2019-2020 NBA Season Thread Basketball • Page 118

These dudes were mostly very painful to watch. And Korver is the only one I’d maybe trust, but when he went cold he was unplayable.

 

When I think of "players I trust" I'm definitely thinking JR Smith, Imam Shumpert, Tristan Thompson, the list could go on....

 

But it's not like that bench is very different than the Lakers bench

 

Cook, Dudley, Rondo, Green, is Chandler still on the team?, I'd at least know they can play in playoff games.

I'd want some better perimeter defenders though.

Caruso > Pope

It's a weird lineup. I can't think of a single LeBron team in a long time that I've been like "oh shit yeah that's a great lineup" cause even those Miami teams had to be fleshed out with old dudes. It worked, but it wasn't a knock out at the end of the bench.

 

When the Cavs traded for Mozgov, JR & Shump during the 14-15 season, they went something like 36-8 after the trade. They were big pieces to that team. I'd also argue they were pretty important in the championship run as well. And bringing in Channing midseason in the 15-16 season completely changed the attitude of the team and he shot 56% from 3 in the 15-16 playoffs in 17 games.

And we're still talking all those guys after LeBron, Kyrie and Love. That's pretty good.

 

No I actually was not. There was a bunch of others that I was referring to, my bad.

 

Yeah, the big downside to this roster is a dearth of guys between 6’7 and 6’9. So, big wing defenders.

I think they only have LBJ, Kuz, and Dudley at that size.

 

They were still painful to watch in the playoffs against good teams and I never once trusted any of them in big moments.

 

Looking in retrospect at that first Heat roster it did have very poor depth, it's no wonder it couldn't handle a superteam like the Mavericks

 

god I would love this haha

 

Love averaged 12 points in the 2016 finals (the only time we won it) and 6 points in the three wins he played in(had a concussion for one).

One series but I’m just sayin. He was reduced to a spot of shooter beside Ky and Bron and he was not a consistent factor offensively. I’d take Lebron AD and Kuzma over Bron Love and Kyrie easily (especially defense alone). Tristan may be the most offensively inept player I’ve ever seen (Varejao actually could at least hit a 15 footer). Delly, JR, Shumpert, Channing, etc were never consistent as shooters or a factor on offense. Only thing JR did consistently was defense.

Danny Green is a huge step up from JR. Rondo is a four time all star. Bradley is a huge step up from Shumpert. Cousins even with the injury or McGee is a better option than Tristan who does literally one thing. Not to mention Kuzma Or Cook.

Once again I’m not saying this team is better than any of those past teams at this point. But talent wise I think it could definitely have the potential to be LeBrons best team.

 

Anybody a Magic/Pacer fan in here? How’s Vogel as a coach? I feel like he really hasn’t had the talent to really have a fair chance at competing.

 

Bruh what??? Lmao. Kuzma is not that good.

Only thing JR did consistently was defense???

 

Pretty much anyone LeBron plays with is reduced to a spot up shooter in the corner unless he has another ball dominant ball-handler/play maker beside him (i.e. Wade and Kyrie). So, most of these Lakers guys are going to be doing the same thing, standing in the corner or on the wing spreading the floor for LeBron and waiting for a catch and shoot.

Look, I don't even like defending guys like Tristan, Iman and JR haha because I realize their inefficiencies but to say those teams were 'awful' is quite a stretch considering they won a championship and injuries to Love and Kyrie for sure prevented them from winning another and KD going to a 73 win team cemented another loss. No other team in NBA history had to face a team like that in the NBA Finals. The Cavs had great teams and it wasn't just LeBron carrying the load. Kyrie was GREAT for those teams. Love was very good. The role players don't blow you away with stats, but did things well for the roles they played. Also hard to put up a lot of stats when the Big 3 put up the majority of them.

I would never call Danny Green a huge step up from anyone. Rondo will be 34 by the time of the playoffs and can't stay healthy. Also hasn't made an all-star team in six years. Who knows what Cousins will return to? He's a big question mark. I don't have much faith in many of the other players that they brought in.

 

Rondo being a 4 time all star literally does not matter in 2019 when he barely tries lmaooooooo

 

I will say that the Lakers roster does look a lot better than I expected it to look as this free agency started but it's still pretty messy

 

I don’t think people are taking into account that I’m saying “talent”. Like comparing these players in a vaccuum. i get there are a thousand contingencies and variables to all of these players.

I don’t feel like having this conversation anymore lol I’ll just once again reiterate that I think this collection of players has the potential to be the best team LeBron has played with and in my opinion the best he’s had since the Heat and I’ll leave it at that

 

West
1. Clippers
2. Blazers
3. Jazz
4. Rockets
5. Lakers
6. Nuggets
7. Spurs
8. Warriors

East.
1. Bucks
2. Sixers
3. Raptors
4. Celtics
5. Pacers
6. Nets
7. Magic
8. Heat

 

Forgot to post the East so this is what I have there:

1. Bucks
2. 76ers
3. Pacers
4. Celtics
5. Raptors
6. Heat
7. Nets
8. Hawks
9. Magic
10. Cavaliers
11. Pistons
12. Knicks
13. Bulls
14. Wizards
15. Hornets

For the record I'm confident in like 0% of either of my predictions, confident in maybe the top 4 I picked for the west and the top 1 I picked for the east

 

It’s upsetting how many times I randomly think about what would’ve happened had KD not gone to the Warriors lol we definitely could’ve won the next two years and Kyrie I don’t think would’ve been upset had we kept winning. Bums me out

 

I truly do not get this Danny Green slander.

Danny Green shot 45% on 5.4 3's per game during the regular season last year. And he doesn't hurt you defensively.

He struggled in the playoffs to be sure. But he had his best shooting season EVER last year in the regular season. Even if he regresses closer to 40% he will be immensely valuable in the regular season and useful during the playoffs.

Ray Allen never shot 45.5% on 5.4 attempts during the regular season. Not once. Danny Green was ridiculous last year. He basically had a Kyle Korver type of year shooting AND he makes plays defensively.

 

I personally think you're right mostly cuz Lebron has never played with someone as good as Anthony Davis (hot take!). Kuzma is still only gonna be 24 this season and if he goes back to his 3pt% in his rookie season he could have a breakout year. McGee and Cousins are more than serviceable. Really don't think Rondo brings anything to the table personally (I like Caruso). Danny Green played a valuable role for a championship team this year. I dunno, I think this team is pretty good and there's a reason why they have the third best odds in Vegas.

Edit: The post above proves my point. Danny Green was an incredible 3pt shooter last year. I don't get the hate either.

 

What was the Lakers odds in Vegas prior to the season last year?

 

I already blatantly said that I did not watch any Raptors regular season games last year. I did however watch every single Raptors playoff game and I thought not only was Danny Green bad, but he was hurting the team. Also, the Raptors continuously didn't even start him in the second half of games during the playoffs.

His 5.4 3PA per game wasn't even in the top 50 in the league for 3PA last year for some perspective on his percentages. Only three times in his career has he averaged more than 2 3PM per game. I think he'll be OK, but I think Laker fans are severely overrating him.

 

He just went cold when more people were watching. Korver was ice cold in the 2018 finals too, didn’t make him a bad shooter this year