LAKERS LAKERS Thread

Discussion in 'Los Angeles DODGERS' started by rube, Dec 16, 2015.

  1. rube

    rube DSP Legend Staff Member Administrator

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    Ball, KCP, Ingram, LeBron, Bogut might not be a bad defensive squad when you need stops.
    LeBron at PF may get a lot of benefit of the doubt love from the refs when going against less starry PF's.
     
  2. TAFNAC

    TAFNAC Cossack Staff Member Administrator

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    Well yeah. Add Paul George and/or Russel Westbrook too and you've got a pretty good defensive team....next year.
     
  3. rube

    rube DSP Legend Staff Member Administrator

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    Would be nice to have a second team of Lonzo, KCP, Ingram, Nance, and Bogut for defensive situations.
    With Lonzo obviously splitting time with the first team since we probably will have ample PG play.
    This is of course in the event that we end up with superstar starters and KCP is willing to be a big minute role player.
    Lonzo, Westbrook, George, LeBron, Lopez.
    Then we switch to the flex team which just drops Lonzo and Lopez and brings in KCP and Bogut.
    Westbrook, KCP, George, LeBron, Bogut. That defense looks good.
    Then Westbrook, George, and LeBron sit and Lonzo comes back in but brings Nance and Ingram with him giving you the Lonzo, KCP, Ingram, Nance, Bogut lineup.

    That is 3 good lineups. An offensive star studded lineup, a defensive mostly lineup, and a flex lineup which is the stars plus the best defensive role players in Bogut and KCP.

    https://www.silverscreenandroll.com...year-stats-analysis-ivica-zubac-summer-league
     
  4. Fall Winslow

    Fall Winslow McRib

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    Bogut's always been productive, but he's always had his weaknesses as well.
    His FT shooting, for one.
    And while he's a solid to good rim protector, he can still be exploited by small ball if the other guys on the floor don't have their shit together from a team defense standpoint.
    I don't expect Bogut to have this great defensive impact for LAL unless everybody else buys into what Luke wants to do and improves because we're not talking about Ben Wallace defensively here.
    And we can't confuse an older Bogut for an older Pau Gasol either..Pau can stretch the floor offensively and draw a double team on the low block consistently and Bogut's not that guy.
    Too many variables for me to say that every team would value Bogut the same, even with his per 36 production..teams that want to develop their youth, teams that don't want to have a 5 out there that's susceptible to hack-a-Shaq, payroll limitations, rosters numbers, teams that value smaller/quicker 5s that can switch ala Tarik Black, etc.
    Again, the Cavs, T-Wolves, and Celtics just didn't have anything other than the vet minimum to offer him and they had needs elsewhere as well.
    I could see a scenario where, outside of LAL where he has connections to Pelinka and Luke, maybe the only teams that were interested at all were playoff teams with title hopes and the right players to surround him with.
    Now, don't get me wrong..a broken leg can certainly do you in.
    We witnessed Nash and what happened with his leg and the nerve damage there, but we also heard about the nerve condition immediately.
    I think we would've heard the same if Bogut were dealing with nerve damage..one thing about LAL, nothing stays behind closed doors, everything leaks..always has.
    If something's wrong with Bogut, we will find out.
    For now..all's quiet.
     
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  5. Fall Winslow

    Fall Winslow McRib

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    The Los Angeles Lakers’ digital team has been sharing an exciting offseason for the franchise, with players filling up the new training facility and franchise headquarters seemingly every day as they prepare for the start of camp.

    While it’s been great to see the snippets, the important takeaway is how much work the entire group has been putting in before official team activities have even begun. There’s been so much activity, in fact, that head coach Luke Walton has been forced to ban players from coming in for training at times this summer.

    “He’s had to close the gym off a few times just to keep people from coming in, just officially locking up, no one’s allowed in,” Lopez said in an interesting profile on the incoming big man penned by Bill Oram of the Orange County Register.
     
  6. Fall Winslow

    Fall Winslow McRib

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    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...o-lakers-present-but-is-he-part-of-las-future

    Pincus :nod: That opportunity to have 77M in cap space looks great, but the idea of LeBron/George/Russ dividing 66M in space among themselves works too. That's interesting..would they agree to split 66M and keep Randle when it'd be a minutes squeeze, or want to split the 77M and open up minutes for others? Anyway, then sign Wade with one of the exceptions to play the Iguodala role, bring Bogut back and we have somethin. Nance can start @ the 5 with Bogut backing him up or the other way around, who gives a rat's ass at the that point..nobody gives a damn who starts @ center for GSW. Zo/Russ/Wade/George/Ingram/LeBron/Kuzma/Nance/Bogut..that's a strong 9 man rotation right there. Spoiler alert, Vegas would give that team the 2nd best odds of winning the title year 1. Although, KCP would be a better fit than Wade in certain respects, as is helping defend point guards..either way, not about to complain if DWade brings a steady hand off the bench for 20-22 minutes a night.

    There's not 4 all-stars there like GSW, but there's 3 + better depth + a brighter future down the line with Zo, Ingram, and potentially Kuzma. LAL would have to fight against GSW's chemistry advantage, though, so there's that. As much shooting as the GSW has, that's about as much athleticism as that LAL group has. Everybody except Bogut is an above average athlete, most of them excellent athletically..the potential to be a force defensively. Kerr VS Luke could be a huge factor in that series. That potential LAL squad gives LeBron a better chance against GSW than any shit-stain group the Cavs can put together, no question. Can we rid ourselves of Deng and Clarkson though remains the question..without stretching and waiving them, that is..
     
  7. Fall Winslow

    Fall Winslow McRib

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  8. Fall Winslow

    Fall Winslow McRib

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    Presti must be in love with the cocoa..he bought George and Melo for the low-low
     
  9. Gebbeth

    Gebbeth DSP Legend

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    Possible Outcomes:

    1). Ball dominant PG + Ball stopping forward = another controversy filled season + PG13 really wants out to Lakers

    2). Ball dominant PG tells Ball stopping forward to pass the damn ball, this is my team not yours + Ball stopping forward complies - PG13 not involved in the offense = PG13 wants out of OKC to the Lakers.

    3). Everyone sings Kumbaya + Get them to the Finals = Everyone wants to continue to sing Kumbaya in OKC

    Which seems more likely?

    I'm for #1
     
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  10. Fall Winslow

    Fall Winslow McRib

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    #2-ish perhaps..I don't think Westbrook will have to tell Melo. It could work out to a degree if Melo buys into the kind of role he had with Team USA, where he was the stretch 4, setting screens, moving without the ball and finishing plays, but that role was forced due to the setting. NBA Melo, with only 2 other all-stars as opposed to 12, could be different and of course he's older now. Although, Melo would do himself a big favor if he did fall in line..with free agency coming up for him, a lot of teams are going to be asking him to fall in line in a year anyway. If he shows a willingness to do that, it could help out his offers moving forward
     
  11. borat

    borat DSP Legend

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    lmao they have Steven Adams. that's it. who else is gonna play? those 3 are gonna have to average 90 points a game.o_O
     
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  12. CapnTreee

    CapnTreee Guest

    and he can't shoot for shit when the game is on the line

    he has gotten much better with passing... because he can't shoot worth a shit
    Ok he rebounds but it's a coin toss whether he's any better than Deng.
    bed signing, but cheap so let's see him earn a locker

    I like Zubac but he needs to eat a few more In-n-Outs, animal style
     
  13. Fall Winslow

    Fall Winslow McRib

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    Nah, brodie..last year they averaged 107ppg with Russ and a bunch of questionable scorers who half the country couldn't pick out of a crowd. Presti just added Trey Burke today as well and had already added Patrick Patterson and Ray Felton in FA, so that's about 20pts right there alone from those 3. They also drafted Ferguson in the 1st round, one of the better wing prospects in the draft, he'll be good for 5 or so ppg this year, nothin major, but every bit obviously counts toward the team's point total every night. Partly how they were able to score that many ppg last year, all the lesser guys chipping in 4-7ppg. Also, don't imagine they're done adding role guys, they'll probably add a back up 5 at some point. I suspect Presti will look to deal one of Abrines or Grant for a young, capable back up 5. Abrines is making about 5M a year, so he's either going to play and produce his own 5-6 ppg in limited minutes or get moved somewhere else where he can get on the floor more.

    With Burke and Felton on board, looking at their roster it looks like Russ could play more SG this season. They'll more than likely score north of 100ppg again. A lot of these role players are about to get even better looks because they just added a couple more guys who can demand a double a team. And Adams is getting better. They're not about to beat the Warriors because they won't be able to defend them, but they'll be fine scoring wise. Don't believe the hype
     
  14. CapnTreee

    CapnTreee Guest


    :stoner: and the boys over @BleacherReport are twisting them too.

    No way that lineup happens
    No way we want that lineup

    Too young to remember that last 'superstar' lineup that exploded in our faces??
    Don't need V2.0 of that shit.

    Pick one Star. OK it appears LeBoner.
    Now pick ONE and only one more.
    Pray that Luke can mesh TWO MONSTER BALL HOG EGO's with this excellent crop of kids.
    in a way that we can play D and win
    Bogut can be a placeholder with fragile Lopez
    for now
    and I'm still long on Clarkson
     
  15. Fall Winslow

    Fall Winslow McRib

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    Speak for yourself on that one



    Terrible comparison.
    Each of the last 2 super-teams LAL put together were long in the tooth.
    Shaq had 2 good years left and GP and Malone were older than old.
    Kobe and Pau were past their best years and so was Nash..and Dwight was having back issues.
    LeBron is the freshest, most athletically gifted 32yr old I've ever seen..been Top 5 in MVP voting for an already record amount of time in the league
    George is 27
    Russ is 28
    Also no Zo's, Ingram's, or Kuzma's to speak of on those old LAL superteams
    Chilllll
     
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  16. Gebbeth

    Gebbeth DSP Legend

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    This is an outlier stat in my mind in that when he was with Durant, there was constant controversy about handling the ball, who was taking the shot, who was the "man", who was the leader, whatever you want to say.

    It was bad enough for Durant to risk his reputation to leave that situation to join essentially a rival.....as if Magic left to join the Celtics.

    Only after Westbrook realized OKC was screwed that he started on this mission to prove something to the league. But here's the secret....with no one else on the team to question his authority, he had all the freedom in the world to shoot, drive and/or dish, and with no one else on the team for other teams to cover, all the defenses collapsed around Westbrook.

    What does that mean? More open guys all over the court.

    At the end of the day, did all that mean OKC became a better team? No. They regressed.

    Westbrook has yet to prove that he can be a "team" player when there are other capable stars on the team needing the ball.

    Like Magic back in the day, can he completely control a game taking only 14 shots, but dishing out 12 assists and 11 rebounds game in and game out? Westbrook doesn't strike me as "that guy".

    Which means whether PG13 or Melo can create a super team that is coherent and can last is something that has to be proved. You can place the same criticism on Melo....who hasn't been such a great team player in the past.

    As much as Durant has been acting like a drama queen, you can't help but feel this is all directed to his former team, his former teammate, and those who enabled him...those that made his OKC years ultimately frustrating.
     
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  17. Fall Winslow

    Fall Winslow McRib

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    Personally, I've never hated Durant for moving on from Russ. However, it's already been proven that Russ can play off the ball in a team atmosphere with 2 other stars and thrive. 2012 happened, bro. Russ was in the Finals playing just fine and so was Durant. It was Harden who choked against the Heat, and thus began Harden's career of choking. Is Russ the perfect complement to two other stars? Nah. Is he a problem? Depends on who the other stars are. If you're teaming Russ up with George and Cousins with no Lonzo or Ingram, Russ could be a problem..too much responsibility on his shoulders as a ball handler. However, if you're teaming Russ up with LeBron, George, Ingram and Zo..Russ doesn't have to handle the ball nearly as much in that scenario, especially given Luke's system..which Russ will adhere to or he will look bad in his hometown playing for the biggest/best brand in the sport.

    When Harden was still in OKC, that was his 1st taste of playing point guard..really all the hype about him " playing point guard for the 1st time this year " wasn't warranted. He was in the MVP discussion, so everybody ran with that narrative even though it wasn't really true. Harden was able to take Russ off the ball a good deal back then. OKC fucked up on many levels when they let Harden go and put more on Russ' plate.

    From what I see now with OKC's roster, Presti is just trying to make shit happen. It's not 110% ideal because Russ is still more than likely going to want to handle the ball a lot without another superstar playmaker at his side..George isn't really that guy to take Russ off the ball. But it looks like Presti is still going to try and take him off the ball some this year with Burke and Felton joining and Cole is their 3rd string and he's experienced in big games.
     
  18. borat

    borat DSP Legend

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    Felton? c'mon bro, the guy is past his due date.

    Burke is ok.



    I get why presti did it. he had to in order to possibly keep pg and Russ there. hail Mary and it won't work.

    maybe a 1st round win and that's it. just not enough around them. we will see what the trash left out there brings, but if your main sticking point is a toast felton and burke who btw are pgs as well, then that alone should tell you what that supporting cast will be.

    not to mention 3 ball hogs gonna work together and what Iso ball? defer to westbrook cause he's proven winner with.....nm

    this gonna be a shitshow. that's my prediction. they're gonna suck worse than last year. I'm calling it now.
     
  19. Fall Winslow

    Fall Winslow McRib

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    Doesn't matter, you were talking team scoring.
    Russ/Melo/George can get them 70 a night
    Burke/Felton/Patterson can get them at least 20
    Adams averaged 11 last year, can do it again or better with more talent around him.
    That's 7 players, they'll probably play 10
    100+pts again easy, don't overthink it
     
  20. rube

    rube DSP Legend Staff Member Administrator

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    Durant and Russ had issues about who the man was because Durant was the big superstar scorer yet did not have that killer personality. Russ has a more dominant personality than Durant. Magic always had better scorers on his teams but Magic was the man from his rookie year on.
    The problem was not Russ, the problem was Durant.
    Russ can come to the Lakers on a team with an older LeBron and essentially be the man for the team.
    LeBron also early on in his career suffered from some of these not knowing how to be the man issues.

    A team centered around a prime Russ and a still dominant LeBron surrounded by our quality kids and a few key vets sounds like a really nice recipe for success.
    Russ and LeBron are physical freaks and in the top 5 hardest to guard players in the league.
    That will open up tons of looks for other guys.
     

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