Following Monday's incredible performance in the team's win over Cleveland, LeBron James's problematic knee swelled up like a balloon, and he missed Wednesday's game against the Sixers at The Crypt. Anthony Davis is still out with an ankle injury. Talen Horton-Tucker, too. And the Lakers lost! So why are they feeling so good about themselves?

It's a small sample size, for sure, but the Lakers can honestly say, backed up by the tape, that they've played significantly better over their last four games. That includes Wednesday's Very Scrappy Effort against a high end Philadelphia team. Assuming they can get into the play-in—and in that spirit the Lakers are clearly putting a lot of emphasis on Sunday's game against the Pelicans—it's clear they're developing a level of confidence that has been hard to find all year.

Is it deserved? Maybe, maybe not. But that's not the relevant question, really.

One thing that's helped: The Lakers are playing with a rotation that nobody would have guessed in October, mostly because half of the dudes weren't even on the team. And one guy that was (Austin Reaves) was expected to carry bags and live in his warm up. But the new guys have skill sets that have boosted the team's fortunes.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: LeBron misses Wednesday's game, which is kinda worrisome, but really drives home how important Sunday's game is to the team.

SEGMENT 2: The Lakers, earned or not, are starting to feel good about themselves. And that's a prerequisite for having even a small shot at making noise in the postseason.

SEGMENT 3: It's a whole new group playing for the Lakers, and they finally have some bounce.

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