Welcome to Lockdown NBA, your daily NBA podcast, part of the Lockdown Podcast network.

I'm West Goldberg host of

lockdown warriors here with David Vermill the host of locked on eat today's show

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We'll talk about E-SPN's documentary on the decision later on, but let's start with the Lakers signing J.R. Smith to replace Avery Bradley,

who's elected to sit out the bubble season in Florida.

Now J.R. Smith is 34 years old, hasn't played a game since November of 2018, and was really

not very good for the calves since the calves won the finals in 2016.

That said, do you think David that J.R. Smith can be a difference maker for the Lakers in this

bubble resumption?

I do, actually. if there were nothing else because he has an incredible level of

familiarity and comfort playing alongside LeBron and what that entails and to me and I know I've

referenced this not just on Lockdown Heat, but also with the show.

I think you wrote to me anyway a definitive piece about this years ago when you kind of explored what it was like for a player to join a team playing alongside

LeBron and everything that entails. You know, everything from Kyle Corver I think was the focus of your

piece, but it was something that a lot of players have learned over the years is that you have to have a very particular mindset

when you're joining a LeBron-led team, especially now in his later years of his career is that he knows exactly what he wants and how he wants it and I think your ability to thrive and play alongside him depends on your ability to understand those details and those nuances.

And for a guy like JR who is not only just friendly with LeBron. those

newances and for a guy like JR who is not only just friendly with LeBron off the court but also

understands those intricacies on the court it makes a lot of sense he's probably not

gonna get a whole hell of a lot of playing time but when he does I think he's very well suited for the challenges of playing in the bubble and for also being able to contribute. For a player like him who's been sitting out all of the season,

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