The Lakers don't necessarily benefit from moral victories at this point, given how deep they've fallen in the standings. All the feels won't help them climb out of the hole they've dug for themselves. But what if that hole isn't really climbable? The Lakers, barring collapses from a few different teams, are very likely to finish either eighth or ninth in the West. The difference matters - needing one win in the play-in scenario vs. two - but it's going to be hard for the Lakers to jump any higher. Nor do they feel like a good bet to slide all the way to 11th.

So moral victories help... if they're good for morale? And that's potentially the takeaway from a loss in San Francisco Saturday night, where the Lakers looked pretty good in the halfcourt, got good performances from Russell Westbrook and Talen Horton-Tucker, and stuck with a very good Warriors team. Had LeBron (9-27, including 1-10 in the fourth) and Anthony Davis (5-13) played better, it's likely a different conversation.

Was getting past the deadline a chance for the team to reset? For Westbrook particularly? Frank Vogel seemed to think so.

And what about the buyout market? Adrian Wojnarowski (ESPN) reports the Lakers will aggressively pursue soon-to-be-bought-out San Antonio Spur Goran Dragic. Sure, he could help, but how attractive a destination will the Lakers be? One reason games like Wednesday night vs. Utah matter. Win or lose, the Lakers need to show some potential.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: A moral victory, because it's good for morale?

SEGMENT 2: How getting past the deadline helps the Lakers, and Westbrook particularly.

SEGMENT 3: LeBron James passes Kareem in an impressive but made-for-TV sounding stat. Plus... GORAN!

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