2/8 - 2/17 Games Discussion Thread

[ggsimmonds]

Re: 2/8 - 2/17 Games Discussion Thread

Timberwolves are a bench away, hope they keep their core together

Strong disagree.

Seems like one or two times a month I catch one of their games and its always the same. They'll show flashes where everyone is active and Towns attacks but then there will be an equal number of trips where I see the worst shot selection in the NBA. Both Russell and Towns will just randomly jack up a 3 instead of even attempting to run an offense.

The Kings run that gave them the victory tonight was borne from Russell and his atrocious shot selection.

On the other side, successful debut for Sabonis and the Kings. I think I'd like to see them keep Barnes for the rest of the season if they really want to push for the play in tournament. Barnes and Sabonis are a good combination. Not with Barnes as the ball handler in a pick and roll but as a wing guy a second pass away. He's active in cutting to the basket and has a dependable shot.

[ggsimmonds]

Re: 2/8 - 2/17 Games Discussion Thread

Wow this sorry *** Blazers G league squad just beat the Lakers lol. Shameful. Can't blame it on WB either. He didn't play.

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Why the hell is Anthony Davis only putting up 11 shots.

I think that is a bigger problem than WB. If Davis starts playing like one of the dominant big men in the league maybe they could win more games.

[ggsimmonds]

Re: 2/8 - 2/17 Games Discussion Thread

Sarcasm. We stink right now lol

This makes seeing KD play with G-Leaguers and guys on 10 day contracts and get wins over good teams look much more impressive.

Ever since the Thunder-Heat finals where he let Shane Battier bully him* I've been clowning KD but yeah, I'm finally ready to admit I owe him an apology. One of these big three is not like the others.

*I know Battier was a good defender, but he was a finesse defender not a physical bully ball defender

[ojandpizza]

Re: 2/8 - 2/17 Games Discussion Thread

Wow this sorry *** Blazers G league squad just beat the Lakers lol. Shameful. Can't blame it on WB either. He didn't play.

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I don’t think Russ has been their problem. I’ve been saying that all year watching them… The issue with Russ is he was supposed to be able to help fix their problems, they knew that when they got him, but he’s arguably just enhanced some of them.

I really think they believed they would be getting production out of Ariza, Dwight, THT, Ellington, Bazemore, and Nunn.. it’s just that hasn’t been the case. The whole team was built to have vets that could thrive in a small defined role next to Bron and AD, and continue to thrive with Westbrook when those guys weren’t on the floor. And it just didn’t pan out, Westbrook makes the already bad defense even worse, THT didn’t take the jump forward they anticipated, Nunn hasn’t even played a game, Ariza looks washed after his injury, and all the other injuries/line-up inconsistency has caused most of these guys to need to play well outside their capabilities to even look decent.

No chance the Lakers envisioned needing to sign and start Avery Bradley, need 20 point games from Monk to tread water, and have to make panic signings like Stanley Johnson to even play average defense. Injuries or no injuries, I believe they traded for Westbrook because injuries were already anticipated to a degree.

I feel bad for Russ because I really think he’s tried to adjust to be whatever they need him to be. But he’s not played well at all, the questionable fit was worse than imagined, he’s hesitant and second guessing himself, when he is aggressive and making plays you want him to make he’s shooting airballs. It’s just been rough. He and Frank have been scapegoated this year when they probably shouldn’t be, but even in saying they definitely aren’t THE problem neither of them have done anything positive enough to help fix their problems either. It’s a tough position for both of them, because in a vacuum I don’t think either of them are a bad player/coach by any means but their fit under the current circumstances is horrendous.

Report came out today saying that after the Lakers acquired Westbrook Schroder still wanted to remain on the team as his backup. Looking at the money he signed for with Boston he would have been in Nunn’s role. That’s another miss as they could have had both Schroder and Caruso on the team this year without losing anybody they decided to keep/sign. Schroder had his own problems, most notably he wouldn’t get the ball to AD nearly enough, but Lakers I think had the best 5 man line-up +/- in the league last year with he and Gasol until they gave up on that as well. I don’t believe AD wanted to continue playing with Dennis though.

[ggsimmonds]

Re: 2/8 - 2/17 Games Discussion Thread

I really think they believed they would be getting production out of Ariza, Dwight, THT, Ellington, Bazemore, and Nunn. it’s just that hasn’t been the case.

I'm shocked I say. Absolutely shocked

[dubcity]

Re: 2/8 - 2/17 Games Discussion Thread

I feel like LeBron was thinking he'd be riding off into the sunset of his career averaging like 12 assists a night, as opposed to taking 20 shots and feeling like Danny Glover out there.

[jeebs9]

Re: 2/8 - 2/17 Games Discussion Thread

Wasn't it jeebs lobbying for him to get more PT[emoji23]

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I ain't never seen some **** like that LMAO. It's almost like he thought he was SGA for a second. Then realized on his way to the basket that he wasn't [emoji23]

[ojandpizza]

Re: 2/8 - 2/17 Games Discussion Thread

I'm shocked I say. Absolutely shocked

I know, but it's not like they expected/needed any of them to be big contributors. They just didn't need them to all be massive negatives. Was more so having average players be average players within small defined roles which in theory wasn't unrealistic.

Nunn hasn't played, Dwight is just not the fit or just isn't the player from 2 years ago, THT had surgery but despite that looked great initially before just forgetting how to play basketball, Ariza was out with the ankle and now looks done though he could have been done regardless, they gave up on Ellington and Bazemore even though I'm not sure Bazemore wouldn't still be a solid option if he's out of that shooting slump. He actually kinda fits what they need.

Expectations were that most of those guys would just be the players they were last year, and that just hasn't been the reality. Part of that is roster overhaul, they brought in 12 new players from last year even though Dwight, Rondo, AB had some familiarity from 2 years ago, on top of the overhaul they've also had injuries to AD, Bron, Ariza, THT, Nunn, more line-up variability than any team in the league, and a good chunk of these guys just don't fit Frank's coaching style/Frank isn't able to adjust his coaching style to what he has.

And if all those issues weren't enough they just have no identity. They have went huge, tiny, really old, pretty young, but they can't put together rotations that look decent on both ends... That's where the Russ fit has been an issue, they can't field a serviceable defense in line-ups with him so far, when they play stronger defenders like AB or Johnson they can't field a good offense. I think THT was supposed to bridge the gap some there and that hasn't worked. Frank won't shy away from playing Ariza who seems just really bad on both ends but he's hitting a good enough percentage from 3 to be fools gold. (doesn't matter if you were hitting 60% from deep if you're only making 2 a game and awful at everything else you still have no value).

Posted a breakdown of their issues a couple weeks ago posted from Silver Screen and Roll, and the Lakers 4 most used starting line-ups had a +13 per 100, +12 per 100, -11 per 100, and -13 per 100.. Basically polar opposites. Issue is that best line-up had only 167 possessions together, at that time comparing it to Phoenix's best line-up 900 possessions together, Golden State pre Klay 739 possessions, Jazz 990 possessions together.. Obviously some of that has been injuries, some of that roster variability, some of that Frank choosing guys like DJ, Ariza, Bradley, some of that the decisions of picking offense vs defense in any given game, etc.

That's why I was saying it is unfortunate that Frank and Russ have received so much of the blame from the media, because I don't believe either of them are the teams biggest issues.. But those are two pieces that are there and expected to be able to help fix issues, and they just have not been so far. Frank probably deserves it a bit more just because he's been all over the place, but at the same time I know he's also not a bad coach and has been dealt a bad hand.. Supposedly getting bad influence from Rambis too. Regardless far too many issues across the board to say either of them is the problem. Injuries aside if you had to say any one on-court problem was the biggest issue I would still lean towards THT being so far off from what was expected as being the answer. It's too late now but he could have used some time in the G-League to get confidence or just been played 30+ minutes a night to work through his issues, but now they are stuck in must win territory from here on out.

[illwill10]

Re: 2/8 - 2/17 Games Discussion Thread

My condolences.

It looks like we are witnessing Harden give up on his second straight team. I don't understand how a front office can watch this and be like thats exactly what we need.

Which can be said for the next NFL team that signs Antionio Brown lol

But it's definitely a concern with Harden. You don't want a situation where if everytime sh** hits the fan, he quits on the team

[cima]

Re: 2/8 - 2/17 Games Discussion Thread

Had LeBron not hit that three pointer at the buzzer, he would've had his FIRST EVER "LeBron" game; 27-7-7. Instead he finished with 30-7-7.

[ojandpizza]

Re: 2/8 - 2/17 Games Discussion Thread



Even Pat Bev throwing jabs lol

[jfsolo]

Re: 2/8 - 2/17 Games Discussion Thread

I despise Beverly, but he's not wrong.

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[cima]

Re: 2/8 - 2/17 Games Discussion Thread

That's rich coming from the "the next 5 years are mine" guy lol

[ggsimmonds]

Re: 2/8 - 2/17 Games Discussion Thread

Which can be said for the next NFL team that signs Antionio Brown lol

But it's definitely a concern with Harden. You don't want a situation where if everytime sh** hits the fan, he quits on the team

Well done sir. Props for having a clapback burn thats going to simmer for a couple months
(I really hope it doesn't happen)

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: 2/8 - 2/17 Games Discussion Thread

All this trade mess made me forget that we get Bucks-Suns tonight. I don’t do 10:30pm games but I may give this one at least a first half watch.