LeBron James Starts at Center as the Lakers Snap Their Losing Streak in Houston - a podcast by Locked On Podcast Network, Anthony Irwin

Strike up the band! After five straight losses, including a Christmas day loss so infuriating fans and media were relocating Russell Westbrook to Houston, Philadelphia or anywhere else the rumor mill deemed just feasible enough, the Lakers are finally off the schneid! Tuesday saw them beat a scrappy (if hapless) Houston Rockets squad 132-123, in a game that was too competitive for true comfort, but not without some interesting facets.
To begin, interimhead coach opted for a new starting lineup with Talen Horton-Tucker coming off the bench, Malik Monk and newbie Stanley Johnson at the forward sports, and LEBRON JAMES starting at center. (He also limited the rotation to just eight players, none of whom were true bigs.) The team in turn responded with their best offensive showing in a while. 20+ points from Monk and Carmelo Anthony. Triple-doubles for LeBron and Westbrook. And while Fizdale emphasized how this was not necessarily a permanent look moving forward, it's pretty clear we'll be seeing a lot of small ball in the Lakers' future.
And until Anthony Davis returns, it appears a huge chunk of the center minutes will be played by LeBron, who used this game as yet another reminder of his exceptional versatility and basketball I.Q. To make this positional shift just 48 hours before turning 37 years old, nineteen seasons in, is legitimately pretty amazing.Next, it's LeBron's controversial (and very irresponsible) COVID/Spiderman meme, and took a listener email about Fizdale and Frank Vogel.

Hosts: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT 1: A look at the win over Houston.

SEGMENT 2: LeBron, your starting 5!SEGMENT 3: LeBron's meme, and a listener email.

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