Anthony Davis Discussion: That's Why They Pay Me The Big Bucks

Discussion in 'Lakers Discussion' started by vasashi17, Sep 23, 2018.

  1. LakerFanIam

    LakerFanIam - Lakers 6th Man -

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    ^^ 100%
     
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  2. pika1708

    pika1708 - Lakers Starter -

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    I get you. And yes, we shall agree to disagree. But I get your point. I'm at the worst position ever to make this stance. AD just lead the team with LeBron to absolute league domination and a title we were never expecting 2 years ago. And I have to agree that he managed to dominate both ends of the floor without being physical. It's his way indeed. I hope it continues

    I just like to call things off before they happened, otherwise is too easy ahah
     
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  3. BangBoomPow

    BangBoomPow - Lakers Starter -

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    With how in the know LeBron is and by association, everyone in Klutch will have the up-to-date info for their clients. CP3 is probably letting them know that the new agreement won't be as profitable or not much difference in terms of how much they will earn. This is probably why LeBron decided to sign an extra season when they were all going through the numbers. Also, it's entirely possible LeBron still retires with the Lakers. The 38-and-up rule prevents teams from signing players to a long-term contract over the age of 38. Since LeBron will be 38 when his contract ends, the most they could have signed him for was the three years. I was thinking it might be to play with Bronny but with this rule, it's literally the longest extension LeBron could be offered. I would not be surprised if LeBron retires a Lakers, still.
     
  4. BangBoomPow

    BangBoomPow - Lakers Starter -

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    AD won a national title being the best player on his team by playing defense and rebounding. That's his natural role, honestly. As a first option player, AD will never be in the same discussion as Harden, LeBron, KD, Curry because he can't lead a team as well as those guys. This isn't the 1990's where big men will dominate because they own the post. AD, however, is the best second option player in the league. You can't find anyone better to pair LeBron or any 1st option player than with AD.

    Curry with AD
    Harden with AD
    Durant with AD

    I guess what I'm saying is even though AD will never be great at carrying teams, his real value is being the 2nd option to someone who can carry a team. It doesn't change who he is as a player but some players and by virtue of their position in today's game are better suited to be a 2nd option player.
     
  5. DeeZee

    DeeZee - Rookie -

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  6. lakerjones

    lakerjones Moderator Staff Member

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    I'm not sure I agree with you on this BangBoomPow. I don't think we've seen the full capabilities of AD yet. I believe he will become our number one option in the next few years. And I think he'll do it well. I think it's debatable even now whether AD or Lebron was the number one offensive option last season. AD averaged 27.7 points per game while shooting 57% in the playoffs and 26 points a game in the regular season. Lebron was just slightly lower at 25 per game regular season and 27.6 in the playoffs on 56% shooting.
     
  7. lakerjones

    lakerjones Moderator Staff Member

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    Oh Yes!!! Fantastic!
     
  8. TIME

    TIME Administrator Staff Member

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    I kind of agree with your point and kind of disagree. AD led the team in scoring through the playoffs. He had a couple of dominant games where he clearly carried the team. He hit the game winner when we needed it. He anchored our D like Bill Russell.

    But he does not run the offense and is not the vocal leader. LeBron always will be that guy until he retires.

    They really are more of a 1a & 1b pair than a clear Batman & Robin.
     
  9. BangBoomPow

    BangBoomPow - Lakers Starter -

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    That's fair. I hope you are right. My stance is that LeBron was content with AD being the leading scorer. If LeBron wanted to drop 30 selfishly, he could easily have done so. AD was spectacular in the playoffs but the Lakers ran through LeBron each and every time. I just don't see, due to his position, AD being able to ever be an elite 1st option player. All of the best first option players leading a team are either guards or wings. If you were creating a player, you want a 6'7-6'9 sized player who can do it all which is why guys like Kawhi, LeBron, Giannis, KD, etc., are dominating the league. Centers and power forwards have to play to the pace of those dudes if they want to win. Jokic might be an exception but in my honest opinion, I think Murray is just as good as Jokic.
     
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  10. lakerjones

    lakerjones Moderator Staff Member

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    I'll have to agree to disagree. I already think AD is a superb, elite 1st option player. If anything I think they should have utilized him a great deal more in pick and roll with Lebron and I said that numerous times here last year. He's one of the rarest kinds of players, nearly 7 foot and can shoot from anywhere on the court, can dribble around slower bigger opponents, can get out on the break. I do think he needs to work on his play more in the paint. That would really solidify him as the best possible number one option. Was Kareem not an elite 1st player option? In my book he is the number 1 of all time. He's my GOAT of course. If you need a bucket who would you rather go to? Like Riley said, I go to KAJ.
     
    Last edited: Dec 4, 2020
  11. BangBoomPow

    BangBoomPow - Lakers Starter -

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    Yes, but you're talking about an entirely different league back then. Dirk and Duncan were first option players but the style of basketball back then was much different. In today's game, a player like AD isn't going to be able to dominate and have that impact in carrying a team like LeBron, Harden, Durant, Giannis can. Which brings me to my point: AD has more value being a 2nd option on a championship contender than as a 1st option. Maybe that changes, who knows? But from what I've seen, the way the league is today, frontcourt players are penalized. Guys who are 6'5-6'9 are going to be the most coveted players in the league because they can dominate in a small or big lineup matchup. Guys like Luka, Bron, Kawhi, Giannis, Durant. Pippen-type sized players. We've seen AD try to be the 1st option on the Pelicans. Granted, that franchise did a terrible job in getting the players he needed but AD couldn't get them to become a good team leading them. I remember a stat showing that the Lakers weren't that much better with AD on/off UNLESS LeBron was also in the line-up. As soon as LeBron was benched, the Lakers struggled. It's not a knock on AD at all and that is why Schroder being capable of carrying the offense with AD when LeBron is on the bench makes the Lakers super deadly. But just with AD leading the Lakers when LeBron was on the bench, the offense looked stagnant and the +/- supports that theory.
     
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  12. LakerFanIam

    LakerFanIam - Lakers 6th Man -

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  13. JLaker17

    JLaker17 - Lakers Starter -

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  14. Savory Griddles

    Savory Griddles Moderator Staff Member

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    "Give us any chance we'll take it
    Read us any rule we'll break it
    We're going to make our dreams come true..."
     
  15. sirronstuff

    sirronstuff - Lakers Legend -

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    Could have still had those kids tho. And draft picks SMH.
     
  16. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

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    AD without another allstar was as good or better than any of the folks you talk about.

    young lebron could boast better. prime dirk. other players have always had allstars next to them when they did anything. AD didn't. he still managed to make the playoffs and win a round. curry didn't. harden did maybe once? durant never did.

    AD>>all three of those players, no question.
     
  17. BangBoomPow

    BangBoomPow - Lakers Starter -

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    There is a reason why centers and power forwards haven't been the best in the game for a reason. Last time was Shaq and maybe Tim Duncan. The rest have been combo wings who could do it all. +/- showed that the Lakers were barely holding up with AD on the court whereas as soon as LeBron was off the court, the Lakers skyrocketed. I don't get why you guys think me saying AD is better suited to be a 2nd option is something negative. He's not capable of generating the type of offense that LeBron/KD/Luka/Harden/Curry can for the rest of the team. It's a positional change.
     
  18. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

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    because you're deciding? AD is the best in the game. nobody should take harden, kd, or curry over him if they plan on winning. i'm sorry people stopped caring about playing defense, but he does that AND scores as well as they do.

    it's a weird fantasy that guards took over the game. they took over the stats. in a league where devontae graham can show up and scorch people, you should recognize more than ever that having large people who can put the ball in the basket and defend is more valuable.

    promise you denver ships murray before jokic. all day every day. not close.
     
  19. Juronimo

    Juronimo - Lakers Starter -

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    I agree with @abeer3

    At any rate Ludabrow is being interviewed on Spectrum Sportsnet, says there was no doubt he was coming back.
     
  20. BangBoomPow

    BangBoomPow - Lakers Starter -

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    Of course you guys agree with him. Pro-Lakers comments by Lakers fans, gee, I wonder why. Gotta get those likes, am I right?

    I bet he wasn't saying the same when AD was in the Pelicans, though.
     

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