Lakers Lounge
Anthony Irwin
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
FULL: Walker Kessler debuts; Austin impresses; Lakers bungle injury info; Q&A
Anthony and Harrison really enjoyed what they saw from Walker Kessler. That's far and away the biggest story of the night. They do talk about Austin's best game of the preseason and what the Lakers need from him, too, the Lakers' weird handling of injury info and a couple other topics before diving into the chat for a few fun questions.
PART 1: So... Walker Kessler!
The Lakers have a lot riding on Walker Kessler looking exactly like he looked last night. The guys talked about his impressive debut.
PART 2: Anthony completely bungles his Austin point but kinda/sorta arrives there anyway
The Lakers need A LOT out of Austin. They got a glimpse of it tonight. Anthony wants to know if we can see this Austin consistently enough to make the contract feel worthwhile.
PART 3: A listener actually wrote a haiku about that game
After Anthony and Harrison had a little chuckle about the haiku a Shogun would write about that game, a viewer actually dropped one. The guys then talked about Ghost of Tsushima.
FULL: MAILBAG - Kessler, Sexton injury concerns; Roster trimming; Guard depth; Knicks (?) extensions
Anthony asked for questions and, as promised answer basically every question he got. He only got super frustrated once!
PART 1: Walker Kessler, Collin Sexton injury updates
Walker Kessler is the Lakers' second-most important player this year, which makes it more than a little concerning/frustrated that we haven't seen him yet. When will that change? Anthony also shares what he's heard about Collin Sexton and explains why he is so important.
PART 2: Anthony's prefered rule change - Town down the reputation stuff
A listener asked what rule changes Anthony would start with and he gave an example, but then also discussed a zoomed-out approach concern he has with NBA refereeing.
PART 3: How else can the Lakers add another big?
Anthony explains why it makes sense for the Lakers to try to land a big via one of their two-way contracts but also gives context on what that is trickier now than it was even a couple seasons ago.
HOOK: Likes, dislikes, surprises and lessons
Anthony does this thing with content that he likes, where he asks himself to find things he likes, dislikes, is surprised by and learns over the course of that content. He brings that exercise to this episode with Pete to discuss Lakers preseason to this point.
PART 1: There's plenty to like so far
Anthony and Pete start this exercise by talking about what they've liked about preseason to this point.
PART 2: How is ball-handling STILL an issue?
Collin Sexton has yet to play and Anthony has noticed his absence a little too much. The guys discuss the ball control from players not named Austin or Luka and how critical Sexton has already become.
PART 3: Are fans falling for the fallacy of novelty?
The Lakers have started off preseason in fairly impressive fashion, all things considered. A listener still was curious whether some of the new additions are getting a little extra praise because of how new they are to the team.
FULL: Is Lakers' win total o/u too low? Early preseason lessons; What we want to know ASAP
Anthony and Harrison laugh at how annoyed Philly media already is with some of the extra stuff that comes with LeBron. They segue back to the Lakers by discussing how Vegas seems to feel about the team this season. Why is there such a disconnect with that and the preseason vibes/hype? The guys then discuss what they'd like to know about this team ASAP and wrap with a quick Q&A. Oh and Lanterns thoughts.
PART 1: "LeBron is the ex who farts too much"
According to Harrison, Anthony gives one of his craziest analogies to date.
PART 2: Why doesn't Vegas believe in the Lakers?
There is reason to believe the Lakers should be pretty good -- Anthony's skepticism notwithstanding. So why is the win total over/under so low (45.5)?
PART 3: What do you want to know ASAP about this team?
Anthony wants to KNOW how good the offense is going to be and gives his reasoning why. The guys wrap with a quick Q&A and some Lanterns thoughts.
FULL: Anthony and Raj ignore that Warriors game to talk Lakers preseason goals
The Lakers didn't play basically anyone in their second preseason game. It went about as you'd expect against a Warriors team that did play people. So, rather than spend time thinking about that game, the guys talk about what they've learned about the Lakers' intentions for this season by way of training camp and their first preseason game.
PART 1: Congrats to Raj!
Anthony and Raj eventually are going to get to the game, but first, Anthony tells Raj how proud he is for taking ownership of his content, as un-condescendingly as he could. Then, well, yeah, that game happened.
PART 2: Adou Thiero and Cam Carr HAVE to be developed
The Lakers have a fun collection of prospects and, if the organization is going to come close to its ceiling, they're going to have to get the most out of their youth.
PART 3: Are we going to get a Lakers dress rehearsal?
The Lakers have played one preseason game without Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler, but with Luka Doncic. They played the second without... well, almost everyone. Anthony and Raj take a look at the preseason schedule and try to find if and when we'll see something closer to a full rotation -- and why it matters that we do.
FULL: Lakers kick off preseason with a butt-kicking
After months and months of theorizing about this Lakers roster, we finally got to see it in actuality. Anthony loved what he saw and explains why. He uses this game (disclaimers about the Kangz notwithstanding) to forecast the style of basketball JJ Redick envisions for the Lakers, how he plans to use the wings and the role youth is going to play. He wraps with a quick Q&A.
PART 1: What a perfect start to the preseason
The Lakers beat the crap out of the Kings. Yeah, the Kings are going to suck, but the Lakers approached this game a lot more seriously than in years past. There's value in noting that.
PART 2: Ah, the joy of productive youth
Adou Thiero. Cam Carr. Bronny James. Anthony went into last night with high hopes from that group and was pleased to see those expectations met. He discusses that, wing by committee and wraps with some questions from the live audience.
PRESEASON PREVIEW: Offense, defense expectations; Wing battle; Youth development
Lakers basketball is finally here (kind of). Anthony previews the preseason slate with expectations on either side of the ball, the spots in the rotation guys will be competing for, players at the end of the bench he's actually excited to watch and more.
FULL: Mailbag!... Kind of
Anthony opens with a couple segments he thought up on the fly because of some late arriving questions, but we finally arrived at a fun episode nonetheless.
PART 1: Yes, Luka is exceeding pre-draft expectations
A friend of the show just won't stop pissing off the internet so Anthony finally chimes in on the subject.
PART 2: FINALLY some questions
The audience was apparently running a little late but brought the heat nonetheless.
FULL: Second straight episode of letting Raj nerd out about these Lakers
Anthony once again steers the conversation towards Raj's nerdiness. The effort nearly ended him, so please listen.
PART 1: JJ's confidence in the Lakers shines through his transparency on his goals with the team
Normally, the identity on either side of the ball would be seen as a secret of the utmost protection. This training camp, JJ Redick has been very open about the kind of basketball he wants the Lakers to play. Anthony thinks this is a sign of confidence, and explains such to Raj.
PART 2: Is JJ Redick leveraging Luka and Austin's competitiveness? (complimentary)
JJ Redick says he's been splitting up Luka and Austin whenever he can in practices. Anthony gives an explanation for doing so only he would identify.
PART 3: The Lakers' confidence in their defense has Anthony wondering some stuff
Anthony has spent this entire offseason crapping on the Lakers as a defensive unit. All the Lakers keep saying is how good they'll be on that side of the ball, making Anthony wonder if he's read this situation wrong all along. So he asks Raj about that possibility.
FULL: What are the options for making the Lakers' roster legal before opening night?
Anthony rolls through what Rob Pelinka can do to bring the Lakers to 15 guaranteed contracts before the season, what he thinks is likeliest and some of the options he'd most prefer.
FULL: Thybulle, Williams impressing; Luka, Austin staggering; Lakers defending; D'lo Shanghai-ing
A LOT going on in this episode. A lot. Just.... buckle up.
PART 1: Early camp standouts; Lakers keep hyping up their defense; JJ on staggering Luka, Austin
Anthony rolls through some stories coming out of camp, where Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams have apparently been standing out. From there, he discusses the Lakers continuing to speak highly of the defense they're going to play. He wraps by discussing JJ Redick apparently not joking at his presser when he said he'd been splitting up Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves to help plan for staggering them in games.
PART 2: D'Angelo Russell to China; (another) Buddy Hield trade rumor; Q&A
Anthony looks back on D'Angelo Russell's career as it appears to be winding down. Given how quickly he was able to get through today's headlines, he spends a little time talking about Buddy Hield, which leads to a really fun question from the live chat.
FULL: Media day bingo results; Redick's interesting injury report, meritocracy talk; Q&A
Anthony and Harrison look back on their predictions for media day and compare what they actually heard with their bingo cards. JJ Redick offered his first vague injury report of the year, so the guys have a little fun with that. They discuss Redick's meritocracy comments and explain why they think they're valid.
PART 1: Macro media day thoughts; Some fun with JJ's weird injury report
JJ Redick said two players were somewhat limited in the first day of training camp. Anthony makes a couple jokes about it and the guys do some digging to find out if the jokes were true.
PART 2: Media day bingo results (cont'd); Kevon Looney's potential value
Anthony continues rolling through his and Harrison's predictions for media day, this time regarding Kevon's Looney's role with the team and the reports they expect to hear about him from training camp. Anthony also offers up what he's heard about Allie Clifton's role with Spectrum this year.
PART 3: Do you believe JJ Redick when he talks about meritocratic minutes dispersal?
Here's the thing: There honestly isn't a such thing as a pure meritocracy at this point. So with that in mind, do you believe JJ Redick when he says minutes will go to those who earn them? Anthony makes the case for this specific team.
FULL: Lakers, NBA Media Days DELIVER
Anthony enjoyed what he heard from the Lakers at their media day. He laughed really hard at some of the other teams out there as well.
PART 1: Lakers Media Day continues Redick, Pelinka presser vibes
Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick sent a pretty clear message at their presser last week that the Lakers followed up with at media day Monday afternoon. Anthony breaks it all down and explains why it matters.
PART 2: Funniest moments from Lakers, NBA Media Days
Anthony explains what he'll be watching for in this first week of training camp, then runs through his favorite moments from the Lakers, Clippers and Sixers training camps. He wraps with a question from the live audience.
HOOK: Rob, JJ bring the vibes; preseason expectations; Austin/Luka as leaders; RIP LT; Q&A
Absolutely loaded episode from Anthony and Pete today, as the guys are staring directly at media day, training camp and preseason games. They take a quick look back at JJ Redick and Rob Pelinka's presser, discuss Luka and Austin as team leaders and discuss what they're hoping to see as camp gets started.
PART 1: Pete also noticed the significant vibes shift
Anthony tells a joke that Pete absolutely ejects from. Point is: Both guys noticed how much lighter the vibes were from Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick. They give their thoughts on why.
PART 2: How will Luka, Austin handle being leaders? Walker Kessler must step up
Anthony and Pete noted Lakers leadership pointing out how vocal Austin Reaves has been but also discussed how, defensively, the player who absolutely needs to fill the void will be Walker Kessler.
PART 3: Pete, Anthony completely disagree about Pelinka tempering expectations
Anthony walked away from Rob Pelinka's presser thinking he was tempering expectations. Pete thought he was welcoming them. The guys discuss either end of the spectrum, reality residing somewhere in the middle and their own definitions of success for this Lakers team. They also spend some time honoring Lawrence Tanter together.
FULL: Rob and JJ's presser focused on chemistry, vibes and moving on
The Lakers season unofficially kicked off with Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick holding their annual joint-presser. Anthony noticed some very different vibes and offered one potential explanation after LeBron James' departure. Redick was very open about his hopes for this group and the identity he's expecting. Anthony also spends a segment memorializing Lawrence Tanter following his passing and wraps with questions from the live audience.
PART 1: The vibes are noticeably (and notably) better
Anthony starts his press conference breakdown by discussing how different the vibes were for this one than in years past. He also tackles a couple of what he thought were the most noteworthy moments from Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick's time on stage.
PART 2: PR stuff doesn't matter, 'til it does; RIP Lawrence Tanter; Rob lowers the bar
Anthony wraps up his conversation on why vibes matter, then spends some time memorializing Lawrence Tanter, a true Lakers legend. From there, he answers questions from the live audience, one of which discussing Rob Pelinka very clearly backing off his "title or bust" mantra.
FULL: Lakers broadcast tweaks; JJ/Rob presser preview; Lonzo pseudo retirement; Q&A
You know we're nearing the season when out of nowhere an episode has this much stuff to talk about. Anthony starts by discussing the Lakers broadcast and how different it will sound next year. He then previews JJ Redick and Rob Pelinka's joint presser and some of the questions he's hoping they'll have to answer. Lonzo Ball made some news that Anthony broke down, too, then he wraps the episode with a Q&A.