We are running like a well oiled machine without Lebron

[LakesGnrLake]

Discuss.

[miggz23]

Look at the opponents. Also Schroder and TBryant coming back has a lot to do with that. AD has also stepped up.

[BLF2145]

[epic_]

[Inspector Gadget]

If the Lakers beat the Suns then this thread has legs but if they struggle against Booker and company then there is still a lot of work to be done.

[epic_]

[miggz23]

[pio2u]

This team needs all the help it can get!

[Brawn13]

Our wins came against garbage. Lebron is not the problem…he needs to play better for sure, but this team minus Lebron isn’t better off long term.

[sonic the laker]

[J.C. Smith]

The Lakers opening schedule was brutal, with the winnable games heading into the season being against Utah and Portland, who were both playing well.

Lebron's downtime coincides with the schedule getting weaker, and with the long 5 day rest, which wasn't coincidental. But it also coincides with some guys getting back who were out, and with AD hitting his stride, as well as the team having more time to play together.

The fact that they caught those teams on the second night of a back to back ,m certainly helps. That Simmons and Irving missed the Nets game, or that Poetl and Cade both missed action helps. But it also helps that the Spurs have lost 10 out of their last 11 games, and the Pistons have the worst record in the league, and that they were home games.

I think more realistically what has happened is that the team and staff has realized that feeding AD is their best way to win games. They've gotten him the ball on the move a lot more often. He's doing most of his damage inside, and is gobbling up rebounds in a way that he never has as a Laker.

Hopefully AD's resurgence will continue when Lebron returns. Russ seems to have figured out his role. Now Lebron will need to figure out his. But the next game is a big step up against the Suns. I'd imagine it will be a much tougher win, with or without Lebron.

[22]

Bron hasn’t played well all year essentially. We will see if that trend continues when he comes back

[Lakerfan 4 Life]

We used to hear the same thing on LG about Kobe when he missed games.

[alleyoop]

[PICKnPOP]

Whoever said lebron replacing Pat bev is on to something.
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“like I never left”

#1

[BigBallerBrand]

LeBum + 2 firsts for Miles Turner + Hield. Do it Mitch, I mean Rob
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Billions Billions Billions

[defense]

Lebron will come back and shoot 8 threes

and maybe make 25% of them

A couple of those threes will be pull ups from 35 plus feet cause Lebron is high IQ

[GOODRICH25]

[governator]

When Bron is back, I wanna see BReaves-Brown-Bron-Brow-Bryant, that’s size, shooting capable, defensive capable, rebounding capable, AD at the 4 starting unit. But that means WB($47)-PatBev($15)-LW($6)-Nunn-($6) aka 2 near young max salaries on the bench lol, epic talent misread

[dont_be_a_wuss]

I haven’t seen them run the “stand around and watch LeBron take a step back 3” offense in a few games. It’s been nice

[troy]

I am legitimately worried. AD is unleashed when Lebron is out. When Lebron is on the floor, everyone seems hesitant and the offense stop moving. Lakers also play too emotional when Lebron is out there, over-celebrating on routine plays. Mostly, our guards stop being empowered. Players like Walker and Reaves don't seem as aggressive.

[chrisca91]

If AD keeps playing like this, i'd say shut lebron down.

[22]

[PenG_]

Given how polarizing a player he is, it's hard to know when these are convenient shots or honest discussion. That said, I think it's a combination of LeBron's lack of rim pressure and us playing awful teams missing key players.

[Four Decade Bandwagon]