LAKERS HAVE CHANCE TO LOCK UP #4 SEED

If we can split the Texas roadie 2-step and the San Antonio home 2-step, Lakers could end up with at least a 6-3 and maybe a 7-2 record for next 9 games.

That would leave Lakers at 27-16 or 62.8% win% after 43 games and lock for #4 seed at… https://t.co/EUuWDY3rbB

— LakerTom (@LakerTom) January 4, 2025

Lakers after 34 games last season: 17-17
Lakers after 34 games this season: 20-14

That’s 6 games over .500 compared to a .500 record last season. You’re more than welcome to RT @Underdog__NBA 🤝 https://t.co/rnLGXR5IAQ pic.twitter.com/L24wPyDA0v

— GoldenKnight (@GoldenKnightGFX) January 4, 2025

Lakers-Hawks Postgame Reaction:
— LA moves up to No. 4 in the West
— They're forging a true defensive identity
— LeBron passes MJ for most 30-point games all-time
— First look at the post-trade rotation
— AR improves in the second half
— Q&A

Watch: https://t.co/JVYGnp9q3U pic.twitter.com/kBBUkOGYzh

— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) January 4, 2025

LAKERS NEED TO TRADE FOR KESSLER

Kessler is starting center Lakers must trade for because his 2-year deal @ $2.9M/year enables Lakers to keep key bench players like Vincent, Vanderbilt, & Christie. Key to surrounding LBJ & AD is finding great players on inexpensive contracts. https://t.co/fbSoitC9BB

— LakerTom (@LakerTom) January 3, 2025

JJ Redick on Christian Koloko: "That was probably his best game of the season. Not just because he scored, his offensive rebounds were huge." #Lakeshow

— LoJo Media (@LoJoMedia) January 3, 2025

LAL is 2-1 in games without LeBron this season. Davis in those games:

29.7/12.3/3.3/3.4 on 63.7%

They're 3-1 in games Davis has missed/left early and been unable to return. LeBron in those games:

31.8/6.0/10.0/1.3 on 68.3% pic.twitter.com/zl2C2nqPxK

— ɴᴏᴛ (@georgemikan) January 3, 2025

Charles Barkley rips J.J. Reddick, calls Laker coach ‘dead man walking’ https://t.co/wSuiJzN63j

— LakerTom (@LakerTom) January 3, 2025

During Thursday’s edition of “Inside the NBA,” Barkley referenced recent comments Reddick made about national media criticizing the game and how that’s affected rankings.

Barkley pointed the finger back at Reddick. The Hall of Famer said that the media aren’t the ones with an underachieving team that’s shooting too many 3-pointers.

“He said something about, ‘We’re the reason people ain’t watching this crappy product we got.’ Yeah, us, like we’re up there jacking up 100 3’s a night,” Barkley said.

“J.J., you come for the king, you best not miss,” he continued. “I can get you brother. I got your Lakers games. You can’t hide them flaws they got. You’re just a dead man walking.”

The Lakers currently sit sixth in the Western Conference standings with a record of 19-14. However — perhaps due to the presence of LeBron James and perpetually high expectations in L.A. — Reddick has been criticized for his performance in his first season as a head coach.

Last month, Reddick called out the media for not doing a good job of “storytelling” or celebrating that game, suggesting that it drives fans away from watching.

“If I’m a casual fan and you tell me every time I turn on the television that the product sucks. Well, I’m not gonna watch the product,” Reddick said. “That’s really what has happened over the last 10-15 years. I don’t know why.”

The Lakers coach said that analysts and media shouldn’t hold back from critiquing the game. However, he argued that the only people who are celebrating it as well “have a small niche following on Twitter.”