Where do the Cavs go from here?

[DJ]

He didn't. Now he's saying with James.....

 

[DJ]

of course not- thats insane- of course the Lakers should win more games they just got LeBron

now if you wanted to bet about the Lakers getting out of the first round- id take that bet since i think its about 50/50

No chance. We're getting swept out in a one and done.

It's all about the following seasons afterward.

 

[WiggyRuss]

No chance. We're getting swept out in a one and done.

It's all about the following seasons afterward.

wait you just signed LeBron and your not willing to bet 1k that you win a playoff series this year?

 

[flyerhawk]

Ingram made 39% last year.....acting like he can't shoot is just foolish.

And where did I say he can't shoot?

Either the Lakers are going to play the Lebron system or Lebron is going to play the Laker system. If they play the Lebron system then guys like KCP and Ingram are going to be expected to be spot up 3 point shooters.

The Lakers were the 2nd WORST 3 point shooting team in basketball. Adding Rondo and Stephenson(both career 30% 3 point shooters) and Lebron isn't going to make the Lakers magically a better 3 point shooting team.

Then again maybe Javale McGhee will improve his 3 point shooting numbers. Only one way to go when you shoot .067% from the arc.

 

[flyerhawk]

You didn't say for just this season......stop it. LOL.

Well this was what you quoted him saying "i would def take Ingram over Love for the next 5 years- but just this year i would much rather have Love"

 

[WiggyRuss]

And where did I say he can't shoot?

Either the Lakers are going to play the Lebron system or Lebron is going to play the Laker system. If they play the Lebron system then guys like KCP and Ingram are going to be expected to be spot up 3 point shooters.

The Lakers were the 2nd WORST 3 point shooting team in basketball. Adding Rondo and Stephenson(both career 30% 3 point shooters) and Lebron isn't going to make the Lakers magically a better 3 point shooting team.

Then again maybe Javale McGhee will improve his 3 point shooting numbers. Only one way to go when you shoot .067% from the arc.

i think that is the most interesting question of all in LA.

What will it look like?

Will Walton have a system? or will it be LeBron pounding the ball?

I am sure that Walton will TRY and institute a system, but when the game is on the line what do they revert to? Will LeBron have the patience to stay within the system, or will he get pissed off and try and do it himself? I saw him get pissed off at an uber-talent like Kyrie and evne Love and try and do it himself all the time.

If this collection of kids and crazies that the Lakers have struggle at times, does LeBron stay within the system or does he do his typical hijacking of the system?

its a great and fascinating question

 

[WiggyRuss]

Well this was what you quoted him saying "i would def take Ingram over Love for the next 5 years- but just this year i would much rather have Love"

sometimes i seriously wonder if he is sniffing bath salts. i dont think that couldve been any clearer.

ITs not a knock on Ingram either- Love is a 5 time all star in his prime with loads of playoff and championship experience. Ingram is a 20 year old kid that has done nothing in his career. Anyone would take Love for JUSt this year- conversely- i think anyone would take Ingram for the next 5 years. Its just common sense.

 

[WiggyRuss]

@DJ

here is a good bet for you...

If Ingram shoots 38.0% or more from 3 this year you win

if Ingram shoots 37.9% or worse from 3 this year, I win.

is that a bet you would do?

 

[flyerhawk]

i think that is the most interesting question of all in LA.

What will it look like?

Will Walton have a system? or will it be LeBron pounding the ball?

I am sure that Walton will TRY and institute a system, but when the game is on the line what do they revert to? Will LeBron have the patience to stay within the system, or will he get pissed off and try and do it himself? I saw him get pissed off at an uber-talent like Kyrie and evne Love and try and do it himself all the time.

If this collection of kids and crazies that the Lakers have struggle at times, does LeBron stay within the system or does he do his typical hijacking of the system?

its a great and fascinating question

Ultimately, the question for the Lakers is what do they WANT to do?

It's all well and good that Luke Walton wants to run a Warriors style offense. But that doesn't mean it is the best use of Lebron's skill sets. Lebron thrives with the ball in his hands and being the center of the offense. Perhaps he could thrive in a spread the ball system but we haven't really seen him in it.

OF COURSE Lebron will be really good in any system so I don't want some Laker homer suggesting that I was saying Lebron would suck in the Walton system. It's a question of getting the most out of him.

 

[trojanfan12]

I agree that LeBron should help both those players quite a bit.

Kobe made a great point about this. He said that just seeing how Lebron goes about his business will be huge for these guys. They get to see how he approaches the game, takes care of his body, handles his nutrition, etc., etc. I hope these guys are smart enough to follow him around like puppies and ask him a lot of questions.

Walton needs to be very clear with LeBron that they have an offensive system and the system isnt "what LeBron wants to do today". Thats been a challenge with LeBron his entire career. He would get frustrated with Kyrie all the time and KYrie is freaking awesome--- hed take the ball and be like "nope- i am handling the ball now--- spread the floor, im gonna dribble at hte top of the key, and make a play".

Walton NEEDS to let LeBron now that the ball cant stick and that the ball needs to keep moving. I used to HAAAAAAAAAAAAATE watching LeBron pound the ball in the floor at the top of the key and then take off with 5 seconds on the shot clock. Its what the radio people in Cleveland commonly referred to as the "LeBron Stanky Leg Offense".

Mostly agree. Hopefully, Lebron is at a point in his career where he hopefully understands that being part of a system and staying with it can actually be good for him both during games and in prolonging his career.

One thing I've heard several folks say is that Lebron wants to be coached, but has never really had a strong coach who will insist that he stay in the system. Hopefully Luke can be that guy.

I think Luke needs to take the same approach with Lebron that Phil took with Kobe. Insist that he play within the system, but allowing him the freedom to take over the game when necessary.

Sometimes Kobe would try to take over the game when it wasn't necessary, so Phil would have to reign him in. lol

 

[WiggyRuss]

Ultimately, the question for the Lakers is what do they WANT to do?

It's all well and good that Luke Walton wants to run a Warriors style offense. But that doesn't mean it is the best use of Lebron's skill sets. Lebron thrives with the ball in his hands and being the center of the offense. Perhaps he could thrive in a spread the ball system but we haven't really seen him in it.

OF COURSE Lebron will be really good in any system so I don't want some Laker homer suggesting that I was saying Lebron would suck in the Walton system. It's a question of getting the most out of him.

its a great post and well put.

Basically..."Does a Warrior's type ball movement offense make the most of LeBron Jame's talents". I would say no.

There are only a few guys in the history of the game as good at playmaking as LeBron. I would want the ball in his hands the vast majority of the time.

The downside of course is that at times players get disenchanted and fall into the habit of watching LeBron, rather than staying active when LeBron runs the "stanky leg" offense.

 

[trojanfan12]

You think a healthy Celtics team would beat a Sixers team WITH Lebron James?

I think it's 50/50.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Imo, Lebron's presence can only help that. Kuzma shot it pretty well last year, especially in the 2nd half of the season. Lebron on the team should mean a lot more open looks for everyone.

I think we'll see Ingram looking better too because of Lebron. One thing about an all time player like Lebron is that his presence on the floor makes other players better because of the attention he attracts from the defense.

Kuzma is really the guy that i think, at least offensively, could be a really good fit with LeBron.

If they can stick Kuzma in that corner and get him to shoot 37% or better from 3- he can be a weapon and draw a lot of attention and space the floor.

Only issue is that Kuzma is a little undersized and not good defensively. If Kuzma is your regular starting PF playing 30 minutes a game you need a big man that is more defensive oriented playing next to him or shit can get out of hand.

 

[Heatles84]

see i dont agree with "losing is losing"

id say there is a huge difference between, say losing in the first round, and say getting to the Finals, hitting some crazy game winners, putting up half a dozen 40 pt games etc. the latter without a doubt enhances your legacy while the former hurts it.

Thing is, Lebron's legacy is just about cemented. If he gets his ass kicked by the Warriors in the 2nd round, most sensible people won't hold that against Lebron. In Lebron's situation, I can understand playing all the way until June, just to get your ass kicked. At this point, he's probably willing to sacrifice a season or two playing until early May while the Lakers get better gradually waiting for the Warriors to finally break apart by the seams.

 

[tlance]

sometimes i seriously wonder if he is sniffing bath salts. i dont think that couldve been any clearer.

ITs not a knock on Ingram either- Love is a 5 time all star in his prime with loads of playoff and championship experience. Ingram is a 20 year old kid that has done nothing in his career. Anyone would take Love for JUSt this year- conversely- i think anyone would take Ingram for the next 5 years. Its just common sense.

Defintely agree Ingram is the future.

Last year I would have defintely rather had Love.

This year though? I think it is a toss up. I project some growth for Ingram and decline for Love. Could go either way. Now, Love will defintely produce better stats because he is the number 1 option for Cleveland where Ingram is a distant 2nd in LA, but as far as which player would better support LeBron this year, I think it is fairly close. Again because Ingram can do more defensively.

 

[DJ]

Well this was what you quoted him saying "i would def take Ingram over Love for the next 5 years- but just this year i would much rather have Love"

And when I cvalled him out on it he said with James.....that wasn't included.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Defintely agree Ingram is the future.

Last year I would have defintely rather had Love.

This year though? I think it is a toss up. I project some growth for Ingram and decline for Love. Could go either way. Now, Love will defintely produce better stats because he is the number 1 option for Cleveland where Ingram is a distant 2nd in LA, but as far as which player would better support LeBron this year, I think it is fairly close. Again because Ingram can do more defensively.

We had been agreeing fairly well on stuff the last day or so which is why this post surprises me

Kevin Love is a 5 time all star in his prime that shot a ton of 3's at over a 40% clip. Hes a great passer. He is still a top rebounder in the game with loads of playoff experience.

Ingram is a 20 year old kid that is going to have to seriously adjust his game and adjust to a target being on the lakers back every night instead of playing in a no-pressure environment.

Ingram long term EASILY. Love this year, easily.

 

[DJ]

wait you just signed LeBron and your not willing to bet 1k that you win a playoff series this year?

They play in the WC, not the weak ass EC.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Thing is, Lebron's legacy is just about cemented. If he gets his ass kicked by the Warriors in the 2nd round, most sensible people won't hold that against Lebron. In Lebron's situation, I can understand playing all the way until June, just to get your ass kicked. At this point, he's probably willing to sacrifice a season or two playing until early May while the Lakers get better gradually waiting for the Warriors to finally break apart by the seams.

you think its irrelevant if he say, loses first round of the playoffs this year?

how long can you wait when you will be 34 in December?

 

[osubuckeye89]

I fully expect them to screw around and be bad.....but not bad enough. Theyll end up with like the 6th or 7th pick instead of top 3. NBA is one of those leagues you gotta be really really bad to get good in (unfortunately), especially if youre in a place not alluring to big time FAs