Laker Film Room - Dedicated to the Study of Lakers Basketball

Anthony Davis is the Lakers best defensive player and LeBron James has shown he can still be elite on that end, but with the amount of perimeter defensive talent that left the team, Russell Westbrook might just be the Lakers most important defender this season. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss Westbrook's strengths and weaknesses defensively, why his flaws can be particularly problematic for this specific roster, and how his physical tools and ability to rebound are reasons for optimism. Later, the guys discuss how Russ plays into the "bigger, stronger, faster" approach to this roster and why that matters defensively.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 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 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

If there's a reason to down on the Lakers' acquisition of Russell Westbrook, his poor outside shooting -- and proclivity to shoot those shots anyway -- is probably at the top of the list. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss how much Westbrook's shooting struggles matter, whether they think he'll adjust his game and cut down on the number of jumpshots he takes, and what types of schematic adjustments they think can work to help Westbrook be an off-ball threat when defenses help off him.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 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 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

What are Russell Westbrook's strengths as a playmaker? Are there parts of his game as a passer and shot creator that are surprising? Should we be discounting his assist totals because his usage rate is so high? In the first episode of our Westbrook Week series, Pete, Mike, and Darius examine Westbrook the playmaker and what about that aspect of his game excite and concern them. Later, the guys get into how much LeBron may need to adjust in helping foster Russ' playmaking skills and how they envision Russ and Anthony Davis pairing performing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 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 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 Wayne Ellington and Malik Monk, the Lakers signed two players who shot over 40% from behind the arc last season, but did so in very different ways. Pete, Mike, and Darius look at how the specifics of both players' shooting profiles can help the Lakers and how each one might excel within the types of offensive sets the team runs. Later, the guys look at each players' defensive utility and wonder if Frank Vogel will be able to mask their limitations enough for either to be a consistent rotation player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 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 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, Darius & Mike talk about Carmelo Anthony's & Trevor Ariza's games & what they see is the best fit & role for them on the offensive & defensive ends of the floor for next season's Lakers team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 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 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

Kent Bazemore is a well-rounded player who doesn't do any one thing great, but does a lot of things well enough to impact the game in multiple ways. Will this type of versatility lead him to starting for the Lakers? Will changing from the ball-movement heavy Warriors system to the Lakers more star-centric, isolation and post heavy system hurt his productivity? What is his best defensive position? Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss these questions and many more when looking at how Bazemore fits on this Lakers team.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 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 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

Yes, the Lakers now profess to have a big-3 of superstar talents, but newcomer Kendrick Nunn just might be the team's x-factor this season. Pete, Darius, and Mike dissect Nunn's game, looking at his strengths and weaknesses, how they believe he'll fit in on the team on both sides of the ball, and whether he could end up being a surprise starter if the Lakers pivot away from playing big to begin games as they have the last two seasons.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 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 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

After remaking their roster this offseason, the Lakers added many talented players -- but ones whose skill sets skew more towards offense. Under head coach Frank Vogel, however, the Lakers have won with a culture of defensive intensity and commitment. Do the Lakers have enough defense this season? Can Anthony Davis and LeBron continue to set the tone on that end? Can Russ turn his focus up to be better? Will this team simply care enough to defend hard if they're as good on offense as they expect to be? Pete, Mike, and Darius answer these questions and more when examining the Lakers defensive potential. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 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 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

When the Lakers introduced many of their newly signed free agents, a common theme among several of them in their comments was the need to sacrifice so the team could be at their best. Pete, Mike, and Darius explore the idea of sacrifice in the context of this year's team and discuss how that idea could mean different things for different players. Later, the guys look at the roster construction of the team and discuss if there are skills or a specific player type missing and whether they think the front office will try to address any outstanding needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 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 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

We know LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook are going to start for the Lakers, but who will join them? Will Anthony Davis start at Center? Is Marc Gasol and his spacing be the best option for this group or would Dwight Howard's rim protection and physicality prove the better choice? At shooting guard, will Kent Bazemore or Wayne Ellington get the nod? Is THT in the mix there? Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss all these questions and more as they try to put themselves in Frank Vogel's shoes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 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 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