LAL 9-2 over their last 11 games, top ranked defense in terms of FG% allowed over the stretch. Payback game VS Orlando @ noon today. So many impactful non-moves over the years. This game makes me think back to when Tim Duncan was on the verge of leaving the Spurs and signing with the Orlando Magic to play with McGrady and Hill..but then Orlando HC Doc Rivers killed the deal, told Tim that his friends and family couldn't travel with the team. Smh Not a bad rule to have, but lie to the guy until you get him signed, then make up whatever rule you like..big dummy. Could've killed the Spurs off 15-20 years ago
What I was saying earlier about LAL/Butler in further detail in the link below. Makes sense, especially given the earlier report about Butler not wanting to play with LeBron which never made any sense. Butler and Wade are close buddies, so I'd imagine Butler would be fine playing with LeBron/Lakers. Just pivotal components to a Butler trade weren't eligible to be moved yet and LAL wasn't hot after him anyway, would rather have Durant/Davis/Klay and likely Kawhi as well.... https://www.silverscreenandroll.com...kers-contracts-philadelphia-76ers-free-agency Jimmy Butler had interest in being traded to Lakers, but L.A. didn’t have the contracts to make a deal work It would seem that Jimmy Butler wouldn’t have minded playing with LeBron James on the Lakers, but a deal was impractical, which is partially why he’s on the Sixers now.
BI game last game. Kuz game this game. Lol LeBron just too hard to stop from getting to the basket Shooting 60% from the field right now and it's a 3 point game
Worst defense I've ever seen LeBron play and that's saying something At least he hit the buzzer beater before the half, but that defensive possession before the buzzer beater was terrible
Orlando is a scrappy team. Mo Bamba is going to be a monster, was really efficient in the twelve minutes he played
not going to be watching a lot of games without cable but seeing the bench was outscored 42-21 seems pretty blatant is kcp even worth having around?
Bamba has a little Slenderman in him too. That wingspan is insane Very scrappy and they play well as a team..they looked like Paul/Griffin Clippers-lite with Augustine/Gordon playing the roles of Paul/Griffin
As with Butler, LAL is also cool on Beal as well, will exercise patience with BI and give him time to find his way with LeBron.... https://www.silverscreenandroll.com...lonzo-ball-kyle-kuzma-bradley-beal-kyle-kuzma Anonymous Lakers executive thinks it’s ‘too early’ to judge Brandon Ingram, but that team didn’t know LeBron James was coming when they drafted current core The Lakers knew building around LeBron James was going to take a couple years, so they’re going to remain patient with Brandon Ingram. By AnthonyIrwinLA@AnthonyIrwinLA As has become tradition after Los Angeles Lakers losses, the conversation almost immediately turned to how the front office could find more immediate help to surround LeBron James. Seeing as the Washington Wizards are having the fire sale of all fire sales, speculation has often been centered on a Brandon Ingram-for-Bradley Beal swap. The thing those who push for that kind of trade seem to forget is that this was always going to be a multi-year process of surrounding James with NBA Finals-capable talent. The Lakers seem invested in really finding out what they have in their third-year forward. “It’s too early to tell for Ingram,” a Lakers executive said. “Where was [Beal] at the same age?” Well, to answer the question, Beal was averaging 15.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. Compare that to Ingram’s 15.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists and you can kind of see why the Lakers want to remain patient for as long as they possibly can. One concern remains Ingram’s fit alongside LeBron. Ingram is a legitimately different player with LeBron on the court versus without him (a trend that’s continued since the two came together) and while the Lakers can stagger the two’s minutes, at some point, you need the two best players on the roster to be able to function together. Laker Film Room✔@LakerFilmRoom Brandon Ingram Per 36 minutes LeBron Off the Court = 28.5 pts, 4.6 assts, 2.9 tovs, 61.8 TS% LeBron On the Court = 15.4 pts, 1.9 assts, 2.8 tovs, 49.1 TS% This should go without saying, but something to keep in mind was the timeline in which this roster came together. “Getting LeBron ... makes it interesting,” the executive said. “Obviously, we didn’t draft the guys [we have on the roster] knowing we would get him.” Ingram was drafted by a completely different front office. If we really want to go full galaxy brain here and you are skeptical that the front office just happened to draft a few guys who do fit quite naturally with LeBron (Josh Hart, Kyle Kuzma and Lonzo Ball fit in basically that order), that’s fine and quite fun to think about. But there was simply no way when they drafted Ingram that they thought LeBron was coming — and their fit together speaks very loudly to that point. Still, the larger, overriding point here is that the Lakers recognize the patience they have to display if they want the LeBron James-Lakers era to reach its full potential. Beal would be a great quick fix, but would severely hamper what the Lakers could do this summer. Seeing as everyone knew this was a multi-year project, it just makes more sense to stick to the plan — which involves waiting to see what Ingram is capable of with a full year of playing next to LeBron.
Oh goodie. A 3rd game against Denver already and on the road no less. That said, beat Murray. Hopefully, Hart will contribute something today. Don't like the goose eggs against the Magic and Jazz the last couple games. He's really been trash for a couple weeks now
Brutal. It’s gotta start on defense but I don’t think they have the personnel and LeBron doesn’t give a shit on that end so it’s gonna be tough
he makes those impressive come from behind swats of a lay up now and again that makes the highlights and everyone thinks he plays tough D
Jeter made a career off that And look if it makes me a LeBron apologist so be it, but I understand that no player has played as many minutes at as high a level as he has EVER, so I get that he has to take plays off on defense to maintain it over ~100 games every season with the minute and usage load he has. It’s just hard when the best player on a team doesn’t seem to love the coach, doesn’t play defense and yet you have to establish a defensive culture with younger, less talented players
LeBron's actually played better defense over the last 8 games or so. Before last night, anyway. Some ugly lapses here and there, but he's been more engaged. As a team over the same 8-10 games stretch they were #1 ranked in FG% against, so they've all been playing some defense. Enough defense. Last night was what it was, also one of LeBron's worst games of his prime. That said, I don't suspect having Zo, Hart and Rondo banged up is going to help them defensively going forward. Last night was definitely a perfect lay down night up a mile high, coming off a tough loss to Orlando. Hopefully Hart and Zo can shake off their ankle injuries. Would like to be at least 5 games over .500 on Xmas
Svi killin' it in the g league right now, hit three 3's in a row. If dude did thar in the nba he'd still be with the team. Mo Wagner playing for south bay as well. Svi seems to be far more comfortable in the g league and not so passive. Hopefully he kills the nerves cause we could use that shooting on the big club
