Brian T. Stoner, CPA

I think regarding NFL Playoffs: time to get 2 more teams in as wildcards, so 16 teams (50% of total 32 NFL teams) make the playoffs & have 8 teams per conference, like 8 teams in NBA playoffs after the Play-in tournament. This year: Jan 10, 11, 12 - 14 teams, 2 byes, 6 games. 2 Sat, 3 Sun, 1 Monday Night Jan 17, 18 add Bye teams, so 8 teams, 4 games. 2 Sat 2 Sun. Jan 25 - 4 teams 2 games on Sunday Feb 8 - Super Bowl So add 2 more wild cards to play the 2 teams with byes. Jan 10, 11, 12 - 16 teams, 0 byes, 8 games. 3 Sat 4 Sun 1 Monday Night Jan 17, 18 - 0 Bye teams, so 8 teams, 4 games. 2 Sat 2 Sun. All else the same. No extending the season, 2 more fan bases happy until their teams lose, more money for NFL, larger payoff pool for the new teams to share in.

@Hoop_Narrative Nope cause the Lakers have been playing playoff basketball since 2/28 and has more talent with Ayton, Kleber at center, Hayes is better because of his additional muscle, and Smart and LaRavia give us more defense plus we got Kennard, the shot maker we needed.

Will playing them in playoffs make you feel different then regular season since it will be different type of game or no?

@Matt_Pinner 10

I've been to 2, you ?

@Claire_2210_ Weed, Seed, Sheep, Sleep

No English Word has "ee" Prove me wrong And win $100

@BronMuse @statmuse Luka for me.

Pick your MVP: @statmuse Luka: Shai: 3rd seed 1st seed 33.0 PPG 31.5 PPG 8.5 APG 6.6 APG 7.9 RPG 4.5 RPG 3.9 3PM 1.7 3PM

@LADEig I think with Ant injury more likely Wolves fall to the 6, Rockets are 4th and Denver is 5.

Back to back in Miami 👀 Here’s what Lakers fans should root for tonight ⬇️ Lakers BEAT Heat Suns BEAT Spurs (with hopes that Suns can catch 6 seed)

@HawkEmDownChris Roman Gabriel

Age yourself by naming an NFL quarterback you grew up watching. I’ll start: Peyton Manning.

@Yinoma2001 Those are fine

What teams should Lakers fans be watching for that potential 2026 FRP? -Michigan -Arizona Any others?

@coachchek @DiEHARDnLA I mean since they are all questionable, probably that means LeBron at least rests and maybe all 3. But we see.

@bstonercpa @DiEHARDnLA this is a back to back from texas to miami can they rest now and play against magic?

I get LeBron sitting out today but there’s no way Luka and AR should be sitting this one out

@Hoop_Narrative No I would play the Wolves. We match up pretty well with them when healthy & we have 3 centers this year (if Kleber can play) and Wolves miss NAV a lot. Beat them 3 times this year. I like our chances against them in 7 games.

Brian if you had your pick who would you want to play in the 1st round? Denver?

Well I wouldn't worry about Lakers getting Giannis anyway - not going to happen. Doing this (use room exception on Marcus and can go to 2nd apron which is $223.1m). So trade for OG and Williams for 1 FRP & 1 2nd, Vando, Dalton and Cap Space? Without resigning Rui (still think that is mistake) plus Kennard will probably be his non-bird of $13.2m and Hayes about $5M will have about $37m of cap space so trades will work and should be under 2nd Apron. Looks like this will work.

Cap Space FC, would this work financially for the 2026-27 season? I’m not familiar with the cap increase, aprons, exceptions and all that, but this would be $204.5M for a full 15 player roster… Luka Dončić • $49.8M Austin Reaves • $35.0M OG Anunoby • $42.5M LeBron James • $25.0M Deandre Ayton • $8.1M Marcus Smart • $9.0M Luke Kennard • $6.0M Adou Thiero • $2.1M Jake LaRavia • $6.0M Robert Williams III • $8.0M Bronny James • $2.2M Kobe Bufkin • $2.5M Chris Mañon • $2.2M (2026 First Round Pick) • $2.7M Jaxson Hayes • $3.4M Total: $204.5M Obviously this is just a hypothetical but in this scenario Giannis would be going to New York

@Hoop_Narrative Yes, should have home court advantage in round one. Then if we are 3, play the Spurs, who haven't had playoff pressure before; this team playing this way can beat them. So we could play OKC in WCF, where anything can happen (that is why you play the games.)

Laker Nation do you feel we can make the western conference finals?

With only one FRP to trade, and most of the guys we would want not available at that (would trading Rui, Dalton and the FRP gotten us enough to improve on what we have now?) I don't think a decent move could be made. So we do the finishing touches in the summer. This team can still make the WCF, where anything can happen.

This is why punting deadlines is disgusting. Rob Pelinka punting another deadline will not allow us to see what this team could have done at its apex. He needed to make at least 1-2 more moves at the deadline.

@Yinoma2001 We still have 2 FRP, the 2033 2nd and cap space to trade, so yes I like the idea of drafting the 2026 pick.

I really like the 2026 FRP options that may be in the Lakers range. Barring some amazing trade (and I don't consider that Giannis FWIW), I would like to draft. How about you?

@nickthatramsguy Guess we see what they decide. Garopalo still good game manager, but lets see which moves the team better.

Many believe LAR should move Stetson Bennett up to the QB2 spot after his strong preseason performances.

@idontwanna55 @BronMuse @spurs That will not be a problem. Just have to win the games we should and we will be fine. 3 or 4 seed with home court in first round.

@bstonercpa @BronMuse @spurs I’d worry about not being a play in team instead of thinking yall have an actual title chance 😂

OH WE'RE DEFINITELY COMING FOR THAT 2ND SEED 😈 @spurs

@pirulito1n @TheNBABase @DanWoikeSports In an interview after the game he said he was planning on playing, but we will see. Now the 3 are all questionable so maybe not.

@bstonercpa @TheNBABase @DanWoikeSports when lebron said he was going to play?

A brutal 24 hours for the Los Angeles Lakers: - Tip-off in Houston at 8:30 PM last night - Arrived at Miami hotel after 5 AM today - Tip-off vs. the Heat tonight at 8 PM Scheduled loss? (Via @DanWoikeSports )

@thatboylije95 @BronMuse @spurs Yes I know, I figured that in on my numbers, which is why we will not get the 2 seed.

@bstonercpa @BronMuse @spurs Technically it is 8 we own the tiebreaker

@JimothyBucket Maybe OKC just because sometimes their offense has stretches where they don't score. Luka would help that problem. Denver has what they have in that area, so wouldn't change that, just get a couple more 2way guys around him and Murray.

@bstonercpa Would OKC or Denver be better with Luka instead of Shai or Jokic?

Would the Lakers be better if they were led by Shai or Jokic instead of Luka?