These are heady times for Lakers fans, following Sunday's Luka Dončić-fueled, 108-102 win over the Clippers at the Crypt. It's the second straight win over a good Clippers squad, and was enough to push the Lakers into second place in the Western Conference, percentage points ahead of the Denver Nuggets. This is not a place anyone would have expected the Lakers to be eight weeks ago. The pace of change has been incredible. First, the Lakers get LeBron James engaged defensively following that debacle of a loss in Miami. They trade D'Angelo Russell for Dorian Finney-Smith. Jarred Vanderbilt returned. They slowly add even more grit to the roster, adding Trey Jemison III and Jordan Goodwin to the roster. Oh, they also acquired Luka. The instant reaction to the big trade said the Lakers were setting themselves up for the future at the expense of today. That the loss on defense was going to be way too much for this group to overcome in the short term. Except the Lakers team has already started playing well defensively even before the trade, and continued playing good defense even without Davis in the lineup. They were supposed to struggle while Dončić got integrated into the lineup, a process that was going to be overly complex, given the ball dominance of Luka, LeBron and Austin Reaves. And so on and so on and so on. Except none of it has played out that way. Through all the changes, the Lakers have grown more cohesive, not less. They've played harder, and ramped up the buy in. They're doing things good teams do, starting with playing consistently and executing effectively even when guys are in and out of the lineup, as it was Sunday with Reaves and Rui Hachimura in street clothes. They're winning in bulk, with victories in 16 of their last 21 games. And now they're in a dead heat with the Nuggets for the 2-seed out West. With a 6.5 game lead on the trio of teams tied for the 6-seed, the conversation has moved past "avoid the play in," and the Lakers are now square in the "earn home court for a round or two." Again, a remarkable turnaround. There are plenty of challenges coming, and the schedule doesn't get any easier. But this is a Lakers team that believes in itself, and has backed that belief with results. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: The Lakers beat the Clips again, behind a big game from Luka. SEGMENT 2: Things are really, really looking up. SEGMENT 3: Dalton Knecht has a big game. Your favorite podcast now has a newsletter! In One-stop for ultimate team and league coverage delivered right to your in box. Sign up for free now, at lockedondaily.com. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! OpenPhone The #1 business phone system designed to help you keep your work and personal life separate.Right now, OpenPhone is offering 20% off your first 6 months when you go to OpenPhone.com/LOCKEDONNBA.and if you have existing numbers with another service, OpenPhone will port them over at no extra charge! Prizepicks Now’s the perfect time to join.Download the app todayand use codeLOCKEDONNBA to get $50 instantly when you play your first $5 lineup! That’s right—no need to win to get the bonus, it’s guaranteed. PrizePicks—Run Your Game!Click Here: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNBA Door Dash They Swoosh, You Save: when any player scores 50 or more points in a game during the 24/25 NBA regular season, DashPass members save 50% on an order, up to $10 off with promo code NBA50. 50% Off 1 Order (Up to $10 Off) Offer valid from 9:00 AM PT through 11:59 PM PT after a 50 point performance in any game during the NBA season on orders placed at participating merchant locations. Valid only in the United States. Maximum value of discount is $10.00. Discount applies to subtotal only; does not apply to fees, taxes, and gratuity. Not valid for pickup. Limit one per person. Not valid for the purchase of alcohol. Fees, taxes, and gratuity still apply. Must have an active DashPass account. Use promo code NBA50 to redeem. See further terms and conditions at https://drd.sh/8ONpZP/. FanDuel Right now, new FanDuel customers can get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Bonus Bets if your first FIVE DOLLAR bet wins!Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)