Optimism Discussion: The Laker's Sky Is Not Falling

My takeaway was what I had suspected all year round. Of course we need LBJ and AD healthy to win a title, however... most of the team is stunted by deferring to the team pecking order.

All of a sudden the role players began to come alive. Kuzma has had two very good games without people in his way.

Vogel needs to find away to get everyone involved. The few times we've struggled this season is when we were behind and then we just kept feeding LBJ or AD over and over while everyone else stood around paralyzed.

To keep this post on the thread topic...

I'm optimistic that our shooters can actually shoot and Kuzma can be a force if he's not forced to stand around while AD eats.

And Rondo can still pass and create offense when he's not relegated to being LBJ's valet.

 

ah yes. kuzma's troubles can be narrowed down to that darned 26-year old mvp candidate.

really glad we got that sorted out.

i'm also glad that the people who whined about the lakers gutting the roster to get lebron and AD had to watch the terrible team that surrounds them beat a playoff team on the road.

 

My take as well is that Frank is somewhat like Phil and less like Luke in that his rotations, save for garbage time, just tend to be shorter. 8-9 deep and he's pretty consistent with that from the first day of the season. Except for when guys are out. Yet he keeps the end of the bench engaged and ready to step in when needed. Love how he coaches.

 

We are 2nd in the entire NBA behind only the Bucks in point win margin per game while only finally starting to "gel" as a team, and way the heck in front of everyone else in that regard. Same with won loss record.

https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/standings/

 

Lakers need to beat the Clippers in the next 2 regular season meetings and beat the Bucks at home. Once they do that, there will be no doubt going into the playoffs. Lakers need to stay healthy and get the 1 seed in the West and they have a damn good path to the Finals.

 

Our bench has really stepped up lately. Lakers fans really bullied them like they did with KCP+Kuzma and it's working lol

 

Damn near 9 guys in double digits. As it was, 6 ain't bad but KCP, Daniels & Cook were 9, 8 & 7 respectively. That would've been amazing.

Daniels got his 8 pts in under 1 minute. Hell, he even missed a shot in that minute.

 

Funny you mention this LT, my dad and I were just talking about how Frank is probably the best coach we've had since Phil. In my opinion, I think Luke was obsessed with finding his "Draymond", asking almost every forward to play point at one time or another. The experimentation went on far too long, not enough consistency or wins were established. I need to pull up the stats, but the best run Luke probably had was when Ingram was running point the year before LeBron came.

On the note of optimism, we've been seeing this team blow out opponents regularly... and yet each game is still thrilling to me. The opposition almost doesn't matter. There are probably 2-3 teams (LAC, MIL, ???) that truly give the Lakers problems, but they can take care of the rest.

It seems Pelinka has gathered a perfect mix of guys who are constantly trying to find that next level - individually and as a team. I can't even say this was a characteristic any Kobe or Shaq-led team. I've been very critical of LBJ in the past, but I seriously love how hyped he gets when he sees this team make a good play. When McGee gave him that slick pass for a dunk against the Cavs, LeBron's energy went through roof and he went on a tear in the 4th. Love it.

btw, Merry Xmas and Happy New Year yall. Got pretty busy but trying to come around more often.

 

This team is special - they all love being around each other - and now that the chemistry has been established - these guys are all just playing for eachother and have the "next man up" mentality.

 

The team has been putting up points at in insane rate so far this month. Hasn't mattered who's in or out of the lineup. They leveled up and are clicking on all cylinders offensively. Pretty impressive and while we're next man upping the f*** out of it during this stretch.

 

Gelling at the right time in spite of not having the best offensive Xs and Os coach in the history of Lebron's time in the league? Who went 0 -17 over three different rosters and seasons when he didn't play?



Versus Vogel already notching a win over lately strong playing OKC .... with Pelinka's horribly flawed roster and James, Davis and Green out?

 

No way! Way??