Episode Details

At this time of year, you'll often hear players talk about how they don't pay attention to what's happening around them in the standings. We just focus on ourselves. We keep it tight, inside the building. We're controlling what we control. 

And, yeah, sure. Control what you control. That's always sound strategy. But the idea these guys don't pay attention to the standings? To how teams around them are doing? It is, and has always been, a crock of... well, you get it. 

The Lakers aren't playing that game. Following Monday's win against Houston, everyone in the locker room asked about the Western Conference standings made it very clear that they know what's going on. Why? Because it would be insane not to. The West is insanely competitive, and every possible advantage matters when it comes to maximizing the team's potential. Along those lines, the Lakers are still seeking the type of consistent performance you'd expect (at least on the surface) from an offense featuring Luka, LeBron and Austin Reaves. 

We're starting to get clues as to how that might change, thanks to LeBron's newly re-launched podcast, of all things. 

Talking to new host Steve Nash (former Laker!), the Hall of Fame point guard marveled at the acceptance of roles since Luka arrived, and the possibilities available to Lakers with LeBron starting so many possessions away from the ball. LeBron, Nash said, is screening. Running the short roll. Spacing. Cutting. All the stuff guys can do when they don't have the ball in their hands. Some examples of how LeBron responded: 

• "...it's a switch league, you know, but to be able to pick and slip or pick and hit the short roll, now what I do best is even more unlocked. So you're giving me a pocket pass, and now I'm playing the 4 on 3 game."
• "I'm playing the 4 on 3 game where I've gotten the ball from Luka in the pocket or AR in the pocket. Now I get to read and decide what these three defenders are going to guard. Me with the ball, two guys in the corner and a big in the dunker or small in the dunker.  I'm going to pick you apart, you know, instead of always having to be at the head of the play and now all eyes are on me..."
• "...(with) Luka's ability to manipulate a defense… If you put two on him and now when the ball is swung to me and I’m going against a closeout? …  To get eyes on someone else for a change and then I’m catching it on the backside?"

When the Lakers acquired Luka, more than a few voices who figured it wouldn't/couldn't work because LeBron and Luka wouldn't be work together. It would just be "your turn, my turn" because neither guy would take a step back. Of course, they were really talking about LeBron, essentially saying his ego wouldn't let him cede control of LA's offense to its new superstar. 

None of it made sense. He's been looking for someone to help carry this burden for a few seasons. It's part of why the Lakers traded for Russell Westbrook. (Just because it should have been really obvious that wasn't going to work doesn't mean the purpose was to make things easier for James.) This season, LeBron had already given up some responsibility to Reaves. If he was willing to do it for AR, why on earth wouldn't he make concessions for Luka Freaking Dončić? 

The path hasn't been smooth, and there will continue to be bumps along the way. But the ups and downs are because NBA basketball is really hard. Some nights things won't work the way you want. But broadly speaking, the Lakers are all pulling in the same direction, and more than that, LeBron seems to really enjoy this new style. He's not always drawing the best defender. He gets to attack closeouts, or cut because defenses aren't watching him. This is all stuff that has almost never happened over the course of his 22 years in the league. 

And because there's no power struggle, the Lakers are more likely to hit this season's ceiling... which still has the potential