^ He'll be a good trade candidate at the deadline. I can't imagine the Raptors or Nets trading for Russell knowing he will mess the tank up. But a trade and then a waive/ buyout seems plausible to me.
I think a team that is trying to compete, fails (due to injuries most likely), has long term money tied up on a good player, and wants to tank is the most likely candidate for a DLO trade at the deadline. Which team that is and who will be available is hard to say.
I think for exactly those reasons listed in the article, he will forever be a player who is worth more to us than what he could fetch in a trade. Plus, yes he has had his bad moments in the playoffs, but he has shown enough to show that he could be an asset as well - we just need to be lucky that we win those games he shows up in
Joined: 14 Apr 2001 Posts: 144966 Location: The Gold Coast
Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2024 6:11 pm Post subject:
MJST wrote:
Hanging from Rafters wrote:
MJST wrote:
JJin77 wrote:
Hanging from Rafters wrote:
lakersfever714 wrote:
Love him or hate him, he's not going anywhere so...idk. It's up to JJ. I mean offensively, he's been very good so I don't think JJ could get anymore out of him offensively. That's never been an issue in the regular season. We all know the reason why no team wants him, especially a championship contending team like the Lakers that need post season performers.
Inverse wrote:
lakersfever714 wrote:
Inverse wrote:
manlisten wrote:
D'lo is fine for the regular season. I don't really want to root against him but I think I should know what to expect by now. I accept that he's not a flawless player and has been unreliable for his career in the playoffs. Doesn't mean he's useless but it does mean he may have limited use on a championship team.
Well theres your catch22. Take DLO off this roster and we are not making the playoffs next year anyways. So why worry about playoffs?
DLo is worth 6 game swing? Since when is he so valuable? Well, the Wolves surely have improved without him even making it to the WCF.
Easily. He's also the main reason we won the play-in game against the pelicans with key buckets down the stretch. He led the overall +/- on the team w +16 that night
Like I've said before, put "any" player not named Westbrick in place of DLo and we would have achieved the same result if not better.
Look at 2020-2021, the season right before Westbrick with KCP as our starting guard, we made the playoff easily. The season before that without DLo or Westbrick? Championship.
You guys are giving DLo too much credit and not enough credit to the fact that Lebron and AD have been very healthy and dominating the past couple years DLo has been here.
Dlo has played well in the regular season and for more than half of his post season games for the Lakers. He has played horribly for about 1/3rd of his post season games with the Lakers. I…like most…would prefer an upgrade for better post season play, especially on defense. However…unlike many…I recognize the contributions and want to make sure it is an actual upgrade if a change is made instead of just dumping due to emotionally driven feelings of frustration. Some people mistake that stance as giving too much credit, but imo, opposing that stance appears more like not giving enough credit.
Just at least approximately try to make up for what he brings if traded. Hate him overall but recognize the pluses and compensate for them if he is dealt. It appears to me that many are in denial that there are any pluses at all.
100%!!! I really hope this is the position Lakers FO has.
Indeed. Opposing that stance means they really don't want what's best for the Lakers, they just want the personal gratification of DLO not being on the team, regardless of how much it hurts the Lakers. In which case, that's a personal problem, not a basketball one.
My personal gratification is the Lakers beating the Celtics in 5 games next season and DLo still on the Lakers dropping 30 on them in the closeout game. But it always begins and ends with the Lakers winning a Championship.
I hated Karl Malone with every fiber of my being (even BEFORE I learned everything about him) because of what he said about Magic. But I still rooted for him to succeed on the Lakers because I wanted a Championship.
“…they really don't want what's best for the Lakers, they just want the personal gratification of DLO not being on the team, regardless of how much it hurts the Lakers. …”
True words. It would be different if he had the trade value to return an upgraded replacement.
I definitely got experience rooting for players I didn’t like and Karl Malone was the main one for me too!, along with Rodman, Fox, Rondo, Bass, Kaman, and more. It’s Lakers first, always, and only for me! I didn’t even like LBJ before he came and it actually took a few weeks to get up to speed lol!
It’s strange to see JJ talking about the value of 3pt shooting with advanced metrics while remaining mum on the best 3pt shooter on the team.
My expectations have dissipated from hoping for an upgrade, I’m just hoping now that whatever is done doesn’t result in a downgrade. Same shat different year.
Pretty much, you'd assume an offense based off double screens, pick and rolls and pin downs is pretty much the kind DLo would thrive in. It's the Warriors offense.
Is 37% from 3 with a 52% eFG percentage and 6 apg on 23 ppg thriving? _________________ RIP mom. 11-21-1933 to 6-14-2023.
Joined: 14 Apr 2001 Posts: 144966 Location: The Gold Coast
Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2024 6:13 pm Post subject:
Kblo247! wrote:
PICKnPOP wrote:
I think Dlo’s still the best fit with us. We need his shooting and playmaking.
JJ is a smart guy and I think he has all the tools he needs to win a chip.
You got guys like Gabe, Vando, and Max sitting on the bench. How easy is it to stagger Austin and DLo’s minutes with players like Max and Gabe? I think that mitigates the defensive issues.
I think LeBron and AD need DLo’s shooting with them in the starting lineup and Austin is best with the ball in his hands.
Gabe/ Austin
Dlo/ Max
Rui/Kenecht
Lebron/vando
AD/Wood
Use Austin as a super sixth man like Lamar Odom or Manu Ginobli. First guy off the bench so he gets a few minutes each half with the starters, but when he comes in he takes over the ball handling duties. He still gets 30mpg but gets to cook opposing teams second units.
Gabe is small and quick enough to take on opposing teams quick point guards every night.
Or you just start the best player of the two which is Austin. Dlo being traded here wasn’t the e only thing that changed. Reaves also got to start and he produced. He went to the playoffs and he produced. He averaged 17 a game in the full season as a starter and he went and got you the same average yet again in these playoffs while guarding Murray. Austin is the better player and it’s not a question he’s the far more consistent playoff player who maintains his averages as he’s done it both years.
Austin starts. Dlo comes off the bench and plays what Jason Terry was in Dallas. Dlo has had multiple years showing he can’t even keep his averages in the playoffs, so he has to be the one to sit down, change his role, and show up not Reaves
I wouldn’t bring Reaves or DLO off the bench. _________________ RIP mom. 11-21-1933 to 6-14-2023.
^ He'll be a good trade candidate at the deadline. I can't imagine the Raptors or Nets trading for Russell knowing he will mess the tank up. But a trade and then a waive/ buyout seems plausible to me.
I think a team that is trying to compete, fails (due to injuries most likely), has long term money tied up on a good player, and wants to tank is the most likely candidate for a DLO trade at the deadline. Which team that is and who will be available is hard to say.
I think for exactly those reasons listed in the article, he will forever be a player who is worth more to us than what he could fetch in a trade. Plus, yes he has had his bad moments in the playoffs, but he has shown enough to show that he could be an asset as well - we just need to be lucky that we win those games he shows up in
That's the thing, they do win when he shows up. Only time he played well and they lost was game 5 against Memphis. Other than that they either win in spite of him playing terribly or can't overcome his lack of production. _________________ It was reminiscent of one of those Most Interesting Man in the World advertisements: "I don't always shoot 6-for-28 from the field, but when I do, I become the youngest player in league history to score 28,000 career points."
DLO has value the thing is a lot of teams don’t need a PG because the whole NBA is loaded with talented PGs starting for there team, if you don’t believe me look at how many quality starting PGs there are, that’s why you see teams like Brooklyn and Utah mentioned as possible destinations because they don’t have a legit PG on there team and I don’t consider Sexton to be better then DLO but he can score in bunches, Brooklyn only has Ben Simmons and that dude always ends up on the IR that’s why I could see Brooklyn as the team that trades for DLO especially because DLO recently talked about how great of a chemistry that Nets team had when they went to the playoffs a couple of years ago
You also see teams like Toronto mentioned as a possible destination because they traded FVV and Bruce Brown has been mentioned as a possible landing spot with the Lakers, so please stop trying to disrespect what we have on our roster we have quality players it just depends which team needs them because teams are loaded at every position
Joined: 15 Sep 2012 Posts: 30128 Location: La La Land
Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2024 9:45 pm Post subject:
If you want to sell low and trade DLO now. That's not smart. His value will go up this season.
If you want to keep DLO past the trade deadline. And you believe he can be a starter for us on a championship team. That's not smart either. His playoff averages are real.
I get that it is summer time. And news is slow. But I don't see think there is much to debate in terms of DLO. _________________ When the world grows. Don't choose to stay the same.
If you want to sell low and trade DLO now. That's not smart. His value will go up this season.
If you want to keep DLO past the trade deadline. And you believe he can be a starter for us on a championship team. That's not smart. His playoff averages are real.
The Lakers don’t feel like they have the patience to see if DLO can get over the hump this season, that doesn’t mean he isn’t a good player they just want another player helping AD and LeBron
Laker fans are insane. Go ahead and trade Dlo so we can go back to the Westbrook spacing days lol. He has a lot of value for this team with playmaking, shot creating, and shooting. We need him if we’re going to be contenders.
We know he isn’t a great defender and that’s ok. We just need players like max, Vando, Gabe, reddish to fill that role. It’s a team game.
He brings enough to the table offensively imo _________________ “like I never left”
Yall do realize that if Dlo got that superstar whistle he’d be a top scorer in this league right? Kid is a legit bucket. _________________ “like I never left”
^ He'll be a good trade candidate at the deadline. I can't imagine the Raptors or Nets trading for Russell knowing he will mess the tank up. But a trade and then a waive/ buyout seems plausible to me.
I think a team that is trying to compete, fails (due to injuries most likely), has long term money tied up on a good player, and wants to tank is the most likely candidate for a DLO trade at the deadline. Which team that is and who will be available is hard to say.
I think for exactly those reasons listed in the article, he will forever be a player who is worth more to us than what he could fetch in a trade. Plus, yes he has had his bad moments in the playoffs, but he has shown enough to show that he could be an asset as well - we just need to be lucky that we win those games he shows up in
I actually agree with this take 100%. Just pray you get lucky with the DLottery in the playoffs, unless expiring contract + a first gets you something good at the deadline. He wasn't really uniformly bad against Denver and his +/- was actually good (arguably doesn't mean much but it was notable how in the 2023 WCF his +/- was horrible)
The whole problem with DLO is that with this core (AD, Bron, Reaves, Rui) he doesn't bring enough of the qualities we would need to get to the next level.
Elite playmaking? No (Good, but not elite, not a threat to drive and kick)
Elite defense? No
Elite 3 point shooting? No (Good but not elite)
You sub him out for a role player that is elite at 1 thing and serviceable at others, your overall team is probably better. That's the issue.
Of course that's the same thing for Reaves as well. All our better players after AD/Bron are all good players on offense, just none of them are those hard working do 1 skill at an elite level, bring defense etc types that championship teams tend to have.
It's not so much about DLO for me vs the combination of DLO/Reaves/Rui. We lack athleticism, defense and those elite level role player skillsets you need to win a ring. They've lost 8 of their last 9 playoff games. At their very best full health of AD/Bron, they still weren't a legit contender. That's the main issue. It's not 1 player in particular. You can easily keep DLO but sub out Reaves for an athletic role player that proves 3 point shooting and defense. Then your team looks more potent.
Of course people will point at Denver. In many many years together, Denver has 1 ring. Even that came when they had 2 high quality role guys like KCP/Brown on the same team. They also have other 2-way guys, and their athleticism around Joker is way more than ours. That's the thing. The defensive potential and athleticism of those teams tend to allow them to play at a higher level. I have never been a big fan of Denver's core lineup outside of that year. They've had a league MVP for so many years and have 1 title to show for it. Joker has been beasting for almost 5 years now at a MVP level. Yet 1 ring.
We sort of built this team thinking having 5 big time scorers in the same lineup will be able to get you to that level. However we ignored defensive floor balance and also that on offense these players don't really maximize AD/Bron. When you have stars like AD/Bron, you need players that will defend, shoot 3s and be able to make athletic plays on (Hustle plays, rebounds, put backs, set hard screens). You only really need 1 third option player. So 1 of Reaves, DLO, Rui is enough. Instead we have 2 stars, 3 third option level players and miss the 2 starters that complete the team. Not DLO/Rui/Reaves fault. It's on Pelinka. His attempt to get Klay in just further shows how lost he is.
Joined: 17 Sep 2008 Posts: 21172 Location: In a white room, with black curtains near the station
Posted: Tue Aug 06, 2024 7:13 am Post subject:
wolfpaclaker wrote:
The whole problem with DLO is that with this core (AD, Bron, Reaves, Rui) he doesn't bring enough of the qualities we would need to get to the next level.
Elite playmaking? No (Good, but not elite, not a threat to drive and kick)
Elite defense? No
Elite 3 point shooting? No (Good but not elite)
You sub him out for a role player that is elite at 1 thing and serviceable at others, your overall team is probably better. That's the issue.
Of course that's the same thing for Reaves as well. All our better players after AD/Bron are all good players on offense, just none of them are those hard working do 1 skill at an elite level, bring defense etc types that championship teams tend to have.
It's not so much about DLO for me vs the combination of DLO/Reaves/Rui. We lack athleticism, defense and those elite level role player skillsets you need to win a ring. They've lost 8 of their last 9 playoff games. At their very best full health of AD/Bron, they still weren't a legit contender. That's the main issue. It's not 1 player in particular. You can easily keep DLO but sub out Reaves for an athletic role player that proves 3 point shooting and defense. Then your team looks more potent.
Of course people will point at Denver. In many many years together, Denver has 1 ring. Even that came when they had 2 high quality role guys like KCP/Brown on the same team. They also have other 2-way guys, and their athleticism around Joker is way more than ours. That's the thing. The defensive potential and athleticism of those teams tend to allow them to play at a higher level. I have never been a big fan of Denver's core lineup outside of that year. They've had a league MVP for so many years and have 1 title to show for it. Joker has been beasting for almost 5 years now at a MVP level. Yet 1 ring.
We sort of built this team thinking having 5 big time scorers in the same lineup will be able to get you to that level. However we ignored defensive floor balance and also that on offense these players don't really maximize AD/Bron. When you have stars like AD/Bron, you need players that will defend, shoot 3s and be able to make athletic plays on (Hustle plays, rebounds, put backs, set hard screens). You only really need 1 third option player. So 1 of Reaves, DLO, Rui is enough. Instead we have 2 stars, 3 third option level players and miss the 2 starters that complete the team. Not DLO/Rui/Reaves fault. It's on Pelinka. His attempt to get Klay in just further shows how lost he is.
Well said. This is why seeing Caruso/KCP vanish just killed me, and this is the kind of legitimate criticism I haven't seen much of on this thread. It's not all-or-nothing singling out DLO and laying the problem all on him. We have a redundant mix with 3 third options and no elite defenders who are servicable in other roles.
And yes, DLO's lack of athleticism and quickness on defense becomes a problem because Reaves and Hachimura can't defend either, and nobody else on the bench can score. This is on Pelinka more than anyone else.
The whole problem with DLO is that with this core (AD, Bron, Reaves, Rui) he doesn't bring enough of the qualities we would need to get to the next level.
Elite playmaking? No (Good, but not elite, not a threat to drive and kick)
Elite defense? No
Elite 3 point shooting? No (Good but not elite)
.
DLo doesn't need to be elite at defense, just solid to above average. And he was solid last season, far better than Reaves was and better than he was the previous season.
DLo's playmaking is elite, it's silly to assume it isn't.
You don't think his 3 point shooting is elite when he was the most efficient and best high volume 3 point shooter in the league last season?
The whole problem with DLO is that with this core (AD, Bron, Reaves, Rui) he doesn't bring enough of the qualities we would need to get to the next level.
Elite playmaking? No (Good, but not elite, not a threat to drive and kick)
Elite defense? No
Elite 3 point shooting? No (Good but not elite)
.
DLo doesn't need to be elite at defense, just solid to above average. And he was solid last season, far better than Reaves was and better than he was the previous season.
DLo's playmaking is elite, it's silly to assume it isn't.
You don't think his 3 point shooting is elite when he was the most efficient and best high volume 3 point shooter in the league last season?
Okay that says all we need to know.
Russell has never ever been better than Reaves at defense. PLEASE stop saying this. Unless you are cherry picking from game to game. Even then, please stop. You don't have to try to bring Reaves down to prop Russell. Russell has his value, it just isn't defensive.
Also Russell is a career .369 three point shooter. That makes him ok, not great. Last year he was great, but it is not his norm. He has been very good the last few years though. We hope he will keep this up. Since you like to compare, Reaves is a career .365 three point shooter.
Finally, Russell is NOT an elite playmaker. He can be good at times, but is very on and off. Your exaggerating is diminishing what he really brings to the team. He is valuable, but not in the way you are making him out to be.
I think he is great for the team at his salary. I do not think he is some irreplacable player.
I think we can argue all we want but the fact remains that he is a expiring and Rob needs to either trade him now/deadline OR give him a new contract. His $18M expiring salary is very valuable ATM IF Rob decides to make any moves.
^ He'll be a good trade candidate at the deadline. I can't imagine the Raptors or Nets trading for Russell knowing he will mess the tank up. But a trade and then a waive/ buyout seems plausible to me.
I think a team that is trying to compete, fails (due to injuries most likely), has long term money tied up on a good player, and wants to tank is the most likely candidate for a DLO trade at the deadline. Which team that is and who will be available is hard to say.
I think for exactly those reasons listed in the article, he will forever be a player who is worth more to us than what he could fetch in a trade. Plus, yes he has had his bad moments in the playoffs, but he has shown enough to show that he could be an asset as well - we just need to be lucky that we win those games he shows up in
The bolded is what so many people(or rather the same 2-3) don't want to acknowledge the reality of it seems.
If we'd won the games he played well in vs Denver we'd have won Games 2, 4 and 5. And then it's a whole new ballgame. It's on our team for not taking advantage of that because he did what he was supposed to do. Decision making down the stretch, LeBron holding onto the ball too much, going away from the pick and roll, and freezing AD out cost us Game 2.
Going to the pick and roll with DLO and AD in game 4 won us that game and relying on them down the stretch. It was so obvious that Denver couldn't stop the DLO/AD pick and roll and it freed up LeBron in new ways too, but we didn't keep killing them with it. We were in Game 2 killing them on the pick and roll and then just stopped and LeBron went into iso-mode and AD barely touched the ball then.
Game 5 we were in it late and DLo hit the big shots he was supposed to down the stretch to put us in the game, and then we lose it at the end.
We were in position to win Games 2, 4 and 5 and if you want to be honest we were in position to win every game of that series and lead for the majority of it. That is even with Rui laying the egg of a lifetime in his first Playoff start.
I will say it till I'm purple in the face, a better Coach doesn't make the mistakes Ham made and we close out those games, even if Denver tried coming back on us. _________________ How NBA 2K18 failed the All-Time Lakers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxMBYm3wwxk
^^^ I agree with MJST on this.
Over the past few years I've been furious with the FO for losing on the margins. Randle for nothing bothered me, Zubac for Muscala was week, Caruso, KCP, and Javale were all cap casualties.
Trading DLO, even if it solves a problem for the roster, makes little to no sense at his current perceived value. $18m expiring will still be that at the deadline, and teams will be on the hook for far less of that $$ since the Lakers would have paid it for half the season. I am taking a wait and see approach. If JJ catches lightning in a bottle, possible but not probable, DLOs value could skyrocket. That would be great for our squad or for trade prospects but trading him for pennies on the dollar is just more of the same front office fumbling of assets. _________________ Magic*Kobe*LBJ*AD*Cap
^^^ I agree with MJST on this.
Over the past few years I've been furious with the FO for losing on the margins. Randle for nothing bothered me, Zubac for Muscala was week, Caruso, KCP, and Javale were all cap casualties.
Trading DLO, even if it solves a problem for the roster, makes little to no sense at his current perceived value. $18m expiring will still be that at the deadline, and teams will be on the hook for far less of that $$ since the Lakers would have paid it for half the season. I am taking a wait and see approach. If JJ catches lightning in a bottle, possible but not probable, DLOs value could skyrocket. That would be great for our squad or for trade prospects but trading him for pennies on the dollar is just more of the same front office fumbling of assets.
At the same time if JJ caught lightning in a bottle with DLO.
Which keep in mind.. even under the horrible mismanagement by Ham DLO put up numbers akin to the best 3rd options in the league and was the best high volume 3 point shooter in the league.
That was without pindowns.
That was without double screens.
That was without plays drawn up for him to come off screens for shots
It was primarily through DLO having to iso, and calling his own number on the pick and roll, not because it was strategy from Ham.
The fact DLO did that(18/6 on high efficiency and percentile) under those circumstances should for all intents and purposes bode well if JJ is running the offense he says he will, with multiple pindowns, and screens and coming off screens to shoot, and taking advantage of movement shooters and off the pick and roll and the team as a whole shooting more threes.
The kind of offense JJ claims he wants to run is DLO's wheelhouse.
So if JJ maximizes DLO in that offense there's no reason to trade him because why would we? Why would we trade the guy that excels in the offense the most and makes our team run as well as it does when he's running the point?
It'd be like "Look JJ is using DLO as an even better version of himself, in an offense that fits him perfectly and our team is performing well under... Welp better trade him now."
That'd make no sense in all honesty if JJ's offense really excels DLO in the ways logically it should.
The defense having to prepare for DLO coming off screens to shoot off ball or on ball, while players like AD or Rui or Vando set those screens and roll, and you have LeBron roaming off ball to cut to the basket or to make the hockey assist or pass to the other opening, would be a nightmare for teams to have to prepare for. They don't want a 40% three point shooter off 7 attempts a game getting wide open looks all game so they have to over compensate, which is going to leave LeBron or AD alone in isolation, or they are going to have to overload on AD or LeBron which leaves DLo alone in isolation, which he showed last season he can score efficiently in with teammates like LBJ and AD.
So, JJ running an offense that forces the defense to worry more about DLO being wide open and off screens while also not freezing out AD in the offense, and the team as a whole shooting more threes (with guys like Christie getting more minutes and our rookie as well getting time), should be the kind of offense you'd see DLO thrive in. JJ wants to run a heavy pick and roll offense that focuses on screens, three point shooting and the ability to pass. We couldn't ask for a better point guard at his price than DLo for the kind of offense JJ wants to run.
So if JJ does indeed catch 'lightning in a bottle' with DLo in the offense, it'd make no sense to go half a season excelling at it, and then just get rid of it at the trade deadline. It's cutting off our nose to spite our face at that point.
Other teams are losing their role players because of the contracts they want and are getting and have gotten. The Lakers have kept it together for the most part because they haven't done that and because DLo is making only 18-19M. The reason the Nuggets are losing role player after role player after role player and the Clippers are losing star after star and we aren't, is that reason.
In fact the thing Lakers fans should want more than anything is for JJ to maximize DLO in that offense and it fits him perfectly, the team excels at it and we go far into the Playoffs or we win a Championship. And that Dlo who already wants to stay a Laker decides to stay at the same cost or close to it for multiple years because he wouldn't fit with any other team as well and the fact he'd been here for those years.
Because I guarantee you, if DLo excels in the offense, we win a Championship and then re-sign him long term to a bargain contract for what will essentially be the rest of his prime, that's best case scenario for the Lakers as well as why we drafted him in the first place. _________________ How NBA 2K18 failed the All-Time Lakers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxMBYm3wwxk
The whole problem with DLO is that with this core (AD, Bron, Reaves, Rui) he doesn't bring enough of the qualities we would need to get to the next level.
Elite playmaking? No (Good, but not elite, not a threat to drive and kick)
Elite defense? No
Elite 3 point shooting? No (Good but not elite)
.
DLo doesn't need to be elite at defense, just solid to above average. And he was solid last season, far better than Reaves was and better than he was the previous season.
DLo's playmaking is elite, it's silly to assume it isn't.
You don't think his 3 point shooting is elite when he was the most efficient and best high volume 3 point shooter in the league last season?
The whole problem with DLO is that with this core (AD, Bron, Reaves, Rui) he doesn't bring enough of the qualities we would need to get to the next level.
Elite playmaking? No (Good, but not elite, not a threat to drive and kick)
Elite defense? No
Elite 3 point shooting? No (Good but not elite)
.
DLo doesn't need to be elite at defense, just solid to above average. And he was solid last season, far better than Reaves was and better than he was the previous season.
DLo's playmaking is elite, it's silly to assume it isn't.
You don't think his 3 point shooting is elite when he was the most efficient and best high volume 3 point shooter in the league last season?
Okay that says all we need to know.
Russell has never ever been better than Reaves at defense. PLEASE stop saying this. Unless you are cherry picking from game to game. Even then, please stop. You don't have to try to bring Reaves down to prop Russell. Russell has his value, it just isn't defensive.
Also Russell is a career .369 three point shooter. That makes him ok, not great. Last year he was great, but it is not his norm. He has been very good the last few years though. We hope he will keep this up. Since you like to compare, Reaves is a career .365 three point shooter.
Finally, Russell is NOT an elite playmaker. He can be good at times, but is very on and off. Your exaggerating is diminishing what he really brings to the team. He is valuable, but not in the way you are making him out to be.
I think he is great for the team at his salary. I do not think he is some irreplacable player.
Thats what they do. Bend the truth so it doesnt sound as ridiculous. Assign nebulous terms to things. Make their things they are good at sound ELITE and their things they are bad at sound solid and good.
The reg season of course has been undeniably good with improvements seen in the post season too. One of the things overlooked about the post season play is that it would only be figuring out how to win in spite of him for about 1/3rd of the time. The other ~2/3rds of the games he would either lead the team in scoring, lead in assists, shoot blisteringly from 3pt range, or otherwise directly contribute to winning. It’s that bad ~1/3rd that is so frustrating that the other ~2/3rds gets completely dismissed or denied like it didn’t even happen. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if someone is responding right now as this is being read to refute it…in complete denial…without even looking it up.
2023 post season ~: Good-Mem/GSW 2/3rds, Bad-Den 1/3rd.
2024 post season ~: Good-NOP/Den 4games 2/3rds, Bad-Den 2games 1/3rd.
It’s the unpredictability of those bad played games that overshadow the amazing games even tho the amazing games track to be about every other game…~50% amazing games…decent games with some positive contributions again occur about 2 to 1 which is 2/3rds of the time. That productivity actual tracks favorably with other 3rd options for half the cost at ~$18m vs ~$36m.
Don’t get me wrong, I’d like an upgrade for better defense and would trade some of the 3pt shooting/playmaking for it, but I recognize the value so I’d want any upgrade to actually be a definitive upgrade instead of just a dumping out of disgusted emotional feelings being in denial about the actual contributions. If I couldn’t upgrade like that then I’d upgrade other areas and roll with it. I’d actually prefer to just run it back instead of downgrading or even prefer running it back over a marginal/questionable upgrade.
Sense and actual analysis, a rarity that gets called 'mental gymnastics' and 'denial' and 'DLo has no flaws' by people that don't want to or can't think even this nuanced about things.
DLO is elite playmaker, elite shooter, solid defender. Yet no one wants to offer him a contract for a modest 19 million/y and the Lakers cant trade him.
Woops forgot to add he actually thrives in the playoffs.
DLO is elite playmaker, elite shooter, solid defender. Yet no one wants to offer him a contract for a modest 19 million/y and the Lakers cant trade him.
Woops forgot to add he actually thrives in the playoffs.
Hmm something doesnt add up.
It’s the deception, creation of false narratives, and denial, that’s what doesn’t add up. It’s like adding “solid defender” to the list above, a calculated move to make it seem like that’s what has been promoted, which it hasn’t, sure it’s sarcasm but still calculated. By including that obvious false invention tho it overshadows…and allows emotionally for dismissal and disregard of…the other parts, which appears to be the intent. If you believe, just tell the truth, if that’s something that can be done regarding the topic.
Dlo is an elite playmaker and 3pt shooter who struggles defensively and has performed poorly in some playoff games. The good may or maynot outweigh the bad…a matter of opinion…so the Lakers should look for someone better. It would look like a downgrade however unless contributions are accounted for with new additions or existing personnel. The truth isn’t as hard to communicate as it seems. _________________ “When it looks as if it is a realistic possibility, I want to focus on winning a ship like it’s a goal that can’t be denied. I didn’t see that this off season.”
Last edited by Hanging from Rafters on Tue Aug 06, 2024 2:51 pm; edited 4 times in total
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