10/30 - 11/5 Games Discussion Thread

[lilteapot]

Re: 10/30 - 11/5 Games Discussion Thread

I think their defense gets a lot better if they trim down the turnovers. they're top 10 with 15.5 a game and their transition defense is awful. IDK how many points they give up on the fast break but it's hard to sustain a lead or win close games when you're doing that. Golden State is also in the top 10 but they have the right people to a. defend transition opportunities and b. make up for it and then some on the offensive end.

[OSUFan_88]

Re: 10/30 - 11/5 Games Discussion Thread

I think their defense gets a lot better if they trim down the turnovers. they're top 10 with 15.5 a game and their transition defense is awful. IDK how many points they give up on the fast break but it's hard to sustain a lead or win close games when you're doing that. Golden State is also in the top 10 but they have the right people to a. defend transition opportunities and b. make up for it and then some on the offensive end.

Because they play 4 on 5 all the time.

I tried to tell you guys this offseason. LeBron is an AWFUL defender now. He drifts and usually let's his man do whatever he wants. He has no interest in rotating or defending in general.

As for his legs....I mean, dude is almost 34. He hasn't exactly been a spring chicken last year. His teams usually are dead last in the NBA in pace so him trying this uptempo style wasnt going to work. I almost feel like he can coast into the playoffs again and he doesnt have that with this team.

Regular season LeBron the past 2 years has been a nightmare. The Cavs had enough to cover it up and cruise to the playoffs. The Lakers dont have that luxury. I'll be curious to see if he does turn it on during this season or if he is going to continue this nonsense.

[Vni]

Re: 10/30 - 11/5 Games Discussion Thread

Coasting when you know you can get to the Finals makes sense but this year's NBA finals for this squad is actually just making the playoffs.

Tbh I kinda miss last year's team. Played much better defense and was more fun to watch than what we've seen so far. I miss JR's intensity on both ends.

I still think people are way overreacting about all this. This squad is what it is, not a contender for sure but their record is a little deceptive. They've had one historically awful quarter but other than that they've been pretty competitive against playoffs teams.

If you had no idea you'd think they'd be 1 and 7 with the way people talk about them. I think we'll know by the end of november if this squad has what it takes to make the playoffs.

[SPTO]

Re: 10/30 - 11/5 Games Discussion Thread

The thing with LeBron is this....I DO think he's lost a step or two. LeBron's style of play is not conducive to being a top flight talent into his late 30s-early 40s. He's big and strong enough where he could play that long but we're probably looking at the last 2-3 years of him being a truly elite #1 guy. His defense has already started to fall off the map and he's taken so much punishment over the course of his career that it's bound to catch up to him sooner or later.

LeBron is no longer a guy who can will a team to a championship anymore. He NEEDS a wingman with him now.


That being said, if the Lakers make sensible (read: not stupid wholesale changes that doom them long term) moves at the trade deadline and in the offseason I think they can turn things around. They have to have patience here.

[ojandpizza]

Re: 10/30 - 11/5 Games Discussion Thread

I still think people are way overreacting about all this. This squad is what it is, not a contender for sure but their record is a little deceptive. They've had one historically awful quarter but other than that they've been pretty competitive against playoffs teams.

If you had no idea you'd think they'd be 1 and 7 with the way people talk about them. I think we'll know by the end of november if this squad has what it takes to make the playoffs.

This is the key here, they actually outscored Toronto quarters 2-4 and they've been competitive every game they've played in. They have the normal year 1 chemistry issues, playing with different line-ups, and missed players with suspension. They haven't been nearly as bad as made out to be.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: 10/30 - 11/5 Games Discussion Thread

It’s year 1 and 10 games into the season y’all. It’s ok to have patience, lol. Y’all are talking in absolutes as if they’re going to be the same for the next 3 years.

[ojandpizza]

Re: 10/30 - 11/5 Games Discussion Thread

Because they play 4 on 5 all the time.

I tried to tell you guys this offseason. LeBron is an AWFUL defender now. He drifts and usually let's his man do whatever he wants. He has no interest in rotating or defending in general.

As for his legs....I mean, dude is almost 34. He hasn't exactly been a spring chicken last year. His teams usually are dead last in the NBA in pace so him trying this uptempo style wasnt going to work. I almost feel like he can coast into the playoffs again and he doesnt have that with this team.

Regular season LeBron the past 2 years has been a nightmare. The Cavs had enough to cover it up and cruise to the playoffs. The Lakers dont have that luxury. I'll be curious to see if he does turn it on during this season or if he is going to continue this nonsense.

LeBron is far from this teams biggest problem on defense lol, same with Cleveland.

Edit: Part of the reason that without him Cleveland has dropped 9 points from last years defensive rating. Last year was bad, but only 8 points back from the league leader rather than the 21 points worse they are this year without him.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: 10/30 - 11/5 Games Discussion Thread

Are these weekly threads just going to revert to Lebron/Lakers chats?

[ProfessaPackMan]

10/30 - 11/5 Games Discussion Thread

He isn’t the biggest problem obviously, but he’s a part of the problem, which I’m sure LA knew would be the case when they signed him.

I’m sure they heard the same “His defense has fallen off slowly but surely over the last few years” stuff that we’ve heard as well(It has no matter how biased one chooses to be)and while nobody can be prime Bruce Bowen for their entire career, you’ll live with his Defense since many of his positives outweigh his negatives.

[3304Life]

Re: 10/30 - 11/5 Games Discussion Thread

He could be the elite defender he was for a couple years. But at this stage of his career with the toll his body has taken you have to compromise and his offense is too good to substitute for defense.

If the Lakers make the playoffs then I think he’s gonna step his defensive effort up as he usually does. I’ve watched the 2016 finals again this week and his defense that series was for the most part the best he’s ever played. So even being 3 years older I still think he can reproduce that.

Maybe having a year out of the playoffs would be beneficial, long term. Obviously he’s used to competing in the finals but that won’t happen this year and not having to play 100 games this season would be great for stretching out the last few years of his career. Although of course, the Lakers wouldn’t be happy with that.

[lilteapot]

Re: 10/30 - 11/5 Games Discussion Thread

It’s year 1 and 10 games into the season y’all. It’s ok to have patience, lol. Y’all are talking in absolutes as if they’re going to be the same for the next 3 years.

[23]

Re: 10/30 - 11/5 Games Discussion Thread

He isn’t the biggest problem obviously, but he’s a part of the problem, which I’m sure LA knew would be the case when they signed him.

I’m sure they heard the same “His defense has fallen off slowly but surely over the last few years” stuff that we’ve heard as well(It has no matter how biased one chooses to be)and while nobody can be prime Bruce Bowen for their entire career, you’ll live with his Defense since many of his positives outweigh his negatives.

As long as they are losing its going to continue to be a highlighted problem because he's in Los Angeles, and Kobe fans will definitely not hold their tongue about his leadership.

[King_B_Mack]

Re: 10/30 - 11/5 Games Discussion Thread

Are these weekly threads just going to revert to Lebron/Lakers chats?

You're suprised by this? This is the way things have been for the better part of the last decade.

[jeebs9]

Re: 10/30 - 11/5 Games Discussion Thread

You're suprised by this? This is the way things have been for the better part of the last decade.

Right lol... I don't get why people get shocked by this. People like great players. If MJ had the internet where it's at today. All people would talk about is MJ.

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[jeebs9]

Re: 10/30 - 11/5 Games Discussion Thread

The thing with LeBron is this....I DO think he's lost a step or two. LeBron's style of play is not conducive to being a top flight talent into his late 30s-early 40s. He's big and strong enough where he could play that long but we're probably looking at the last 2-3 years of him being a truly elite #1 guy. His defense has already started to fall off the map and he's taken so much punishment over the course of his career that it's bound to catch up to him sooner or later.

LeBron is no longer a guy who can will a team to a championship anymore. He NEEDS a wingman with him now.


That being said, if the Lakers make sensible (read: not stupid wholesale changes that doom them long term) moves at the trade deadline and in the offseason I think they can turn things around. They have to have patience here.

Where have I heard this from?

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