Even as the Lakers are winning more games (7-3 over their last 10, 18-8 over their last 26), it's still a little tricky to figure out exactly what they are. How good are they? Are they more contender than pretender? What do you make of some of the big wins, like Milwaukee I and II, Minnesota, OKC, etc?

They're clearly much too good to be the genuinely mediocre/middish team they looked like they might be after the post-IST slump. Likely the Lakers finish 10-12 games over .500, which last year would have been enough for around a 4-seed in the West. Now? Likely ninth. But they're clearly not among the elite, either. Unless you're just thinking of results against the high end teams, in which case... they kind of are?

So much to sort out.

One big Q: Do the Lakers themselves- players and coaching staff- feel like they know? And more importantly, do they agree on the answer?

Meanwhile, the Lakers are getting nothing from their bench. Two points on Sunday, and not much more than that on most nights. How important is that, especially as we get closer to the playoffs, and a theoretical return for Jarred Vanderbilt, as well?

Finally, LeBron's greatness creates hard questions for Rob Pelinka now, and down the road.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, with Guest Aaron Larsuel!

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers are winning, but do we really know what they are?

SEGMENT 2: Is the bench really a problem?

SEGMENT 3: LeBron now, LeBron down the road...

Because the Lakers are fairly set heading into the 2023-24 season - the primary members of the rotation are more or less set, there are no big controversies, no huge position battles - fans are intensely curious about the one big thing that isn't yet settled:

Who's gonna start at small forward?

Darvin Ham, not surprisingly, hasn't yet committed to answering that question - they haven't even had three practices or played a preseason game - but different players are getting a chance to audition for that spot. Jarred Vanderbilt, Taurean Prince and Rui Hachimura will all get reps with the named starters (Russell, Reaves, James, Davis). Ham's decision will probably be less about who "wins", and rather which player makes the most sense with that group, and how the choice impacts the rest of the rotation. Which combinations in the second unit would make the most sense? Well, you can't always put those together as easily if one of those dudes is a starter.

The good news? Nobody in that crew is going to complain if they're not in the opening five. Hachimura has already made it clear he's much more concerned about finishing games than starting them.

Other things to watch: Anthony Davis.

His jumper has been receiving a fair amount of attention, with Reaves praising it on one of the many, many podcasts on which he's appeared. The perception is that Davis's outside game has fallen off over the last couple of seasons... but is that really the case? 3-point shooting, for sure, but is that the only thing that matters? Does it really matter anymore if Davis stretches a defense all the way past the arc? It seems like he's a lot less interested in that part of his game, based on shot attempts over the last few seasons.

Finally, Denver head coach Michael Malone said Wednesday that he's not paying attention to the Lakers, and hasn't heard what players have been saying about having a little extra interest and motivation to play his Nuggets following all the post-playoffs chatter this summer. From Denver. Mostly from Malone.

He was very complimentary towards the Lakers... but is he really being serious?

Just another reminder, whether talking about the Lakers or other teams, never ever expect the things they say to motivate their team, frame the challenge or anything similar to actually reflect reality. That's not how this works.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Who is going to start at small forward?

SEGMENT 2: What are the tradeoffs Ham is balancing?

SEGMENT 3: AD's jumper and Mike Malone's amnesia.

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The Lakers had a double overtime game in San Francisco, in which their primary players generally cracked the 40-minute barrier, or even significantly higher.

Anthony Davis aggravated the hip/groin thing that's been bugging him most of the year.

So it's no surprise the Lakers came out flat, especially defensively, in Monday's game against the Rockets. Stuff happens. Disappointing? Sure! But it happens. But while Lakers fans (understandably) focus on Darvin Ham's choices with the starting lineup, was Monday's game the dumbest he's coached this season?

Because in this game, where the Lakers were down by 30 five minutes into the third quarter, 39-year old LeBron James played deeeeeeeeep into the fourth. He played 37 minutes overall. And oh, the Lakers play tonight in Atlanta. All so the Lakers could cut the Houston lead to 10 with about four minutes to play... leaving them with a 2% chance of winning, according to ESPN's win tracker.

Coaching malpractice.

Will it cost the Lakers tonight in Atlanta? They'd better hope not, because at 24-24 and games against the Knicks and Celtics coming up, a loss in Atlanta would be problematic, to say the least.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers suffer a loss in Houston that was created by a season's worth of mediocre play.

SEGMENT 2: Was this Darvin's dumbest game of the year?

SEGMENT 3: Seriously, what was Darvin thinking?

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The Lakers have a big decision coming. They are, by most reports, the frontrunners to acquire Atlanta guard Dejounte Murray. The 27 year old is enjoying arguably his best season as a pro, averaging over 21 points a game, on 47.1% shooting and 39% from beyond the arc (both career highs).

Reputationally, at least, Murray is a solid defender. No question in his first few years in the league, he built a high end reputation on that side of the ball.

So would he improve the Lakers, should the rumored deal (D'Angelo Russell, a draft pick, and perhaps an addition like Jalen Hood-Schifino) go through?

We talked about it with Brad Rowland, host of Locked On Hawks. He's done the hard work of watching Atlanta basketball, and therefore has a front row seat into the Murray experience. What does he do well? How pure a point guard is he? Where do the points come from? Is the outside shooting a mirage, or something sustainable?

What about on the other end? Is his reputation as a defender still deserved? Where has he fallen off in Atlanta, and could it be restored playing higher leverage games with a team trying to compete?

The reasons for making a deal extend beyond this year's team. If the Lakers really like Murray and see him as a potentially foundational piece, acquiring him now makes sense. But would it be smarter to hold on to assets into the summer, when bigger trades might be had? You can only trade players/picks once, after all.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Scouting Dejounte Murray with Brad Rowland. Looking at his offense.

SEGMENT 2: What about the defense?

SEGMENT 3: Reaction. What is appealing, what not so much, about the prospect of a Murray trade?

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In the wake of Saturday's ultra-intense, ultra-exciting double OT win over Golden State in San Francisco, there was plenty to discuss. The superlative performances of LeBron James and Stephon Curry. The continued excellent play, including one of the most shockingly ballsy 3-pointers in recent history, from D'Angelo Russell.

And, of course, the incredible shot in the arm provided by Jarred Vanderbilt.

But most prominent among Lakers fans was probably the combinations in which all of those players were used. Darvin Ham finally seemed to lean into last year's post-deadline starting lineup. The one that helped propel the Lakers to a Western Conference Finals appearance, and that (until Thursday against Chicago ) had not, for all intents and purposes played together.

That changed Saturday, and the Lakers clearly benefitted from the change. On the season, in very limited minutes, that lineup of LeBron and Anthony Davis, plus Russell, Reaves and Jarred Vanderbilt, is a plus-30 net rating in 30 minutes on the court. Last year, this group was well above water, too. Would Ham change the starting lineup in the face of this success, and send Taurean Prince to the bench? Failing that, is he willing to start decreasing Prince's minutes in an effort to bump an obviously effective and very much in the groove Vando?

Meanwhile, D'Angelo Russell is making Rob Pelinka's job much more complicated.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Holy bleep, Saturday was a fun game.

SEGMENT 2: Has Darvin Ham finally discovered (rediscovered, really) his "lineup of death?"

SEGMENT 3: The Lakers have a hard choice to make about D'Angelo Russell, who continues to play well.

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The Lakers have been a very, very hard team to understand over the course of the season, and Thursday's 141-132 win over the Bulls at the Crypt, welcome as it is, only adds to the confusion.

A team with a reputation for lousy shooting went ballistic from beyond the arc, hitting 20 3's at an almost 62% clip. An offense that has been questionable shot over 60% from the floor. Every player who played more than 10 minutes hit double digits in scoring, save Christian Wood. Anthony Davis recovered from a slow start to finish with 22/11/6, LeBron James had 24/4/12 on an efficient 10-19.

But the big stories? D'Angelo Russell kept up his red hot play, hitting eight triples en route to a team-high 29 points. And Jarred Vanderbilt keyed a second quarter rally that put the Lakers ahead big, where they (mostly) stayed. His 17 points included some of his most confident and aggressive play this season.

Now the Lakers move on the road for six games, starting Saturday in San Francisco to play the Warriors.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, with Guest Jacob Rude

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers get a key win over Chicago.

SEGMENT 2: Heading out on the road. What do they need from this trip?

SEGMENT 3: LeBron's a starter, AD not.

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