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Post by doakley8 on Sept 16, 2020 10:52:03 GMT -5
I will say, every time Herro shoots a 3, I expect it to go on. If they play Miami, they'll take Javale/Howard out of the series again, and AD/Morris will have to come out on the perimeter.
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Post by doakley8 on Sept 16, 2020 11:13:45 GMT -5
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Post by YoungThundercat on Sept 16, 2020 12:06:03 GMT -5
It's funny how my fellow Laker fan friends are talking about how, with the Clippers/Bucks gone, the Lakers have an easy path to the title.
Yeah the Nuggets went down 1-3 to Utah and the Clippers and were nearly eliminated BUT when that team is on their game, they can compete with anyone. Stud tandem in Murray/Jokic, quality two way players in Harris/Grant, tough veteran in Millsap, defender in Craig, pop off the bench with MPJ/Morris and even a smooth passing backup C in Plumlee. About as strong and balanced a 9 man rotation as you'll see and all but Craig/Plumlee are good 3pt shooters. Like I said, from a competitive standpoint, I'd actually rather face the Clippers than Nuggets if I'm the Lakers. AD would have feasted on the Clippers and the Clippers' crappy postseason shooting would have led to their demise. With the Nuggets, who are playing with house money because no one believes they'll beat the Lakers, I think this series goes 6 at least and the Lakers are pushed because the depth, athleticism, youth, shooting, size, motivation of the Nuggets will be a tough challenge.
Also, yeah the top 2 seeds in the East are out and going in I would have argued MIL/TOR as the biggest threats to the Lakers in the finals. That said, Miami has been Big time Closer in Butler. Stud big in Bam. Dragic is slyly averaging 22-4-4 in the postseason. Crowder is basically just Robert Covington all over again. Tough veteran in Iguodala. Then last, certainly not least, the shooting of Herro, Duncan Robinson and even Olynyk. They are so deep that Kendrick Nunn - a full time starter averaging 15.3ppg in the regular season - is a non factor and Derrick Jones Jr - a regular rotation player a 23.3mpg in the regular season - is just a defensive specialist for length. Boston is good too and the idea of a Lakers vs Cel tics matchup is intriguing from a historical standpoint but I think the Lakers crush the Morons personally. The Heat would pose a notably tougher opponent. You bring up a lot of good points. I think the thought process, in the easiest way explainable, would be: Of the 4 teams left, the Lakers have the single best player in LeBron. They have the most championship level experience with LBJ, Danny Green, Rondo, Javale, JR. And they have maybe the second best chemistry (I feel like you have to give that to Denver at this point), which is what destroyed their biggest competition in the Clippers.
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Post by eddieeddie on Sept 16, 2020 12:25:50 GMT -5
No doubt the Lakers have to be the favorites.
Just saying the assertion that because the Clippers/Bucks are out that they can just hopscotch their way to the title would be an absurd approach because downplaying the other teams as threats is the kind of stuff that leads teams to blowing leads and then games. See the Clippers. Legitimately think they got cocky and it bit them in the ass. Luckily Lebron looks as hungry as ever and guys like AD, Green, Kuz, Rondo, Caruso etc. don't seem the type to ever let their foot off the gas.
Experience, chemistry and having the best player on the floor are obviously huge edges but after watching the Raptors last season, I believe that quality depth, strong outside shooting and a top 10 defense will challenge even the most elite of teams. Yeah they had Kawhi but there were so many other elements on that team that led to that title run. That team had more of a "sum of all its parts" feel to it rather than being "Kawhi and company". We saw in this Nuggets series how badly Kawhi missed a guy like Lowry.
Lakers thus far haven't really been challenged. The Blazers didn't have their full roster due to injuries. The Rockets were terribly matched against the Lakers. Denver, Miami and Boston won't ever have the best player. Or even the 2nd best because of AD. So it's incumbent upon the Lakers to just ride Lebron/AD, ride their chemistry and experience, get good enough production from their role players to overcome the scrappiness from the "We have nothing to lose mentality" those teams bring to the matchup, the energy and defensive tenacity they'll bring on every play because they aren't lazy and entitled like the Clippers and Bucks looked at times and not fall victim to the offensive runs they are capable of because of their shooting.
I predict Lakers over Nuggets in 6 and Lakers over Heat in 6.
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Post by doakley8 on Sept 16, 2020 13:14:42 GMT -5
Paul George in the fourth quarters of the last three games: 14 points, 3-16 FG, 1-11 3s, 3 assists, 3 turnovers, minus-39 in 34 minutes.
ooof, might need shoulder surgeries again laying those bricks
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Post by eddieeddie on Sept 16, 2020 14:41:26 GMT -5
Kendrick Perkins was on The Jump saying he has sources saying they are going to break up that team.
Not sure if he means something serious though like actually moving PG or if it's just moves on the edges, which can be expected anyways with Harrell/Morris/Jackson/maybe Green as FAs.
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Post by varsity on Sept 16, 2020 15:56:08 GMT -5
I'm thinking more of the edges. They need a 3rd piece, if not for production, but to fire that team up. Someone better than Patrick Beverly. All season long they just looked lethargic and playing off of sheer talent and it finally caught up to them. And caught up to them bad. That 4th quarter was embarrassing. It's bad enough to lose a series being up 3-1 but to play the way they did in Game 7 should be enough to say some changes need to be made.
That said, I still have my doubts that Kawhi and PG13 are the pieces they move unless one of them wants the other to go (which I doubt). They both fought way too hard to get to L.A. for either to want the other to leave. I think they'll look at this year as an anomaly and hide behind it only being their 1st season together, not having a full season, all the distractions and interruptions, etc.
The guy who makes the most sense here, though probably damn near impossible, is Chris Paul. What a story it would be to bring him back to L.A. with Doc Rivers. But financially you would almost have to gut the entire team if the idea is to keep Paul George and Kawhi there. It would take some maneuvering but if you can use Harrell in a S&T, Lou Williams, Pat Beverly, Zubac and Shamet, financially you can get close. Bad part about the Clippers is they don't have any draft picks to entice a team like OKC to do it. But OKC may also just want from under Paul's contract.
But the Clippers deserve every bit of ridicule they are getting today. That was a pathetic showing and maybe one of the worst Game 7 showings Ive seen ever.
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Post by eddieeddie on Sept 16, 2020 18:12:44 GMT -5
Given the tightening window, Balmer's net worth and the epic failure that was this season, $ should absolutely be no object this summer.
Obviously keep PG, Kawhi
I guess Lou and PatBev but they shouldn't be untouchable
Re-sign Marcus Morris and JaMychal Green if he opts out
I'd then shop the heck out of Zubac (3 years 22M - but 3rd year non guaranteed), McGruder (2 years 10.2M - but 2nd year non guaranteed so he's a defacto 5M expiring deal), the smaller contracts of Landry Shamet, Mfiondu Kabengele, Terence Mann (ranging from 1.5M to 2M next season - with Shamet obviously being the most valued of the bunch) AND Montrezl Harrell via Sign and Trade
Just tell teams if they have any bloated contracts attached to veterans they want to unload - provided the veteran is still a capable player but just overpaid and/or too old for their plans - that the Clippers are open for business. Hell, at this point even a guy like Al Horford shouldn't be off the table as absurd as that sounds. I'm sure Philly would rather have Montrezl Harrell rumbling around at 20M per than Horford at his salary and the Clippers may tell themselves that Horford's "veteran presence" plus his 3pt shooting and passing make him a better fit for a win-now team.
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Post by doakley8 on Sept 16, 2020 18:43:34 GMT -5
Run it back Need a playmaking starting guard. Bev is best off the bench. You had Kawhi bringing the ball up and PG13 just standing on the wing with no movement waiting to throw up a knuckleball.
Team is loaded, a quick penetrating guard would be good
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Post by eddieeddie on Sept 16, 2020 23:24:53 GMT -5
When Kawhi won his two titles he had Tony Parker and Kyle Lowry at point guard. It's not easy to find guys like that obviously but point is the team needs a legitimate floor general and that just isn't Lou or PatBev. Just imagine how much life is easier for Butler having Dragic next to him. I mean, fwiw Dragic is a free agent and the Heat are preserving cap space.
Team also needs an upgrade at C. Zubac has good size and is strong down low but he doesn't have range and is a liability on perimeter defense. Harrell is a quality player but his "motor" can only go so far considering he's 6'7" and he doesn't have range. He also struggles on perimeter defense with his rotations. So clearly they need to address this position with a "stretch big" who can also play some defense. Like Patrick Patterson but better.
The team is solid on paper but the postseason exposed real holes that should be the focus of their offseason.
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Post by eddieeddie on Sept 18, 2020 11:46:53 GMT -5
Butler come up huge in the clutch on both ends, Dragic had a big game and a huge three at the end, Duncan Robinson on fire from three, Bam doing Bam things with a 21-10-4 line, Crowder with his usual energy and even though Herro didn't shoot well he still spread the floor and nabbed 9 rebounds 5 assists.
Miami wins. Crazy to think they are doing this with Iggy and Nunn basically non-factors. They combined for 12 minutes and 0 points.
Meanwhile Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown are fighting in the locker room and throwing stuff.
Cool.
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Post by doakley8 on Sept 18, 2020 11:55:06 GMT -5
Probably resting Iggy for LeBron. Miami has their "closing rotation" in the 4th quarter and rotate offense for defense. Butler, Iggy, Crowder, Bam, Derrick Jones, Jr.
Then offense they'll sub in Dragic/Herro Robinson tends to get most of his minutes early
It's a very deep, intangible team. I think they got enough to throw at LeBron. AD? ehh..Jones/Bam or just let AD get his 30 and defend the perimeter.
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Post by eddieeddie on Sept 18, 2020 12:47:52 GMT -5
Miami swept a Pacers team that legitimately played only one big man in Turner. Miami is currently facing a Morons team that starts 4 perimeter guys and then a non-offensive threat in Theis with an inexperienced bench. So neither really sets themselves up for the Lakers in terms of game plan.
That said, their matchup with the Bucks kind of did. If you equate approaching Lebron/AD the same way they did Middleton/Greek Freak. Obviously it's not an exact comparison but point is they can replicate their defensive plan in terms of tackling a team where a stud wing and a do-it-all big man are the clear two best players. The Bucks were the #1 scoring team, #4 in 3 pointers made, #1 rebounding team and #8 in defense.
Not to mention if anyone can come up with a plan to try and stop Lebron, it'd be Riley and Spoelstra for obvious reasons.
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Post by doakley8 on Sept 21, 2020 7:25:21 GMT -5
The HELL was Plumlee doing.
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Post by eddieeddie on Sept 21, 2020 10:23:53 GMT -5
The HELL was Plumlee doing.
I said to my wife: "Terrible defense by Plumlee. Why was he in there in the first place given he'd barely been in the game? This is why you have a steady veteran like Rondo making an all-important inbounds pass. AD!!!!!"
The Rondo portion being a shot at Donovan for having SGA making the inbound pass in game 7 of the Rockets series that ended in disaster.
What a great game. Obviously I wouldn't object to the Lakers sweeping to lock up a trip to the Finals and some rest but I also wouldn't mind it going 5 or 6 just so I can see more basketball. I feel like the pandemic and the bubble has just made me more of a fan of watching the actual games.
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Post by doakley8 on Sept 21, 2020 11:52:52 GMT -5
I liked the substitution..that was a good move. With Plumlee's length, jumping ability to contest, and agile (moreso than Jokic) to chase AD. But the dude stopped and wanted to see how it looked from LBJ's angle and just stood there and yelled at Jokic to go contest. But that series is a wrap. LBJ was good in the first..but he sucked in the 4th and AD carried them in the clutch.
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Post by doakley8 on Sept 21, 2020 12:34:51 GMT -5
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Post by eddieeddie on Sept 21, 2020 12:43:35 GMT -5
I liked the substitution..that was a good move. With Plumlee's length, jumping ability to contest, and agile (moreso than Jokic) to chase AD. But the dude stopped and wanted to see how it looked from LBJ's angle and just stood there and yelled at Jokic to go contest. But that series is a wrap. LBJ was good in the first..but he sucked in the 4th and AD carried them in the clutch.
Yeah and how'd that work out for Plumlee?
You should play someone that has been in the game and is warmed up and knows the flow of the Lakers' offense. Obviously Jokic chasing around AD wouldn't be ideal but they should have gone Grant or kept in Millsap with the former being athletic and long and the latter being a smart veteran who knows the angles and had been in the game for most of the 4th. Just throwing out height and length - unless that person is defending the inbounder - is lazy coaching.
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Post by doakley8 on Sept 21, 2020 12:45:25 GMT -5
I can agree..Grant or even MPJ..but he's not going to trust him in that situation. It wasn't a communication issue..Plumlee just did the wrong thing. There's a Dukie for ya. Coach K should be proud
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Post by eddieeddie on Sept 21, 2020 13:09:49 GMT -5
I think the Nuggets need to give Gary Harris a much shorter leash. He's been awful. That team is really missing Will Barton.
They should just roll out Murray, Morris, MPJ, Grant, Jokic as a lineup as much as they can and just try to outscore the Lakers.
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Post by doakley8 on Sept 22, 2020 21:18:25 GMT -5
That damn Joker is a bad dude, so good
And Milsap is done, he plays like he's pushing 40. Has no lift. He's not the player he was a few years ago.
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Post by doakley8 on Sept 22, 2020 22:34:18 GMT -5
Dayum, Murray is good too lol Players need to flock to Denver and be an added piece
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Post by varsity on Sept 22, 2020 23:29:52 GMT -5
Kuzma was awful. If anyone needed a short leash, it was him.
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Post by eddieeddie on Sept 22, 2020 23:45:26 GMT -5
Kuzma was awful. If anyone needed a short leash, it was him.
My friends were saying Kuzma is basically the Harrison Barnes from the Warriors. I said "Heck, I wish. Barnes actually played defense and hit threes. If Kuzma isn't hitting shots, he's useless"
The Lakers just didn't show up until that late run and even then, felt off. Murray and Jokic hitting big shots and got great production from other guys.
Crazy to think if not for the AD game-winner, Lakers could have been down 1-2.
That said, I predicted Lakers in 6 game and stand by it.
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Post by doakley8 on Sept 23, 2020 6:39:42 GMT -5
Kuzma wants so bad to play for somebody like the Bulls, shoot 20 times a night, score 40 points on occasion and be an alpha. But he'll realize he's not nearly as good as he thinks he is. And is on a good night a 3rd option.
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Post by eddieeddie on Sept 23, 2020 14:11:36 GMT -5
Kuzma wants so bad to play for somebody like the Bulls, shoot 20 times a night, score 40 points on occasion and be an alpha. But he'll realize he's not nearly as good as he thinks he is. And is on a good night a 3rd option.
Honestly, whether the Lakers win the title or not this year, I think Kuz is out the door.
He's their best trade chip and I don't know how excited the Lakers are to extend him when he hits free agency in 2021.
If they package Kuz with Green's sizable expiring deal, they can get back a quality veteran. And to the Laker fans on twitter continually suggesting Beal, Booker and plays of that caliber...... stop.
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Post by doakley8 on Sept 23, 2020 14:19:20 GMT -5
Yea, I'm not a big Kuz fan. I think he's more worried about his "brand", model GF, and his fashion. I'd move him as well.
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Post by eddieeddie on Sept 23, 2020 16:26:27 GMT -5
Just trade Kuz to Charlotte. He could go join Team MJ and market himself there. On that pathetically talented squad, he could average 20+ ppg. Charlotte could send back say PJ Washington. A 3&D SF/PF who fits more of what the Lakers could use off the bench. Plus he has 3 more years on his rookie deal, giving the Lakers some cost certainty.
If Charlotte lands Wiseman at #3, they could start Rozier, Graham, Bridges, Kuz, Wiseman and actually have something interesting brewing in the Post Kemba era.
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Post by eddieeddie on Sept 24, 2020 10:38:14 GMT -5
I've said it before and I'll say it again.
TYLER HERRO!
Kentucky just churning out studs. In the playoffs right now you have Herro, Adebayo, Murray, Rondo and AD.In the last 10 drafts, you also have SGA. Fox. Murray. Towns. Booker. Randle. Bledsoe. Boogie. Wall. Plus numerous role players. Apparently if you have a late lottery pick, should look that way. Funny reading how the Morons badly wanted Herro but he got poached one pick ahead of them and they ended up with Romeo Langford at 14 who is injured and has done next to nothing for them when healthy. Imagine how much better the Morons could have been with Herro off the bench instead of Brad Wanamaker.
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Post by doakley8 on Sept 24, 2020 10:45:08 GMT -5
Lakers better defend the 3 in a couple weeks. Crowder, Dragic, Herro, Robinson are going to launch it
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