Lakers Lounge
by Anthony Irwin
Latest episode
FULL: See?! This is why Anthony hates being optimistic
FULL: See?! This is why Anthony hates being optimistic
About this podcast
Anthony Irwin takes a daily look at the Los Angeles Lakers in his own unique way, with the help of any number of guests from throughout NBA coverage, and beyond.
Episodes
The newest 50 of 3,000 episodes
- FULL: See?! This is why Anthony hates being optimistic · 37 minThe Lakers took care of business against the Bucks to keep the incredible pace they've set so far this season, but it came at a cost.
- PART 1: Lakers' ball movement keeps improving; Austin, Luka go down · 20 minAnthony breaks down a ho-hum blowout and the reacts to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves' injuries.
- PART 2: Should the Lakers rest Luka and/or Austin? · 18 minLuka and Austin both went down with injuries and, while neither looked too alarming, the Lakers' upcoming schedule actually might lend itself to getting them some rest. Anthony…
- FULL: So... are the Lakers.... good? · 1 h 4 minThe Lakers are playing extremely well. Their record is undeniable. The offense seems unstoppable. So... Anthony asks Harrison if now is the time to feel real optimism, even given…
- PART 1: Should Anthony risk a little optimism? · 21 minThe Lakers are playing really, really well. The last time Anthony felt like this about a team, everything went to shit. Does he risk the optimism this team calls for, even given…
- PART 2: #RolePlayerShit · 22 minThe Lakers are winning because their stars have been incredible AND their role players have relished doing the little things at high levels.
- PART 3: Don't look now but... Luka's defense has been good · 23 minMuch is frequently (and often correctly) made about Luka Doncic on the defensive end. Those same critiques hold much less water so far this season.
- FULL: Just how good can the Lakers be, even if regression happens? · 56 minThe Lakers are shooting at an astonishing rate right now. Yes, some of those numbers may or even will come back down to earth. Anthony and Pete discuss what that would look like…
- PART 1: The Lakers are proving the concept · 28 minThe Lakers had a clear picture in mind while they built out this team. So far, that picture has made more than enough sense, even as wrinkles are ironed out.
- PART 2: The Lakers have *that* guy · 29 minPete and Anthony discuss the notion of really taking advantage of the moment, even if it means the Lakers may have to part ways with a coveted younger player. The reason being…
- FULL: Lakers - Kings recap; Walker, Austin impress; Luka isn't 'insufferable'; Q&A · 1 h 3 minAnthony and Harrison get together for a rare postgame episode in which they get to make a little fun of the Kings. They recap the game, break down Walker Kessler and Austin…
- PART 1: Lakers beat Kings in a very different way · 21 minThe Lakers are wrapping up a stretch of five games in seven nights. They won... ugly? With defense? Really?
- PART 2: Walker Kessler's underrated skill · 21 minAnthony noticed something from the Kings all over the court last night: Walker Kessler wore them down. He and Harrison discuss that, Austin's under-the-radar production and more.
- PART 3: Bill Simmons' Luka take shows he isn't watching · 23 minBill Simmons called Luka Doncic insufferable. Anthony and Harrison greatly appreciate Simmons for making their points for them.
- FULL: Why isn't anyone giving Luka Doncic his due? Is it time to push all the chips in? · 1 h 11 minAnthony has noticed a weird silence on Luka Doncic so far that he runs by Harrison to see if he's noticed the same. The guys talk about how an MVP run would change how last…
- PART 1: The goal posts are already moving on Luka Doncic · 24 minAnthony has noticed an interesting way Luka Doncic's incredible start to the season is being covered... in that it ISN'T being covered. He talks to Harrison about the insane…
- PART 2: How would a Luka MVP season recalibrate expectations on the Lakers this year? · 24 minAnthony has noticed a pretty collective decision by several larger national platforms to essentially ignore what Luka Doncic has done to start this season on both sides of the…
- PART 3: Is JJ Redick learning how to use Mamu? · 25 minAfter wrapping up the conversation of what going all in on this season could potentially look like, Anthony and Harrison discuss some rotation and usage tweaks JJ Redick has made…
- FULL: So... why *ISN'T* Luka Doncic MVP so far? · 46 minLuka Doncic is off to one of the best starts in NBA history. Anthony marvels at it, enjoys that win over Miami, offers up what he saw that helped Austin Reaves turn things back…
- PART 1: Lakers-Heat recap; Luka's special start; Austin bounces back · 24 minAnthony starts by breaking down the Lakers' win over Miami, segues to Luka Doncic's early-season MVP campaign and wraps this part by talking about what helped Austi Reaves bounce…
- PART 2: Miami reminds us of the "Now This Is Going To Be Fun" Lakers; Q&A · 23 minAnthony explains why the Heat seem like a fairly miserable experience right now and compare them to one of his least favorite Lakers seasons ever. He wraps with a Q&A session…
- FULL: Luka dominates Raptors; Kessler bounces back; Bench fixes; Grimes... Q&A · 48 minThe Lakers beat the Raptors behind Luka Doncic's historically impressive stat line and Walker Kessler bouncing back. The bench made the game a lot closer than it needed to be…
- PART 1: Lakers top Raptors; Luka Doncic is SPECIAL · 23 minAnthony marvels at what Luka Doncic is doing on a night by night basis. Against the Raptors, he finished with a stat line literally no one else has ever had. He compares the…
- PART 2: The Lakers need to simplify the game for Quentin Grimes · 26 minAnthony is getting increasingly worried about Quentin Grimes, so he offers up a couple potential solutions to what has made Grimes so ineffective this year. From there, he wraps…
- FULL: Raj nerds out; Can the Lakers get a two seed? · 1 h 13 minThe Lakers haven't opened strong. Things are rolling in the right direction. Injuries just keep stacking up for other teams. So long as those things continue? The guys talk about…
- PART 1: Let's nerd out, one week or so in · 25 minAnthony steps aside and lets Raj get as nerdy as he wants about the early returns on this Lakers group.
- PART 2: How does the rotation change with Jarred Vanderbilt now in it? · 24 minAnthony and Raj both hope Jarred Vanderbilt is now a cemented part of the Lakers' rotation. How does that change the rest of the pieces around him?
- PART 3: Q&A - Have you seen enough to ask the Lakers to go "all-in" on this season? · 26 minThe west is now wide open with a few tough injuries to key figures. The Lakers look good. There's a clear hole in the roster they NEED to address. They only have so much at hand…
- FULL: Lakers bounce back behind... Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton and... Jarred Vanderbilt???? · 47 minLuka Doncic and Ziaire Williams got the night off. Austin Reaves didn't really have it. The Clippers sold out to stop Walker Kessler. This means other guys would have to step up…
- PART 1: Redemption, thy names are Quentin and Collin · 24 minCollin Sexton and Quentin Grimes caught plenty of criticism from the loss to Portland only a day ago. Well, they responded with two very solid performances when the Lakers needed…
- PART 2: Vandoooooooooo · 24 minJJ Redick is almost famously online, which means he hears or sees all the criticism of his coaching. Sometimes (as we saw with Darvin Ham), coaches will stick by their instincts…
- FULL: Blazers burn Lakers with insane shooting; Grimes, Sexton, Thybulle struggle; Luka, Austin still good · 46 minAnthony breaks down the game from a macro point-of-view, then zooms in on some of the individual performances than led to the outcome. Luka and Austin did more than enough to…
- PART 2: Losing sucks, but Austin and Luka have been incredible · 24 minSometimes in a loss like that, it's easy to focus too much on the negative. What we can't lose sight of is how ridiculous Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves has been. Anthony…
- PART 1: Blazers loss recap; Lakers shooting need to open the game for Kessler, Luka/Austin PNR · 22 minUtah sold completely out to make sure Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves couldn't just keep lobbing the alley-oop over the top to Walker Kessler. This put the impetus on shooters to…
- FULL: OKC's injuries change Lakers' approach to this season; Backup center options, lessons; Lol Celtics · 54 minAnthony runs through all the ways OKC's injuries (and the salary dumps this summer) impact this season and how the Lakers approach it. He then opens the mailbag where everyone is…
- PART 1: How OKC's injuries, cap casualties impacts the west picture · 25 minOKC suffered two brutal injuries Sunday that completely alter what the entire Western Conference might look like. Anthony explains everything going on there and the impact that…
- PART 2: Rob Pelinka not learning from past mistakes led to Lakers' backup center problem · 29 minRob Pelinka has either had an elite center with no backup or a meh center with an ok backup ever since the Lakers won a ring with an elite center and depth behind him. Anthony…
- FULL: 3-0; Luka goes for fitty; Austin quiets critics; Kessler struggles; Q&A · 50 minAnthony breaks down the Lakers' third win of the season against a Jazz team that presented some unique challenges. He marvel's at Luka's incredible production and Austin being a…
- PART 1: Comeback victory recap; So, this Luka guy (and Austin!) · 25 minMaybe the craziest part of Luka's performance as how poorly it started. He and the Lakers dug themselves a hole in that first quarter that Austin Reaves helped chip away at until…
- PART 2: Walker Kessler's struggles vs. Utah show REAL center depth weakness · 26 minWe got a look at what the Lakers' ceiling lowers to if Walker Kessler doesn't have it and, well, it wasn't pretty. Anthony discusses that, then answers a few questions from the…
- HOOK: Lakers' first impressions; Strengths; Weaknesses; Backup center fixes · 1 h 8 minAnthony and Pete discuss what they saw from the Lakers in that first game and look ahead to what they think they'll see from the team moving forward this season. What do they…
- PART 1: Lakers make a solid first impression; Team strengths · 23 minAnthony and Pete really enjoyed that opening night game and think there's a ton to build on. They discuss what they saw from the team in an actual game and try to outline what…
- PART 2: Which weaknesses have we seen that the Lakers can address? · 23 minAnthony is worried about perimeter defense. Pete is a little less worried about that, but does have some concern about the rebounding. The guys discuss whether or how the Lakers…
- PART 3: What can/will the Lakers do about the backup center situation? · 25 minEveryone can see it. The Lakers might have the worst backup center in the league. So, what can be done about it and could this have been avoided? The guys discuss that and rehash…
- FULL: Yaxel #discourse; More Warriors game notes; Opening week takes: Q&A · 1 h 1 minAnthony and Harrison discuss the fallout from Yaxel Lendeborg's comments about Luka Doncic and Twitter desire to drag out all these situations until they go from fun banter to…
- PART 1: YAXELGATE · 20 minThe internet is back at its nonsense because of the Yaxel-Luka beef, which Anthony thought was so onesided we wouldn't get this kind of discourse but here we are.
- PART 2: Lakers, uh, interesting approach to guarding Steph (and adjustment from it) · 21 minThe Warriors were able to hang around for just about half the game because the Lakers couldn't contain Steph Curry. The guys discuss the flawed initial approach and what led to…
- PART 3: It's been zero days since someone on ESPN said something dumb about the Lakers · 22 minAnthony just said a week ago how he's actually enjoyed the way this Lakers team has been analuzed on bigger platforms. Well, that came to screeching halt because we can't have…
- FULL: Lakers blow out Warriors; Luka responds to a rookie mistake; Kessler's perfect debut; Q&A · 52 minHoly hell what a fun way to start the season. Anthony talks about Luka Doncic's dominance, especially after Yaxel Lendeborg talked some crazy stuff, Walker Kessler's official…
- PART 1: Take it in... The Lakers are back · 27 minAnthony breaks down the game but makes sure to spend some time enjoying the fact that the Lakers are back on the court. He highlights Luka Doncic's performance, Walker Kessler's…
