Lakers vs. Suns is probably the marquee game of the In Season Tournament quarterfinals, with both teams looking to punch their tickets to Las Vegas.
At the beginning of the season, the idea that any of that would be meaningful, from a big time game in the tourney quarterfinals, to two teams with Larry O’Brien type championship aspirations would care about advancing seemed naive. But now? It’s exactly what’s happening, because the level of interest and enthusiasm for this inaugural event has been higher than likely the League itself could have hoped.
Players care. Fans, especially judging by the crowds in Indiana and Sacramento on Monday, care. It’s most definitely a thing, at this point.
And as Rui Hachimura said at Monday’s practice, the Lakers want to win, get to Vegas and “get the whole bag.” So why did so many people, even those (like your hosts) who weren’t anti-tournament, but figured it would take some time before catching on, underestimate the way it has played out? Well, first we forgot how absurdly competitive these guys are. NBA players hate losing at anything, period. Second, we underestimated how much already rich guys would care about $500,000. Turns out like most normal people, they still see that as a lot of money. Third, turns out not every team needs to be wildly enthusiastic. A combination of teams playing hard anyway (these games count!) with teams who do have some extra intensity (Indiana, for example, gets a spotlight NEVER otherwise granted the Pacers, despite the team being pretty good) lifts all boats. Or most of them. And finally, you get enough media coverage telling you this stuff is a big deal, and even as it feels kinda made up (because it is), once the games are pretty good, it’s like hey, why not?
The whole thing is pretty fascinating.
Also fascinating? The actual game the Lakers are playing. It’s a chance to clinch the tiebreaker against Phoenix. In December! That’s a nice little feather to have this early in the year. Plus, the Lakers will have their full complement of wings (and Anthony Davis) to experiment defensively against Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. Maybe we learn something from this game?
HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky
SEGMENT 1: Previewing Lakers vs. Suns.
SEGMENT 2: Why has the tournament worked better than expected? The Lakers are certainly on board.
SEGMENT 3: Would more rewards, or bigger rewards, make this whole thing even better?
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30 Comments
Nobody can guard booker and durant they just gotta hope they miss
Kobe!
Do you think random fans, podcasters, and tv show hosts who are shooting from the hip can somehow improve on a tournament that has been in development for 5 years and has been working pretty well so far?
Tournament
1 use Tournament results as 2nd tiebreaker after head to head for any ties in end of season standings
2 Guarantee Tournament Winner 10th place playin spot. Maybe even both finalists (if they finish higher not applicable)
3 eliminate points differential as tiebreaker for tournament qualifier. Seeing teams run up scores is a bad look.
Yeah well just the fact that you say it's been regurgitated a BILLION times suggests people might just have a point
And I say this as a lifetime Laker fan that despised MJ
Rui Maskimura
thumbnails wild
Bro C wood would average 40 in the g league
Who was that MASKED MAN 😂😂😂
Brian, do you have an opening this December? You'd make a great Santa! 😅
The mask pun was classic Andy 😂
That thumbnail is crazy 😭😂
I love you so much <33
The rumor was Rui got his mask at Big 5…. 😂😂 Let’s get a win tonight and win this season series vs the Suns .
If we win this at least we come out with a 14-9 record and a trophy. and the bag for the players .. lol.
Ah. glad you guys did a mention on Colin Castleton. I have been following the southbay lakers results on FB and ColinC is doing his thing. Wouldn't be surprise if a team takes a chance on Pippen also.
❤️ the idea about a guaranteed playoff spot! But I’m not the one who determines it!
This feels like a set up for an international competition guys. I think what we will see pretty soon is the winners from probably other leagues may be invited for a mini tournament. A Club World Cup??? What do you think??? On the value of the tourney, I agree with the point that it can be an opportunity for Bron to show guys how a playoff prep and atmosphere is like
I feel like y’all are so surprised it did well because y’all have been hating on the IST since day one. Every single time you’ve brought it up it’s “surprising” how into this the players are and the fans are. At a certain point just say we were wrong, it was a good idea.
Beal played the 2nd game
The thumbnail is unhinged and I love it. 🤣
The Ayton trade wasn’t for Nurkic straight up. They got a guy who was a starter on a title winner in Grayson Allen and a role player in Little who has been better than hoped. The Suns dumped a max contract guy with no motor into 3 players worth of usable depth that will show up every night.
Once they had Beal, depth was the issue, Ayton was bound to be dealt to solve it.
Let’s win tonight
Going forward, the Lebron MVP trophy for the first leader of the winning team.
this is the most coping channel on Youtube lolllll
Lebron checking KD is hilarious…. when does he ever "check" anyone, also KD COOKS Lebron consistently …
33:08 What did Brian forget?!
Brian just broke down the IST with game theory and behavioral psych
I'm sorry but the only reason I care about winning these tourney games is because we need to stack Ws that's it , like seriously will anyone look back on this season with any joy if we win this but later get bounced in round 1 of the actual playoffs ???
what is the Gametime job loss protection