Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

Say what you want about the Lakers this season, about Darvin Ham's coaching, about Westbrook's efficiency, LeBron's 3-point shooting or anything else - they do not quit on games, even after a series of heartbreaking and often frustrating losses. Friday at home against Memphis, winners of 11 straight games, that resolve was on full display...

Trade season is starting to heat up, and while the Lakers aren't currently at the center of any big rumors (no, Cam Reddish chatter doesn't count), they're generally expected to do something in one form or another before the deadline. Because, if nothing else, they're the Lakers and under a ton of pressure to at least give the appearance of trying to provide LeBron James a fighting chance to compete...

Maximizing whatever opportunity the team has to improve won't be easy.

He put up numbers, for sure, but on Wednesday at least, LeBron looked pretty gassed...

The stat line wasn't bad by any stretch - 32 points, eight rebounds, nine assists, only one turnover - but for the first time in a while LeBron looked kinda mortal, and definitely seemed to be showing signs of wear from carrying the Lakers in the absence of Anthony Davis. Particularly down the stretch, the legs and movement weren't really there and the Lakers had no real Plan B...

The trade deadline is not all that far off, and at the least, Trade Chatter Season is well underway. Which is why it's so strange that a few recent reports about the current state of the market didn't just say the Lakers were, for the time being, quiet. They just kind of skipped the Lakers altogether. That's an unusual spot for LA to be, because the Lakers, if nothing else, are usually the team that sources around the league throw into conversations just to get the juices flowing...

On the on hand, he's elite. On the other, he's unreliable. But then again...

The Lakers needed every one of LeBron's 48 points Monday night. When does help arrive?

Watching LeBron James these days is, from a basketball standpoint, a blessing. Seeing any player, let alone a 38-year old, post the kind of numbers he has over the last month or so is genuine fun. You can't love watching the NBA and appreciate incredible athletic achievement without finding this run incredible. For Lakers fans, though, it's also a little uncomfortable...

All things considered, the Lakers played a pretty good game Sunday. LeBron James, who crossed the 38K threshold for career points, was excellent (35/8/10/1/1 on 15-24 shooting). Russell Westbrook was (for the most part) good until the last 14 seconds. (More on that in a minute.) The Lakers got contributions from Wenyen Gabriel, Troy Brown and more as they went toe-to-toe with one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference before losing 113-112...