Random Other NBA Teams Discussion

We were winning with LBJ and the kids healthy. Then he tore his groin... then BI and Zo went out. We would have won 50 games with them healthy.
I'm very happy with the season so far, but we are an injury away from this season getting derailed as well.
Is AD still a good player if he loses without LBJ?
Yes.
Is BI still a good player if loses with Zion... I'd say so far it seems so.
Is AD better than BI? Yes
Is AD better than BI plus five other assets? You say absolutely yes... I say we need to see how it plays over the long term.

 

As someone said in another post, does Gobert win without Donovan scoring?
Probably not... and this is what I'm saying about Zion... Ingram was expected to be the number two or three option to Zion and Jrue... Zion's hurt and Jrue playing like garbage was the most likely reason for the poor start.
This doesn't mean Mitchell is as good as LBJ... this only means that he is crucial to this particular team's success.
Of course I'm not saying winning 50 games was guaranteed... however we were on a 48 game winning pace when he went down after enduring a terrible start... 50 games was a very achievable mark for that team.
LBJ was getting flamed all over social media for his lack of effort on defense so your defense wearing him out theory seems a reach.
Maybe you have a point about minutes but he only played a minute more per game than last season so I'm not sure about that either.
AD has been great on defense but also we have been greatly fortified by Dwight's interior presence.
Add Dwight to last year's team and maybe we are on a 50 plus game pace as well.

 

Since assumptions and opinions are being stated as facts by some I'm going to double down on my recollection of LBJ's "groan" injury not being a factor at all of wearing down last season. He was just getting into a groove as was the team after the early season suspensions and injuries. I saw him SLIP on a wet spot a game or two before and do really bad splits. He stayed down and he was grimacing. It didn't look good at that time. Cue the full pull two games or whatever later. That's MY story and I'm sticking to it.

 

LeBron is paying harder on defense this season while playing one less minute per game.
That would lead me to believe he's putting out more effort this season than last season.
He just played in a fourth quarter blowout when he didn't need to so I don't agree with your theory that the kids wore him down.

 

I've said multiple times that so far this season looks good.
As a Lakers fan I'm not going to root against my team so I can be proven right.
I hope I'm proven wrong time and time again.
I just think we gave up too much and it's too early to conclude anything.
I'm enjoying the ride right now, but that doesn't mean my eyes and mind aren't going to be wide open.
I enjoying reading all the opposing takes... I only comment when people say certain things are foregone conclusions.

 

I used to eat one popcorn bag a day... now it looks like i'll be needing 2

 

Damn, SM. You can't look at the trade that way, waiting to see with the luxury of hindsight whether it was a good move or not. Everything at the time emphatically pointed to yes that was the right move to make and still DOES point that way. How many years do you want for your odd way of looking at it? Your argument is just weird to me.

And ask @LaVarBallsDad just how attached I was to the kids.

 

If anyone says they like the trade... I have no argument with them. It's their opinion.
It's when they imply it's an indisputable, empirical truth that makes me want to respond.

I have moved ahead and am enjoying the season.
I just mentioned how had we not lost to the Raptors that we had a legit shot at a 20 game winning streak with the run of games ahead.

I'm just very nervous about how much depends on LBJ's age and AD's ability to play 70 plus games... as well as our ability to resign Dwight next season.
When your plan relies on hoping for ringchasers and the health of a 36 year old (next season) it sounds a little shaky.

 

Right now, if we are going to win the title... it will depend on players like Dwight, Rondo and AB returning to some semblance of their previous form and our two young guys Kuzma and AC taking a leap forward in growth.
I've watched every game from start to finish and it's not like we are coasting to victory each game.
It would be nice if we could maintain the 9-2 pace, but maybe a 7-4 pace is more realistic.
Again, I've said I think we are better than the Pels this season, I'm merely projecting what might happen if players like Zion, Hayes, NAW hit and BI and Lonzo can stay healthy. If the kids remain injury prone then yes there's no debate we won the trade.
If they are healthy it's not as clear.
I want us to win ten in a row because the schedule in December is much more difficult.
I still think we can win those games but we can't count on it either.
The good news for us is that Milwaukee and Philly seem to have taken a step backwards... the only really scary team in the West is the Clippers maybe Denver
I think this year is our best shot at the title... after that it decreases slightly with LBJ's age unless we make a very lucky signing or two.
That's why I mention Dwight or Boogie. They are once elite talents who can help offset LBJ's decline if we can at least land one of them at a reduced price.
I understand your point about Zo and Ingram but they were never meant to be a first or second option.
They were meant to be played with two elites.
I think Ingram has proven he can be a third option
I think Hart has proven to be a good rotation player.
The jury is still out on Zo.

 

Sometimes I think @vasashi17 has a burner account to very smartly f*** with us as happened in the BonkScooter affair.

When you keep dancing around the point in time exactly with all available information on hand the decision was made. Not hypotheticals or what happens it the future. This isn't logical what you're doing. IMO.



JK @vasashi17

 

LT, you have me on anti-ignore...



As for the burner account claim...Sentient is his own individual and he chooses to discuss it and others are partaking so I aint getting in the way of it cause I already rehashed my position on it. Plus Lakers Discussion is where I normally like to be.

Although you are giving me an idea to break thru to those that have me on ignore...hmmm.
#BryanColangelosVife...sounds like a promising handle.

 

Yes, it was well worth making a burner account to take the controversial position that if the kids do well, and LBJ ages quickly it might become a problem.
Wow what a radical position.
It looks good now, but it might not be great in two years.
Let me think of other lukewarm positions I can take and make with other accounts.
/sarcasm

 

Golden State is now down to 9 healthy players- 8 is the league requirement.

K. Bowman
G. Robinson III
D. Green
J. Poole
A. Burks
O. Spellman
M. Chriss
E. Paschall
W. Cauley-Stein
The injuries keep piling up for the Golden State Warriors.

Warriors guard D'Angelo Russell is set to miss a minimum of two weeks after an MRI confirmed he suffered a sprained right thumb against the Boston C Bags on Friday.

 

In other news the Clippers look really good and PG looks like the best player on the Clips.

The Clips are susceptible to large mobile bigs as Harrell isn’t big or strong enough and Zubac is too slow.

#PG>Kawhi
#LoadManagementUsedAsAnExcuseNotToPlayInBigGames

 

Where can we find some large mobile bigs?

And screw Paula.

udleyattitude:

 

I’ve watched every game of theirs this season (yes basketball junkie)... their perimeter defense is outstanding but even marginally talented bigs are feasting inside.