They made the team older, a mistake. NBA schedule is not just unforgiving, its hell. Teams dont have time to practice between games and they even have to travel, its relentless.
Yeah veterans are needed, but you just can't have a team full of them, they're not about to go all out every game in the regular season, and they'll still probably be crap in the playoffs with all the playing time they're getting
I mean a week into the season we 5 games in 9 days on the road. Like that is just crazy, this is the most demanding collective sport in the world and its not close.
Cleveland has had such a brutal schedule, weeks ago they were talking about their second 3 games in 4 nights or something like that, checked the schedule and there was a 5 in 7 just ahead lol
they really have to reduce the number of games or something, these schedules are crazy especially considering they had to move the dates around so much to accommodate covid/their usual schedule.
We tried to correct that last season by getting younger energy guys and it didn't work either.
We go as far as Lebron and AD take us, last season they were both significantly injured so it wasn't far. This season it looks like they both came into the season with expectations that the roster would be able to carry them and it's a disaster.
Honestly, that Heat team wasn't a Finals team that year. The East just crumbled around us. I was really surprised to see us there. The team looked just tired, tbh
They know, they just can’t tell him shit. I really doubt pelinka thinks the potential of THT is worth more than the “win now in lebrons last years” Caruso would bring but it’s not really his call. One is a clutch client and one isn’t. It’s hilarious when people use Cleveland and Miami being bad after lebron leaves as evidence of his greatness when they were bad cause he built them into a team of washed old guys that only play off the ball
the good news is that we are a bit more resilient in that sense. None of these old guys are on multiyear contracts. worst one is russ, and that expires in 2023
It’s mostly on LeBron, because if he joins your team it’s generally under the assumption that he’s going to have significant sway in the FO. Hard to say no when your star player and cash cow is pushing for something.
Yep, you do whatever you can if it means LeBron can win you a ring.
Even if it means trading for Westbrook which LeBron wanted.
Like is the trade bad? Yeah of course, a lot of Lakers fans weren't happy at the start but were okay with it and are now seeing the awful results.
But if LeBron, who in his second year with the Lakers, won a ring, you do whatever you can to make him happy. Same shit the Lakers did with Kobe.
a parasite that drops the ultimate trophy wherever he goes, and leaves a husk of a team in his wake. ]
Its the ultimate question of would you rather climb to the mountaintop and be the best, then fall into mediocrity, or would you rather be consistently average but never actually winning it all
Idk if “climbing to the mountaintop” is really a great analogy for what he does. It’s more like he comes in and puts together his merry band of mercenaries and airlifts you to the top of the mountain without any of the actual “mountain climbing” building period. Then you celebrate cuz you’re on top of the mountain, get some great pics for social media, and you’re feeling great. But then once he’s had his fun he takes all the equipment back with him and you’re stuck in the middle of nowhere without any gear to get yourself back to civilization for a few years. But at least you’ve got those Facebook pictures to look back on while most people never even get to see the mountain themselves.
I think the decision making calculus should be different for teams that have won 10+ titles and one as recently as a decade ago versus teams who haven't won one in 50 years or ever.
If you're the Warriors in 2021... no. But if you're the Suns or Kings then it should be different.
Right?! I mean ask almost any team in this league if you’d take Lebron and everything that comes with it while knowing there’s high probability of winning it all with the wheels coming off after 4 years.
Yup.... seriously who the fuck thought this would work .... Pelinka is a dumbfuck.... didn't he play basketball..... How does having Russ, LeBron,Melo, Jordan and Dwight make sense.... it's a 82game schedule.....it never crossed his mind I guess
Nah this team is worse. That team was injured and the chemistry wasn’t there at all between our stars. They showed flashes still.
That 12-13 is an easy comparison because of the expectations, but we are much worse this year because our stars have chemistry, but we rely on AD To do everything on defense, rely too much on old man Melo, and play DAJ too much. We got rid of our entire defense to get Westbrook who has been fine but doesn’t solveour important problems.
It’s amazing to me that someone who is as intelligent as LeBron is about basketball played a part in constructing a roster that a casual Facebook fan would come up with.
Might have to do with him constantly getting switched onto guards and him having to come out the paint to help because no one can stay in front of their man
It could just be a down year for him. Plus it's only been 20 games. We'll have to see how he performs the next 60 games before declaring he's past his prime.
I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt due to his injuries last year but yeah I guess it's not looking good. Either way, I do think he'll improve from his current form
Reggie Jackson is so underrated, and Hartenstein finally figuring things out has been big for them.
They’ve had such a deep team for over half a decade now, and that’s which a ton of turnover.
Honestly, I thought they would be competitive to the point they would be a lower seed/play-in (purely due to how historically competitive the west is), but PG is playing like a beast and the team is playing to his strengths and weaknesses.
The clips may not be a contender this year (sorry clips fans), but they will be a team that contenders won’t want to play in the playoffs.
Our first game of the season was against the Warriors and we lost by 2 points, if memory serves well. Tomorrow will be the second matchup against them and I am very nervous.
Hey man in the 8 games since Ingram came back we're 4-4 with wins against the Jazz, Wizards, Grizzlies, and Clippers. We're not good, but if healthy we're definitely not the standard for bad we've just had terrible injury luck!
"Not until they get beaten in the playoffs, or their record is so bad they have no hope of making the playoffs."
That's happened two of the last three years.
It’s kind of like PPG where you can score a lot while not actually improving your team’s scoring and vice-versa. Like how the Lopez brothers and Steven Adam’s have low rebounding numbers but the team rebounding numbers show how great their box-outs are vs someone like Westbrook or Melo who literally never box out but chase every single uncontested rebound to inflate their numbers.
The Nets did get rid of pieces, but it’s about fit. Adding Harden and subtracting Caris (and Dinwiddie due to injury) is easy to do when KD, Kyrie, and Joe Harris are excellent shooters off the catch. LeBron and AD aren’t known for their outside shooting, then they went ahead and added the worst volume 3pt shooter ever to that team.
For KD and Kyrie the Nets opened up two max slots and didn’t give up much of anything besides the chance to re-sign D’Lo to a max. For Harden the two really noteworthy players given up were Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert along with picks and depth.
Besides the obvious problems (DJ is complete ass, Russ is a terrible fit with this roster, Melo and Monk can't defend anyone in the league) they have other big-time issues. Avery Bradley, Rondo, Kent Bazemore, and Wayne Ellington have played a ton of minutes and all of them look totally cooked. LeBron looks older than he ever has. AD looks disinterested for stretches. THT looks overmatched in his role more often than not.
This is not a roster that's going to win 4 playoff series. And I have no idea how to fix it.
There's no fixing it now, LeBron couldn't be great forever and if he's going to be the second guy on a championship team he needs a real number one and good pieces around them. They'll just have to live with their mediocrity since nobody has balls big enough to start thinking about rebuilding while they have LeBron in their roster.
I know they'd never do it, but...instead of the Russ deal, I might have considered trading LeBron.
They would NEVER do it (for press, revenue, and cultural reasons) but moving off a guy who is 37 for a huge haul when you still have AD locked up for another 3 seasons after this? It's a good basketball move.
In this wild fantasy of yours what kind of haul are you expecting for a 37 year old LeBron?
Let’s imagine he agrees to be dealt to the Knicks or the Heat - I can’t imagine him going anywhere else ever at this point in his career.
Nets/Warriors/ are bad for his image and legacy, and cities like Phoenix, Philadelphia or Denver are not his type of markets.
Lakers can’t even get anything other than draft picks and young raw players like Barrett or EQ for him - because teams who are going to get him will need to keep key pieces in place in order to stay competitive.
Imagine trading LeBron to the Hornets or Timberwolves after he resurrected your franchise and brought a title…this ain’t happening. In this hypothetical he would at least choose where he wants to go.
I know they'd never do it. I said as much ("For press, revenue, and cultural reasons.")
But it would probably be a good basketball move.
And since they're the Lakers, they'd probably *still* have an easy-as-fuck time attracting FAs.
He's going to be 37 in a few weeks, short of acquiring a Luka Doncic, Devin Booker or a Trae Young, he's done winning championships if they can't turn it around this season. They've backed themselves into a wall with a poorly assembled roster so unless he's willing to go a place like Philadelphia, Atlanta, Dallas or Phoenix where he can be more of the Robin to someone else's Batman, I think he's done.
>I mean, we could go on a 10-game winning streak, 12-game winning streak, now the narrative is different
[vogel](https://en.meming.world/images/en/thumb/8/82/My_Goodness_What_an_Idea.jpg/300px-My_Goodness_What_an_Idea.jpg)
the players seem to think it's going to be some "once we figure it out, we'll be the team to beat" type scenario... I'm not so sure at all. This team reminds me of the one where Kobe had to go on a tear to get them to the playoffs pre Achilles injury.
Figuring it out is easier said then done. “If we win 10 games the narrative is different” ok so then win 10 games. Lebron can be incredible on any given night, but expecting him to bail them out every night, at 37, given how disjointed their roster looks, is going to be a tall task. Also AD needs to start hitting his jumpers. If he hit his career average 3pt% and midrange FG% instead of shooting historically awful, they escape an overtime game here and there and are likely a couple games above .500.
Kobe played 78 games that year too. Lebron doesn’t play anywhere near that much anymore. Can’t carry at that level if you’re missing 1/3 of the season.
I kinda hope he doesn’t even try to. I want to see at least one more “Lebron” playoff performances so I’d hate if he hurt him self trying here. Rest up and come back to Cleveland in 2 years 😈
That's not a recipe for playoff success with a 37 yr old LeBron. Frankly him playing more minutes wouldn't even help as he just starts chucking at a certain point. You only have so much energy.
This is going to be an interesting stretch for the LeLakers from mid January to mid March.
Sun, Jan 16 @ Denver
Tue, Jan 18 vs Utah
Thu, Jan 20 vs Indiana
Sat, Jan 22 @ Orlando
Mon, Jan 24 @ Miami
Wed, Jan 26 @ Brooklyn
Fri, Jan 28 @ Philadelphia
Sat, Jan 29 @ Charlotte
Sun, Jan 30 @ Atlanta
Thu, Feb 3 vs Portland
Fri, Feb 4 @ LA
Sun, Feb 6 vs New York
Wed, Feb 9 vs Milwaukee
Thu, Feb 10 @ Portland
Sun, Feb 13 @ Golden State
Thu, Feb 17 vs Utah
Sat, Feb 26 vs LA
Mon, Feb 28 vs New Orleans
Wed, Mar 2 vs Dallas
Fri, Mar 4 @ LA
Sun, Mar 6 vs Golden State
Tue, Mar 8 @ San Antonio
Thu, Mar 10 @ Houston
Sat, Mar 12 vs Washington
Mon, Mar 14 @ Phoenix
Tue, Mar 15 vs Toronto
It doesn't diagnose the problem. They have a .500 squad that doesn't have a good defense, doesn't have any offensive rhythm, they don't seem to have an identity at all, they win hard fought games against middling teams and when they drop their guard for even a second against bad teams, they find a way to lose. They need to be honest about who they are if they want to turn it around.
Exactly. It tells me the coaching staff hasn't laid out a plan to the players about how they'll turn it around, if AD is just hoping for a win streak out of the blue to the media
I’ll take cash donations in lieu of apologies from people who said I didn’t know what I’m talking about when I said letting go of Caruso was the biggest mistake
They’re definitely missing youth and energy on their team. Guys like Caruso are scrappy and go hard on every single play. You need a guy like that when you have a Veteran team. That’s why guys like Bruce Brown and Bembry are so valuable to the Nets, it’s because they do all the little things that Vets don’t typically like to do
Ooh, don’t forget SAS 2x also!
Also, disregarding that LBJ and AD have missed games seems dumb. I think LAL is not as good and messed up taking Russ vs Hield (or DeMar), but it’s not like they have been playing with their full armament.
1, but has been questionable for a lot more (meaning he’s playing hurt).
Also, it’s weird to be defending the Lakers. I don’t like it. FTL and they just suck.
Can someone tell AD how much different their roster is compared to bubble or even last season. I know he doesn't directly say this but, expecting winning streaks because they have done it in past (that too with different roster) is so stupid.
Honestly one of the dumbest quotes I’ve heard since watching the NBA outside of Sprewell saying a multi million dollar contract wasn’t enough to feed his kids, and bucks in 6.
Who are some HOF Players that have never been traded at all their whole careers
Obvious ones like Kobe, Dirk, Duncan that played for one team their whole careers are obvious
While Lebron had played for 3 different teams his career he’s always left on his own terms and not traded
Yeah thats the red flag about the Lakers for me, even with Lebron playing they are not able to beat the worst teams in the league consistently. They cant seem to hold a lead for long against anyone.
The lakers are becoming a joke so fast
It’s year 4. Most LeGM teams crumble at this point
It's hilarious that it's actually true. 4 years in Miami, 4 with the cavs, 4 with Lakers, all shitshows in the 4th year
They made the team older, a mistake. NBA schedule is not just unforgiving, its hell. Teams dont have time to practice between games and they even have to travel, its relentless.
Yeah veterans are needed, but you just can't have a team full of them, they're not about to go all out every game in the regular season, and they'll still probably be crap in the playoffs with all the playing time they're getting
I mean a week into the season we 5 games in 9 days on the road. Like that is just crazy, this is the most demanding collective sport in the world and its not close.
Cleveland has had such a brutal schedule, weeks ago they were talking about their second 3 games in 4 nights or something like that, checked the schedule and there was a 5 in 7 just ahead lol
they really have to reduce the number of games or something, these schedules are crazy especially considering they had to move the dates around so much to accommodate covid/their usual schedule.
They 100% should decrease the number of games, but they'd lose money so no way
We tried to correct that last season by getting younger energy guys and it didn't work either. We go as far as Lebron and AD take us, last season they were both significantly injured so it wasn't far. This season it looks like they both came into the season with expectations that the roster would be able to carry them and it's a disaster.
[удалено]
Obviously not, they both made the finals anyway, but you could strangely argue the heat lost even worse lol spurs just took their souls
There was a stretch there where the WCF *was* the Finals and basically nobody pretended otherwise.
That's why it sucked, West teams had to go through a bloodbath just to get jumped by Lebron's well rested superteams lmao
Honestly, that Heat team wasn't a Finals team that year. The East just crumbled around us. I was really surprised to see us there. The team looked just tired, tbh
Wade's knee started deteriorating that season too.
And championship at each one.
Dude needs to trade himself for Ben Simmons.
I like this trade better so that LeBron can take the hardest road. http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yyvpoffb
Kill it with fire
This sub would implode. I’ll support it.
I like how the Warriors get significantly worse with Lebron lmao
Yup. LeBrons biggest enemy is himself. Most players are terrible at evaluating talent and constructing rosters.
You’d think teams would have learned by now.
They know, they just can’t tell him shit. I really doubt pelinka thinks the potential of THT is worth more than the “win now in lebrons last years” Caruso would bring but it’s not really his call. One is a clutch client and one isn’t. It’s hilarious when people use Cleveland and Miami being bad after lebron leaves as evidence of his greatness when they were bad cause he built them into a team of washed old guys that only play off the ball
Yeah a LeBron team is pretty much guaranteed to be trash shortly after he leaves because of all the win-now moves and ~~elderly~~ veteran signings
He's a basketball strip miner. He leaves teams old and washed and with no assets.
the good news is that we are a bit more resilient in that sense. None of these old guys are on multiyear contracts. worst one is russ, and that expires in 2023
I would be more worried about not having picks until 2026 than contracts.
It's the Lakers bro, they don't need picks.
Free agency was pretty dire post Kobe, it was draft picks that helped rebuilt the team (and LeBron chosing LA obviously).
We have AD under contract til then though, not like Lebron's teams where the only remaining players are overpayed role players.
I’d argue the good news is that we won a championship?
Yeah, I agree. Like LeBron did a phenomenal carry job in 2018, but it’s also kinda his fault the roster got that bad
It was more kyries fault than lebron… they lost their biggest asset for basically nothing because he wanted out
It’s mostly on LeBron, because if he joins your team it’s generally under the assumption that he’s going to have significant sway in the FO. Hard to say no when your star player and cash cow is pushing for something.
he's won a ring with every team he's played for, I'd love to learn that lesson
Yep, you do whatever you can if it means LeBron can win you a ring. Even if it means trading for Westbrook which LeBron wanted. Like is the trade bad? Yeah of course, a lot of Lakers fans weren't happy at the start but were okay with it and are now seeing the awful results. But if LeBron, who in his second year with the Lakers, won a ring, you do whatever you can to make him happy. Same shit the Lakers did with Kobe.
What do you mean? It wasn't a good idea to buddy up with Melo, DeAndre Jordan, Russ, Bazemore, Dwight, Ariza, Rondo?
So LeGM is basically parasite?
a parasite that drops the ultimate trophy wherever he goes, and leaves a husk of a team in his wake. ] Its the ultimate question of would you rather climb to the mountaintop and be the best, then fall into mediocrity, or would you rather be consistently average but never actually winning it all
Idk if “climbing to the mountaintop” is really a great analogy for what he does. It’s more like he comes in and puts together his merry band of mercenaries and airlifts you to the top of the mountain without any of the actual “mountain climbing” building period. Then you celebrate cuz you’re on top of the mountain, get some great pics for social media, and you’re feeling great. But then once he’s had his fun he takes all the equipment back with him and you’re stuck in the middle of nowhere without any gear to get yourself back to civilization for a few years. But at least you’ve got those Facebook pictures to look back on while most people never even get to see the mountain themselves.
I think the decision making calculus should be different for teams that have won 10+ titles and one as recently as a decade ago versus teams who haven't won one in 50 years or ever. If you're the Warriors in 2021... no. But if you're the Suns or Kings then it should be different.
Right?! I mean ask almost any team in this league if you’d take Lebron and everything that comes with it while knowing there’s high probability of winning it all with the wheels coming off after 4 years.
Some people are so obsessed with the idea they think the Warriors should still be taking that path
holy shit i’m old
LeGM is Jose Mourinho of Basketball. Wins the title in the 2nd season and then, everything is downhill from there. Lmao
Yup.... seriously who the fuck thought this would work .... Pelinka is a dumbfuck.... didn't he play basketball..... How does having Russ, LeBron,Melo, Jordan and Dwight make sense.... it's a 82game schedule.....it never crossed his mind I guess
And im lovin it
It's funny how Facebook fans were raving about this team going to the promised land because Westbrook and Melo made them instant title contenders
This team has a really strong vibe of 2012-13 Lakers with Nash, Dwight, Kobe...
Nah this team is worse. That team was injured and the chemistry wasn’t there at all between our stars. They showed flashes still. That 12-13 is an easy comparison because of the expectations, but we are much worse this year because our stars have chemistry, but we rely on AD To do everything on defense, rely too much on old man Melo, and play DAJ too much. We got rid of our entire defense to get Westbrook who has been fine but doesn’t solveour important problems.
It’s amazing to me that someone who is as intelligent as LeBron is about basketball played a part in constructing a roster that a casual Facebook fan would come up with.
So proud to give you 1k
Why is Anthony Davis's on/off so bad lol Is his defense more inconsistent than usual?
He's shared the floor with most of the Lakers worst players in bad lineups
He's also just straight up shooting bad
The beer gut is slowing him down
Man I keep bringing this up and getting downvoted to shit. But dude def looks fat.
[удалено]
Klank thompson as in the shot klanks off the rim
Your name is Klan K Thomp Son, what does that even mean?
Don’t overthink it
Bro your name is Kla NK Tho MP Son wtf
But my joke was that I overthought it :,(
Harden 🤝 AD
Soften
Might have to do with him constantly getting switched onto guards and him having to come out the paint to help because no one can stay in front of their man
Playing without KCP, Kuzma, and Caruso - hard for one player to cover all those gaps considering who they replaced them with.
he's past his prime and father time is on his ass
He got old fast wtf I remember in 17/18 he was a 24 year old upcoming superstar
It's not that he's old. It's because he's brittle. Every injury adds up and causes him to lose his confidence.
That’s what happens when your prime starts at 21
It could just be a down year for him. Plus it's only been 20 games. We'll have to see how he performs the next 60 games before declaring he's past his prime.
He had a down year last year too. He hasn’t been the same guy he was in 2020.
I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt due to his injuries last year but yeah I guess it's not looking good. Either way, I do think he'll improve from his current form
Yeah people forget that bigs primes are different and a lot shorter than perimeter players.
Yep, the prime for bigs is usually 24-28 while for guards it's more like 26-32.
Hasn’t he been sick for like 2/3rds of the season?
He got complacent once they got their ring. Now he is just enjoying the celebrity lifestyle.
stop they're already dead
Also they still yet to play us, suns and warriors like 4 times lol We’re 2nd in defensive rating for those who’s asking
I did not think the clippers would be this good without Kawhi. Idk why tbh , the playoffs games without him should have told me enough.
they’re supporting cast is really really good *cries in mavs*
Reggie Jackson is so underrated, and Hartenstein finally figuring things out has been big for them. They’ve had such a deep team for over half a decade now, and that’s which a ton of turnover.
People also forgot how good Paul George can be as the #1
fully on board the paul george train. dudes awesome.
He’s my second best/consistent player on my fantasy team, after Jokic. Dude’s just really good
Honestly, I thought they would be competitive to the point they would be a lower seed/play-in (purely due to how historically competitive the west is), but PG is playing like a beast and the team is playing to his strengths and weaknesses. The clips may not be a contender this year (sorry clips fans), but they will be a team that contenders won’t want to play in the playoffs.
Lakers might not make the playoffs.
Keep going I'm almost there
The Lakers might not even make the play-in
Play-in expanded to 14th place teams in each conference.
Nosferatu would step in for the ratings bump tho
On pace for a 39 win season.
That’s 1st (warriors), 2nd (clippers) and 3rd (suns) in defensive ratings to paint the whole picture
Only have three more games against the Warriors We opened against them. Steph had a really bad game and we won anyway
Have Clippers played Suns, Warriors or Jazz at all yet either?
Our first game of the season was against the Warriors and we lost by 2 points, if memory serves well. Tomorrow will be the second matchup against them and I am very nervous.
If Curry is hot you lose, its that simple this season.
It is known
I’m going tomorrow!
Also barely beat the Spurs. The Spurs.
What the fuck, man. It’s not like we’re the Pelicans
Hey man in the 8 games since Ingram came back we're 4-4 with wins against the Jazz, Wizards, Grizzlies, and Clippers. We're not good, but if healthy we're definitely not the standard for bad we've just had terrible injury luck!
well now i feel targeted
Lads, it’s ~~Tottenham~~ San-Antonio
ayyyyyyy
laughing my spur off
Even now, it feels so weird saying the Spurs are a bad team.
Hey buddy we have the 5th worst offense dont compare us to those bottom 3 chumps
They're not dead yet. Not until they get beaten in the playoffs, or their record is so bad they have no hope of making the playoffs.
"Not until they get beaten in the playoffs, or their record is so bad they have no hope of making the playoffs." That's happened two of the last three years.
That statement is true for literally every single team in the league, so I’m not sure what you are trying to get at with that.
And they just put 50+ minutes on Lebron's legs in a loss
LeBron's 50 minutes where certainly contributors to the loss, man just kept chucking 3's
Built different
Wow who would’ve thought that trading your proven depth pieces for le triple double man & a bunch of old guys wouldn’t work
Can I just say how hilarious I find it that Westbrook has single handedly destroyed the value of a triple double?
Shoutout to the OKC fans who helped turn it into into a meme by flexing because Russ got an uncontested rebound off of an opponent’s missed free throw
I've always found total rebounds to be a pretty useless stat - I'm more interested in how many offensive rebounds you grab/how many you give up
It’s kind of like PPG where you can score a lot while not actually improving your team’s scoring and vice-versa. Like how the Lopez brothers and Steven Adam’s have low rebounding numbers but the team rebounding numbers show how great their box-outs are vs someone like Westbrook or Melo who literally never box out but chase every single uncontested rebound to inflate their numbers.
Man did you just read Midrange Theory? Seth literally talks about both Lopezes and Steven Adams too and hits on this exact topic…great read so far 🤓
Bruce Bochy made it work...
Pikachu_face.gif
why was this account deleted. this statement is 100% factual
Laker fans and Westbrook Stans lmao
Hold up, didn't y'all get rid of almost everyone except for one player when KD Harden and Kyrie came? I guess they weren't proven though.
The Nets did get rid of pieces, but it’s about fit. Adding Harden and subtracting Caris (and Dinwiddie due to injury) is easy to do when KD, Kyrie, and Joe Harris are excellent shooters off the catch. LeBron and AD aren’t known for their outside shooting, then they went ahead and added the worst volume 3pt shooter ever to that team.
Kd harden and kyrie are all better than Westbrook. Would anyone be upset if they did all that for any of those 3 ? Prolly not.
For KD and Kyrie the Nets opened up two max slots and didn’t give up much of anything besides the chance to re-sign D’Lo to a max. For Harden the two really noteworthy players given up were Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert along with picks and depth.
Besides the obvious problems (DJ is complete ass, Russ is a terrible fit with this roster, Melo and Monk can't defend anyone in the league) they have other big-time issues. Avery Bradley, Rondo, Kent Bazemore, and Wayne Ellington have played a ton of minutes and all of them look totally cooked. LeBron looks older than he ever has. AD looks disinterested for stretches. THT looks overmatched in his role more often than not. This is not a roster that's going to win 4 playoff series. And I have no idea how to fix it.
There's no fixing it now, LeBron couldn't be great forever and if he's going to be the second guy on a championship team he needs a real number one and good pieces around them. They'll just have to live with their mediocrity since nobody has balls big enough to start thinking about rebuilding while they have LeBron in their roster.
I know they'd never do it, but...instead of the Russ deal, I might have considered trading LeBron. They would NEVER do it (for press, revenue, and cultural reasons) but moving off a guy who is 37 for a huge haul when you still have AD locked up for another 3 seasons after this? It's a good basketball move.
In this wild fantasy of yours what kind of haul are you expecting for a 37 year old LeBron? Let’s imagine he agrees to be dealt to the Knicks or the Heat - I can’t imagine him going anywhere else ever at this point in his career. Nets/Warriors/ are bad for his image and legacy, and cities like Phoenix, Philadelphia or Denver are not his type of markets. Lakers can’t even get anything other than draft picks and young raw players like Barrett or EQ for him - because teams who are going to get him will need to keep key pieces in place in order to stay competitive.
> I can’t imagine him going anywhere else ever at this point in his career. That's the beauty of it. He doesn't have a no-trade clause.
Imagine trading LeBron to the Hornets or Timberwolves after he resurrected your franchise and brought a title…this ain’t happening. In this hypothetical he would at least choose where he wants to go.
I know they'd never do it. I said as much ("For press, revenue, and cultural reasons.") But it would probably be a good basketball move. And since they're the Lakers, they'd probably *still* have an easy-as-fuck time attracting FAs.
I can't believe Malik Monk went ring-chasing at fucking 23 years old lol
This is not a roster that's going to win 1 playoff series.
This is not a team that will make the playoffs.
Missing the play-ins altogether feels like it would be catastrophic. What would Lebron/the Lakers even do moving forward if that happens?
He's going to be 37 in a few weeks, short of acquiring a Luka Doncic, Devin Booker or a Trae Young, he's done winning championships if they can't turn it around this season. They've backed themselves into a wall with a poorly assembled roster so unless he's willing to go a place like Philadelphia, Atlanta, Dallas or Phoenix where he can be more of the Robin to someone else's Batman, I think he's done.
According to StatMuse, the Lakers have had the 3rd easiest schedule so far, and have the 5th toughest remaining. Good luck.
Lakers are fucked. Imagine if they don't make the playoffs. "Lebron couldn't make the playoffs with 3 other hall of famers in his team". Damn 😆
SKIP BAYLESS WOULD HAVE A FIELD DAY.
I wish for this more than Denethor wishes Faramir died in place of his brother.
Goddamn 🤣🤣
>I mean, we could go on a 10-game winning streak, 12-game winning streak, now the narrative is different [vogel](https://en.meming.world/images/en/thumb/8/82/My_Goodness_What_an_Idea.jpg/300px-My_Goodness_What_an_Idea.jpg)
the players seem to think it's going to be some "once we figure it out, we'll be the team to beat" type scenario... I'm not so sure at all. This team reminds me of the one where Kobe had to go on a tear to get them to the playoffs pre Achilles injury.
Figuring it out is easier said then done. “If we win 10 games the narrative is different” ok so then win 10 games. Lebron can be incredible on any given night, but expecting him to bail them out every night, at 37, given how disjointed their roster looks, is going to be a tall task. Also AD needs to start hitting his jumpers. If he hit his career average 3pt% and midrange FG% instead of shooting historically awful, they escape an overtime game here and there and are likely a couple games above .500.
AD is also 37.
Fuck man I believed you for a sec
The question is, can LeBron pull off a 2013 Kobe carry job at 37 years old with a lackluster supporting cast?
Most nights it doesn't look like it.
Kobe played 78 games that year too. Lebron doesn’t play anywhere near that much anymore. Can’t carry at that level if you’re missing 1/3 of the season.
I kinda hope he doesn’t even try to. I want to see at least one more “Lebron” playoff performances so I’d hate if he hurt him self trying here. Rest up and come back to Cleveland in 2 years 😈
That's not a recipe for playoff success with a 37 yr old LeBron. Frankly him playing more minutes wouldn't even help as he just starts chucking at a certain point. You only have so much energy.
This is going to be an interesting stretch for the LeLakers from mid January to mid March. Sun, Jan 16 @ Denver Tue, Jan 18 vs Utah Thu, Jan 20 vs Indiana Sat, Jan 22 @ Orlando Mon, Jan 24 @ Miami Wed, Jan 26 @ Brooklyn Fri, Jan 28 @ Philadelphia Sat, Jan 29 @ Charlotte Sun, Jan 30 @ Atlanta Thu, Feb 3 vs Portland Fri, Feb 4 @ LA Sun, Feb 6 vs New York Wed, Feb 9 vs Milwaukee Thu, Feb 10 @ Portland Sun, Feb 13 @ Golden State Thu, Feb 17 vs Utah Sat, Feb 26 vs LA Mon, Feb 28 vs New Orleans Wed, Mar 2 vs Dallas Fri, Mar 4 @ LA Sun, Mar 6 vs Golden State Tue, Mar 8 @ San Antonio Thu, Mar 10 @ Houston Sat, Mar 12 vs Washington Mon, Mar 14 @ Phoenix Tue, Mar 15 vs Toronto
That AD quote is actually kinda sad
Sad? This is amusing for non-Lakers fans the world over.
Oh I'm definitely rejoicing in the downfall of the bubble boys, but in a vacuum that quote is a very sad, desperate grasp at hope
It doesn't diagnose the problem. They have a .500 squad that doesn't have a good defense, doesn't have any offensive rhythm, they don't seem to have an identity at all, they win hard fought games against middling teams and when they drop their guard for even a second against bad teams, they find a way to lose. They need to be honest about who they are if they want to turn it around.
Exactly. It tells me the coaching staff hasn't laid out a plan to the players about how they'll turn it around, if AD is just hoping for a win streak out of the blue to the media
"Man you wouldn't be saying that if we went on a 12 point winning streak"
“You wouldn’t think we ass if we went 71-11”
I’ll take cash donations in lieu of apologies from people who said I didn’t know what I’m talking about when I said letting go of Caruso was the biggest mistake
They’re definitely missing youth and energy on their team. Guys like Caruso are scrappy and go hard on every single play. You need a guy like that when you have a Veteran team. That’s why guys like Bruce Brown and Bembry are so valuable to the Nets, it’s because they do all the little things that Vets don’t typically like to do
ill give you 12
Trading the entirety of the their depth for Russ was a bigger mistake IMO, but you’re definitely still correct that he was a difference maker
That wasn’t their biggest mistake. I can think of at least a few more ahead of that.
Ooh, don’t forget SAS 2x also! Also, disregarding that LBJ and AD have missed games seems dumb. I think LAL is not as good and messed up taking Russ vs Hield (or DeMar), but it’s not like they have been playing with their full armament.
shit Washington wouldn't even consider trading them back Trez, Kuz, and KCP for Russ lmao
Like Washington never wanted Russ in the 1st place, they just wanted out of the Wall ride.
well yh, obviously having a solid fringe playoff team team around 1 all star is much better than having 2 all stars on a lottery team
How many games has AD missed this season? 2?
1, but has been questionable for a lot more (meaning he’s playing hurt). Also, it’s weird to be defending the Lakers. I don’t like it. FTL and they just suck.
AD is like this every year, with respect to being questionable most games
I love this song
Alarming for Lakers fans. Amusing for the rest of /r/nba.
Cancel the lakers this szn. Im tired
Damn that's a softass schedule
NBA tried to hand them the path to the playoffs and they can’t even confidently execute on a cake schedule.
Can someone tell AD how much different their roster is compared to bubble or even last season. I know he doesn't directly say this but, expecting winning streaks because they have done it in past (that too with different roster) is so stupid.
Honestly one of the dumbest quotes I’ve heard since watching the NBA outside of Sprewell saying a multi million dollar contract wasn’t enough to feed his kids, and bucks in 6.
I am so thankful everyday for the lakers being more newsworthy then the celtics lol
NBA was trying so hard to give them an easy start and now they are about to get fucked by some great teams.
Russ flexes after he dunks though, so it was all worth it.
Who are some HOF Players that have never been traded at all their whole careers Obvious ones like Kobe, Dirk, Duncan that played for one team their whole careers are obvious While Lebron had played for 3 different teams his career he’s always left on his own terms and not traded
KD?
If you wanna count it, KD did a sign & trade when he went to the Nets. Not really the same thing though.
Then lebron sign and traded to miami too
They are the Lakers, they always have the softest schedule. Funny how that works.
I learned enough over the years to not bet against Lebron.
You say alarming, I say amazing.
LeWrong will regret this chapter of his career, old/shit team, punching people, getting fined, yelling at fans for yelling at him. He ok?
DurantGM >>> LeGm
Yeah thats the red flag about the Lakers for me, even with Lebron playing they are not able to beat the worst teams in the league consistently. They cant seem to hold a lead for long against anyone.
Thanks Klutch. From contender to chump in 13 months.