Playoffs? Roster's Set. What's Your Gut Telling You?

Discussion in 'Lakers Discussion' started by LTLakerFan, Sep 20, 2017.

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Playoffs Plausibility ..... Call it

  1. What are you smoking? ..... 32 wins if things go well

    15 vote(s)
    48.4%
  2. We're back in the post season Baby .... 1st round

    9 vote(s)
    29.0%
  3. Shocked the World .... Magic and Lonzo effect. 2nd round

    1 vote(s)
    3.2%
  4. What the Hell there's space for it in the Poll ... Kobe shrug .... WCF

    2 vote(s)
    6.5%
  5. Wow they give you 5 options capability? ?? Durant ankle ..... We make the Finals

    4 vote(s)
    12.9%
  1. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

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    Let's do it. I vote we are in the first round. Look at our freaking roster now. Yeah it's the West but with our roster and the vibe set by Magic's edict of back to excellence and what our SL team already accomplished in stunning fashion ..... there's something special going on here when Bill Bertka comments too .....the Lakers are in the West too. Look the hell out.
     
  2. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

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    i was encouraged that espn's (admittedly lame) stat models had the lakers projecting at 33/34 wins and better than, like, 8 other teams this year. that would be a big step, imo. i can't see my way to a playoff scenario. too many good teams in the west.
     
  3. Weezy

    Weezy Moderator Staff Member

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    A lot would have to go right for us to make the playoffs. Lonzo making an impact right away, the team gelling like we didn’t expect or earlier than we did expect, our best vet players staying healthy (Lopez, KCP), major growth from Ingram and Randle. Also imo struggles or key injuries to teams just ahead of us in the west that aren’t right now anticipated. I would not say the 8th seed is out of the question though, where last year I said it was no question an impossibility. We didn’t have a player as good as Lopez last season, or a starting guard as good as KCP, Ingram was a rookie, and we didn’t have a PG like Ball. We’ve improved at nearly every position at least a little bit, so that’s a step in the right direction, and moves like adding someone like Bogut if he can just stay healthy enough to give is some meaningful minutes were very solid. Some other bad teams got better though, like the Wolves, Pelicans, and Kings, so i only give us an outside chance at most.
     
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  4. raviator

    raviator - Rookie -

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    I’m somewhere between 32 wins and fighting for a playoff spot. First four spots are a definite lock with GSW, S.A., Houston, and OKC. Minny is definitely better than us so that’s five and you can make the argument for Denver. That’s six. That leaves 2 spots between Clippers, Memphis, Portland, New Orleans, and Utah all whome I think the Lakers can compete with. I’ll be happy if they can stay within say 2-4 games within a playoff spot.
     
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  5. fabfourlakers

    fabfourlakers - Lakers Starter -

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    Ingram and Randle would have to break out and Lonzo would have to be a generational rookie of the year type of guy...along with everybody staying healthy (especially key vets)...

    I also think some of the middling teams (Clippers, Jazz, Blazers, Pelicans, Grizzlies) will have to take a huge step back. I think definitively the Warriors, Spurs, Rockets, Thunder, Twolves and Nuggets are bettter than us but after that...it's a toss-up if everything falls right for us.

    Remember, this team did start 10-9 last year and then D'Angelo went down with an injury and we went to absolute crap....
     
  6. Weezy

    Weezy Moderator Staff Member

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    I agree with most teams being mentioned here, except the Jazz. Their little run is over. Joe Johnson is old and they lost their best player in Hayward. So unless Exum suddenly breaks out and becomes what he was supposed to, they’re avergage as us if not moreso. Gobert is good too, but he also benefited from playing next to Hayward, he isn’t super polished offensively. I see the Clippers, Grizzlies, Pelicans, and Blazers as still being there though, with Minny maybe passing them all.
     
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  7. Toneloc

    Toneloc - Rookie -

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    There is a pretty big difference between 32 wins and making the playoffs, so selecting the former was an easy decision. I can't remember the last time I was this excited entering the season, but that doesn't mean it's going to be pretty. Teams are going to run all over our defense, and there will be growing pains, but at least we are developing.

    Everyone needs to work hard, stay healthy, and get ready for lllllaaabron next year.
     
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  8. sirronstuff

    sirronstuff - Lakers Legend -

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    I understand that approach, but decided to do the opposite and go for the first round playoff exit LOL

    The rest of the poll options....:Crazyartest: :Laugh:
     
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  9. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

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    Someone voted for the WCF and hasn't explained it yet.

    :Magic Brows:
     
  10. sirronstuff

    sirronstuff - Lakers Legend -

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    WCF?!?!?!

    [​IMG]

    Not this year.
     
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  11. John3:16

    John3:16 Moderator Staff Member

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    High 30s. Maybe even 41. But I need to know if we're keeping Randle and Clarkson all year to make an educated guess.
     
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  12. gcclaker

    gcclaker Moderator Staff Member

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    ...three ice cold MGD's in, I still voted for the first option. :) We should be competitive at least.
     
  13. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

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    Yeah no worries about the WCF ....I had that wrong. The vote was the Finals. :ShaqOh2: Unless just jerking around.
     
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  14. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

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    Maybe try some Sam Adams or Longboards?
     
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  15. gcclaker

    gcclaker Moderator Staff Member

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    ...drinking them out of my 2000 NBA Champion Laker glass. Woooh! Seriously, I like our cast. We could compete for the last two spots IF we had a closer. Ingram wants that responsibility. Right now, that is TBD.

    I just hope like hell for good health for our team so we can at least see and measure their progress.
     
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  16. Alcindor

    Alcindor - Lakers Starter -

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    I'm thinking low 30's. We'll take a hit to our season when we drop some talent in trades. We'd better anyways, because this season is not about the record as Pelinka and Magic said, it's about next summer. A weaker second half of the season due to a trade that dumps Demp is fine. It won't happen without a loss of good talent, we all know that.

    For me this season is #1 about finding that trade. Secondary to that but not by much is player development. Lonzo, Kuzma, Hart & co all getting their feet wet and well-grooved in to the NBA. Maybe Bryant goes to the G league and gets play there. Lopez and KCP are here to help us try and get some wins and be possible assets to get deal done. But mostly what matters to me is getting rid of that jacked contract and obviously for the best deal. Teams know we want to be rid of it so it's gonna take a good offer. Which brings me to:

    Untouchable:
    Ball
    Ingram
    Kuzma
    (if he plays ANYTHING like he has) and that's it.

    Touchable:
    Randle - Expiring status makes trades harder when viewed as talent rather than just an expiring contract. Everything depends on his performance this first half of the season. If he blows up in the Lonzo system there are deals that can happen. There is benefit to teams trading for him rather than waiting for him in free agency but it would take another piece to entice that to happen and to take on Deng.
    Clarkson - Hard to see what deal a team could piece together with him and Deng. That's a whole lot o' paper and dependent upon him blowing up. Unlikely.
    Nance Jr - Love him but some good people are gonna have to go as Deng bait. Teams aren't dumb and know where are talent lies. They'll ask for him.
    Zu - Cheap young center on a good contract, also Deng bait.
    Lopez - Love to keep but if we can't ok to use in a deal.
    KCP - see Lopez
    Hart - Young good and cheap, every team needs guys like this and therefore they need to be available in a deal.
    Ennis - see Hart
    Bogut - probably not much there unless locale is a desirable one to him.

    Please Touch:

    Deng
    Brewer (does have value as an expiring)
     
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  17. sirronstuff

    sirronstuff - Lakers Legend -

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    Show me on this doll where Alcindor touched you.

    [​IMG]

    :Laugh:

    So. Touchable.

    [​IMG]
     
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  18. SFGOLDRUSHER

    SFGOLDRUSHER - Lakers Starter -

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    :Kareemlook:
     
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  19. sirronstuff

    sirronstuff - Lakers Legend -

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    [​IMG]

    Yeah, for some reason that just struck me as funny this morning
     
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  20. Alcindor

    Alcindor - Lakers Starter -

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    So you recycle my old Worthy/Durant joke to reuse on me :p

    tsk tsk

     
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