Joined: 03 Oct 2003 Posts: 8377 Location: Santa Monica
Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2024 8:46 pm Post subject:
Brawn13 wrote:
slavavov wrote:
I'm starting to think LeBron has one, maybe even two years of superstar or near-superstar-level play left in him if he is lucky enough to avoid a major injury. I know there are downsides to having him and that there are things about him that annoy us, but we have to try to get another championship out of him.
When he leaves, who knows how much longer it will take us to get another all-time great? Especially given the issues with the front office. Dr. Buss ain't walking through that door, and neither is Jerry West.
We're not that far away from having a championship-caliber roster. Maybe you trade either DLO or AR for Dejounte Murray, get a 3-and-D wing and see if you can upgrade from Darvin Ham.
Our record and our luck with being healthy says we are quite far away. Done are the days of Lebron/AD teams being title favorites. I think the front office knows that….we are simply hoping to be a dark horse team and try go on an unexpected run like last year.
LeBron and AD have been relatively healthy this season. LeBron's minutes need to go down to about 32 a game, but he has been available for 59 of our 68 games.
Improving the roster would help them stay healthy moving forward, because it would reduce their workload and leave them more fresh for big games and the playoffs.
It seems our biggest problem this year isn't anything physical but something emotional/mental/spiritual and, to at least some extent, also coaching. Our roster is really good, we just need a couple of moves to make it championship-caliber when healthy. _________________ Lakers 49ers Chargers Dodgers
It seems our biggest problem this year isn't anything physical but something emotional/mental/spiritual and, to at least some extent, also coaching. Our roster is really good, we just need a couple of moves to make it championship-caliber when healthy.
I think the team doesn't have key/starting-caliber 2-way players. A majority of the rotation is 1-dimensional.
If Ham goes with a defensive lineup they can't score.
If he goes with an offensive lineup they can't defend.
If he goes with energy guys they're all totally 1-dimensional (Vando/Hayes)
etc.
Pure speculation on my part but looks like Lebron and team made a push to get the extension and the Lakers didn’t bite. If we lose in the play-in it’s not happening. If we make it past and we win a round or 2 he gets it. Purely performance based.
Joined: 22 Mar 2003 Posts: 3284 Location: so many places
Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2024 2:21 pm Post subject:
Snipes wrote:
Pure speculation on my part but looks like Lebron and team made a push to get the extension and the Lakers didn’t bite. If we lose in the play-in it’s not happening. If we make it past and we win a round or 2 he gets it. Purely performance based.
I wish but reality is that Jeannie wants him back either way.
Joined: 03 Oct 2003 Posts: 8377 Location: Santa Monica
Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2024 6:31 pm Post subject:
ThePageDude wrote:
slavavov wrote:
It seems our biggest problem this year isn't anything physical but something emotional/mental/spiritual and, to at least some extent, also coaching. Our roster is really good, we just need a couple of moves to make it championship-caliber when healthy.
I think the team doesn't have key/starting-caliber 2-way players. A majority of the rotation is 1-dimensional.
If Ham goes with a defensive lineup they can't score.
If he goes with an offensive lineup they can't defend.
If he goes with energy guys they're all totally 1-dimensional (Vando/Hayes)
etc.
You're absolutely right about that. But we still have enough talent overall to win at least 50 games. This team doesn't bother to show up emotionally or spiritually, which has led to losses in games they could've or should've won. _________________ Lakers 49ers Chargers Dodgers
It seems our biggest problem this year isn't anything physical but something emotional/mental/spiritual and, to at least some extent, also coaching. Our roster is really good, we just need a couple of moves to make it championship-caliber when healthy.
I think the team doesn't have key/starting-caliber 2-way players. A majority of the rotation is 1-dimensional.
If Ham goes with a defensive lineup they can't score.
If he goes with an offensive lineup they can't defend.
If he goes with energy guys they're all totally 1-dimensional (Vando/Hayes)
etc.
You're absolutely right about that. But we still have enough talent overall to win at least 50 games. This team doesn't bother to show up emotionally or spiritually, which has led to losses in games they could've or should've won.
Team is slow and unathletic. We lack size both in height and weight. We lack long players with agility similar to Vando who has been out the whole year. It's a lot more than emotions lol. Without Vando and Davis we are a horrendous defensive team. What advantage Lebron and Davis would have had in size has been negated because they are playing center and PF.
Last edited by defense on Mon Mar 18, 2024 4:56 am; edited 1 time in total
<snip>
You're absolutely right about that. But we still have enough talent overall to win at least 50 games. This team doesn't bother to show up emotionally or spiritually, which has led to losses in games they could've or should've won.
This is a great debate to have, I kinda agree with you that the current team is better than the current record. By how much, that's tough to say. BUT, I also say that:
- the win-deficit came earlier in the season, that's when a number of games were lost that should/could have been won.
- what we're seeing now though (other than the GS loss) is near par for this team
I had expected it would be a brutal March and that's what it has been. So far they're tracking .500 against good competition in March - if you subtract the GS loss. which is attributable mainly to AD's injury
Winning .500 against decent competition is about par for this team imo without Vando. And Vando would make some diff but imo at best make this a .600 (50-win) team - so we kinda agree as to this team's ceiling if all were healthy.
<snip>
You're absolutely right about that. But we still have enough talent overall to win at least 50 games. This team doesn't bother to show up emotionally or spiritually, which has led to losses in games they could've or should've won.
This is a great debate to have, I kinda agree with you that the current team is better than the current record. By how much, that's tough to say. BUT, I also say that:
- the win-deficit came earlier in the season, that's when a number of games were lost that should/could have been won.
- what we're seeing now though (other than the GS loss) is near par for this team
I had expected it would be a brutal March and that's what it has been. So far they're tracking .500 against good competition in March - if you subtract the GS loss. which is attributable mainly to AD's injury
Winning .500 against decent competition is about par for this team imo without Vando. And Vando would make some diff but imo at best make this a .600 (50-win) team - so we kinda agree as to this team's ceiling if all were healthy.
We’d be a bit better if less injuries and better coaching. But I’m talking like a 6th seed. Our ceiling just isn’t as high as people want to believe. We won in 2020 because Lebron and AD were both top 4 players the whole year. Now they’re more like 10-15. That’s a MASSIVE drop off in impact.
At this point in the season, our record is reflective of what we are for the most part. We are a play-in level team and with some favorable matchups, maybe we go farther than expected (like last year)
The issue is people thought we were really a WCF level team and that should’ve been our floor. But in reality we’re just a play in team that got lucky with the matchups for 2 rounds.
<snip>
You're absolutely right about that. But we still have enough talent overall to win at least 50 games. This team doesn't bother to show up emotionally or spiritually, which has led to losses in games they could've or should've won.
This is a great debate to have, I kinda agree with you that the current team is better than the current record. By how much, that's tough to say. BUT, I also say that:
- the win-deficit came earlier in the season, that's when a number of games were lost that should/could have been won.
- what we're seeing now though (other than the GS loss) is near par for this team
I had expected it would be a brutal March and that's what it has been. So far they're tracking .500 against good competition in March - if you subtract the GS loss. which is attributable mainly to AD's injury
Winning .500 against decent competition is about par for this team imo without Vando. And Vando would make some diff but imo at best make this a .600 (50-win) team - so we kinda agree as to this team's ceiling if all were healthy.
We’d be a bit better if less injuries and better coaching. But I’m talking like a 6th seed. Our ceiling just isn’t as high as people want to believe. We won in 2020 because Lebron and AD were both top 4 players the whole year. Now they’re more like 10-15. That’s a MASSIVE drop off in impact.
At this point in the season, our record is reflective of what we are for the most part. We are a play-in level team and with some favorable matchups, maybe we go farther than expected (like last year)
The issue is people thought we were really a WCF level team and that should’ve been our floor. But in reality we’re just a play in team that got lucky with the matchups for 2 rounds.
When looking at the win rate since Rui has been moved into the starting line up it looks as if the Lakers could perhaps be a top 4 team in the west. That win rate aligns to a WCF this year as it was last year. Vincent is a long shot at this point along with Vando, plus with Wood out (not that he was a major impact anyway tho), it looks like better coaching, (going with Rui), and less injuries, (Vincent, Vando, Wood), would have the Lakers competing for a ship. _________________ “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.”
He was active, and we definitely needed it. He might have forced things a bit and it led to some turnovers early, but he was steady nonetheless. His rebounding was great tonight, wish we could have gotten him more rest tonight.
Could be our last push for a championship. Have to use Lebron wisely down the stretch. When he's rested, offensively, he's still not far off from 2020 Bron. _________________ Playoffs is good enough. - Jeanie Buss 2024
I just hope by last 1-2 games of season we've locked into whatever seed we are going to get and can give him a game or two off. He seems to always look spry after a rest and we may be in single elimination game for play-in.
Joined: 27 May 2010 Posts: 49285 Location: LA to the Bay
Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2024 5:01 pm Post subject:
Cue Boys II Men
LeBron James on how long he expects to continue playing in the NBA: “Not very long. … I’m not gonna play another 21 years, that’s for damn sure. But not very long. I don’t know when that door will close as far as when I’ll retire. But I don’t have much time left.”
LeBron James on how long he expects to continue playing in the NBA: “Not very long. … I’m not gonna play another 21 years, that’s for damn sure. But not very long. I don’t know when that door will close as far as when I’ll retire. But I don’t have much time left.”
LeGod!! This is the Lebron that we've won the championship with. Looks like he's playoff ready. Let's hope this supporting cast won't let him down. I know Denver might be hard to beat but if we get this Bron and everyone shows up, it's anybody's series imo.
We played Denver really tight last year. If everyone on the team would just want it more than them, then we could get it. It's just sheer willpower. _________________ Playoffs is good enough. - Jeanie Buss 2024
LeGod!! This is the Lebron that we've won the championship with. Looks like he's playoff ready. Let's hope this supporting cast won't let him down. I know Denver might be hard to beat but if we get this Bron and everyone shows up, it's anybody's series imo.
We played Denver really tight last year. If everyone on the team would just want it more than them, then we could get it. It's just sheer willpower.
It honestly is just willpower vs the nuggets and getting the money off their back. They can shoot and compete with anyone when they’re on.
LeGod!! This is the Lebron that we've won the championship with. Looks like he's playoff ready. Let's hope this supporting cast won't let him down. I know Denver might be hard to beat but if we get this Bron and everyone shows up, it's anybody's series imo.
We played Denver really tight last year. If everyone on the team would just want it more than them, then we could get it. It's just sheer willpower.
It honestly is just willpower vs the nuggets and getting the money off their back. They can shoot and compete with anyone when they’re on.
Dive for every loose ball. Hustle after every rebound. Those things could mean the difference between winning and losing in a tight game, which we have always done against the Thuggets. We just have to want it more than them. Leave it all on the floor.
Nuggets have like a mental edge against us for winning 8 in a row so we'd have to shake that off too. _________________ Playoffs is good enough. - Jeanie Buss 2024
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