I don't think there was excitement last year. I think people were concerned but tried to give the team a chance. This year, fans are just much more pessimistic and don't have much "benefit of the doubt" to give out. It is what it is.
I understand your points, the off-season wasn’t great and the team makeup isn’t good. But does it ever get tiring being pessimistic all the time?
Kinda a dangerous position to be in if proclaiming 100% sure we're going to suck and "I'm not going to watch these crap games". Before any are even played. Assuming reasonable health for the point being made .... because LeBron and AD being here had nothing to do with Rob's off season. If you're wrong a whole lot of nasty crow to be eaten, plus then you may want back in to watch (hopefully) >> a mid tier ball club with a puncher's chance at a ring playing an entertaining style of basketball .... and then officially becoming Lakers "bandwagoners".
This team as constructed does not have a punchers chance at a ring, unless you mean that we literally go right at the start of the play-in and punch every other team’s best player into a coma. And I say play-in because this is not a playoff team, it’s a play-in team, like 9th/10th place caliber. LeBron is in season 20, he’s not carrying anyone anymore, and he shouldn’t have to, his durability has been on the decline since he got here. It’s a poorly constructed roster, the signings are decent, but as a WHOLE it doesn’t make a lot of sense. And as I’ve argued for almost a year now that’s because of Russ. Not just because he sucks or something, it’s his SALARY, it’s so large it only allows us to have minimum players around him, LeBron, and AD. Trading for him was a mistake for this reason, the 3 star plan was dumb unless it was for a 3rd star who fit seamlessly, and even then all the best teams in the NBA now are 2 star teams with depth, it’s how we won the title. We shouldn’t do a bad deal, I’m not mad at the FO for not trading Russ, it’s wiser to wait. That said, it does mean we are punting the season, because this team isn’t good enough, and for those that are starting to forget just how bad last season was and get into root for now pumped up mode, I suggest you go watch some games as a reminder. This team will be marginally better just based on athleticism and likely the amount of “give a f***”, but that only takes you so far. But yes, we shouldn’t do a bad deal, but this ridiculous 2023 cap space plan shouldn’t be why. This is all a mess, our MLE signing isn’t even being TALKED about in the rotation
I honestly don’t know how we could argue against or be upset about what the Twitter guys and talking heads are saying about the roster.
Can't be. Makes no sense. LFR going to have a pod that will get his thoughts on how he thinks we will attack the season schematically with this roster. For some reason, the Lakers think LBJ will morog into who he was 6 years ago or so .
Yeah. The criticisms / concerns are valid. We seem to be banking on LeBron turning back the clock, multiple guys changing roles/positions, multiple guys playing better defense than we’ve seen, multiple guys shooting better we’ve seen, a new staff with a first time head coach immediately hitting the ground running, etc etc. That’s a lot.
No one is saying you have to like them. Or watch them. My post was kiddingly about the danger in making these kinds of proclamations below that they're all scrubs and anyone who's looking forward to seeing some Lakers basketball and what this coaching staff perhaps can do with what they have been given is drinking the "kool aid". I'm hopeful but that's all it is. And looking forward to seeing some games again. With reasonable health for LeBron and AD (meaning no long term injuries during the season and healthy for the playoffs) .... this team will be better than last year's team. Which was a "play in" team. That's my prediction. Without that health, then NO we're f***ed again.
Yep. Won't happen. Honestly, hope this team flounders and Rob is gone. If it's Kurt that takes over, so be it. And I don't think he'll be the one that takes over. Hoping Jesse or Joey take the reigns.
Well, not to sound like Slick excusing Brick's absolutely s****y season on LeBron and AD's health .... 800 times, in spite of their lousy health and Russ's garbage season and the agreed upon crap roster, and alleged coach that needed to be fired for his crappy lineups and lack of Xs and Os chops with that injury riddled and old roster .... that was a "play in" team. Personally I think with better health we are a better team than last year. Without the health again, then NO.
We didn’t make the play-in last season. Saying we are a play-in team this season is an improvement. I don’t think it’s an insult either. I think we’ll be lower, but being 7-10 is a play-in team. I do not think we are better than the top 6-7 teams in the West, look at their rosters and look at ours and tell me where I’m wrong. I think with the best health luck possible we could be 8th, but that still means we have to play play-in games.
Almost replied again to you doing what you do here with the better than you crap. But then thought nah, let it be. So you come back in multiple times already in spite of your disgust here, and post this? Talk about disgust.
Oooops right sorry about the play in misspeak. I did qualify it "Slick like" with the LeBron and AD being healthy (and playing well). That would make a BIG difference.
