With a month left until the trade deadline and having just made a deal for a key rotation player, the Lakers are in an evaluation period while prepping for their next set of decisions on whether to make additional changes in their pursuit of making a deep playoff run. Pete and Darius discuss what this evaluation should entail, why Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent are central characters in this process, and much more.Support Pete here:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroomBuy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroomPete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoomPete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroomFor Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers lost a tough game to the Rockets on Sunday, but showed resiliency and gained some insight into their team in the process. Pete and Darius discuss the game, highlighting how Houston gained their big lead, the Lakers wonderful 3rd quarter to fight back, JJ Redick's quick and incisive substitutions, LeBron and Austin Reaves' on-ball play, and much more.Support Pete here:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroomBuy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroomPete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoomPete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroomFor Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Raj Chipalu joins Pete to discuss the Lakers win over Portland, first impressions of Dorian Finney-Smith, Max Christie’s emergence, and what Raj has noticed while covering Bronny, Olivari, and the South Bay Lakers.Support Pete here:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroomBuy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroomPete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoomPete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroomFor Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers had a measuring stick game against the Cavs and fell short, dropping their final game of 2024. Pete and Darius react to the game, giving the Cavs their just due as an offensive juggernaut, but also speaking to what they liked from the Lakers end and what their first reactions were to Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton getting their first minutes for the team.Support Pete here:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroomBuy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroomPete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoomPete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroomFor Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Cavs bring the league's best record with them to Los Angeles to face off against the Lakers in the final game of the calendar year. Pete and Darius talk about the challenges Cleveland brings to the matchup, what they hope to see from Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton who are expected to be available in this game, and what they think the Lakers can do tactically on both sides of the floor to slow down a great Cavs offense and score against their two-big lineups. Support Pete here:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroomBuy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroomPete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoomPete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroomFor Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Should Dorian Finney-Smith replace Rui Hachimura in the starting lineup? How does trading for DFS impact the LeBron-led bench groups that have struggled this season? And now that D'Angelo Russell is gone, how does Austin Reaves' role change and what are his next steps to further develop in the lead guard role that he's played so well as in the last couple of games? Pete and Darius answer these questions and more as they continue to react to the Lakers' trade on Sunday. Support Pete here:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroomBuy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroomPete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoomPete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroomFor Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers made a trade, sending D'Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis and three 2nd round picks to Brooklyn in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton. Pete and Darius react to the deal by saying goodbye to D-Lo, looking at how Finney-Smith fits on defense, and then beginning to explore lineups and the shift in identity this deal furthers.Support Pete here:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroomBuy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroomPete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoomPete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroomFor Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers swept their two-game road trip in Sacramento, beating them again on Saturday behind another strong defensive performance. Pete and Darius discuss the win, focusing on LeBron's great night overall — especially on defense — and how his recent uptick in defensive intensity is helping to shift the team's identity. And then later they get into how the team's improvement defensively has come with a drop off offensively and whether they can recapture some of their early season offensive success while still playing high-level defense. Support Pete here:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroomBuy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroomPete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoomPete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroomFor Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the first of their back-to-back matchups, the Lakers beat the Kings with a strong defensive performance that continues the recent upward trend of the team performing better on that side of the ball. Pete and Darius discuss the game through that defensive lens, highlighting Anthony Davis' incredible night blocking shots and controlling the glass, Rui and LeBron playing great within the team's schemes, Max Christie's continued ascension on the ball at the point of attack, and much more. Support Pete here:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroomBuy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroomPete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoomPete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroomFor Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who should the Lakers actually target via trade? How willing should they be to trade future draft picks to facilitate deals? What is the team's biggest need and what type of move seems most likely to happen? Pete and Darius answer these questions and more in part three of their guide to the trade season. Support Pete here:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroomBuy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroomFor Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices