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Runway8
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Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Posts: 24687
Location: La Jolla, San Diego
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 Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2025 12:22 pm Post subject: |
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| lakersfever714 wrote: | | We're only favored by 4 points? I thought this would be an easy sweep for the Lakers. Shouldn't be a close game, right? |
If you're right about Luka, being non-generational, anyone can replace his numbers like DFS... then it'll be a very close series, we might even lose.
If you're wrong about Luka, then we should win the series comfortably.
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"The game is MORE than just one player. Without Luka, DFS would have been more than enough to replace him based on what we've seen," LakersFever714, the greatest casual of all time. |
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Runway8
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Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Posts: 24687
Location: La Jolla, San Diego
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| Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2025 12:25 pm Post subject: |
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| lakersfever714 wrote: | | We were shooting lights out so I wanted to keep playing. Hopefully, the week-long rest doesn't cool us down. Stupid play-in garbage. |
Speaking of garbage... you were lights out with garbage Luka takes. The week-long rest has cooled you down.
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"The game is MORE than just one player. Without Luka, DFS would have been more than enough to replace him based on what we've seen," LakersFever714, the greatest casual of all time. |
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Treble Clef
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Joined: 20 Nov 2012
Posts: 25075
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| Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2025 1:13 pm Post subject: |
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| 1995Lakers wrote: | | Treble Clef wrote: | | I think the TWolves are the biggest threat in the west to take a game from the Lakers in a series but I’m predicting 4-0. |
Geez....we arent the 2001 Lakers here.....who smacked the (bleep) out of 4 50+ win teams by record margins and went 15-1. What did Chick say about that team, "The highest form of basketball that he had ever seen from a team?"
So much infighting from that team with Kobe and Shaq, not giving a (bleep) about defense during the regular season and general championship malaise.....and they still won 56 games while on snooze. Then they woke up and became the one team that could beat Jordan's Bulls and Steph/Durant Warriors.
But yea Wolves....could easily be 4-0. |
I am very confident that this team can make a similar run. Luka and LeBron can both be the best player in the NBA on any given night and their gravity opens up great looks for the Lakers amazing outside shooting. If teams try to apply defensive pressure, the Lakers will be living at the free throw line. |
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james5000
Starting Rotation
Joined: 11 Mar 2020
Posts: 114
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| Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2025 1:29 pm Post subject: |
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| Inverse wrote: | | I think an important side plot to this series will be if Gabe Vincent's output will be able to match Dante's output for minnesota. If Gabe can cancel out Dante i think that will bode well for Lakers winning this series in 5 or 6. Dante is minnesota's X-factor imo |
If that happens 4-0 easily
Donte is a much better scorer than Gabe.
Even if Donte goes nuts and Gabe can't score I still think we win lol |
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miggz23
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Joined: 29 Nov 2018
Posts: 9432
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| Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2025 2:42 pm Post subject: |
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| Rui/DFS/Vincent will be the key guys in each series moving forward... |
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miggz23
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Joined: 29 Nov 2018
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| Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2025 2:46 pm Post subject: |
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| Inverse wrote: | | I think an important side plot to this series will be if Gabe Vincent's output will be able to match Dante's output for minnesota. If Gabe can cancel out Dante i think that will bode well for Lakers winning this series in 5 or 6. Dante is minnesota's X-factor imo |
I think thats more on Rui to cover his out put... I'm more worried with Naz Reid, Divicenzo, and NAW off the bench.
Last edited by miggz23 on Mon Apr 14, 2025 5:23 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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LakerDYnasty72
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Joined: 18 Jul 2006
Posts: 4912
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| Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2025 2:55 pm Post subject: |
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| JamaalWilkes wrote: | | I think the Timberwolves are a more difficult match-up for the Lakers than many people realize. |
Personally, I think we would have said that about pracitically anyone we were going to face. |
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Kblo247!
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Joined: 05 Oct 2015
Posts: 6011
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| Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2025 3:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Nobody wrote: | | J.C. Smith wrote: | Guy to look out for is Randle. He hasn't been great in his first couple playoff trips. If he has another poor showing, it's going to hurt his reputation. And he's playing against the team that drafted him, and choose not to extend him, forcing him to take an MLE contract with another team. It's important for him to have a good series. Given that, I think he's going to be giving his best effort. He has a lot on the line.
They need to try to shut him down early and get his past struggles into his head. But after his slow start he's been deadly post-all star break, shooting 41% from three since the break.
Overall though I think the Lakers in six. I don't think it's going to be an easy series though. They've won 8 of their last 9. They are peaking going into the playoffs. |
I've suggested as much in another thread and got ridiculed for it. Hope it's a fluke streak and he regresses to the mean. |
Randle is a big a choke artist as Dlo in the playoffs
Randle shot 29.8% from the field and 33.3% from three in his last postseason. He averaged 5 turnovers to 4 assists.
The postseason before that he shot 37% from the field and 25% from three and he averaged 3.5 assists to 3.5 turnovers.
So in total he has shot 34% from the field and 28% from three while averaging 3.7 assists to 3.9 turnovers. He’s been a horrible playoff player |
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wolfpaclaker
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Joined: 29 May 2002
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| Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2025 3:52 pm Post subject: |
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To the poster who said the matchups were a joke.
I mean this. LeBron/Randle are not that apart physically that Randle will call for help each time down. If ANT decides to clamp in he’s a great defender. They also have NAW/McDaniels/DD to throw on Reaves. If they clamp in they have a decent set of defenders that can play our best players straight up and not force doubles.
I agree the consensus should be Lakers in 6, just the Wolves are more balanced (especially if Randle makes his 3s) than the Warriors so I feel they would be a more physically imposing threat than the warriors. Could be similar to the Grizzlies series a few years ago we took in 6. Warriors to me would have needed to shoot the greatest 3 point series in ages to stand a chance. They simply don’t have enough weapons to make us work on both ends. Warriors are a theat to score 130 but also can give up 135. A lot or 1 way guys on the Warriors. Wolves have a bit more 2 way stuff that can make us work a bit harder to grind out wins. We will need to grind a bit more and be physical to beat the Wolves. |
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silkwilkes
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Location: searching for the mojo of Dr. Buss
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| Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2025 4:05 pm Post subject: |
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Randle can't defender LBJ... come on now. If they leave Randle on LBJ without help, he gonna average 40+ a game.
Biggest issue for Randle is going to be defending the 3 and then not having LBJ blow right by him. He just doesn't have that athleticism or skills defensively to match up against LBJ.
In fact, I think LBJ is going to be the MVP in this series. He's a horrible matchup for Minny.
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wolfpaclaker
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| Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2025 5:01 pm Post subject: |
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Randle can’t get bullied is what I mean. LeBron relies a lot on bully ball in the playoffs and game slows down. He usually wants the switch onto a big or a small. When guys are his size historically Bron becomes more of a jump shooter in the playoffs. That’s what I mean - Wolves have an anchor inside and Randle won’t get bully balled. In contrast a lot of teams LeBron had a wide open driving lane each game. I’ve seen Aaron Gordon make LeBron do this. Lets see what the Wolves scheme up. I’ll be surprised if they allow easy layups for Bron. Think he’ll be a more of a jump shooter in this series.
Probably we will try to get switches leaving a small or Gobert on Bron allowing him to cook. That’s when he gets his best looks.
IMO biggest mismatch in favour for us is Luka, not LeBron. |
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hype
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Joined: 19 Nov 2007
Posts: 4839
Location: Lake Nacimiento
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| Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2025 5:13 pm Post subject: |
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| silkwilkes wrote: | Randle can't defender LBJ... come on now. If they leave Randle on LBJ without help, he gonna average 40+ a game.
Biggest issue for Randle is going to be defending the 3 and then not having LBJ blow right by him. He just doesn't have that athleticism or skills defensively to match up against LBJ.
In fact, I think LBJ is going to be the MVP in this series. He's a horrible matchup for Minny. |
Plus, if they put Edwards on Luka that is a HUGE win for us as well imo.. Let their only great player get worn out on the defensive end while trying to be the #1 option every game as well. Having the players to guard reaves is about the only thing they have for sure and Reaves has still got solid numbers against them. In our last meeting we controlled it with an out of shape and inefficient Luka (he shot 6-20 and 1-9 from 3). Bron just put us on his back with some help from AR and little to nothing from the bench or Rui. They even had a great game from Shannon Jr. who was the second highest scorer in the entire game.
We're simply a HORRIBLE matchup for them regardless of it looking much better on paper. I predict that they can absolutely stay with us for stretches but they're going to have some of those pesky dry spells in most games and with our tightened rotations and everyone being healthy and in-shape now? I just don't see that happening much with us and we'll be building nice double digit leads.
I agree though, I can see them being overly concerned with Luka and if they try to put Randle on an island with Bron? He will easily come out as the MVP. We're going to turn their top 10 defense into swiss cheese, holes everywhere. I get respecting the opponent but we can also be real here. I seen some talk that this was even the toughest team in the West? They sure as hell are not especially in this specific matchup. It's going to get much tougher for Randle when Gobert's minutes are on a heavy decline against us.
Fantastic 1st round warmup for a team still coming together. I think we take them out in 5 with a game in there somewhere where Minnesota is lights out and we aren't on our A game but I truthfully don't see that happening for more than 1 game. We have so much firepower now, I just don't think Minnesota can consistently keep up all series.
I can't wait to see Playoff Luka in P&G...
"That's what I fu**** do!!" |
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miggz23
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| Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2025 5:25 pm Post subject: |
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I expect the Lakers to hunt down Gobert and Conley all series long...
I also won't be surprise if Gobert, Randle, Conley gets bench at some point during this series. Specially in crunch time. |
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Inspector Gadget
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Joined: 18 Apr 2016
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| Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2025 7:03 pm Post subject: |
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| miggz23 wrote: | I expect the Lakers to hunt down Gobert and Conley all series long...
I also won't be surprise if Gobert, Randle, Conley gets bench at some point during this series. Specially in crunch time. |
Here is my take on the series: if Minnesota ends up having Gobert and Randle feast on rebounds then we are gonna lose this series, we need to make sure Gobert is getting played off the floor from being in foul trouble and making guys like Randle become a deterrent to Minnesota |
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32
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Joined: 04 Nov 2009
Posts: 75691
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| Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2025 7:37 pm Post subject: |
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I wish we could have played the Clippers or Warriors in the first round. Travel would have been minimal.
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Nobody in the NBA can touch the Laker brand, which, like the uniform color, is pure gold. |
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Nobody
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Joined: 13 Sep 2008
Posts: 6256
Location: Ljubljana, Slovenia
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| Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2025 11:17 pm Post subject: |
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| Kblo247! wrote: | | Nobody wrote: | | J.C. Smith wrote: | Guy to look out for is Randle. He hasn't been great in his first couple playoff trips. If he has another poor showing, it's going to hurt his reputation. And he's playing against the team that drafted him, and choose not to extend him, forcing him to take an MLE contract with another team. It's important for him to have a good series. Given that, I think he's going to be giving his best effort. He has a lot on the line.
They need to try to shut him down early and get his past struggles into his head. But after his slow start he's been deadly post-all star break, shooting 41% from three since the break.
Overall though I think the Lakers in six. I don't think it's going to be an easy series though. They've won 8 of their last 9. They are peaking going into the playoffs. |
I've suggested as much in another thread and got ridiculed for it. Hope it's a fluke streak and he regresses to the mean. |
Randle is a big a choke artist as Dlo in the playoffs
Randle shot 29.8% from the field and 33.3% from three in his last postseason. He averaged 5 turnovers to 4 assists.
The postseason before that he shot 37% from the field and 25% from three and he averaged 3.5 assists to 3.5 turnovers.
So in total he has shot 34% from the field and 28% from three while averaging 3.7 assists to 3.9 turnovers. He’s been a horrible playoff player |
Well, here's hoping he continues like that in this postseason and his solid performances since the AS break don't carry over. |
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32
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2025 5:57 am Post subject: |
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The line is now Lakers - 4.5. ESPN analytics gives the Lakers a 67% chance of winning game 1.
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Nobody in the NBA can touch the Laker brand, which, like the uniform color, is pure gold. |
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defense
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2025 7:46 am Post subject: |
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| 32 wrote: | | The line is now Lakers - 4.5. ESPN analytics gives the Lakers a 67% chance of winning game 1. |
Sticky this thread. Most important thread is western civilization at the moment. |
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dont_be_a_wuss
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Joined: 29 Mar 2012
Posts: 22809
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2025 8:20 am Post subject: |
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| 32 wrote: | | I wish we could have played the Clippers or Warriors in the first round. Travel would have been minimal. |
3.5 hours on a private jet and hopefully only one trip out. |
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dont_be_a_wuss
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2025 8:23 am Post subject: |
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| Julius Randle has very poor playoff performances so far in his career. He averages 34% FG and 28% 3FG. Mommy’s boys feasting at the rim is a concern, but with a 5 game series (Lakers in 5), JJ will have time to put in a defensive adjustment if needed. |
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LakersRGolden
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Joined: 13 Jan 2002
Posts: 8269
Location: Lake Forest
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2025 10:30 am Post subject: |
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| dont_be_a_wuss wrote: | | 32 wrote: | | I wish we could have played the Clippers or Warriors in the first round. Travel would have been minimal. |
3.5 hours on a private jet and hopefully only one trip out. |
We "might" see them in the semi's and WCF. Travel during the spread-out 1st round and then chill in Cali until the Finals.  |
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defense
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2025 10:41 am Post subject: |
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| dont_be_a_wuss wrote: | | 32 wrote: | | I wish we could have played the Clippers or Warriors in the first round. Travel would have been minimal. |
3.5 hours on a private jet and hopefully only one trip out. |
These 2025 guys will need to load manage a game due to this harsh travel. |
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lakersfever714
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Joined: 05 Jan 2016
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2025 10:47 am Post subject: |
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4.5 point spread means the oddsmakers think it's going to be a back-and-forth close series. I was hoping the Lakers would be favored more. It looks like almost a coin-flip to win the series. If every series was a coinflip, then we'd need to win 4 of them. 1 in 16 chance to win the championship.
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32
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2025 11:19 am Post subject: |
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The 4.5 spread is for game 1. It has nothing to do with the series. The Lakers are -200 to win the series. The Lakers are +1400 to win the title (4th best).
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Nobody in the NBA can touch the Laker brand, which, like the uniform color, is pure gold. |
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ducasse
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2025 4:12 pm Post subject: |
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| lakersfever714 wrote: | | We're only favored by 4 points? I thought this would be an easy sweep for the Lakers. Shouldn't be a close game, right? |
This won't be an easy sweep. It's going to be a tough series. Lakers role players need to hit their 3 pt shots at a high rate to win. Wolves going to kill Lakers on the boards and Randle seems to have made it his goal in life to play well against the Lakers. |
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