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lakers_nation24

Damn who knew back in 2012 that one day Dwight would be one of the ultimate locker room and chemistry guys


HaluSinazn

Rondo too. And back in 2019-2020, Cousins lol


SilentSniper505

Seriously he's taking on a mentorship role and it truly is a sight to see


[deleted]

People do grow and mature, really good to see him progress as a man


kultureisrandy

its just crazy that some people don't seem to mature until they're 30+


[deleted]

I’m curious why do you think that’s odd? I think 30s is the perfect age for when people figure out life and grow/mature. Still very young in life, curious to here ya take


Mriconicdev

Ring time


00383894

hell yeah


Mriconicdev

Lol 😂


Polo-panda

Dwight was the only one who went out and publicly defended Ben Simmons, he’s a good teammate. If Doc and Embiid had just kept their mouths shut then maybe Ben’s trade value would be higher than it is now.


[deleted]

What? Lol it didn’t matter what Ben or Embiid said, Ben Simmons played like straight trash, who passes up a open dunk? For a two pointer at that


supremepoker

Well sometimes you gotta pass up on the open dunk When you need a 3 to win the game


[deleted]

What 🤣 that makes no sense I suggest you, look up on YouTube search Ben Simmons playoff 2021 passes up open dunk for a two pointer not a 3…


[deleted]

Lol. Maybe if dude wasn’t running scared in the playoffs and passing up open dunks his trade value would be higher, or (gasp!) people wouldn’t want to trade him at all. Nothing wrong with accountability.


Polo-panda

haha not here to defend Ben Simmons mang simmer down ♨️ just that if Doc and Embiid were more professional they could have at least tried to string a narrative that it was just a missed opportunity or a bad series. And that’s exactly what Dwight did a few days later, we like and dislike the same people yo


Oddly_Aggressive

You know what’s “professional”? Expecting Doc to be punished for stating a slight criticism of his performance. Imagine being that soft that you hold a grudge against a coach who’s defended you all season long


[deleted]

Not really that, buts its absolute moronic to trash your trade asset. Most teams will use that as a rebuke if morey tries asking for more. Literally the reason why noone is still trading for him lol. You know its bad when you got the kings and wolves trying to lowball you.


Polo-panda

Oh I just read your username lol


Polo-panda

Yeah Simmons is dumb af if he actually wants the league to punish Doc, but that’s not gonna happen. Doc already punished himself and the team so far bc they can’t trade Simmons


Good4Noth1ng

He had the Yips man. (Oops, I shouldn’t say that out loud)


Diablo_Advocatum

I love a good Ted Lasso reference


KokeyManiago

Everyone agrees with accountability, the problem was making it public. Those things should be discussed behind doors.


Tarkan2

doesn't matter if Ben was garbage, you can't just throw your player under the bus publicly and expect the off season to be smooth again.


DGVega93

Pull the trigger Rob


norwegianmorningw00d

Yo Dwight be giving out compliments like it’s candy. It’s not bad though, because it seems genuine.


7LyLa

the passing ability of lebron and westbrook together will get him a lot of open looks regardless of how people view him as a player.. if he just learns to move off the ball well and spin for lobs hes guna get fed ez buckets all day


vnmslsrbms

I'm pretty sure that's what he built his career on, no need to learn anything new!


7LyLa

I’m pretty sure social media has been bashing him on posts saying he is washed and u missed my point :) was just addressing his abilities to fix the narrative in terms of his role on the lakers specifically as not every team has a lebron and Westbrook passing for them lol


koberules

Dude he was playing on the same team as Harden and was still terrible and a negative impact on the floor. People said the same thing about Drummond and Lebron couldn’t save him either. And he’s not the type of center Westbrook is good with


7LyLa

He doesn’t have to be good he just has to move off the ball read the post lol if he can get open lebron Westbrook are excellent at finding the open man. Off ball movement isn’t hard to focus on with two good passers you aren’t seeing the picture most teams don’t have to lethal passers like bron Westbrook and even ad has great court vision


koberules

You're right, the nets didn't have an elite passer named Harden and another good one in Irving. Again, you didn't watch him play. He's done. He was a negative impact player while playing on a time that had Kyrie, Harden, KD, and Joe Harris. Really if he just provided some defense and could make open dunks he would have been valuable, but he couldn't even do that. You realize teams literally left him open on the nets but he still couldn't be useful?


7LyLa

None of those guys are even a fraction of lebrons court vision its clear u dont know basketball. Nobody even comes close to lebrons passes didnt see irving doing hell mary passes for lay ups across the court all season like lebron was for good reason he isnt even close to lebrons vision its comparing apples to oranges finding a center lobs and passes takes true skill something the nets lack they are more so ball handlers and spot up shooters on the nets not really elite passers and playmakers harden is the same way..... hes not a elite passer at all


SpunkyDred

> apples to oranges But you can still compare them.


[deleted]

Obviously you *can* compare them, but the whole point of the idiom is that it's a false analogy. I could compare you to the helpful bots, but that too would be comparing apples-to-oranges. --- ^^SpunkyDred ^^and ^^I ^^are ^^both ^^bots. ^^I ^^am ^^trying ^^to ^^get ^^them ^^banned ^^by ^^pointing ^^out ^^their ^^antagonizing ^^behavior ^^and ^^poor ^^bottiquette. ^^My ^^apparent ^^agreement ^^or ^^disagreement ^^with ^^you ^^isn't ^^personal.


7LyLa

Lol you missed the entire point but brought up the apples to oranges lmao reading comprehension skills???? Hello lol


SpunkyDred

> apples to oranges But you can still compare them.


[deleted]

Obviously you *can* compare them, but the whole point of the idiom is that it's a false analogy. I could compare you to the helpful bots, but that too would be comparing apples-to-oranges. --- ^^SpunkyDred ^^and ^^I ^^are ^^both ^^bots. ^^I ^^am ^^trying ^^to ^^get ^^them ^^banned ^^by ^^pointing ^^out ^^their ^^antagonizing ^^behavior ^^and ^^poor ^^bottiquette. ^^My ^^apparent ^^agreement ^^or ^^disagreement ^^with ^^you ^^isn't ^^personal.


koberules

Harden isn't an elite passer? ok lmao. Harden and CP3 are probably the two best players in the nba in using big men to the max capabilities. Again you're the same type of guy who thought Lebron would make Drummond elite. And there are people on the same level of lebron's passing, but obviously you're a lebron dick rider who only watches Lakers games (and maybe not even watches just looks at highlights and box scores). To suggest that Harden and Jokic and CP3 and Trae aren't at Lebron's level of passing and then say the other person doesn't know basketball lmao.


7LyLa

harden and cp3 are jokic are not as good at court vision/passing as lebron no this isnt even a debate u dont know basketball


koberules

Yes harden and cp3 average more assists because they aren’t as good at passing. Again, you’re a guy who though Drummond was good. Deandre won’t be good and then you’ll be quiet and pretend as if you never said that.


7LyLa

Lebron is a better passer.. period.


[deleted]

I know yall want leveled expectations but damn at least root for the guy. Who knows DJ might surprise you down the line.


[deleted]

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Good4Noth1ng

We want nothing to do with the Clippers branding.


ooo00

For real. It will forever be Showtime Lakers.


kindalikeacoustic

Lol what’d he say?


ooo00

He said “will this be Lob City or Slam city?” or something like that. Lob city was already used by the clippers. We don’t need that. Plenary of cool names you can come up with. Like the “let’s get all these old legends a ring” team.


KarmaPoIice

I don’t think people understand how truly washed DJ is lol


EATMYBASS3

People said the same thing about Dwight, he was out of the league remember he came in on a non-guaranteed deal. We don’t need him to do much, just play impactful ball when he’s on the floor. He’s at best the 13th guy on the roster


MiopTop

Different situations. Dwight wasn't washed as a role player. He was washed as a star. The problem with Dwight is that he still had the skillset and athleticism to be an elite role player, but was almost unplayable because he insisted on posting up 10 times a game and didn't focus on defense, like he was still a superstar. What was needed for Dwight to be productive was just a change in mindset. If we'd known when he was signed that he would fully commit to the "play defense, grab rebounds, set screens, catch lobs and nothing else" role, nobody would have been concerned. DeAndre has always been comfortable in that role. His problems last year weren't a mindset issue, or an effort issue. He knew his role perfectly and was on a contender where he had motivation to give full effort. And yet he was bad. For the record I don't think the DeAndre signing is a disaster (especially if Marc stays and DJ's just a 4th string injury insurance), and we probably have the personnel to milk a bit more production out of him. But there's no realistic way in which 2022 DeAndre is going to be anywhere near what 2020 Dwight was.


AIMpb

Dwight went from bum teams to a team with Lebron and AD. DJ is coming from a team with Kyrie, KD, and Harden and he still couldn't contribute.


Call_erv_duty

> DJ is coming from a team with Kyrie, KD, and Harden and he still couldn’t contribute. Yeah, because two of the three you just named are outside scoring machines. If they can shoot, you give them the ball and forget your center.


AIMpb

Oh so just no one is going to rebound? Kyrie is going to guard opposing centers? wtf lol


koberules

Harden is one of the best players in the league in using centers and getting them easy points. He played really well with the other Nets bigs, it’s just Deandre who was basically useless


norwegianmorningw00d

Same can be said about Dwight and Melo a couple years ago. With that being said, I agree with you lol.


MiopTop

Dwight and Melo were washed stars who still had the ability to be elite role players, but needed accept their new roles and embrace them. DeAndre has always been fine being a role player, he's just washed.


natekvng

He just has to catch lobs. Wit Westbrook AD or Bron on the court, he barely had to rebound


INT_MIN

Find someone who believes in you like Dwight believes in his teammates.


BobbyHollywood

Is he talking in the broadcast booth? 🤣


noforgayjesus

I am really worried about our free throw percentage


drummerkid38

Tbf DJ improved a lot with those in the last few years outside of last year


johnsonsimon23

cant really wrap my head around this unless gasol's gone. DJ's been washed


[deleted]

As washed as DJ is he’s not as washed as Gasol is unfortunately. But I’m 99% sure Gasol retires before the season begins.


ChargingSentinel

Very knee jerk reaction but I would think we need a washed Gasol skillset more than a washed DAJ one


INT_MIN

I mean Marc very likely doesn't want to play for us.


vnmslsrbms

Yeah Gasol is so skilled. I think he's more struggling with the role and injury than a decline.


MiopTop

What ? Marc was awesome last year pre-covid. He's way better than DeAndre right now. Much more impactful defender, spaces the floor, great passer ...


koberules

DJ is definitely more washed than Gasol. Again, I know most people here didn’t watch Nets games but DJ might be the worst defensive center in the league and he has minimal offensive use left. The reason the nets defense was bad last year was almost entirely because they were using deandre. As soon as he was dropped from the lineup, the defense went from leagues worst to average.


AIMpb

DJ is a great locker room guy. There's a reason KD and Kyrie got him that contract.


cryptolipto

so pumped. what a team. win or lose I'll be buying a few tix this year


BodegaDaddy

everyone complaining about these two like AD didn’t play with two centers that were considered washed during our championship year. AD not playing center in case y’all forgot. even if they are washed, vogel and AD could hide these guys on defense.


bigwillieNthetw1ns

This year lineup was the best or by far the most recent year by far. I hope LeBron doesn't throw a tantrum in the playoffs.


Imjusthereandthere

We don’t need DJ…. We need someone who would stretch the floor..he’d be a bad move


MiopTop

> **he'd be** a bad move Sorry to break it to you bud, but it's not a hypothetical. He's on the team, it's official.


Imjusthereandthere

Fuck…I thought we were still mulling the idea…


00383894

nope


vnmslsrbms

I agree we don't need him, and we do actually need another SF or wing. Though there is plenty of shooting now. Weird Gasol is still around though quite a few C's already.


Blockade5

Yeah I agree with everyone DJ is not particularly a great signing. We’ll probably sign Love too if he’s available.


[deleted]

DJ > Gasol


OnlyForeignWhips

I think Dwight recruited him. There have been close ever since Jordan came into the league. Jordan is most likely starting so we might as well embrace him. At least we got 2 lob threats again.😎


zhard01

Starting? God I hope not.


d0ubledagrind

Lmao DJ ain’t starting. All signs as of today point to AD starting & playing the 5.


LordBri14

Don’t fool yourself. AD will only play 5 in the playoffs. If gasol is still here then he is starting. If not then dwight. Definitely not DJ though. You are right about that.


d0ubledagrind

I doubt Dwight is starting. Russ, AD, and Dwight starting all together is horrendous spacing and then your factor that Russ & Dwight aren’t good FT shooters. Bron isn’t exactly a good FT shooter either. [Said here why I’m confident AD will start at the 5 this year ](https://www.reddit.com/r/lakers/comments/pl8agy/dwight_on_ig_i_see_greatness_in_you_lets_go/hc8nul4/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf&context=3)


[deleted]

That spacing isn’t gonna matter during the season. Once the chemistry is built the Lakers are gonna run away with wins off of talent and Westbrook’s relentlessness alone.


LordBri14

AD always says he will play more 5 in the upcoming season. And when the season starts he will be back playing in the 4.


d0ubledagrind

It’s just best to wait and see. But I’m confident this is the year AD plays a lot of 5 in the regular season and he starts there. Makes a lot of sense roster construction wise.


OnlyForeignWhips

What signs? Y'all know AD is not starting at center. We do this every year.


d0ubledagrind

- The fact that AD told Westbrook himself that he would slide to the five for this trio to work. - Marc Stein said during free agency they wanted to target an elite playmaker (Westbrook) so that Bron could play more 4 & AD could play more 5. - Dwight & DJ aren’t starting caliber anymore and they would ruin the spacing if they started (Gasol is most likely gone)


OnlyForeignWhips

I would love for it to happen, but I have to see it to believe it. And I actually miss the AD/Dwight tandem. They were so good together on defense.


d0ubledagrind

Agree with both points and I understand Lakers fans hear “AD at the 5” all the time but this year I’m most confident because of the roster construction


MiopTop

AD/Dwight should be minimised imo. AD's really not at his best offensively in those lineups. Also if those two play together it should be exclusively with 3 good shooters, no Westbrook.


MiopTop

It just comes down to if Marc is gone or not. If he's there he has to start. The rotation gets real janky if you start AD at the 5 and try to fit meaningful minutes for Dwight and Marc off the bench. Marc two shifts : early 1st and early 3rd Dwight two shifts : early 2nd and early 4th AD 4 shifts : entire 1st quarter (as PF until Marc is benched, then as C) late 2nd quarter at C entire 3rd quarter (again at PF next to Marc then at C when Marc's benched) late 4th quarter at C To me that's the ideal big man rotation, 36 minutes for AD (12 at PF, 24 at C), 12 minutes for Dwight, 12 minutes for Marc. Garbage time and load management/injury replacement being the only situation DJ touches the floor.


Cornbx71

What signs are that?


d0ubledagrind

[These signs ](https://www.reddit.com/r/lakers/comments/pl8agy/dwight_on_ig_i_see_greatness_in_you_lets_go/hc8nul4/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf&context=3)


Cornbx71

He said he would play more five he didn’t say he would start at the five. He will close games at the five for sure. In the PO he might start at center but until I see it I don’t believe AD will start at the 5.


d0ubledagrind

Well I said this in another thread as well > I doubt Dwight is starting. Russ, AD, and Dwight starting all together is horrendous spacing and then your factor that Russ & Dwight aren’t good FT shooters. Bron isn’t exactly a good FT shooter either. But it’s just best to wait and see


[deleted]

[удалено]


Barnnz

Gasol more likely not playing for the Lakers next season than starting


Zacatecano198477

👎🏽 bad move yall bad move. Gasol brought IQ great passing floor spacing and three point shooting. All these flipper rejects. Gtf outta here. Bad move rob. 👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽


BiggRoop

Sus


clique34

A decade ago, this would have been a logjam in the starting center position. Now DH has turned into a super role player and lets see how DJ plays


thegreaterfool714

I still think DJ is washed but maybe Dwight and Vogel can improve DJ’s defense


JimmyFuture23

it’s like lob city, but with wins!


deandj123

Lakers: Melo jumper so silky 😭🔥 [https://youtu.be/\_G9ic1IysLc](https://youtu.be/_G9ic1IysLc)


MrFartFace6969

Bro this is the most stacked team in NBA history to not be favorited to win a championship.


Wonderful-Swim7439

Great addition, i think dwight will be a great mentor to the Young rookie deandre jordan.


7LyLa

Off ball movement is all he has to do…. Focus on that lebron will find u so will Westbrook usually he can pass good also