Optimism Discussion: The Laker's Sky Is Not Falling

the FT percentages were warning signs on both.

oh wait, optimism thread: it can't stay THIS bad. it almost looks like they're trying to miss shots right now.

 

Yeah It's very encouraging to see how good Ball has been defensively. I kept hearing about how bad he's been from ESPN and everyone else but the eye test was telling me the opposite. His man to man defense needs work BUT his off ball defense is already elite for his position with the amount of steals and mini chase down blocks he's getting. He's also very good at stripping the ball when the opponent drives to the hoop. I mean Ball is basically at a steal and a block a game and from a GUARD, that is elite.

He'll continue to get better and once his offense comes around...look the eff out.

 

Our offense is a no-go, but that defense tho!

 

I wonder if they will match up against each other, because physically there is no match. Some similar abilities, and both may have regular triple doubles in the future, but both things being equal, I'm going with size.

 

The offense looks really good aside from too many really silly overpassing turnovers. We're getting a ton of open jumpers and pretty good (contested, but make-able) shots at the rim. Dudes (Ball and Ingram mostly) are just straight up missing.

 

KCP made a huge difference on our defensive end. I really wish we can re-sign him next year, but I highly doubt we can afford him.

 

Lakers had (3) 20 point scorers this game with career highs by Kuzma and BI! Woot Woot!

And Randle let the team in +/- with a +6. He's the man!

 

So, the end of the 76ers game is winding down and it is looking like a loss.

I am optimistic as hell with these boys personally. Yes, Lonzo has to find his shot which I think the off season is going to take care of that and hopefully these 4th quarter spectator moments will encourage him to get in, as the commentators said, the lab and work. Kuz is a star to me. BI is a star. But that isn't why I am optimistic.

These boys fight. They battle unlike years before. They have to learn to win. They are learning to take the bumps and bruises and make the plays when it matters. Winners know how to get it done. Young teams learning how to win make the dumb play, the dumb pass or the ill-advised fouls and shots. When they learn how to make those plays these guys will be hard to beat. We are def better than the last few seasons that is for sure. Now lets turn that corner and get some of this W's

 

I mean, that was a hot garbage of a game for the Lakers, with Embiid and Simmons with big games, but it was still close.

If Luke actually made adjustments like putting Bogut back in to defend Embiid and going to Kuz and BI on offense, we would've definitely won that game.

 

Puke Suckton.

 

Luke aiming for that high pick

 

Why were we seeing Clarkson/Randle high pick and roll when both Kuz and BI were hot hands? This is where not having a point-guard kills you. Zo really needs to find his game... and his confidence is on life-support...

...but this is an optimistic thread so I do want to say that Kuz is definitely a godsend for us... and BI is slowly but surely becoming a solid player. With Jr healthy, this would have been a much different game...

 

The are the games Paul George and Lebron look at and go "Hmmmm, if they had me, they'd probably win." Go to player down the stretch and all that.

 

Embiid was incredible, but I thought Ingram and Kuzma played on the same level as Simmons last night.

 

Yeah good call. Lonzo's 6'6" but he looked like a 6th grader against a high school senior in Ben Simmons with the size discrepancy.

 

Soooo f****** close was Kuz's poster attempt on Embiid. That would have been up there nearly with Kobe on Howard and equal to Nance on Lopez. Dunk of the season possibly to date. Kuz does have some Mamba in him. Love to have heard the conversation at dinner last night or whenever that was.