Yeah, everyone saw. In a series that was about as lacking in drama as a series could have, the Boston Celtics polished off the Dallas Mavericks Monday night to win an 18th NBA title, putting them back ahead of the Lakers for most in league history. And it doesn't take a crackerjack NBA analyst to note that they are in much better position to keep adding to that total than the Lakers. There may be nothing that crystalizes the emphasis Lakers Nation places on titles more than watching the Celtics win one. As Kobe noted, the fear of losing is a much bigger driver than the joy of winning. That doesn't apply in exactly the same way for fans, but tolerance for the current state of things will be a lot lower for a while than it would have been had Dallas won, or some other team kept Boston out of the Finals, or if the path for the Lakers felt more clear. To be fair, the Lakers aren't terrible. But they're at least a step behind multiple teams in the Western Conference, have an aging star in LeBron James, and no obvious path to join the truly elite squads. Does this change anything for how the Lakers approach the offseason? Does it change the level of tolerance fans will have if Boston, as expected, keeps being awesome while the Lakers seem to run in place? Meanwhile, a new wrinkle in the NBA rule book allows teams to start engaging with their own free agents as soon as the Finals ends. Well, that's now. Could the Lakers move early on some key players? How might the landscape shift before the big free agency period begins? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Boston wins. BOOOOOOOOO!!!!! SEGMENT 2: Does a dominant Boston squad change the way the Lakers, or Lakers fans, view things? SEGMENT 3: A new wrinkle for free agency. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Terms and conditions apply. BetterHelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Make your brain your friend, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA today to get 10% off your first month. eBay Motors From brakes to exhaust kits and beyond, eBay Motors has over 122 million parts to keep your ride-or-die alive. With all the parts you need at the prices you want, it’s easy to bring home that big win. Keep your ride-or-die alive at EbayMotors.com. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. PrizePicks Go to https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNBA and use code lockedonnba for a first deposit match up to $100! Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Make Every Moment More. Right now, NEW customers get TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in BONUS BETS with any winning FIVE DOLLAR BET. That’s TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in BONUS BETS - with any winning FIVE DOLLAR BET!! Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started. 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)