Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers - Luka Dončić, Rui Hachimura Won't Play Vs. Phoenix, Austin Reaves Questionable

Starting point is 00:00:00 No Luca Donchich, no Rui Hachemura, Tuesday night in Phoenix. What can the Lakers do short-handed to pull off a big win? That's next. You are Locked-on Lakers. Your daily Los Angeles Lakers podcast, part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. Thanks to everybody for making Locked on Lakers. Your first listen of every day.

Starting point is 00:00:31 I'm Brian Komenetsky. It's Andy Kemenisky. We have covered the Lakers free. but darn near 20 years, Andy, with the LA Times and ESPN and the athletic, ESPN radio, and all over the darn place. And we are excited that you are helping make the Lockdown Podcast Network, the number one sports podcast network in this or any other known universe, whether you're getting the show, Spotify, Apple, iTunes,

Starting point is 00:00:56 maybe you're one of the 37,000 plus who subscribe on YouTube to the YouTube channel, maybe even watching live as we record this show. We appreciate it. And we are excited that Tuesday night, Andy, it's a big game. It's going to be a tricky one, though, because we finally got that health report that we were hoping to get Sunday into Monday, it came Monday and Tuesday.

Starting point is 00:01:25 The Lakers will get some reinforcements, but Luca Donchich will not play. and Rui Hachamura will not play. So they're starting without two starters. Yeah, and for that matter, Gabe Vinson, who we knew was not going to be available. He's not going to be there as well. D'Andre Aiton, who it sounded like was going to be available.

Starting point is 00:01:49 J.J. Reddick had said that he didn't think he was even on the injury report. At this point, it turns out absolutely is not. The new report came out. DeAndre Aiton was not among those listed. but Austin Reeves is questionable, which I will say is at least a step in the right direction. And it feels like it is possible he could play, not just because he's questionable,

Starting point is 00:02:18 but simply this has not been from everything I've seen or heard, thought about it as a particularly serious injury. It's felt like it's been as much about caution and the league-wide fear of calf strains than really serious damage being done to Austin's body. And we are, I believe now, past the weak re-diagnosis period that Austin was, the timeline the Lakers originally gave. So I would not be surprised if Austin played.

Starting point is 00:02:51 I wouldn't necessarily be surprised if he didn't. But the idea that I would be not surprised if he did, play, I think that actually is more important. It's always, I think, more significant when you at least have some degree of optimism that a guy will play. And, you know, obviously that points to, you know, a stronger possibility even than he plays on Christmas at home against the Rockets. But, you know, Tuesday's game is a big one. You know, Phoenix currently occupies the seventh spot in the Western Conference, everydayers have heard me say, like, step one for me this season in terms of step by step goals in terms of positioning yourself in the Western Conference is put

Starting point is 00:03:42 real distance between yourself and the play. And the Lakers are doing that. But, you know, Phoenix, again, they occupy that spot. The Lakers win this game. They put five and a half games between themselves and the sons. And just as importantly, two or three teams, at least. that Phoenix, you know, they'd have to slide past to drop into that place. So, you know, this is an important game for the standings.

Starting point is 00:04:10 But I tell you what, the difference between Austin Reeves and not Austin Reeves in a game like this when Luca doesn't play, the swing here is incredible because Austin didn't play when these teams met last week. Lakers built a big lead, watched it get away. If they have to go into it. I mean, there was a lot of waves, arms going around in that game. I mean, there was so much insanity. I don't even know what percentage of the, what the hell just happened?

Starting point is 00:04:44 How do we explain it, Pye, can even be directly related to Austin? That game was weird as well. Oh, no. But my point is Luca played in that game. And so you have, you know, ball hand or gay by, don't believe did, but Luca did. And, you know, you have then the requisite ball handling in there. If you go into this game, you've basically got LeBron as your primary ball handler,

Starting point is 00:05:13 Marcus Smart as your secondary ball handler and not a whole lot behind it. Sure. Having Reeves there as somebody who can not only help it, you know, handle the ball, run the offense, but also provide the ability to get into the intent. interior of Phoenix's defense, it's going to make a big difference in how efficiently the Lakers can operate. Yeah, absolutely. I'm not trying to downplay Austin's importance for this game potentially. I just mean more as a reminder for those who have already forgotten that game a few games ago. It was weird as bleep. And there was a whole lot of stuff going on.

Starting point is 00:05:50 And I mean, among the interesting side plots for this game or storylines, we'll just be how much does Dylan Brooks want to make this the LeBron v. Dylan show part three? Because this feud is mutual in the sense that I think LeBron dislikes Dylan Brooks, as much as Dylan Brooks has for whatever reason decided he dislikes LeBron. Where it is one side it is, LeBron would just play this game. Dylan Brooks is clearly interested in making the sideshow the main act, if at all possible. This is very much one-sided in how much it becomes a thing, game after game, going back to Memphis. So it'll be interesting to see how much that resurfaces in this game,

Starting point is 00:06:49 how much it actually affects the way the game is played, the way the game is called. hauled if Dylan Brooks gets himself into foul trouble again, which would be doing the Lakers a huge favor, at least in terms of the defensive compromises that it would put Phoenix in. Well, for sure. And like, I mean, but again, the availability of Austin Reeves is a big part of how, you know, how focused is Dylan Brooks? Can Dylan Brooks be exclusively on LeBron? Well, if Austin doesn't play. And you know, Luca isn't playing. The answer to that question is very. You have much more variety in your offense of Austin's available, and that's going to take away some of Brooks's attention off of LeBron. It is worth noting that Brooks expressed a great deal of contrition

Starting point is 00:07:45 for the position he put his team in, not for like going after LeBron or whatever, but because he put his team in a really bad spot in this game. And essentially, you could certainly argue, it costs them a chance to win. And so who would argue against it? I don't know. Some people, it's not one play, never made. Like, it's a long game, you know, whatever. He screwed up bad.

Starting point is 00:08:08 And, you know, so if he kept his mind for 12 seconds, there's a really good chance Phoenix won that game. It's certainly higher. And so, like, that I wonder if that impacts at all. his aggressives. Obviously the referees will be looking for it. Does he come out with that sort of, you know, kind of mugging posture of obviously sort of trying to pick a fight? Yeah, LeBron got, the one thing that set off LeBron,

Starting point is 00:08:37 really set him off in that game, was when Brooks, the referee, I guess, looked at it with the idea of, you know, you can't prove that he was trying to swat the ball at LeBron as it was kind of, you know, above the rim and, you know, after the whistle blew near the Lakers basket. But it looked pretty clear to everyone who was watching and knows a thing about Dylan Brooks, especially his relationship with LeBron, that he was swatting a basketball after the whistle at LeBron's head.

Starting point is 00:09:11 And so that kind of thing did, you know, get LeBron going a little bit. It's that, that's going to be the, subplot here. But I really am interested to see, like, you know, DeAndre Aitn, being back in this lineup, we can talk about him a little bit more in the next segment. It is going to be, I think, huge. In a game where Luca doesn't play, in a game where you do not have Rui, who's certainly their most accomplished and efficient outside shooter, you need the ability to generate points inside efficiently. And that can come at the elbow, that can come at the bucket.

Starting point is 00:09:54 Just, you know, that outlet as a real pick and roll partner with a variety of offensive options, it's something that Jackson Hayes just can't provide. He's kind of got the one, you know, crash hard to the rim, that kind of thing. Ait, I think, will have a few other ways that he could affect this game in ways the Lakers will need. And then, you know, this is kind of a,

Starting point is 00:10:19 a potential statement game for him as well. So lots to come on DeAndre Aden next. Locked on Lakers is brought to you by Fandul. NFL Sundays move fast. One big play, suddenly everything feels different. That's what makes live betting with Fandual exciting. You're not just watching a game. You are reacting to it in real time.

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Starting point is 00:11:20 So can you. Jump back into DeAndre Aden here in a moment. Do you want to let people know about the Everydayer Club? We get your emails, folks. We know what the complaints are. A lot of you would prefer to experience Locked on Lakers as an ad-free show. And that is something that you can do with the Everyday Air Club. If you haven't checked it out, you can go to the show notes.

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Starting point is 00:12:40 So if you're interested, check it out. We appreciate it. And if you're not, it's fine. Show stays the same. Never going to charge it. Rebounding, things like that. We can get into with Aiton about, how he impacts, like literally impacts the game. The other thing that I think is significant is I have taken a real interest in games like this,

Starting point is 00:13:06 which are, I kind of call him like, you know, we need you games. Like they signed Aiton with the idea that on most nights, he's going to be, you know, behind Luca, behind LeBron, behind Austin in the pecking order, kind of keep your head down, convert your opportunities when they come, but we're not relying on you to be

Starting point is 00:13:27 like a focal point for this team. That changes when guys aren't in the lineup. Luke is not there. If Luca and Austin aren't there, then this really is a, we need you to be a focal point. We need you to be aggressive offensively. Probably you're going to need, you know,

Starting point is 00:13:43 18 to 25 points at least from 8 if they're going to win this game, especially if Reeves doesn't play. I think these are really fun tests to see kind of what DeAndre is capable of doing with this team. Well, it's also a game that you would think beyond the test of it all and the necessity of it all. It's a game that he's going to want to perform well in because Phoenix is the team that famously drafted him first overall, same draft class as Luca, and by multiple reports told him

Starting point is 00:14:22 that if he did all the proverbial little things and focused on defense and didn't worry as much about your scoring and stuff like that, you would be rewarded. He did all that stuff. It was a big reason the Sons went to the finals in 2021. And then Phoenix turned around and told, well, you know, if you can get a big offer,

Starting point is 00:14:41 we'll match it. But, you know, we're not going to go anything beyond that. We're not going to proactively pay you. and that led to him eventually getting traded to Portland and the relationship ending. And in a lot of ways, the reputation that Dianne Eton fairly, unfairly, a little bit of both still deals with. But we do know he has said it bothers him.

Starting point is 00:15:03 He doesn't like being seen as a not winning player. He's done all the things that have been needed of him in L.A. And I think he's really gone about it for the right reasons. But I would also like to think that it gives him, a little extra umph in this a little extra motivation in this game particularly in Phoenix sort of the proverbial scene of the crime

Starting point is 00:15:24 so I mean I'm sure you're right I mean that never really goes away it's I find that I see that as a like a nice coincidence for the Lakers on a night where he needs to come through and like they yes the Lakers

Starting point is 00:15:41 did you know they and will need to do damage on the glass. They're going to need to be able to generate second shots. You know, second shot opportunities. Jake Laramia was a monster on the glass the other night. Obviously, Aiton can be very capable of that had some great rebounding moments against Phoenix last week. I'm just thinking, like, from a shot generation standpoint, his, you know, I mentioned the efficiency in the,

Starting point is 00:16:15 in the in the in the in the first segment his ability to really be a a pick and roll partner the other half of that shot generation for the lakers i really do believe is going to have to come from second chance points and uh and then on the other end the ability to get out on the break and run when it's available you need to get the rebound to do that well guess which team happens to be the worst in the league on the defensive glass phoenix they are the worst they are one of the worst rebounding teams period but they are on in the league in particular bad on the defensive glass. Aiton had six offensive rebounds in the last game against Phoenix. Jake LaRavia has been an offensive rebounding tear. Jared Vanderbilt has been on offensive rebounding tear. These things are going to be really important for the Lakers. The Sons aren't necessarily one of the worst teams in the league at surrendering second chance points, but just as many possessions and as many opportunities that the Lakers can give themselves

Starting point is 00:17:15 chances to make this happen or just minimize the amount of possessions Phoenix gets because they're a team that often gets by on just the sheer amount of possessions they can generate. They're helping themselves along those lines. So I agree the glass is going to be really big in this game, having Aitinback for that reason alone. Again, combined with what Vando and Jake have been doing over the last several games, I think is going to be really, really important. I wonder, I'm at least for the moment,

Starting point is 00:17:49 presumed me, kind of approaching this with the idea that Austin doesn't play. Okay. Because he hasn't played yet. And, you know, since the injury and until he's back on the floor, love that he's moving in the right direction, certainly seems like he will at the least play on Thursday. But until we get the sign off that he is playing, sort of approaching it with the idea that he's not,

Starting point is 00:18:10 they can win against the suns. I think because some of these deficiencies line up in ways the Lakers actually kind of can take advantage of what Phoenix does. The sons are good. They're not great. We've talked about Aiton back. You know, the Lakers have the ability to, I think, punish the sons more on the on the glass and maybe they could other teams.

Starting point is 00:18:43 But you still got to figure out, like, who is going to be able to generate shots? Like, the sons do get after you. Like, they have a lot of guys, physical wings, and, you know, Ryan Dunn is a good defender. And, you know, Brooks is obviously a good defender. And, you know, they've got Royce O'Neill. They've got just got guys who can kind of get out there and do it. And if the Lakers aren't going to, they're not going to have a lot of guys who can create their own shot. So I am wondering where the offense comes from. Who is, if, if, if it's LeBron and

Starting point is 00:19:17 Aiden, who is the and in this game? It's going to have to start with maybe making more three pointers than they did the other night against the clippers. It's almost impossible. It's almost impossible not to. That's true. Honestly. You're not going to win, you know, this is a game where they're probably going to need to shoot 35, 36 percent from three point range. to give themselves a really good chance to win. I'll tell you, as much as you are correct, they're going to have to shoot better than they did against the clippers if they want to win this game.

Starting point is 00:19:47 I'm actually more concerned about preventing turnovers because Phoenix is the best team in the league with steals. They're second in the league for opponent turnover, second in the league for points off turnovers. So they have to be super careful with the ball. It's a point of emphasis for the Lakers anyway, but we know they can get loose with the ball. over the last five games, though, other than that, again, completely everything went sideways

Starting point is 00:20:16 game against Phoenix, where LeBron had eight turnovers, six of which, though, were in the first half. Like it was a very front-loaded turnover performance for LeBron. Over the last five games, he's actually been very good taking care of the ball. He has not had more than three turnovers in any of those games and only two and two of them. And then he had a second half against Phoenix, where he has not. he only turned the ball over twice. So LeBron is just playing Right. Significantly better over.

Starting point is 00:20:45 Like you don't have to, you get deep into it. Yeah, well, we can answer on the other side too and we'll get into some of this Austin Reeves chatter as well about the All-Star, JJ Redick talking about him again the All-Star game. But just broadly speaking, are you feeling better about LeBron than you had been? Like, you know, avoiding injuries

Starting point is 00:21:05 and all that kind of stuff. But like the basic like, okay, he looks like he can produce he looks he definitely looks better lebron absolutely looks better i have concerns just about how much his body can handle simply because this is uncharted territory and i think it's polyana just to assume he can do it because he's lebron but if you're asking me has he looked better has he performed better has he looked more comfortable the answers yes yeah there was like there was a worry and it was legitimate like that oh like he like this maybe like he just look so uncomfortable in those first few games that it was reasonable to think.

Starting point is 00:21:42 Like, okay, maybe like it is possible he doesn't reach something approximating last year's level. He's looked very good the last handful of games. So I find that very encouraging. I was like, oh, with a little bit of time that he would get there. It's actually happened a little quicker than I thought, than I was even thinking it would. But let's talk about Austin Reeves and that All-Star candidacy, which was boosted by his coach on Monday. That's next. Locked-on Lakers is brought to you by Robin Hood.

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Starting point is 00:23:00 Get started today at robin hood.com slash your money. Again, that's robin hood.com slash your money, your money, move. Real quick before we get to JJ and Austin, it's worth noting as far as another strategy to try to go beat Phoenix. We talked about how they are really good at generating turnovers, really good at generating points off turnovers, and the Lakers are going to have to take care of the ball. They are also very susceptible to the exact same thing. They are one of the worst teams in the league at turning the ball over. They're actually worse than the Lakers. They even give up more points off turnovers in the Lakers, not many more. because it's kind of impossible to give up a lot more than the Lakers do.

Starting point is 00:23:45 They're both near the top of this, but the point being, Phoenix can be gotten that way. And it often feels like the Lakers need incentivizing to play disruptive, focused, energetic defense for, I don't know, a crazy idea, four quarters, like from the start of a game to the end of a game, this is a real incentive, not that it should be necessary, but to look to do that because you might create a foundation for a game where you get Phoenix out of their stuff,

Starting point is 00:24:20 or at the very least, get them off to a slower start. Every bit of that could help in a game where you're going to be battling on the road shorthand. Well, I mean, I'll say this too. This is the type of lineup the Lakers are going to be putting out that actually lends itself to the type of defensive. energy and stuff that you're talking about. Even if Austin plays, you're still down Luca, you're still down Vincent,

Starting point is 00:24:43 you're still down Rui, obviously. You know, that has over the course of this season tended to focus the Lakers. When they are short-handed, they do get a little bit more consistency, a little more effort on that side of the ball, because you know if we're going to win this game, this is going to be a big part of it. We're not going to shoot our way and score our way short two of our, you know, upper end offensive players, including the best one in Luca. Also, Andy, do want to say quickly that today's episode remind people it is brought to you by

Starting point is 00:25:18 Fandle before tip off, check the Fandual app and see what's dropping during NBA happy hour every Friday from 6 to 730 Eastern Time. So I have a riddle for you, Andy. What do you call somebody who averages 27.8 points, 5.6. rebounds, 6.7 assists, averaging on 50% shooting and 37% from three-point range. What do you tend to call that person? Austin Reeves All-Star? How does you say All-Star?

Starting point is 00:25:52 All-Star is an acceptable answer to that riddle. I was answering in the character of JJ Reddick. Right. If any player that has those types of numbers through 21 games played, is going to be considered an all-star. Those are all-star numbers. Whether people are used to putting that next to Austin Reeves or not is not my problem. Those are numbers of an NBA All-Star, and certainly JJ Redick agrees.

Starting point is 00:26:27 Yeah, to put this in a little bit more perspective, he is ninth in the league. Austin, he's tied for ninth with Lori Markinen. this should be noted while playing alongside Luca Donchich, who happens to be leading the league in scoring. So it's impressive to be ninth under any circumstances in any context. It's even more impressive when you actually happen to be playing with the guy who's leading the league in scoring. Austin is 12th in the league for assists. That's another tie, I believe, with Jamal Murray. And he's fourth in the league for free throw attempts.

Starting point is 00:27:04 So these are all things that further make that case for his All-Star candidacy. J.J. Reddick talked about during Monday's practice that he thinks Austin absolutely should be an all-star quote. I imagine it would mean a lot, a whole lot to him. He and I had discussions just about how surreal it is for him to be playing at this level and in this position. I obviously absolutely think he should be an all-star this year. You always got to be careful as an athlete to stop and smell the roses. it's the nature of competition. When there's 82 games, there's not a lot of time to take your foot off the gas.

Starting point is 00:27:37 That's the offseason. I think he's the type of player who consistently wants to get better, consistently wants more. He's willing to put in the work. He's then willing to go out there and play hard enough to actually go for more. He's proven that over and over and over again. Then he noted our first conversation when I took the job was, you're going to be an all-star. I'm not like going to every player and saying that.

Starting point is 00:28:00 I actually said it because I believe it. Yeah, I thought that part at the end was funny when he's like, you know, like there's like this pause. If you happen to see the clip on you, you can find it on your preferred social media channels, including at Cambrothers on Twitter because we retweeted it. That's right. There's like a pause after he says that. And like he's like, well, I do feel like I should tell you. I don't tell that to everybody.

Starting point is 00:28:29 He hasn't walked up to Jackson Hayes this year and said, you're going to be an All-Star. Like, we're going to turn you. He actually didn't say it to Luca. We'll see. He only said it to Austin. Rabbit, Rabbit, we don't need to get down right this moment because we're talking about Austin.

Starting point is 00:28:47 But do you, assuming he is not, let's just say he's not voted in, which probably is unlikely. Is LeBron an All-Star? Unlikely that he will get. No. He will almost certainly get voted in because he's LeBron James. But let's say he didn't.

Starting point is 00:29:05 Is he on the team? If he didn't get fan voted in, I'm guessing he won't. Just because he would be seen as having not played enough games, I think he will get fan voted in. And I'm perfectly fine with him getting fan voted in because that's the point of giving the fans a vote. The fans are saying we want LeBron in this game. And if that's what they want, he should be in the game.

Starting point is 00:29:29 there's probably a part of LeBron. I'm sure he's torn between wanting, you know, the historic significance of making yet another All-Star team at his age and also at his age wanting to spend the weekend doing nothing having to do with the All-Star weekend. Well, he did say about like the Christmas Day game. It's like it's an honor and like you're, it's an honor to play in this game and blah, blah, blah. I'd just as soon spend the day with my family. He has, LeBron hasn't had a Christmas at home.

Starting point is 00:29:59 Like 20 years. Yeah. So, like, I'm sure he'd appreciate it. But I was just thinking about that because I suspect the league really hopes that he gets voted in because I don't think they wouldn't have to make the choice of keeping LeBron out of the game. Presumably, if he keeps, like, playing well, too. And it just becomes to like, did he play enough? If he keeps playing well.

Starting point is 00:30:23 I mean, here, I will say this. And now that I think about it, these are. But let's assume LeBron only misses one, maybe two more games between now and when, whenever All-Star voting ends, which, what is that? Like, end of January, beginning of February. January, something like that. I mean, by that point, LeBron will have played 20-ish games, which is, I guess that's enough that if he, I agree with you, unlikely event doesn't get fan voted in, I guess you could feel like he would get. at least have merit consideration. If his next amount of games between now and whenever the cutoff period ends

Starting point is 00:31:07 maintain at his current level, then I think there could be a discussion for him being in there. But again, it's kind of a moot point. He's going to get fan voted in. And again, I'm cool with that. So back to Austin then. Yeah, it was just something that occurred to me like, huh, wouldn't that be weird? back to Austin

Starting point is 00:31:27 there's no doubt in your mind that he's earned like I haven't gotten into like who should be on who would be on who won't be the Lakers under this scenario almost certainly have three all stars but the record is good enough to support it like you know they're a top four team right now in the West it's good enough it's a pretty low seed for three all stars

Starting point is 00:31:51 I don't care but it's a pretty low seat I'll put it this way. The fact that they would have three all-stars, one of whom is voted in, and Luca's an obvious no-brainer, the fact that, let's say they're a four-seed, and that's unusual to be a four-seed with three all-stars, that should not be a reason to leave Austin off the all-star team.

Starting point is 00:32:15 But all I'm saying is like, the team quality, which is always sort of an issue that people get hung up on for these things, the team quality is high enough that you can at least be like, okay, well, like, they're not like hanging around 500 is my point.

Starting point is 00:32:29 No, but it would be on the low end of good enough. I'm fine, it's on the low end, but it's, it's, it's, they're a good team.

Starting point is 00:32:37 And I just, I don't, without having done the exhaustive player comparison at this point and where does Austin rank among other, you know, gars, this, that,

Starting point is 00:32:47 whatever, I just, those numbers are so, clearly all-star caliber. And then you start to factor in some of the things that he's done to carry the team in games that LeBron missed, in games that LeBron

Starting point is 00:33:06 and Luca missed. And some of these 40-point games that he's put up, like he really has ascended to that level where he belongs and deserves and has earned a spot on the team, whether he gets it, I don't know. There are always people who are going to get it.

Starting point is 00:33:23 I would. I think so. I'd be honestly pretty shocked if he didn't get it. Like last I checked NBA.com, you know, they do their MVP ladder, you know, as far as like ranking one through 10 and then five other guys who is, you know, who's leading right now the consensus for MVP, at least in NBA.com's eyes. Okay, I'm pulling it up right now in real time. Austin is in the five more section, and he's been in the top 10 at various points of this season.

Starting point is 00:33:57 If you're considered a dark horse or next man up still receiving votes MVP candidate, like in the top 15 in the league, you're an all-star. I would think so. I just, it is, these are hard teams to make. There are a lot of people who have a lot of different fixes and a lot of stuff for how to make the league better and this. One of the first things I would do is add two spots

Starting point is 00:34:24 to each All-Star team, two or three. The rosters are too small. You know, I don't know why an All-Star roster should be smaller than an actual NBA roster. Maybe they're worried guys won't play. You know, they'll get out there and they won't be enough minutes to go around, but the game is already, you know, maybe these new formats that all they're doing, you know,

Starting point is 00:34:46 dividing U.S. versus the world pick up games, all these. It's a perfect opportunity to add two more spots in each conference because you're already messing with the format anyway. Might as well at least make it productive. This new format, by the way,

Starting point is 00:35:02 I'm going to go out on a limb. Not going to satisfy anybody, but at least it'll be confusing as bleep. Yeah, I don't understand it. But that's just fine. I just, whatever it is, whether it's good or bad, I just hope they do it for at least three years.

Starting point is 00:35:18 They won't. I'm not even 100% convinced they'll finish out this format during the game. Like it wouldn't shock me if halfway through the game, they change the format again. Yeah, it would be something. I, it's, I, oh, the hand ring. We'll get, we'll get more into this as we get closer to the All-Star game. I'm not looking forward to it. I hate this conversation, but it is one we inevitably have to have.

Starting point is 00:35:44 It's the nature of the job. Lockdown Lakers on YouTube is. where you can go hang out with over 37,000 subscribers to the channel. We, of course, want to remind you about the Everyday Air Club. Check out the show notes to do that. You can get the show ad-free, if that is your cup of tea. And we'll be back after the game Tuesday. Everyone, a good day.

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