The Athletic NBA Daily Embiid + Ja throwback games + Do the Lakers need to make moves?
4 snips
Dec 31, 2025 Dan Woike, a Los Angeles Lakers beat reporter, joins to analyze LeBron James' aging prowess and recent birthday woes. He dives into the Lakers' fit issues and the need for a more physical player rather than another scorer. The conversation touches on the team’s inconsistent energy and potential trade deadline strategies. Woike discusses the untouchable status of Austin Reaves and elaborates on both optimistic and pessimistic paths for the Lakers as they navigate this challenging season.
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Availability Rule Distorts Awards
- The 65-game availability rule warps award narratives by prioritizing calendar math over peak performance.
- Nikola Jokic missing a month could make him ineligible for MVP despite an extraordinary season.
Lean On Depth During Star Absences
- Expect coaches to lean on depth and role players when a superstar is out for a month.
- Teams should emphasize defensive adjustments to limit the opponent's ability to key on the primary scorer.
Embiid Showing Signs Of Return
- Joel Embiid's 34-point near-triple-double suggests he's trending back toward pre-injury form.
- Zena Keita highlights Embiid's improved mobility, defense, and availability as major positives for the Sixers.
