Just giving the report I saw at the time, but I saw that one too afterwards. I was fully prepared for this..remember when I explained why they were out there checking in on Dennis Smith? Can't just sit back and depend on Zo. There's the additional bone bruise that was reported later, but they were likely always going to keep him out the full 6 weeks because of the ankle injury occurring on the same leg as the knee they operated on in the summer. That said, opposing PGs are running wild on this team without Zo's defense. Nothing can be done. Game after game. Zo's impact is clear a day..they have zero ability to pressure the ball full court without him. This is why they have to at least try and keep Zo out of the AD trade talks this summer. I know Lavar will do his part. Lol The financials actually work now because of the additions they made at the trade deadline. A little more cap space to play around with, can trade Ingram and everybody other than Zo ( Kuz, Hart, Moe, Bonga) if need be and move AD into some of the cap space, and then set out for Kawhi maybe on a 1 + 1 to gain his Bird Rights and reset his contract the year after when the cap goes up. Magic very well said this was a 2 year project and told fans to be patient. I think they'll still have the strongest offer for AD in the summer because Ainge will be dealing with a mess in Boston with Kyrie leaving. They're not giving up Tatum. Best case scenario for LAL/LeBron, put together a defensive 3 man unit of Zo-Kawhi-AD..potentially the best 3 man defensive combo since Jordan-Pippen-Rodman.
And slower than Christmas. Can't put together a team that's predicated on pace and have Lopez out there bumbling around. Guy only makes it from 3pt line to 3pt line. And whenever he does make it below the 3pt line....
I'm watching Cousins move and it's clear that his left foot is dragging in everything that he does. The damage may be permanent. He looks like a guy that's 2-3 years away from being Brook Lopez
Lopez slow for sure.I'd take him over everything we got at center now though Not like we play any defense anyway and our offensive centers are well......not very offensive.
That was/is the only thing I notice(d) when i watch him play now Any team that signs him expecting him to be the 2nd or better is in for a big letdown He ain't boogie no more He needs to evolve like rose but rose is special It has been and will continue to be hilarious to watch people slob all over him when it is clear as day he is done physically. Done
He can get by without much attention to it because he is on gsw, any other team and he is exposed by now. Brilliant money move on his part
It looks so awkward. And GSW absolutely sucks when they put him on the floor too. He's getting attacked from all angles. Damn shame that happened to him, but I think he could still be destined to get a decent payday from some small market team that has to settle on him..it'll be interesting to watch. He's beloved in Sacramento by that fan base....
Howard Beck✔@HowardBeck Jeanie Buss calls “fake news” the reports that Lakers were prepared to trade “our entire roster” for “a certain player.”#SSAC19 #rebootingtherivalry Same thing I heard. Magic offered them draft picks and told them they could choose 2 kids from the group. Magic knows like most know, Kyrie is leaving Boston and Ainge won't be giving up Tatum for a rental. Still had to try for AD though
Lopez blocks shots when he is actually in the post. Thats not defense per se but on a running team or a team that thinks offense first having a 7 footer than can block shots is a defensive existential threat. Not having an existential shot blocker and an existential 3 point shooter is necessary on a team that revolves around a LeBron. Bullock is an existential 3 point threat. All our other shooters can have good percentages and be better players but are not pure sharpshooters.
It will take some more time but he will get better. It took Rose a while to get acclimated to his new physical capabilities. Cousins will adapt his game to be successful while dragging a leg. And he can shoot. That will never change. He has to adapt to shooting differently with less help from his leg. His still tall enough to shoot over most. Rose and Boogie used to be true first options. Now they can be excellent second option on a good team or good third option on an excellent team.
I think Kyrie might end up being the Lakers #1 target because I think there is a better chance Kawhi stays than Kyrie does
He could be, especially if they trade for AD and want to make him happy. AD said his closest friend in the league is Kyrie. I would prefer Kawhi given Kyrie's knee troubles, but obviously, we could use a closer type like Kyrie. In any scenario, they should be trying to keep Zo. I wouldn't want Kyrie tasked with defending PGs every night. Zo could be the Klay to Kyrie's Steph and take on the best opposing guards defensively every game
Ingram still can't shoot 3's worth a damn, but he's been about 35% over the last month. Still haven't seen him drive left and pull up either. But ultimately, he's been using his length better as of late and being more aggressive. He's good enough to be a Pelican though..they'd better snap out of this summer. The team that worries me for AD this summer is still Chicago since I think he'd find it hard to leave the hometown in FA
If they don't get AD this summer ( or anybody else), then AD will probably still land in summer/2020 with Rich Paul steering him - what George didn't have. It just won't be ideal for LeBron's sake, another year lost. But in that scenario, the Lakers' future will still be set with AD aboard and having gotten him without giving up Zo/Ingram/Kuz. LeBron would just have to settle for contending in year #3
Good to have LeBron's athleticism flashing for free agency purposes. Minor setback with the groin, but there's still a few years left in there when your head is 5 inches from the rim and you're supposedly playing 15-20lbs overweight
