The Lakers ended 2023 with a whimper. They need to open 2024 with a sustained run of quality play. January presents and interesting opportunity in that regard. The teams they play are challenging, including two games against Clippers, games against Miami, Memphis (much better with Ja Morant), Dallas, Oklahoma City and Phoenix. But 11 of the first 12 games they play this month are at the Crypt. Only once in that stretch do they leave the city (on the road, in Utah). There are no back-to-backs.

So one thing that has been a challenge - tons of travel and a league-leading quantity of b2b's - isn't a problem this month. And the Lakers need to take advantage. How many wins do they need?

And can Darvin Ham start returning a little cohesion to the group, getting everyone confident in the direction the team is heading, and the identity they want to forge?

Along those lines, is part of the problem rotations and personnel decisions that are more complex than they need to be? Should Darvin do more to try and replicate what worked last year when the team went to the Conference Finals? Is there a danger in trying to recreate last season when the context of this year isn't exactly the same?

They need to figure things out, and fast.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: January is a home heavy schedule. But it's not an easy one.

SEGMENT 2: How good is good enough this month?

SEGMENT 3: Is Darvin making it harder than it needs to be?

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