Optimism Discussion: The Laker's Sky Is Not Falling

i'm trying to remind everyone to enjoy it. this is a great year no matter what happens from this point forward. the last 1/3 of the season was so much better than the first 2/3, and we're at the exact spot that i thought was the ceiling in the pre-season. actually, one step beyond--i thought the best we could do was a first-round upset.

 

As currently constructed, we are good enough to win it all, we just needed a preseason to work out someo schemes. We will have that next year. On top of that, hopefully we can make a couple of small improvements without giving up our core. I say we have another two year window and then Lebron is gone for sure.

 

we're good enough to win it all right now, next month. whether that happens depends some on luck (note that three of the four teams left are the ones with no major injuries) and some on execution.

but i agree that we should be in position to contend again next year. but honestly, this may be as good a shot as we get for a second lebron-era ring. currently, both our top dogs are upright. *knocks on wood, very hard*

 

And they’ve dominated. Two blow out wins in each series.

 

If the Lakers can keep Lebrons minutes to 30 during next years regular season, he could play another few years.

 

Like every other teams, we need a center to give AD a break.

 

What a road so far, damn!

 

We need KCP to factory reset like he’d do for us in stretches during the season.

 

KCP is great and I'm a huge fan of him as a roleplayer. The one thing he isn't is a physical player: would try to go to Rui in the post if KCP is on him - that will interrupt him a bit and he's susceptible by being thrown off by this

 

Winning cures everything

 

Lakers never lost WCF in 21 century 8 for 8

Lakers-Portland 2000 4-3
Lakers-Spurs 2001 ,4-0,
2002 Sacramento,4-3,
2004 Minnesota 4-2
2008 Spurs 4-1
2009 Denver ,4-2
2010 Phoenix ,4-2
2020 Bubble Denver 4-1

 

Stats like these are fun and I love when we share them here, but, of course, they mean exactly jack for this upcoming series. Different teams, different opponents, different coaches, etc. And there's a first time for everything....

But would love to make it 9 for 9!

 

I'm not as upset with the loss as I'd thought I'd be. I feel like with Denver's incredible % of 3's hit, the out rebounding and the outstanding performance from Jokic the fact we were within 3 with a minute to go is mind blowing.

Also putting Rui on Jokic really was working well, AD was lurking and doing his thing in the paint and Jokic had a big body on him but had AD in the paint still and really throws a wrench in their plans.

The likelihood Denver shoots lights out like that again from 3 is very low. I really think we take game 2 and head to LA looking to defend both home games and take a 3-1 lead.

 

'69% from long twos for Denver. Lakers 84% close to the rim." LakersNation folks

 

^ The best thing about this year's Laker squad is that they're particularly good at playing from behind and cutting a lead. Only Laker fans truly understand how this team developed. We've been getting blown out since last November. Any wins that we got during the season were gotten playing from 15 pts down, never giving up and cutting down the lead. The casuals and our rivals will stay frustrated because 15 and 20 point leads are never safe with us.

I've never had this kind of confidence in a team when they're down, but there's a ton of evidence (in both regular and post season) that they can do it.