Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers - Update on Jarred Vanderbilt's Return, and are the Lakers Better off with Austin Reaves as a Sixth Man?

Update on Jarred Vanderbilt's Return, and are the Lakers Better off with Austin Reaves as a Sixth Man?

11/14/23 • 37 min

Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers have played with multiple lineups and juggled multiple players in and out of the lineup thanks to wide range of injuries. But one guy that's been missed, and has proven his value by his absence, is Jared Vanderbilt.

And good news! The Lakers said Monday that Vanderbilt's heel injury has healed to the point he can now resume basketball activities and ramp up to a return to game action. How long will that take? Nobody knows! The Lakers didn't say. But while fans surely would have loved a little more info, what the team did say certainly beats the alternative -- that he's still not able to do stuff.

So while it could be another week or so before Vanderbilt is available, it's not too early to think about the impact he'll have on the rotation once he's back.

For starters, he'll likely eat into some of the available minutes for Cam Reddish, who played excellent basketball in LA's consecutive victories over the weekend. (Reddish, by the way, was nominated for the Western Conference Player of the Week Award, as was Anthony Davis. He didn't win, but a nice nod nonetheless.)

What could his return mean for the backcourt rotation of Austin Reaves and D'Angelo Russell, who were a very, very successful combination last season, but have been deep underwater in net rating as a combo this season. Could Vando's return change that dynamic? Or is part of the problem that Dennis Schroder is in Toronto? Could Gabe Vincent's return make a difference, there?

Meanwhile, the Lakers have a critical game tonight against the Grizzlies at home, who have struggled mightily and are banged up in ways that make the Lakers look like a paragon of good health and continuity.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers get good news about Jared Vanderbilt.

SEGMENT 2: How Vanderbilt's return could impact the rotation. Plus, LeBron in context and a nice nod for Cam Reddish.

SEGMENT 3: A big game vs. Memphis.

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So while it could be another week or so before Vanderbilt is available, it's not too early to think about the impact he'll have on the rotation once he's back.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers get good news about Jared Vanderbilt.

SEGMENT 2: How Vanderbilt's return could impact the rotation. Plus, LeBron in context and a nice nod for Cam Reddish.

SEGMENT 3: A big game vs. Memphis.

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Previous Episode

Anthony Davis Leads Lakers to 116-110 win over Portland, LeBron Misses Game with Shin Injury

In many ways, Sunday's 116-110 win over Portland at the Crypt was reminiscent of stretches last year when the Lakers pushed their way up the Western Conference standings. No LeBron James? No worries. Anthony Davis (as it was last year when LeBron was hurt) stepped up in the biggest of ways. With James sidelined after banging shins with Kevin Durant on Friday—Darvin Ham says LBJ was definitely uncomfortable, but the Lakers were definitely being cautious and seemed unconcerned—Davis went for 30 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and three blocks, shooting 10-20 from the floor and hitting all of his second half free throws.

That's getting it done.

But he wasn't alone. Rui Hachimura, filling in for LeBron in the starting lineup, was great. Cam Reddish, who did nice work on both ends in Friday's win did the same on Sunday, scoring 18 points over 38 minutes of run. D'Angelo Russell had 11 dimes against only one turnover. Austin Reaves was strong, coming off the bench for a second straight game.

The Lakers didn't turn the ball over (nine on the night) and made their free throws (81%). In many ways, this was the formula for them last year. Winning, if inelegantly. And while the lineup remains this inconsistent, this is could very well be the formula for this year's team, too.

At 5-5, the Lakers aren't playing nearly well enough to make real noise in the West. But they also haven't hurt themselves, either. This weekend's wins have tilted the season back into a good place, moving them out of the danger zone with some winnable games (most notably vs. Memphis and then these Blazers again).

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: LeBron sits, and Anthony Davis steps up BIG to fill the void. Seems familiar...

SEGMENT 2: Cam Reddish, Rui Hachimura, and other big performers from Sunday's game.

SEGMENT 3: The Lakers have some winnable games coming up. Meanwhile, D'Angelo Russell is playing critical minutes, despite not shooting well.

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Next Episode

The Lakers Crush Memphis 134-107, Anthony Davis Stakes an Early Claim for Defensive Player of the Year

The Lakers couldn't have scripted Tuesday's game against a broken and battered Memphis Grizzlies squad, the front end of a back-to-back continuing tonight at the Crypt against the surging Sacramento Kings.

The Lakers won the first quarter by 11. They won the second quarter by 12.

Only a couple of days after winning a game despite making only four (4) 3-pointers—almost unheard of in the modern NBA—the Lakers tied a franchise record with 22 makes from downtown, drilling their triples at a 63% clip.

D'Angelo Russell, who has played well but shot poorly, was among those getting hot from beyond the arc. Jaxson Hayes had some quality minutes. Rui Hachimura barely missed a shot en route to 23 points. LeBron James only played 23 minutes. 23 minutes!

But for all the good stuff the Lakers did, the takeaway from Tuesday's laugher of a win was Anthony Davis. He hurt the Grizzlies on the offensive end (19 points, six assists in under 30 minutes) but absolutely laid waste to them on the defensive end. Six blocks, countless altered shots, and an endless well of intimidation. He held reigning DPOY Jaren Jackson Jr. to 3-16 from the floor.

AD has said he doesn't care about things like postseason awards and the like. He is also a lying liar who tells lies. Not because he wants a trophy, or feels the need for validation, but because it's easy to view the lack of love he's received of late in different forums rating the league's best defenders as an insult to the work he does on that side of the ball. Davis, it seems, has been insulted, and it's to the team's benefit.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers finally get an easy win, and the timing couldn't have been better.

SEGMENT 2: Anthony Davis just destroyed the Grizzlies, and made an early DPOY claim.

SEGMENT 3: Finally, some shooting! And looking ahead to tonight's game against Sacramento.

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