Lakers 2017-2018 Season Thread

[DJ]

The Lakers dominating the Wolves.

 

[ANGELAKERAMS]

Are we a better team without Ball?

Hard to say at this point.

There are things Lonzo can do that the other guys can't, but he is a liability shooting wise and in that respect the team is better without him as the other team has to respect all the shooters on the floor. This creates alot of open looks when the guys move the ball around.

 

[DJ]

After the AS break.....start Zublocka and bench Lopez since he'll be gone after this season and Zublocka needs the development time since we won't be making the postseason.

 

[DJ]

Zublocka is playing well tonight.

 

[ANGELAKERAMS]

And the Lakers terrible D rears it's ugly head yet again. That's the 3 games since the trade the teams D has been terrible giving up over 120 pts per game average.

 

[ANGELAKERAMS]

Zubac definitely needs more minutes.

How did Luke not give him more PT with the,way he was playing tonight ( 19 pts and 11 boards in 20 mins )?

 

[tomodach10]

Zubac definitely needs more minutes.

How did Luke not give him more PT with the,way he was playing tonight ( 19 pts and 11 boards in 20 mins )?

Luke messed up with the rotations again. As soon as he changed the rotation at the end of the third, we lost the lead. His managing of rotations are a problem in closing out games.

 

[DJ]

The Lakers lost but are showing serious promise for the future once they mature.

 

[DJ]

Man, if we could a max guy or 2.....we'd be really good next season.

 

[Retroram52]

Now that the trade has settled, comparisons abound. My fear about that trade was the disruption in team chemistry and since its completion, we appear to have taken a step backwards because of a number of problems already stated. Meanwhile in Cleveland... ...things are looking very good indeed.

Lets see. Since the trade, 3 losses, lapsing D, bad rotations. Hmmm....

 

[tomodach10]

Now that the trade has settled, comparisons abound. My fear about that trade was the disruption in team chemistry and since its completion, we appear to have taken a step backwards because of a number of problems already stated. Meanwhile in Cleveland... ...things are looking very good indeed.

Lets see. Since the trade, 3 losses, lapsing D, bad rotations. Hmmm....

Retro, I have to say it, but right now what you, Lakerram, and Turkey were saying about helping Lebron and hurting our team chemistry is a problem. Luke has to fix this substitution issue. It is critical for a coach to know who and when to rotate. I was frustrated with his lineup changes last night and other nights. We all could see it!!

 

[ANGELAKERAMS]

Now that the trade has settled, comparisons abound. My fear about that trade was the disruption in team chemistry and since its completion, we appear to have taken a step backwards because of a number of problems already stated. Meanwhile in Cleveland... ...things are looking very good indeed.

Lets see. Since the trade, 3 losses, lapsing D, bad rotations. Hmmm....

That was my concern about the trade Retro.

There is something to be said about team chemistry, and when it's working you don't mess with it, and with Cleveland, it wasn't working so you blow it up and bam, whole new team.

I know it's only a 3 game sample size, but which team do you think LeBron would rather play for
now?

He is rejuvenated and having fun again.

And all the arguments about how Clarkson and Nance are replaceable players, you can replace their production, but not necessarily their locker room presence. Those things can't be underestimated and they were by the FO.

 

[tomodach10]

That was my concern about the trade Retro.

There is something to be said about team chemistry, and when it's working you don't mess with it, and with Cleveland, it wasn't working so you blow it up and bam, whole new team.

I know it's only a 3 game sample size, but which team do you think LeBron would rather play for
now?

He is rejuvenated and having fun again.

And all the arguments about how Clarkson and Nance are replaceable players, you can replace their production, but not necessarily their locker room presence. Those things can't be underestimated and they were by the FO.

I agree with you except locker room. Clarkson was complaining and pouting about not being a starter at times.

 

[ANGELAKERAMS]

I agree with you except locker room. Clarkson was complaining and pouting about not being a starter at times.

That may have been true at the beginning of the season, but I think he adjusted to being the teams 6th man off the bench and was really excelling in that role once he accepted it.

After all, he's doing the same thing in Cleveland and it's working beautifully for them

 

[wildturkey]

The defense was going to suffer because you traded Nance. He played a key role for the team as it was constructed because he could switch basically across all 5 positions on defense, rebound on both sides of the ball, and in general made any and every hustle play that doesn't show up on the box score. It's not that hard to predict the Lakers would feel that loss, especially in the first few games. But the FO chose to go down the route to have cap space ahead of time as opposed to later in the summer so the results of the games post trade are effectively meaningless.

 

[Retroram52]

I was afraid that disruption in chemistry that sometimes takes years to build was going to happen as a result of the trade. I am not saying that it definitely happened but so far, things a re leaning in that direction.

They lost again before the All-Star break and they looked depleted except against the Timberwolves where they dominated for three quarters. Then they went home early. That is some old behaviors emerging. Zubic should definitely be played more for sure.

If they do go after LeBron, IT will have to go because they didn't get along in Cleveland and the situation got dire enough to add to the factors that led to the blow-up. Apparently Nance and Clarkson are feelin' it coming off the bench in Cleveland.

There is still more basketball to be played and only the remainder of the season will be the evidence for future comparisons good or bad.

 

[tomodach10]

Cant wait for second half of season. I expect 10-12 more wins.

 

[shopson67]

Cant wait for second half of season. I expect 10-12 more wins.

Why can't the all-star game actually be at the midpoint of the season? The Lakers only have 25 games left lol. The Wolves only have 21! So weird...especially with the Lakers being the team on the back-to-back just before the break.

 

[tomodach10]

Why can't the all-star game actually be at the midpoint of the season? The Lakers only have 25 games left lol. The Wolves only have 21! So weird...especially with the Lakers being the team on the back-to-back just before the break.

Ok I thought it was at the halfway mark lol. 12 of 25 might be difficult.

 

[Retroram52]

We shall see. This team is now in a state of flux and we shall see if they decide to regain their winning streaks or go into sulk mode and just tank the rest of the season.