WMC 24-25: Seasonal Highs And Lows!

Sonned

 

obviously I've noticed people here for the most part try to stay positive, but it's clear to me this roster looks worse than last year's and even less suited to play around Lebron.

 

Yeah we got younger and athletic. We'll definitely look a lot better in the regular season but we didn't really cover up any holes in the roster. And gambling on trades to round out the roster is bad GMing imo.

 

I’m not sure if we are worse, we’ve definitely fixed some issues we had last year like athleticism and youth.

But like you I just don’t understand this roster. We have a good C and PF rotation. We also have nice backup PG and SG’s in Reaves and Nunn.

We lack shooting, we lack a starting quality SG, we don’t have really any decent 3&D wings and we got Westbrook who isn’t a good fit.

Just a strange construction.

 

We have a different coach too who seems to have a good approach to the game and I like his philosophy. Let's see how it translates to the court.
A lot of teams are better just because of schemes and effort, like Memphis.

I think only Lonnie brings some concerns, other signings fit what we needed. I don't think Troy will play many minutes. I mean, except Lonnie we only got vet mins so don't know what better could we expect. Russ trade killed us so until he's gone, we don't have any flexibility to make big changes in the roster

LeBron
AD
Russ
Reaves
Nunn
Lonnie
THT
Stan
Toscano
Bryant
Jones

That's 11 guys who know how to play, are young or stars in the league. It's all a matter on how they play together. I think we can be a good defensive team, but it's true we depend a lot on our big 3 to carry the offense.
I think our goal is just to be competitive until we are able to move from Russ.
It will be at least more fun to watch for sure.

 

i think we should be about the same as last year. if AD and lebron play 75% of games, we're in the play-in/bottom half of the playoffs. if they don't, we're winning 30 games again.

but i also agree that this will be better to watch. the vets just lollygagging the entire season last year was absolutely brutal to endure as a fan. at least our deep bench guys are still trying to make it in the league, so they won't just...not box out or close out or set screens, etc.

also, new coach means russ can be dealt with, imo. last year, frank had no chance to manage that awful situation. this year, ham can tell russ to sit his a** down and not worry he'll never work again.

 

It's a .500 team.

If AD can play like a top 5 player, and really takes/embraces the lead role on both ends, we can be be a touch above .500.

We need a couple more impact pieces to really be a top 4 team.

 

this is depressing

 

I don't know that any of the roster changes thus far will make a difference in the win/loss column from last year. Multiple players need to make large leaps as shooters and defenders. LeBron and AD will have to will this group to the playoffs.

If we aren't able to trade Russ to bring in some pieces there's little reason for hope this year.

 

if lebron and AD can stay healthy and play at their usual level i can see them getting into the playoffs as a 7 or 8 seed. that's also assuming westbrick is still here

defense is still the big question. getting a lot younger and more athletic helps but they didn't specifically answer that question with any signing. and one of the guys they brought in (walker) is one of the league's worst defenders. if lebron or AD miss extended time again then there won't be any playoffs again

 

well, or russ just not being a j******. if russ would get his crap together and be who he needs to be to stay in the league, we could be top 4.

also, remember that some other top team could suffer injuries like we have the past couple of years while we don't. i think we're just wired to expect that misfortune now. but if jokic goes down, denver's out of the playoffs. luka, dallas is out, etc. it's not just us. only the clippers and warriors can survive a top guy missing half the year in the west, imo.

 

took the bag off my head to look at that tweet

then put the bag right back on

Could get ugly with another season of monumental suck

 

chip engelland left SA for OKC? why is this in this thread? because he's known as the best shooting coach in the league. there's no cap on salaries for assistants. and we're supposed to be the lakers or something.

 

We're the Lakers, a billion dollar global brand that is being ran like the local greasy spoon.

 

With what the 4th or 5th (?) highest payroll in the league amongst owners who are billionaires?