Second Half of the Season March-April Regular Season Discussion

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  • ojandpizza
    Hall Of Fame
    • Apr 2011
    • 29807

    #361
    Second Half of the Season March-April Regular Season Discussion

    Originally posted by J_Posse
    He did a great job masking their weaknesses throughout the season and having them play over their heads on defense (as a team).

    Did a piss poor job making needed adjustments when it actually matters, though.

    They need to find a starting center and actually play Hayes (who can contribute in a limited role).

    Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk


    Originally posted by ggsimmonds
    He was definitely too stubborn in the series. I think he fell into thinking he had a winning strategy and having undue faith that at the end he would be proven right. Even in his postgame he stuck to his guns ("we were getting the looks we wanted just not making them")



    I like JJ but I do think this series put a spotlight on his arrogance.


    I think Minnesota was just a horrible matchup for all their weaknesses too. I’m not sure any of the other teams in the West would pose this many problems for how the Lakers are currently constructed.

    OKC would be similar but even with them guys like Dort and J-Dub aren’t going to relentlessly keep attacking like Randle did. And as good as Shai is he’s more of a get to his spots type, Ant is just so aggressive it puts pressure on the slower weaker defenders in a different way.

    Pair that with 40 year old Bron being their only rim protection (thought he actually had a great defensive series given that) and it’s just a really bad combo. They can’t match Minnesota’s size and their small ball isn’t athletic enough to match them either. Just a horrible combo.

    Also offensively, the constant high ball screens for Luka only really work when he can exploit mismatches and pretty much everyone on the floor but Rudy could defend Luka. Naz and Randle switches weren’t mismatches, there was no lob threat on the floor, and many of these possessions were just get the ball to the middle of the floor and hit a shooter in the corner, or Luka hoist a contested step back.

    Not enough touches and rhythm throughout most of the series for AR or LeBron. And the Luka picks really slowed down the offense where LAL seemed to look better when they could actually get some transition looks. I think it was Ant mic’d up during game one, or after during post game interviews, he basically said their entire strategy was to not let them get in transition. But Luka sorta willingly does that for them.

    Going to be hard to really find pieces to build around this in the offseason. They do need bigs but they also need figure out if they are going full on Luka-ball or if they are going to try and get Luka to blend himself into a more uptempo pace. A big who can both run the floor and be a lob thread somewhat helps fill both spots, but Hayes can already kind of do that and he was deemed unplayable. So idk.

    Comment

    • ggsimmonds
      Hall Of Fame
      • Jan 2009
      • 11235

      #362
      Re: Second Half of the Season March-April Regular Season Discussion

      I can't really subscribe to Minnesota being a uniquely bad matchup for the Lakers.

      If Minnesota is a bad matchup for them, every playoff team is.
      But I especially need to call bull on this:
      "And as good as Shai is he’s more of a get to his spots type, Ant is just so aggressive"
      Bro Shai led the league in drives to the basket, Ant led the league in 3 pt attempts. Its not close to who was more aggressive.

      "They can’t match Minnesota’s size and their small ball isn’t athletic enough to match them either. Just a horrible combo."
      That is likely true with every potential playoff matchup sans the Warriors

      Comment

      • Vni
        Hall Of Fame
        • Sep 2011
        • 14833

        #363
        Re: Second Half of the Season March-April Regular Season Discussion

        Hayes isn't a playoffs rotation center. He shoudn't be the 7th or 8th best player of your team, he isn't impactful and his BBIQ is just super low. He can be some sort of insurance in case your center is down.

        I'am over Reaves as a starter, he performs significantly worse in the playoffs every year and you can't always make excuses for him. When the defense gets tight and the game gets physical he disapears. I'd like him to become our Ginobili off the bench or used in a trade to improve the roster.

        I think Turner would be great to sign but I'am not sure the Lakers can make it work even if Bron takes a significant paycut. Adebayo would be an amazing fit and with the way Miami imploded he could be available. Again we can't offer that nice of a package in exchange especially if they are going for the rebuild. Our most reasonable target would be Gafford in my opinion. Chemistry with Luka, very athletic.

        Would be a good time to move on from Lebron also.

        Comment

        • illwill10
          Hall Of Fame
          • Mar 2009
          • 19824

          #364
          Re: Second Half of the Season March-April Regular Season Discussion

          Originally posted by ojandpizza
          Giannis and Wemby would be wild lol.
          Originally posted by georgiafan
          That’s a good call on them and clearly makes sense If you are the spurs. They could also add Fox in the deal so a Fringe all star and young rookie plush draft picks is a good starting point
          Could also do Fox and Barnes and a ton of picks. Only real benefit of Bucks doing that is that both players are on expiring deals and could clear out a ton of cap for 26-27. But, Castle, Vassell, and Johnson is a near match for Giannis. It gives the ROY and young wings to work with. They could have 2 lottery picks. Ideally could draft the Duke Center Maluach and best available player. Could have a good young nucleus and future picks


          Giannis and Wemby could be nasty duo. Defensively, that's obvious and doesn't need any explanation. Wemby isn't a good rebounder especially for his size, so Giannis would clean that up. Less pressure on Fox defensively. Offensively, I think they could mesh well since they don't operate in the same spots. Wemby is going to year 3, so I could see them wanting to make a splash


          But if Giannis leaves the East, whew lol.

          Comment

          • ojandpizza
            Hall Of Fame
            • Apr 2011
            • 29807

            #365
            Re: Second Half of the Season March-April Regular Season Discussion

            Originally posted by ggsimmonds
            I can't really subscribe to Minnesota being a uniquely bad matchup for the Lakers.

            If Minnesota is a bad matchup for them, every playoff team is.
            But I especially need to call bull on this:
            "And as good as Shai is he’s more of a get to his spots type, Ant is just so aggressive"
            Bro Shai led the league in drives to the basket, Ant led the league in 3 pt attempts. Its not close to who was more aggressive.

            "They can’t match Minnesota’s size and their small ball isn’t athletic enough to match them either. Just a horrible combo."
            That is likely true with every potential playoff matchup sans the Warriors
            He leads the league in drives with the MO being to get a foul or get to a spot.. I feel like Ant just bullies guys. Takes it to their chest, forces help, makes the kick. Yes he takes more threes, a lot of which he sets up by getting his defender going backwards because he's taken it at their chest the 2 possessions prior.

            Comment

            • J_Posse
              Greatness Personified
              • Jun 2005
              • 11255

              #366
              Re: Second Half of the Season March-April Regular Season Discussion

              Originally posted by Vni
              Hayes isn't a playoffs rotation center. He shoudn't be the 7th or 8th best player of your team, he isn't impactful and his BBIQ is just super low. He can be some sort of insurance in case your center is down.
              He might not be a rotation guy deeper in the playoffs or if you have better options, but the Lakers don't so they should've given him some time.

              Lakers got killed on the glass and interior scoring, both things Hayes can help with even in spot minutes.





              Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk
              San Antonio Spurs 5 - Time ('99, '03, '05, '07, '14) NBA Champions

              Official OS Bills Backers Club Member

              Comment

              • ojandpizza
                Hall Of Fame
                • Apr 2011
                • 29807

                #367
                Re: Second Half of the Season March-April Regular Season Discussion

                Originally posted by J_Posse
                He might not be a rotation guy deeper in the playoffs or if you have better options, but the Lakers don't so they should've given him some time.

                Lakers got killed with on the glass and with interior scoring, both things Hayes can help with even in spot minutes.





                Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk
                I think my issue is basically JJ said there is a trade off because then they can't score... Which I get, but they aren't getting much scoring from DFS or Vando either. So like you said why not make that trade-off in some spot minutes to stop the bleeding? If they swap Naz for Rudy then make your swap back to Vando/DFS.

                Comment

                • ggsimmonds
                  Hall Of Fame
                  • Jan 2009
                  • 11235

                  #368
                  Re: Second Half of the Season March-April Regular Season Discussion

                  Originally posted by ojandpizza
                  He leads the league in drives with the MO being to get a foul or get to a spot.. I feel like Ant just bullies guys. Takes it to their chest, forces help, makes the kick. Yes he takes more threes, a lot of which he sets up by getting his defender going backwards because he's taken it at their chest the 2 possessions prior.
                  Points in the paint per game:
                  Shai: 13.8
                  Ant: 8.2

                  % of FGA that are 3s:
                  Shai: 26.3
                  Ant: 50.3

                  FTA per game (if Ant "bullies" guys and takes it to their chest I'd expect these numbers to be different)
                  Shai: 8.8
                  Ant: 6.3

                  APG (I don't need to include these figures, its just in reply to your statement that Ant draws the help then kicks it as if Shai hasn't driven OKC to the #1 seed by doing exactly that)
                  Shai: 6.4
                  Ant: 4.5

                  OJ I shouldn't even need to pull out stats on this one. When Shai gets the ball he is looking to either get to the rim or get to the line, everyone knows that. It doesn't get more aggressive than that.

                  Beyond that comparison, OKC is just head and shoulders the better team than the Lakers and a series between them would end in a likely sweep. If you are genuinely suggesting that the Lakers struggled against Minnesota more than they would against OKC no one is buying what you are selling man

                  Comment

                  • ggsimmonds
                    Hall Of Fame
                    • Jan 2009
                    • 11235

                    #369
                    Harden is in danger of giving this win away by trying to make it a throwback game where he just dribbles the clock out of the ball

                    Comment

                    • illwill10
                      Hall Of Fame
                      • Mar 2009
                      • 19824

                      #370
                      Coach Pop is transitioning to Team President

                      With hia recent health, this the right choice to makw for him

                      Comment

                      • ggsimmonds
                        Hall Of Fame
                        • Jan 2009
                        • 11235

                        #371
                        Luka is getting his first taste of that LA microscope I think with all the recent talk involving him

                        Comment

                        • MrDubya
                          MVP
                          • Aug 2016
                          • 1500

                          #372
                          Steven Adams in rare form tonight. Love to see it.
                          PSN ID - A_Dubya13

                          Comment

                          • illwill10
                            Hall Of Fame
                            • Mar 2009
                            • 19824

                            #373
                            Not like this Clippers lol

                            Comment

                            • dubcity
                              Hall Of Fame
                              • May 2012
                              • 17874

                              #374
                              Love to see the Clippers implode, but...lol at Russ for making it about him. Better gas up that RWB revenge tour bus, gonna have a ton of stops cuz dude's been traded about 20 times. Dude will probably be on the Pelicans next season, gettin revenge on the nuggets.

                              Comment

                              • Vni
                                Hall Of Fame
                                • Sep 2011
                                • 14833

                                #375
                                Another choke job by Harden. 2 of 8, 7 points. Still had 13 assists but it's a game 7. Clippers started the game well though.

                                Comment

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