Optimism Discussion: The Laker's Sky Is Not Falling

Optimism? Oh Hell to the YES.

 

I kind of feel like I'll trust this team once they prove they can compete night in and night out and don't fall apart with injuries. I guess I'm scarred lol.

 

We are currently tied for 1st place. Before anyone says we are also tied for last remember this is the optimism thread.

 

Luka Doncic talked about the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season, his first full campaign with the Los Angeles Lakers.

“I think we have been practicing great. Everybody is so excited. I am so excited. All the preseason is behind us, so we are excited to get started,” said the 26-year-old Slovenian combo guard after team practice on Monday.

“The goal is to win the championship,” he added, “Just try to go game by game, and try to win every game.”

 

Luka is going to have a couple 60 points games this season, might as well get one tonight with the win.

 

You picked up one of them new fangled TV thingys yet? Or is it just the drinkin’ in the saloon experience you’re after with your random Lakers viewings?

 

Cool article. Didn't know where else to post.

 

Top 3 in the West as currently constructed?

 

We’re good that’s for sure.

 

we're winning ugly, imo, but we're winning. this is different than in recent years, wherein we were playing ugly but also losing, lol.

the most optimistic thing i've got is that luka and reaves are looking good enough to be at the top of a competitive team for the next few years. we've got the hardest part of the team building done, and we're in a position where lebron's retirement/exit isn't going to just decimate us like these kinds of things generally do to every team that deals with them.

 

Agree. Top 4ish seed. Good enough. Tough two games; forgot Lakers were even playing tonight until GD informed me in the chat. Then, SAS. Get greedy and win both.

 

I was just saying this in another thread. In past years we are probably 3-4 at best right now.

 

LTism is the appropriate phase.

 

Better to win ugly than lose ugly.
I think most of us are liking the team we are seeing with Lebron out, he must see it too, I imagine there are going to be some interesting discussions between JJ and Lebron before he starts playing again.

 

I’ll take it. As opposed to 95% of OXisms

 

lebron needs to play the team usa role here, imo. connector on offense who can step up when other guys are failing. dirty work/defensive captain on the other end. in the olympics, lebron guarded jokic. that's what we need, tbh. lebron green.

 

This ^^^ seems so perfect for him. No place now running the offense with the starting lineup, except occasionally in flow of game or out of necessity, injuries, foul trouble, etc. He said on Media day he was preparing for a lot of off ball stuff. Man if JJ can get through to him and he would buy into the LeBron Green role when he's out there, we could be incredible with Luka and AR playmaking. And he would get well deserved flowers for it, and deservedly share in the glory if we were to win a ring. Come on JJ .... have the heart to heart with him. Beyond that .... YOU have the juice now and HE doesn't.

 

he could probably play a couple more years as a 28mpg supercharged draymond type. i'd pay 25-30 per for that!

 

That's why what Rob gets done by the deadline to get something of value back for our expirings and players not planning on keeping is so important. If we have a great roster that will get only better with time, for a few years Walters will just pay the repeat over the cap penalties. We can re-sign AR and LeBron after everyone else is taken care of and the roster for next year fleshed out. Then use those 2 guys Bird rights to go over. Right?

^^^ that's assuming it works well with LBJ for us and him in that role and Walters wants him back.

OR, do Bird rights no longer apply if LeBron is a free agent? Same situation as AR, though.