Lakers Mailbag: LA’s Title Odds, Best Playoff Matchups, JJ’s Coaching Growth

Jovan Buha answers your Los Angeles Lakers questions on Tuesday, February 25, 2025.

Jovan analyzes if the Lakers can win the championship, the best playoff matchups for LA, Austin Reaves’ future, why the Lakers’ defense has remained elite without Anthony Davis, the likely playoff rotation, JJ Redick’s growth as a head coach, what it’s like to cover the Lakers, and more.

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Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:06 Question No. 1 & 2: How far can LA go? Can they withstand losing any rotation players? Reaves extension?

10:16 Question No. 3: Best playoff matchups for LA in the West?

15:55 Question No. 4: Should LA still start DFS over Rui?

24:03 Question No. 5: Why has LA’s defense maintained — or even improved — without AD?

32:03 Question No. 6: What is the biggest takeaway from the Denver win?

38:20 Question No. 7: What is the most likely playoff rotation?

41:02 Question No. 8: When did JJ prove he was a good coach?

45:41 Question No. 9: What is Jaxson Hayes’ free-agency value?

49:16 Question No. 10: What is it like covering the Lakers? Lowlights/highlights?

56:25 Question No. 11: Thoughts on the new Drake & PND project?

59:30 Outro