Luka Dončić is on another planet. 60 points on a back-to-back. Another 20-point 4th quarter takeover. Lakers win 8th in a row, 11 of their last 12. And yes, that 41 old guy doing special things is awesome too. Full column about last night in Miami👇 digginbasketball.substack.com/p/luka-donci...

Luka Dončić is closing games like the best player in the world right now. 40/10/9, total clutch takeover mode, and another win in Houston. Plus a deep dive into a VERY special LeBron game 👇 digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-obs...

Reed Sheppard was the main target the Lakers hunted on Monday. Per tracking data they scored at very high rate of 1.55 points per chance in 11 actions when he was involved in pick actions vs Luka Dončić. Breakdown + thoughts for the Rockets rematch👇 digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-roc...

Knicks. Wolves. Nuggets. Rockets. For most of the year the Lakers couldn’t beat good teams. Now they’re doing it one after another. Lakers-Rockets observations👇 digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-obs...

Two games in Houston that could decide the race for the 3rd seed. Skill vs physicality and length. Half-court efficiency vs dominating the offensive glass. And a matchup that hopefully looks very different from the Christmas blowout👇 digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-pre...

Most crazy game of the year. Most important Lakers win (so far) of the season. Most fun game observations to write👇 digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-obs...

Big one tonight! Lakers vs Nuggets with major standings implications. A win gives the Lakers the season-series tiebreaker and some cushion in a packed West race. Another Luka vs Jokic chess match and a validation of the Lakers’ recent surge 👇 digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-pre...

"Probably not to talk to him." More on Matas Buzelis’ lesson after Dončić dropped 51/10/9. Plus, more data on Luka’s best shooting stretch in years. Ayton catching up with force and another 20/10 game...and LeBron’s return and the sacrifices needed👇 digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-obs...

Lakers had their second consecutive convincing win against a very good team...by going back to their early-season winning formula and hierarchy. My Lakers-Timberwolves observations👇 digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-obs...

Lakers-Timberwolves preview: the next in line of most important games 👇 digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-pre...

The Lakers finally make a stand against a top team! Defense, hustle, Luka’s aggression, a big Austin Reaves game and some interesting and fun lineup experiments without LeBron. Lakers-Knicks observations👇 digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-obs...

One of those Luka nights. 44 points in three quarters, 5 stocks, and the kind of takeover that reminds you why he’s one of the game’s great showmen. Plus: Lakers jump to the top as the best shooting team in the NBA, Kennard’s impact, and more👇 digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-obs...

Each game writes its own story, especially big ones like last night. In my observations I try to capture micro moments that decided it and macro trends that matter long term. 4 videos, 5 trend charts+key data points from the Lakers–Nuggets loss👇 digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-obs...

Big Lakers–Nuggets game tonight! I looked at why teams with elite creators and similar profile produce different results: Denver has NBA’s best offense, while the Lakers are 10th. What’s the key difference? Is there a lesson for the big summer ahead? digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-nug...

Marcus Smart says the toughest team sets the rules. In the 4th quarter against the Pelicans, the Lakers finally did. More on Smart’s impact and the Lakers winning their 3rd straight heading into a big test in Denver👇 digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-obs...

Pelicans preview is live. A real test before the real test against Denver. Pelicans are healthy (Zion said he'll return vs LA), and now a veteran team compared to a rookie-led one Lakers faced earlier in the season. digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-pre...

Even games against teams as bad as the Kings can reveal hidden gems. In the film. In the data. And sometimes looking at highlight plays going the other way. Lakers–Kings observations here👇 digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-obs...

Lakers-Warriors observations dispatched! More balance, better shooting, Kennard spark-plugging the blender, new rotations...and a MUCH needed Lakers win. Words, data, video...all here👇 digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-obs...

Lakers-Suns observations dispatched! In a battle of cohesion vs. disconnection, the former won. I wrote about how Lakers had one priority on the game plan and failed to execute + more here👇 digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-obs...

Lakers–Suns preview is live… for those still waiting on a Lakers response. digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-gam...

Lakers play like a team that knows that wont be together for long. They look worse after deadline because everyone realized that plan is to play it out. Everyone, LeBron, Luka, Austin, JJ, others...put in difficult situation,and taking the heat for it. Some deserved, most not.

Another disappointing Lakers game. I wrote about why the final play was a reflection of their recent offensive disconnect. Plus thoughts on Luka’s struggles and inconsistency, and other game observations👇 digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-obs...

Lakers–Magic preview is live. After getting humbled by Boston, this is about response. Against another young, athletic team with size...but more in Lakers' weight class and potentially without 2 of their best players👇 digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-pre...

Lakers–Celtics observations are live. Instead of a statement win, another statement loss. System over star power. Shotmaking collapse. Luka’s polarizing defense. Low-floor nights from Ayton & Smart 👇 digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-obs...

Lakers–Celtics preview is live. If the Lakers want a statement win, this is the night. Full deep-dive...including a detailed look at how the freaking Celtics are still this good, sitting top three in point differential even without Tatum. digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-pre...

Lakers–Clippers observations dispatched! Win that raised more doubts than praise…or are we taking things for granted? Luka’s strong return+dominant clutch effort. Great stay patient games by Reaves & Smart. First look at new shooting-heavy rotations👇 digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-obs...

I'll have more in my game observations later today...but despite up & down moments the Lakers scored 128 per 100 against a very good Clippers defense that put clamps on three Western Conference contenders in prior 4 games.

Lakers basketball is back! I got stuck at Oslo airport because of snow… so you get an extensive Lakers–Clippers preview. How does a fully healthy Lakers starting 5 & rotation look? Why the new-look Clippers are so dangerous+ where the weaknesses are👇 digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-pre...

Lakers keep telling us they’re all about the future. So should the second half be a testing ground? If so what should they be testing? My case for more aggressive staggering of Luka & LeBron’s minutes and why it could help both the short & long term 👇 digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-lin...

My thoughts from Lakers–Spurs observations, watching the four most recent additions to the roster...Kobe Bufkin, Luke Kennard, Drew Timme and Nick Smith Jr.👇 digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-obs...

Lakers–Thunder observations dispatched! Opportunity missed. A heavy dose of Marcus Smart. Austin Reaves vs a physical defense. LeBron bully ball as the pressure point. digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-obs...

From my 50-game check earlier today...data about how heavily the Lakers are leaning into zone defense. Over last 11 games they lead NBA by a wide margin at 16.8 zone possessions per game according to tracking data. For context, the Heat rank second at 7.3 zone possessions 👇

🚨50-game check deep dive alert🚨 Lakers are trending the right way but the big question remains: is the defensive improvement real? Big rotation changes, more size, zone, fast break transformation, and what happens when all three stars are healthy 👇 digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-50-...

In my game notes I wrote about Luke Kennard's 0.5 decision making & passing as an overlooked missing piece that other Lakers shooters Hachimura, Vincent, and Knecht have lacked👇

Ugly win. Useful clues. Revived defense without a traditional center, with Vando and Maxi thriving. A first look at Luke Kennard. And Rob Pelinka offering hints about what’s changing behind the scenes 👇 digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-obs...

Last 10 games Lakers are 7-3, rank 6th on offense and 11th on defense. Tied with Spurs for best record in the West with other contenders struggling: OKC 5-5, DEN 4-6, HOU 6-4, MIN 5-5. We'll see how many game Luka will miss with important games coming up before all-star break.

The Lakers trade deadline wasn’t just about what they did or didn’t do. It was about how to build, big bang vs. incremental, waiting vs. adapting, new vs old NBA. This column is free. If it resonates, a share or a subscribe goes a long way 👇 digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-tra...

The Lakers trade deadline wasn’t just about what they did or didn’t do. It was about how to build, big bang vs. incremental, waiting vs. adapting, new vs old NBA. This column is free. If it resonates, a share or a subscribe goes a long way 👇 digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-tra...

If the Lakers stay put with their first round pick...two guys I would love to see them try to get with in a smaller deal are Rob Williams and Jose Alvarado. Williams will be a FA in the summer, Alvarado has a player option.

The Lakers trade deadline feels like it’s on pause. Everyone is waiting on Giannis. Well, not everyone...a LOT did happen yesterday. My column trying to process the trades, how it matters for the Lakers and what's next👇 digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-tra...

Everyone wants the Lakers to put the first-round pick on the table and make a move now. The real question is: who can you actually get? The list is shorter than you might think. The usual suspects are there, plus a few left-field surprises 👇 digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-tra...

For those who don’t know my game observations yet, today’s Lakers–Knicks notes are free, no paywall. I try to go beyond the game itself with these, digging into bigger trends and team-building, especially now with the trade deadline looming 👇 digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-obs...

Lakers trade deadline talk is centered around wings. But I think it has to start in the middle. A deep dive on why the center position is the key building block of the Luka-era Lakers, now and going forward. Yes, there are names in there 👇 digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-tra...

Good morning! digginbasketball.substack.com/p/good-morni...

Most lob dunks this season: 1. Lakers 104 2. Spurs 82 3. Blazers. 75 Lakers had 8 last night against the Wizards, most of any team in one game this season. Lob city is in LA 2.0👇

Good morning! digginbasketball.substack.com/p/good-morni...

16/7/7 in first quarter 26/11/10 first triple double in Lakers history at halftime 37/31/11 in three quarters Bad Luka

As much as losses have been frustrating...I dont see a coach on a team with the record Lakers have, dealing with a roster situation JJ has been. 8 players with contract situations in the summer. Including 2 of top 3. LeBron/clutch situation, Austin, Ayton, transition year...

Lakers–Cavs observations dispatched. LeBron’s emotional night. Luka’s awkward fall. And a team with no juice, playing its 13th game in 23 days, without enough high-energy players to overcome nights when things aren’t going their way👇 digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-obs...