Optimism Discussion: The Laker's Sky Is Not Falling

Really nice team win. A lot of great contributions from our supporting cast.

 

Lucky to get the win at home vs. the Wiz. Now we've climbed to within 3 of .500

There's 7 games before New Year's. What are the chances we hit .500 by 1/1/23? I think: not all that good:

In PHO tomorrow (Mon) on a BTB: I don't see us winning that, as much as I loathe PHO and always have. Maybe let P-Bev play only to get in D-Book's jock and maybe foul out before the first half's over?
@Sac 2 days later: gonna be rough, I hate to admit it. We might win that one, but put me down for a loss. (at this point: 5 games below .500)
Back home to play CHA, which we really should win. (4 games below)
@Dallas on Xmas: probably a loss, but man, I really want a win there. I'm insane, I know, but I'm thinking we somehow win that game. (3 games below .500)
@ ORL on the 27th: Bless these Magic guys: they beat the C-Bags twice the past few days, but I think we win this one. (2 games below)
@MIA on the 28th, btb on the road: probably a loss. (3 games below)
Last game of 2022, on the 30th in ATL: I'll go with a loss (4 games below)

For those who spurned paying for League Pass to watch all the LAL games, good news: of the 7 games I'm yakking about here: 5 are on either ESPN/ABC or NBA TV.

If the Lakers do better than what I've prognosticated about here, please save this post and remind me of what a Negative Nelly I was. I'd love to hear it...'cuz it means we're better than I thought we'd be w/o AD. Remind me of what a fool I am!

 

I feel like we really need a little more time to evaluate what we have while AD is out before making any major moves. Since we just beat another bottom dweller on our own floor, I don't see the rush really.

 

that's probably how i'd pick the games, too. let's hope the guys rally a bit around AD's injury and try to surprise some folks and scratch out some wins.

i'd sit lebron vs. phx. take the L and get focused for the winnable games.

 

No Bev - another W. Coincidence... i don't think so

 

Not gonna lie: I fought off the nagging nonsanguine negatives to guess 1-6 over the next 7. This is the "Optimism" thread, after all.

 

Always good to get a win.

 

What's crazy is that even with all the losing...we're not too far out from the play-in.

We just need to keep afloat while AD is out...and hope to GOD he comes back in January.

I'm still holding out hope on a trade...I'd really rather not give the Pelicans a top pick in this draft bcuz we tanked.

Honestly, eff 2027 and 2029 picks. Send em out and get help NOW so that we're good for next year too and we've built up some chemistry to flow into next year. We can't suck in 2024 either because Pels will just take our pick OUTRIGHT next year. We gotta start thinking about that.

 

Amazing what having two decent size wings who can defend and hit open corner 3s can do.

That is basically what JTO.and Brown did and it was the difference in game let along the season. Man a guy like Bogdonavoc on this team would be unreal

 

I’m a Chargers fan, and this year they got hit by the injury bug early. For months all I’ve been hearing is how the season is a lost cause, and they need to fire everyone. Now things are looking up and everyone is changing their tune.

Point is, these are long seasons. Way too early for me to write off this Lakers team with more than half the season left to go.

Still only 2.5 games out of the play-in, AD sounding optimistic about his health, Lebron putting more pressure on the FO to make a move and backing it up, our trade chips increasing in value (Beverley playing better, Westbrook closer and closer to expiring).

I’ve seen some people mock the idea of getting into the play-in, in a “what’s the point?” kind of way. But a play-in berth wouldn’t be anything to scoff at.

Last year a lot of us kept saying (perhaps delusionally) that if we just get into the play-in, anything can happen if Lebron and AD are healthy.

But this season, I don’t think that’s so delusional. If AD can play the way he did prior to his injury (and I have reason to hope he will, because it seems like his resurgence has been mental just as much physical), I really think we can stand toe to to against anyone.

We sneak into the play-in as an 8 seed, and currently we’d face the Nuggets. They don’t scare me, we blew them out the game AD went down. We beat (or were a free throw away from beating) some of the best teams in the East.

 

win's a win.

 

Always good to get a win.

LeBron is really on a tear.

If we get AD back and make a trade this team can make noise in the playoffs.