Since the Lakers won the title, we know how it ended.

But let's get straight to the plot twist.

It begins with the Lakers prying mantra is Harold, sixth man of the year away from the rival Clippers?

They also traded for dinner.

Shrewder acquired Marc Gasol.

Richard, what do you think these additions bring to the defending champs?

Okay, so the one issue with the Lakers people talked about their bench and their second unit.

And could they score when brawn was out of the game?

That's including with a D on the court.

They were there.

Offensive efficiency wasn't that great.

My thing is, is very rare that the defending champions can win the off season, but in order to win the off season, In my opinion, guys like Mon Trees and Schroeder are going to have to make sacrifices.

This isn't the Clippers.

This isn't okay.

See, you have to fit into what they're doing and then excel while fitting in.

So that'll be the one question for the Lakers, as they repeat this year.

Talent wise, they got better.

But when I look at those names they lost.

You know you lost Rondo, who was a championship player.

Lee.

He knew he understood the moment.

Danny Green.

He's a championship player.

He understands the moment JaVale McGee, another championship and those type of experience.

Having that in your locker room is very valuable, more valuable than talent sometime.

And but now you got a room full of champions.

Yeah, Now you have a room for the championships.

But you know, when it comes down to it and you've got these guys, they're gonna be getting big minutes in the playoffs.

And, you know, when they get deep in the playoffs, I like those guys that got that type expert who understand the moment.

But it's always good to have fresh energy guys who aren't bored with the moment guys who are hungry for that first championship.

So that's also a plus.

Also having these guys.

Well, look, we usually see when a team wins the title.

They end up somewhat over paying some of their guys the next summer, right, because everybody whose deal is up is like Well, hey, I was a big part of this.

Like, you gotta You gotta pay me too.

And that kind of thing.

And no one wants to break up a championship team.

And those contracts can sometimes end up weighing on that team as it tries to repeat or go forward.

The Lakers took a different approach.

They were, like, Enjoy the big payoff that you're going to get from having just wanna ring somewhere else.

We will be stocking new blood.

Here's one that they just bullied the free agency.

They just like the trash, like, How do you get way?

Don't even talk about Gasol.

That something like the benches a problem.

Okay, well, we're gonna go get the sixth man and the runner up for the sixth man that are both 28 years old.

Former Defensive Player of the Year and the champion.

Oh, my God.

Must be nice to be in L a Laker and half LeBron James here a few games.

That's the Lakers ban should binge watch this season tonight against the Clippers.

Big One Christmas Day against the Mavericks.

To that, of course, immediately.

Jump off the page, Paul.

Should the Lakers, beyond upset alert against Lucca and the Mavs on your Lakers has got championship hangover e, They're they're not even worried about this game like the Clippers are.

They lose.

So what?

It's another game.

You know the Lakers is gonna be there when account Lakers ain't believe that ain't worried about home court.

They don't worry about anything.

They're worried about getting to Game 60 healthy and intact, and then they'll worry about everything else.

So no Kristaps Porzingis on Christmas Day.

You know what?

I'll change that.

They're gonna be up for this game.

You know, There's gonna be games like they're gonna coast to the regular season.

But the big games, the National Games, they will be up for this one.

LeBron versus LeBron Specter put on my work so well, he knows that's must see TV.

PC Bron sees Luca, and it's just like Okay, like you're that guy.

Like, you're one of the people that I wanna same with Zion dictate.

Um, he sees those guys.

He's like, I'm gonna continue sending a message every single time that we play against each other just to let him know.

You know, when you're going against MJ.

Oh, this one, the young boys.

Okay, I'm gonna go at him every time because I know he's gonna come at me.

LeBron James.

A nice triple double the last time I remember.

But but Luc has given him triple doubles back to over the trying to get the win.

You gotta get No, no, I totally agree.

It's just interesting to me because Luca clearly patterned so much of his game on the way LeBron plays, and he literally had him on his wall when he was growing up.

We're reaching that at that point, with players coming into the league become rivals exactly on DSO, it's so fun to me to see them go at each other because of the styles there.

All right, spoiler alert.

Time for the Lakers.

They have the shortest odds to win an NBA title this season, according to Caesar's William Hill.

Not a surprise, Richard, Do you see the Lakers repeating as champions?

What is your official call?

I always say this.

I always preface this with health.

If the Lakers are healthy, they will be the champion like that's it's going to be too much.

I like the Brooklyn Nets, but again, health is going to be a concern for them because they have two guys coming off of injuries and major injury, and Kevin Durant So Brooklyn.

I could see them making it to the finals.

And then I think Milwaukee and Nets in the finals.

But I think that that would be a fun MBA Final.

That would be a great MBA Finals.

They were the favorite last year, but they should be the overwhelmingly favorite dish.

If I didn't think that was gonna do it, I I think I guarantee they will this year.

And so, like, he said, if they're healthy, they should win the title.

With this roster they have.

All right, well, we will see starting tonight.

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