Laker Film Room - Dedicated to the Study of Lakers Basketball

Pete and Darius discuss Dorian Finney-Smith's decision to have ankle surgery, what it means that it came at this point in the offseason, how it might impact the free agency decision of his player option, and more. And then later, the guys discuss DFS' role on this roster as a culture setter and locker room presence, how he played this past season, and what they hope to see from him next year on both sides of the ball.  Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Pacers have done it again, winning Game 3 of the Finals to take a 2-1 lead over the Thunder. Pete and Darius discuss the game, the fantastic performances put together by both sides, the Pacers' great bench play, Haliburton's best game of the series, and much more.  Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Recent champions have followed a recent formula of having an elite offensive player flanked by a high level defensive roster — a trend the Thunder are trying to continue. Pete and Darius discuss how the Luka Dončić led Lakers can try to follow this same path and what that means for the rest of the current roster and who to target this offseason. Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How would you evaluate Austin Reaves outside of the context of the roster, his contract, or even what his future fit might be next to Luka Dončić? How would you look at his growth as a player, his individual strengths and weaknesses, and what he needs to improve on? What about the schemes that fit him best on both sides of the ball? Pete and Darius answer these questions and more in their discussion of what they've seen from Reaves over the last several seasons and how he played this past year.  Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers did it again with another 4th quarter comeback and game winning bucket to steal Game 1 of the Finals from the Thunder. Pete and Darius break down the game and discuss OKC's lineup change to start the game, the Thunder's pressure defense and Indy's adjustments to it later, the Pacer's role players stepping up, and much more.  Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The NBA Finals begin on Thursday night and Pete and Darius breakdown the matchup between the Thunder and Pacers and discuss what they think some of the biggest keys are for both teams, including Pascal Siakam's ability to score when cross matched against OKC's guards, the number of defensive matchups the Thunder can throw at Tyrese Haliburton, both team's comfort playing the other team's style, and much more. Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a somewhat surprising decision, the Knicks fired head coach Tom Thibodeau on Tuesday fresh off a trip to the conference finals. Pete and Darius react to the news, discuss the merits of making this change now, discuss the shrinking windows to contend under this collective bargaining agreement, and much more. And then later the guys discuss the offseason dominoes of Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokoumnpo and how the Lakers can be opportunistic in trades even if they don't get the star in the deal. Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete and Darius discuss how the Lakers go about building around Luka Dončić can't just about finding players who can compensate for the things he doesn't do as well, but instead should be about finding players who build on all the ways that he is already great in order to magnify those traits and lift the entire team.  Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Pacers are going to the NBA Finals after beating the Knicks in Game 6 over the weekend. Pete and Darius discuss Indy's run to the Finals, how their transition game reminds them of a couple of old Lakers teams, how the Pacers have built around their best player and the lessons the Lakers can take from them, and much more. And then later, the guys begin their preview of the Finals by giving their initial thoughts on how the Pacers and Thunder matchup.  Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete and Darius debate how big a leap the Lakers could take by adding a center in free agency vs. making a larger trade for one. Are the free agent bigs good enough, or would it make more sense to trade for one? And how does the team's penchant for playing small-ball groups play a factor in these decisions? The guys dive into these questions and more.  Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices