Playoffs? Roster's Set. What's Your Gut Telling You?

Let's do it. I vote we are in the first round. Look at our freaking roster now. Yeah it's the West but with our roster and the vibe set by Magic's edict of back to excellence and what our SL team already accomplished in stunning fashion ..... there's something special going on here when Bill Bertka comments too .....the Lakers are in the West too. Look the hell out.

 

i was encouraged that espn's (admittedly lame) stat models had the lakers projecting at 33/34 wins and better than, like, 8 other teams this year. that would be a big step, imo. i can't see my way to a playoff scenario. too many good teams in the west.

 

I’m somewhere between 32 wins and fighting for a playoff spot. First four spots are a definite lock with GSW, S.A., Houston, and OKC. Minny is definitely better than us so that’s five and you can make the argument for Denver. That’s six. That leaves 2 spots between Clippers, Memphis, Portland, New Orleans, and Utah all whome I think the Lakers can compete with. I’ll be happy if they can stay within say 2-4 games within a playoff spot.

 

Ingram and Randle would have to break out and Lonzo would have to be a generational rookie of the year type of guy...along with everybody staying healthy (especially key vets)...

I also think some of the middling teams (Clippers, Jazz, Blazers, Pelicans, Grizzlies) will have to take a huge step back. I think definitively the Warriors, Spurs, Rockets, Thunder, Twolves and Nuggets are bettter than us but after that...it's a toss-up if everything falls right for us.

Remember, this team did start 10-9 last year and then D'Angelo went down with an injury and we went to absolute crap....

 

There is a pretty big difference between 32 wins and making the playoffs, so selecting the former was an easy decision. I can't remember the last time I was this excited entering the season, but that doesn't mean it's going to be pretty. Teams are going to run all over our defense, and there will be growing pains, but at least we are developing.

Everyone needs to work hard, stay healthy, and get ready for lllllaaabron next year.

 

I understand that approach, but decided to do the opposite and go for the first round playoff exit LOL

The rest of the poll options....

 

Someone voted for the WCF and hasn't explained it yet.

 

WCF?!?!?!



Not this year.

 

Yeah no worries about the WCF ....I had that wrong. The vote was the Finals. Unless just jerking around.

 

Maybe try some Sam Adams or Longboards?

 

I'm thinking low 30's. We'll take a hit to our season when we drop some talent in trades. We'd better anyways, because this season is not about the record as Pelinka and Magic said, it's about next summer. A weaker second half of the season due to a trade that dumps Demp is fine. It won't happen without a loss of good talent, we all know that.

For me this season is #1 about finding that trade. Secondary to that but not by much is player development. Lonzo, Kuzma, Hart & co all getting their feet wet and well-grooved in to the NBA. Maybe Bryant goes to the G league and gets play there. Lopez and KCP are here to help us try and get some wins and be possible assets to get deal done. But mostly what matters to me is getting rid of that jacked contract and obviously for the best deal. Teams know we want to be rid of it so it's gonna take a good offer. Which brings me to:

Untouchable:
Ball
Ingram
Kuzma (if he plays ANYTHING like he has) and that's it.

Touchable:
Randle - Expiring status makes trades harder when viewed as talent rather than just an expiring contract. Everything depends on his performance this first half of the season. If he blows up in the Lonzo system there are deals that can happen. There is benefit to teams trading for him rather than waiting for him in free agency but it would take another piece to entice that to happen and to take on Deng.
Clarkson - Hard to see what deal a team could piece together with him and Deng. That's a whole lot o' paper and dependent upon him blowing up. Unlikely.
Nance Jr - Love him but some good people are gonna have to go as Deng bait. Teams aren't dumb and know where are talent lies. They'll ask for him.
Zu - Cheap young center on a good contract, also Deng bait.
Lopez - Love to keep but if we can't ok to use in a deal.
KCP - see Lopez
Hart - Young good and cheap, every team needs guys like this and therefore they need to be available in a deal.
Ennis - see Hart
Bogut - probably not much there unless locale is a desirable one to him.

Please Touch:
Deng
Brewer (does have value as an expiring)

 

Show me on this doll where Alcindor touched you.





So. Touchable.

 

Yeah, for some reason that just struck me as funny this morning

 

So you recycle my old Worthy/Durant joke to reuse on me

tsk tsk