LABron James Discussion: The Final Year?

You mean with Reaves dragging his old washed a** along with him and AD and DAR?

 

Hopefully the NBA doesn’t drug test him during this time. Could be bad news.

— Chael Sonnen (Probably)

 

Stop trying to find a way to FIT-OUT and just FIT-IN. Be apart of something special! Just my thoughts

 

I'm not worried about James fitting in, the players brought in match his skillset very nicely.

In the three games James played with the new players, the Lakers are 3-0 and have generated:

118.3 ORtg, 98.5 DRtg, +19.8

This is with James limping around vs. the Mavs. In the first two games that DLO played, the Lakers were:

125.2 ORtg, 94.2 DRtg, +31.0

 

It like people hate on Lebron based on snippets of game: he literally won the game against Dallas with the new guys playing on one leg and also let the other guys cook in the first GS win after the trade deadline.

 

i've had two consistent gripes: very inconsistent defensive effort and way, way, way too many pull up threes. this isn't hating. the fact that he puts up great numbers despite the bad three point shooting could be held up as a "so who cares" counter, but i hold my highest-paid player (and team's smartest player to boot) to a greater standard than that.

 

He's too old to play consistent defense: legit concern with his game. Not sure if he can bring more in the playoffs.

The pullup 3 I remain convinced wouldn't be nearly the same rate with this roster.

 

yeah, i can probably live with that now that we don't have TWO vet leaders not giving effort on that end (and we added vando as a real deal defensive glue guy). harden's teams have found ways to both win and be good on defense. we have to basically treat lebron like that, imo.

i'm hoping you're right about stopping with the pound/pound/pullup now. hopefully that was just because of our bad options and, let's be honest, it was a lazy way to chase the scoring title, too.

 

Lebron's perimeter D has been woeful this year, and that's because perimeter D puts different demands on lower body (legs!) reaction time, and Lebron's been ailing for awhile in his legs, esp. the high ankle and now right foot tendon. One guy who can't play D weakens every other guy's D on the court. That was one of many problems we had with Brick. I'll be interested to see if Lebron's perimeter D stays terrible (he was a traffic cone the week before he went out: go back and watch those games: he's about as bad as it gets) after he gets back.

Frankly, I'm worried.

The upside is he's so smart he can make adjustments and minimize all this when he gets back. Also: the usage level will throw off this team's chemistry for a bit. I'd like to see Lebron limited to 25 mins at most. I think he can still have a positive impact on this team.

Look at me! Look at (some of) us! Suddenly, without one of the NBA's Mt. Rushmore players, we're concerned that when he comes back he's gonna eff up what's working for us.

The narrative is interesting to me: Brick as albatross. Finally!: Pelinka is able to unload him. Makes a few moves that prove to be astonishingly smart for the team. Lebron declares to the press that the post All-Star Laker games are some of the most important of his career, because he doesn't want to miss the playoffs for a 2nd straight year. The team was mired in 13th place at the Break. Lebron gets injured for most of those important games. The Lakers start to kick everyone's a****, rapidly climbing the ranks for Best Defense in the Assn. If they lose a game, they aren't getting blown out by anyone. Guys are hitting 3s for the first time since, like the Reagan Admin. What impact will Lebron have after he comes back?

Speaking for myself, this is the kind of "drama" that is not amusing. Not at all. Still: gotta deal.

 

I imagine that we will see more zone scheme looks. Frankly Lebron, D'Angelo and Malik, aren't exactly going to scare anyone defensively, as a starting unit.They will be a potential nightmare on offense though.

 

Lol..he knows damn well that the speculation, is going to run wild after seeing that little clip too.

 

Hopefully he's back sooner than expected..

 

Yeah. We win last night with him for sure.

 

he should help settled down some of the bad TOs. though they weren't a major issue last night, seemed like one was always available when we were trying to get over the hump.

 

Needle moving in the right direction