Where would the Lakers be without Carmelo Anthony? On a team that includes LeBron, AD, and Russell Westbrook, it’s been Melo that has been invaluable and the reason this Lakers team is *barely* above .500.
JC arrives with a solo show to discuss the ups and downs in Lakerland, signs for optimism and pessimism, and discusses why very little will change unless there’s an improvement in how the Lakers play together. Plus, JC takes a stab at when LeBron may come back and why this group can’t afford to just ‘turn it on’ when they feel like it.
5-3 is 5-3, and while all of Laker Nation would have signed up for that start to the season, it hasn’t been easy, and it certainly hasn’t been pretty.
Ethan and JC are back to talk about the uneven back-to-back set vs. the Rockets, the incredible lack of defense that still seems to be completely missing, and how critical this current stretch is for the Lakers in the comfort of their own home. The Good: Russell Westbrook & LeBron James are finding their groove together. The offense is clearly not the issue.The Bad: Anthony Davis is playing phenomenal defense—which is a great thing—but he can’t do it alone, and the Lakers need help on the wing that they simply don’t have on the roster right now. The Ugly: Well, it’s all been pretty ugly as the Lakers try to figure out how this club can come together with so many moving parts and such limited practice time. Let’s ride!
Well, what in the actual f*@% do we do now? It’s not often the external question matches the internal dilemma, but that’s about the only thing that’s aligned for these Lakers right now.
The rain may have ceased in LA, but the doomsday weather is hovering over the Lakers. After a luck-induced two-game win streak got the squad back to .500, the Lakers quickly reminded us why this team is still a major work in progress.
Ethan & JC are back for a double dip into deconstructing where this team is, where it’s going, and what happened in a game where the Lakeshow blew a 26-point lead.
Is it all doom and gloom in Hollywood after 2 straight losses to open the new Lakers season? JC promised intrigue when he previewed the season and so far in at least that one regard, this team has not disappointed. Hear JC’s thoughts on the game 2 loss, the bench altercation between AD and Dwight Howard and more on this solo edition of the HoopBall Lakers Podcast!
After an offseason filled with a lot of hype, and with the Staples Center finally filled back to full capacity, the Lakers came out flat and failed to play as a team. LeBron & AD did the damn thing, but the rest of the Lakers were clearly searching for their role—something that no one should expect to be fixed overnight. Critics of this team had a field day with what we saw—a team desperately searching for how to play together with obvious issues centered around fit and 3-point shooting. The good news? It’s been just one game. Take a deep breath. The better news? The NBA is back, baby! Ethan takes you on a solo ride to discuss what he liked and didn’t like from the Lakers’ debut, and general NBA notes as the season gets started!
The regular season is here! This might be the most exciting Lakers season in years. JC takes on a solo pod to sum up the preseason and what he looks forward to for this season, plus as a bonus he’ll lay out his entire playoff predictions for every team!
Trevor Ariza is out before he was in, Talen Horton-Tucker’s breakout campaign is on indefinite hold, and all of the sudden…the Lakers are rather thin on the wing.
Following a brief hiatus, the Hoop Ball Lakers podcast is back with the preseason in full swing, media day firmly in the rear view mirror, and a brand new Lakers team looking to leave their mark on the rest of the NBA. We return with a solo ride from Ethan in which he discusses the Lakers current injury woes, things that he’s liked in the preseason, questions the Lakers still have to answer, and opines on how fast this team can come together in order to show that change is good as LA tries to align its stars around LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Whether it’s DeAndre Jordan playing the JaVale role, the types of lineups the Lakers can put around AD at center, who gets the bulk of the minutes on the wing—hello, Kent Bazemore—or other issues, the Lakers have plenty to figure out in a very brief period of time prior to the season tipping off.
Join Ethan for a 25-minute dive back into Lakerland as the club looks to cultivate that same sense of chemistry on the court that they’re clearly sharing off of it.
With just two weeks (?!) until training camp begins, it’s safe to say that Lakers basketball is back, baby!
Ethan & JC return to dive right into how this roster already feels so much better than last year’s ever did. With the return of old friends, the injection of new blood, and A LOT of personality in the locker room, the Lakers appear poised to enter the 2021-22 season with a brand new ceiling.
The fellas discuss the return of Rajon Rondo, the addition of DeAndre Jordan down low, and how the Lakers can structure this team with so many potential playing permutations.
Between the return of familiar names and the additions of ones that were always destined for purple and gold, it feels like there could be something special brewing in LakerLand-and it isn’t the pumpkin iced coffee that’s taken over LA’s fall scene.
Summer League is over and The Lakers still have three open roster spots. Who will fill them? A Summer League standout? A seasoned vet desperate for a comeback? JC talks about all the possibilities in a solo edition of the HoopBall Lakers Podcast!
As NBA Free Agency gets underway, the Lakers bring back Trevor Ariza, Wayne Ellington, Kent Bazemore, and Dwight Howard just days after trading for Russell Westbrook. As a new Lakers team dawns, the fellas break down what moves could be next, the sign-and-trade pursuit of Buddy Hield, and give their initial reaction to all of the fiery action to officially kick off the offseason. Who’s next? Find out with Ethan & JC on the @HoopballLakers podcast!
Rumors have been flying hot and heavy in Lakerland as the offseason comes into full focus, and it’s only going to get warmer in the woods as August rolls around.
The good news is the Lakers have a lot of options when it comes to improving the nucleus around LeBron and AD. Unfortunately, the bad news is the same as the good.
Ethan and JC return to the mic to break down everything from the insanity to the plausible. From Damian Lillard to Buddy Hield to DeMar DeRozan and more, the fellas discuss possible fits and possibilities as the Lakers move forward. Plus, the guys also get into the Lakers’ own unknowns such as Alex Caruso, Talen Horton-Tucker, and more.
It’s a Fresh Hoop Ball Lakers episode for a fresh offseason of California dreamin’!
Welcome to a very Special Edition of the HoopBall Lakers Podcast! JC mixes it up a bit on this solo edition and gives you a film review of a little film called Space Jam: A New Legacy, starring our very own LeBron James. It’s been teased for years and it’s finally here. Will it be worth your time to seek out if you’re a Lakers fan? JC will tell you.
Could Ben Simmons be the next answer to the Lakers’ point guard problem?
JC & Ethan return to catch you up on all things in Lakerland from Alex Caruso’s arrest to Jason Kidd’s departure to the Ben Simmons chatter that has already begun.
Dennis Schroder looks like a 50-50 bet to return, Kyle Kuzma may have already moved on in his mind, but no matter how the Lakers turn their wheels, there is no question there are three clear areas for improvement on the roster.
The fellas also dive into the general playoff picture to revisit the Trae Young for Luka Doncic mega deal, give final NBA predictions, and muse about the happenings around the league as the Lakers look to restart a “normal” offseason—at least when it comes to the calendar.
Mercifully, it’s over. The season that never quit has come to its conclusion, and the Lakers can finally rest with plenty to reflect upon as they exit in Round 1 of the playoffs. Another failure to appear plagued the Lakers from the start, Anthony Davis couldn’t move in his five-minute return, and LeBron’s attempted heroics weren’t enough for him to save himself or his ship from sinking at the inception of its journey. Ethan and JC reflect on the loss, take a brief look into where the Lakers can go from here and provide some general takeaways from the campaign that presented more questions than answers.
As they enter a win-or-stay-home Game 6, the Lakers season is officially on the brink. Following an embarrassing Game 5 in which the Lakers flatly did not show up to play, Ethan goes harder in the paint than Andre Drummond on his best day to absolutely rip into the collective Lakers’ soul. The Lakers are going to have to dig deep in their bag to have a chance at extending the series, and if Anthony Davis can’t go, it may not matter what else everyone else–including LeBron–can give. Disclaimer: this episode is hotter than a bag of Hot Cheetos.
