Optimism Discussion: The Laker's Sky Is Not Falling

Minnesota ain't no joke: the size on the wing with Ant and especially McDaniel with Gobert behind them can make it tough on wings who usually have an easier way. Throw in KAT and Conley they can be tough to guard as well.

Impressive win particularly when both Dlo and Reaves missed a lot of makeable shots and Lebron was off

 

We're 12-6 since the Pelinka Miracle - as it shall be referred to down through the eons - since the All Star break.

.667

 

Defensive master class starring Dennis Schroeder, Vando and AD with special participation of the Black Samurai

 

If AD , by some miracle , stays on the floor , we can make a very interesting playoffs run

 

When we were down 13, I had the strangest feeling: this version of the Lakers had total confidence they could come back and go up by double digits. And that's exactly what they did. I haven't felt that for a long time with the Lakers: they go down by 13 in the post-bubble period, and I doubt they could come back. Sometimes they did, but lost. Sometimes they eeked out a win. Sometimes they lost by 13 or more. The body language of this team, as a group, looks confident they can beat anyone.

And: of the 6 losses since the Break, we were in every damned one of 'em. But now guys are getting used to each other. We still see botched anticipation passes that go out of bounds, some missed switches that lead to easy lay-ups, but they're looking better every game.

As good as they look now, honestly? I don't expect a deep run in the playoffs. It's next year that could be really remarkable. We hobbled ourselves by going 2-10 our of the gate this year. Not next year! Not even close.

Still: I know myself: though I write the above from a thoughtful, "intellectual" part of myself, when I watch us in the playoffs I won't be happy unless we go to the Finals. That's my fan-irrationality. That's me knowing myself as a fan. And I take losses too hard.

 

Lakers have not lost a game when all three AD, LeBron & DLO play.. 5-0…!!

 

Plus, my guess is once they figure out what their playoff roster is going to be, they will fine tune the rest. I think we will make a couple of moves in the off season to improve our depth. We are going to be a bad a** team next year at the very least.

 

Took care of business again.


Also caught some luck with several others losing.

 

The interesting thing with this team is they have consistently taken every team's best shot and with players pulling the WWE getting back from injury just for the Lakers.

When they do beat some of these teams who have given them their best shot they can really impact that team psyche: Memphis and Minnesota went from red hot to uggh as an example.

 

Close call but I will take it.

 

Jesus Olynk crap 3. Lakers just wakking the ball up instead of running play up 10. Lebron misses point blank layup. AD letting the the foul calls for two clear stops in dunks. Damian Jones hitting 3 with a stance like he doing leg squats. Reaves fully cooking and that stops because he gets a knock.

Really so many reasons to lose and the team got the win.

 

These are excuses to lose, not reasons. We should have blown them out in 2nd. But Bron's d****** play, Dennis being the lead guard and Pimple existing brought us here...

 

The Jazz ALWAYS play us tough. Always. No matter WHO is on their team.

They were extremely short-handed so of course the other guys they had were gonna play HARD and LOOSE.

They kept hitting 3's. Kept staying close to us. They took the lead in 4th and in OT. They fought back down 10 to send it to OT.

I mean everything that COUDL have gone wrong tonight...did go wrong. But we somehow pulled out a victory.

Just to keep in mind....other "contenders" have also lost to really bad teams as of late...the Jazz have actually been pretty good all year so I wouldn't consider them a bad team. But yeah, this shouldn't have gone to OT for chrissakes. BUT...the Jazz do always play us well and we had not won there in like 3 years.

In conclusion...I'll f***ing take the win.

 

We're guaranteed a spot in the Play In... At the very least.
Amazing turnaround by this Team.

&... Charles Barkley has been really, really quiet lately.

 

If you told me before the AS Break that we'd be 3 games over .500 with 3 to go, I'd've advised you to get help with your mental health. It's okay: there's no stigma; just please: get help. Hell: I'll drive you to your first meeting. Lakers over .500? Get outta here! Haven't you seen us? We have Brick and his $47 mil albatross around our necks for starters. We ain't going no placeDon't make me go into particulars, 'cuz it's all just so sad, man. We're 27-32 going into the AS Break.

Spoiler Alert: we're 14-6 since the Pelinka Miracle, 3 games over. This is the optimism thread.

Maybe not so optimistic, or only a little: We have 3 games left. I predict 1-2 due to load mgmt and the fact we're at least in the play-in and scaring the crap out of everyone. Yea, the play-in is a One False Move And You're Effed situation, but, to use Lebron's favorite phrase: at the end of the day we're poised to be SCARY next year. Whatever we do this year is gravy. That said...

Still: I'd rather we go 3-0 (of course!) to horrify everyone, potentially stay out of the play-in, finish 17-6 since the AS Break, 6 games over .500 with a respectable 44 wins, and just annihilate everyone on our way to the Finals. But first things first: we've got guys banged up, and not just The Old Man and AD, but AR's shoulder and thigh needed ice after Utah; D-Lo precautionary foot. I wanna see Mo came back before the end of the season, but we'll see.

 

i know it's a sad state, but clinching the play-ins is nothing small given how 70% of the season went. everybody had thrown dirt all over the coffin for months, and now we at least get a shot, no matter what happens the next three games.

 

Clinching the play in is huge for us. A significant step in the right direction.

Team could've folded a million times but kept fighting. I hoped for a trade and we got it.

Everything is trending upward. Just need to catch a break with the injuries.