Optimism Discussion: The Laker's Sky Is Not Falling

You've alluded a couple times now to the roster isn't great for LBJ. The guy liked our roster and like everyone else he probably wants to see every last one of them play for half a season. Some here are already going to the sky is falling and shoulda given SA whatever they wanted for Leonard just so we had another star. I hope you aren't one that feels you don't need to see through the all star break how everyone develops and we should have sent one or more of the prime young core out already in a trade?

 

I just said he needs help. Players need to consistently step up to fill those roles. It doesn’t have to be external. We have good young talent, but I do think it’s redundant talent. Too many 2’s and 3’s and quasi 4’s.

 

We need Wagner to come back healthy and play the style of game with his Size that he plays which is tough balls out basketball to the best of his ability same as Larry Nance used to give us. He has that same motor. But he's a virtual 7 footer with much greater offensive skills than Larry had including a sweet and mechanically sound J and can handle the ball. His size will help a bit with trying to be as solid on defense as Nance was and I think once the rust is off he will play well against other teams' bench players. This ought to help a Lot IMO.

 

Yeah but don't they love all that length for their switch everything schemes. Certainly helps to have the mobile, skilled tall guys.

 

That’s a lot of hope to put in a rookie who has already been injured and zero NBA experience.

If that is where our hope lies in success this season and for roster balance, I think we are in trouble.

 

Is that why the defense is so dominant? I forget.

 

Well again, if you're going to ***** about it 7 games in, what was your alternate hypothetical plan you would have been willing to risk with the hard won and luck given young talent we had. Who was going out for whom?

 

Not agreeing with roster construction doesn’t mean I had a ready made plan myself to do it differently. I’m very poor about constructing trades. Like most fans I just complain about what I don’t like. It’s not like Lakers management browses fan forums looking for roster or trade ideas. We have no control so I don’t waste much time dreaming of solutions to their problems.

But I can complain with the best of em! What we are currently doing isn’t working. Yet.

I see coaching and roster imbalance as major culprits.

 

Sure but not in the Optimism thread. LOL I almost did the same thing backwards a few minutes ago with my post above about my positive expectations for when Moe gets back, in response to the comment above it about not doing well in 4th quarters. In the WMC thread. Had to paste it here instead.

 

Teams are doing more with less, hell even the bottom feeding Queens have a better record than we do.

 

If we made our FTs we easily have at least 2 more games in the win column. I sound like a broken record, but i'm going to keep on harping on it because it's honestly the easiest and cheapest way to get better quick. Luke needs to force everyone to shoot 1000 every practice.

 

Looking forward to the game tonight. Kuzma has an excellent opportunity to earn his starting spot on this team as a prime rebounder.

 

If that is the case, then I would say things are not looking so good for him. He’s really not much of a rebounder.

 

Hence the opportunity point....Kuzma has expressed he feels he should be a starter. He has an opportunity here to be a starter that the team needs. Kuzma prefers the scorer to rebounder role but that is not what this team is lacking. He's added strength and weight and is a quick if not explosive leaper. Committing to the grimy work of blocking out, defensive positioning, and ball hustling can carve out his starter role Lakers.

 

Prime rebounder?

 

Sure, why not? Kuzma is the type of player that is good at everything he sets his focus to. He has the base tools, I don’t see why he can’t be a double double player.

 

My Optimistic Prediction.

We'll be a .500 team by the end of November & a much more consistent Team & solidly in the Playoff picture the 2nd half of the Season.

 

HA!! Very cool. Loved that!