Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

Say what you will about Darvin Ham, the man is an ambitious thinker.

Wednesday in El Segundo, Ham said the Lakers aren't simply focused on getting into the top 10 in the West, which would give them at least a seat at the postseason table (or the chance to get one, depending on whether you're a person who considers the play-in to be part of the playoffs). No, he's looking at a top 6 seed, that would get them into the big tournament outright, without having to win the qualifying games. With 3.5 games to make up on the Mavericks (currently occupying that spot) and six (6) teams in between, that is a big ask, and would require a tremendous amount of winning.

No harm in setting the bar high, though. Because the Lakers will need to win a lot just to reach the 10 spot. How many games? 15 seems like a safe number, meaning they can afford to lose eight times between now and the end of the season. If 15-8 doesn't get them in, what are you gonna do?

A prime opportunity to get things off on the right foot comes Thursday, at home against the Warriors who will be without Steph Curry and Andrew Wiggins. That's their best guy in Steph, and one of their most critical, especially on the defensive side, with Wiggins. LA can't afford to let this one get away.

And by the way, these games aren't just important for this season. It's also a test run for next year. Rob Pelinka has the option of bringing this group back more or less as they are - picking up options on Jarred Vanderbilt and Malik Beasley, re-signing D'Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura, inking Austin Reaves to a new deal, and so on - or pushing everyone out the door to either bring in a new supporting cast, or go big game hunting in the free agent market (which, basically, means trying to sign Kyrie Irving).

So how many wins shows reasonable proof of concept to the front office? Is it 14? 15? 16?

Finally, Andy speaks with Sam Pollard, director of Bill Russell: Legend currently on Netflix. If you're a fan of hoops (and you likely are, since you're here) or just a person interested in American history, it's a documentary worth your time.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: How many wins do the Lakers need to make the playoffs?

SEGMENT 2: How many wins would give the front office an incentive to run this crew back next season?

SEGMENT 3: Sam Pollard, director of Bill Russell: Legend, now on Netflix.

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