Optimism Discussion: The Laker's Sky Is Not Falling

So, notwithstanding the great injury plague that is the Lakers '22-'23 season (and sadly, AD's career) . . .

With Reaves, Lonnie, Thomas Bryant, and now Dennis playing at this level (to say nothing of Westbrook's near miraculous turn as 6th man), this roster is starting to look much deeper than previously thought.

 

I have to admit, even I’m feeling optimistic.
I just can’t watch Westbrick on D because when he’s off ball, he still camps in the lane. However, his assists and even improved shot selection have been great.
When Dennis, Nunn, and Brick all look like real NBA players again, AND Bryant is going nuclear, we actually look like a good team. Imagine if these guys can keep it up when AD returns? I just hope Anthony’s injury doesn’t linger because if it doesn’t, this team could actually do some damage in the playoffs. I even have to give LeBron his flowers- I just hope he stops with all of the negative talk about the FO because it’s not helping at all.

 

This is going to be the sweetest championship of all time

Joking … kinda

 

We're still in this 100%. 2 games behind the 5th seed and 1.5 games behind the 6th.

 

8-5 since AD went down. Last couple wins without Reaves and Walker too.

We're playing 4 deep right now, LBJ, Schroder, Bryant, Russ. Having those 3 back will be huge, if we can just maintain a winning record in the meantime. Home stretch coming up. 7 out of 9 games. That's 18 days, hoping we have all 3 back by then because then it's 7 out of 9 on the road.

 

It's pretty incredible how bad the west is this year. Some of the time it's felt like the sky was crashing down around here and yet we are only 2 games out of 5th.

Wild season!

 

Clips just lost again

 

Clippers just lost to the Hawks as well.

I read earlier that since our terrible 2-10, we've gone 17-11. Over that 28 game period, that's the 7th best record in the NBA and 4th best in the West.

We were missing Dennis and Bryant over the first 13 games on top of having a historically bad shooting slump. If we shot league average from three to begin the season, we win an 2-3 games where we lost by a possession. If AD hits his free throws in another 2 games, we could have been 24-16 and we'd be tied for third in the West.

 

Hate to see it …. that’s four.

 

It's absolutely amazing the stretch we have been going lately without AD.
Absolutely unbelievable. Credit to Ham and the coaching team

 

HaHa

 

5 game win streak followed be a schedule loss followed by literally one possession losses that the bad reffing had a big impact on. This is without AD Walker and Reaves. AD was playing like an MVP and Reaves was easily the best roleplayer on the team

If the team can get into the playoffs healthy it really is a dangerous squad. These are playoff teams which are going to down to the wire against while undermanned

 

we've been so much better than last year, imo. just had more tough breaks, over and over. it's like winning that ring cursed us or something.

anyway, i don't even think we need a trade. if we're healthy the rest of the year after this spate, we'll make the playoffs and the upper seeds will hope to avoid us.

 

I’m counting 8 games now that came down to a single possession where some luck didn’t go our way. Whether that’s the beginning stretch where we shot historically bad from 3 and if we had just hit a single one we win 3 games, to 2 games lost by free throws and 3 games now lost due to reffing.

An 8 game swing has us 3rd in the west 3 games back from the 1st seed.

This team is much better than our record.

 

2.5 games off the 6th spot. It's remarkable to be honest.

Before our road trip we need to go at least 3-2 if not 4-1.

Also saw that our last 6 games of the season have Utah 2x, Phoenix, Clippers and Wolves (plus Houston), all teams around our spot. Regardless how the season goes until then, as it looks like it will be close, those games may decide everything. Gotta get some wins until then.

It will also be a year where being in the play-in ain't so bad. Denver, Grizzlies, Memphis and Sacramento are in the top 4. Apart from Memphis, we can definitely beat those teams in a playoff series even without any trade, if we are healthy.

Best thing is that we are not in desperation mode to make a trade. That's the best thing and it's too bad we can't sell that narrative in the media because fans would go berserk. Lebron's comments in the media don't help too. Doing that would make it easier to make moves without teams trying to fleece us

 

We’re actually a pretty decent squad all things taken into consideration.