back in the lineup. From how the AD/Drummond defensive pairing will work, to how lineups with two bigs will function offensively with reduced spacing, to how Drummond's skill set translates to a change in role, Pete, Mike, and Darius break down what getting AD back means for his teammates and how they envision his teammates adjusting to their evolving roles.

The Lakers split a two game set against the Jazz and,even in less than ideal circumstances, got a very good look at a potential playoff opponent. Pete, Mike, and Darius break down what a potential matchup between these teams could look like, debating how much what the Jazz do well on offense can give the Lakers issues defensively, how crucial a role AD would play in the series, why the size of Utah's guards matter, and much more.

In part two of their discussion on Anthony Davis' impending return, Pete, Darius, and Mike discuss the balance between his individual dominance and what the team needs, how he can develop chemistry with Schröder and Drummond, and much more.

A depleted Lakers roster lost to the hated Celtics, although not before our South Bay guys made it interesting in the 4th, but that was not the big news of the day. In this episode, Pete, Darius & Mike discuss the impending return of Anthony Davis, the challenges he faces while rounding into form, and its ramifications on the team.

The Lakers better-than-expected road trip revealed many positives about the team's progression and their collective ability to play through adversity, but many of the games also exposed some flaws that should not be ignored. From Dennis Schröder's turnover problems to some defensive lapses from Andre Drummond, Pete, Mike, and Darius debate how meaningful some of these deficiencies are when placed into the context of the Lakers playoff goals and the pending return of LeBron and Anthony Davis.

The Lakers finished their 7-game road trip with a 4-3 record, and in the process learned a lot about themselves -- both positively and in some areas of potential concern. In part one of our look at the current state of the Lakers, Pete, Darius, and Mike discuss Markieff Morris' strong play and push for inclusion in the rotation even after LeBron and AD return. Then later, the guys get into how Talen Horton-Tucker's refinement offensively and reduction of mistakes defensively have stood out as real progress in his overall development.

The undermanned Lakers came away with a surprising 126-101 victory in Brooklyn on Saturday. In this episode, Pete, Darius & Mike discuss the culture of detail and defense that the team has established, what to take away from the game as a possible Finals preview, and the instant impact of Andre Drummond & Ben McLemore.

How much should the Lakers be worried about the standings? Are they at risk of landing in the play-in game? Do they actually matchup better with the teams at the top of the conference, making the seedings less important? Pete, Mike, and Darius answer those questions and more when they dive deep into the West standings and examine the race towards the playoffs.

Ben McLemore has joined the Lakers after being bought out by the Houston Rockets. What does he bring to the team and what will his potential role be? Pete, Darius, and Mike discuss the signing and how they envision McLemore fitting into a roster that has the ingredients to amplify his strengths and minimize his weaknesses. Later, the guys wonder what types of lineups McLemore fits into best and whether they envision him being anything more than a bit player on a roster that already has a lot of wings in the rotation.

The Andre Drummond signing, then injury, thrust Marc Gasol into the spotlight and he has responded with his best stretch of games this season. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss Gasol's recent play and how his game vs. the Raptors symbolized the changes he's made in his approach and the results those changes are yielding. Later, the guys discuss Gasol's role once Drummond returns and why the onus will be on Frank Vogel to keep Gasol involved while balancing that vs. the real need to assimilate Drummond and give him real opportunities to prove his worth for the stretch run and playoffs.

Andre Drummond made his Lakers debut, but a toe injury and a loss to the Bucks dampened what began as an exciting night. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss what they saw from Drummond before being forced from the game with injury, how the pros and cons of his game shone through, and what it could mean for his immediate and long term role for the team. Then later, the guys discuss Marc Gasol's seeming removal from the rotation and how they envision Vogel deploying him in the future.

In part two of a two-part series, Pete, Darius, and Mike have a spirited conversation on how Andre Drummond fits in with the Lakers, concentrating on his defensive fit. How does Drummond fit into the Lakers' "No roller behind" defensive strategy? What Western Conference team is the Drummond signing bad news for? How will Drummond fit into the front court rotation & how will it affect the other front court players, especially after AD returns? The guys discuss all that and more. Submit your Blue Wire Hustle application here: http://bwhustle.com/join

In part one of a two-part series, Pete, Darius, and Mike have a spirited conversation on how Andre Drummond fits in with the Lakers. How much value does his exceptional rebounding actually provide? Why is he such a poor finisher around the rim, and how much of that will change alongside LeBron? How does he fit in before LeBron & AD return from injury? The guys discuss all that and more. Submit your Blue Wire Hustle application here: http://bwhustle.com/join

The Lakers lost a winnable game to the 76ers, causing some frustration and triggering more questions about how this team can stay afloat while LeBron and AD recover from injury. Add in the non-moves at the trade deadline and Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss the game and the next steps for the Lakers as they navigate this upcoming stretch of games in which they’ll need to get some wins to keep pace in the conference. Then later, the guys hash out their disagreements about Danny Green in the wake of him torching them in his return to face his former team.

The Lakers head into Thursday's NBA trade deadline down their two superstars and losers of three straight games. Will their current circumstances impact how aggressive they are on the trade market? What are the team's biggest needs? Are there even any realistic changes the team could make via trade? Pete, Darius, and Mike answer these questions and more on the eve of the deadline.

LeBron James has gone from the top of the MVP race to out indefinitely with a high ankle sprain, joining Anthony Davis on the sideline in street clothes. How do the Lakers compensate for their missing superstars? Is it even possible? Pete, Darius, and Mike brainstorm potential solutions, keying in on Talen Horton-Tucker and how the goal should just be staying afloat until the roster is made whole in a few weeks. Later, the guys discuss KCP's play this year and what they'd like to see from him during this upcoming stretch of games while Bron and AD are out.

LeBron James led the Lakers to their 4th straight victory on Thursday night, with 37 points in a 116-105 victory over Charlotte. In this episode, Pete, Darius, and Mike discuss the multitude of ways that LeBron has helped the team navigate a difficult season, including how he's been the skeleton key that's unlocked the Lakers' pick & roll game post All-Star break.