2018 NBA offseason

[LAD]

Why not? The Lakers are pretty much a completely different team. I just don't see how people can say the Lakers couldn't win a 7 game series against (enter team here). They lost some key players, gained the best player in the world, drafted some good shooters and invited the circus to town.

I mean heck, you could be right. But it's far too early to tell.

Because they are not currently constructed to win big in the post season. And you are correct that we don't know what will happen but we do know that a combination of several things will have to happen in order for them to win big. Such as, one or more of the top teams will have to fall off maybe due to injuries and the Lakers will have to add a difference making player by the deadline.

 

[LAD]

That Boston team they beat in the ECF is better than every team in the WC.....except for GS & Houston.

I disagree. I don't think Bos was better than OKC. I don't think they were better than Utah either. I think they might have gotten somewhat lucky & they overachieved last season though.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Wiggy thinks he's gonna be an AS.

eventually...this year? of course not.

I can tell you without a question of a doubt that if I ahd to choose between Sexton and Lonzo Mr. Glass Ball, i take SExton 10 times outta 10.

 

[bksballer89]

Put that Boston team from the playoffs in the West this year and they would struggle to even make the playoffs and wouldn't come close to being the 3rd best

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

eventually...this year? of course not.

I can tell you without a question of a doubt that if I ahd to choose between Sexton and Lonzo Mr. Glass Ball, i take SExton 10 times outta 10.

Again, bringing up Lonzo Ball. This obsession of yours is disturbing.

 

[DJ]

I disagree. I don't think Bos was better than OKC. I don't think they were better than Utah either. I think they might have gotten somewhat lucky & they overachieved last season though.

Talent wise? OKC was better but..... Donovan.

I'd take a Stevens coached team over a Donovan coached team. Especially, with the way they were playing.

 

[WiggyRuss]

This Lakers team is not beating the Warriors. Zero chance. Or the Rockets for that matter.

I would pick the Thunder and Jazz in a series right now today if they played---- but we have yet to see if they make any moves. I'd imagine that buy-out guys will want to go to LA- and while there have not been any buyout guys that have made an impact the last few postseasons- imagine a buyout guy is replacing say- JaVale McGee or say Lance Stephensen- they might be able to make an impact.

 

[DJ]

I would pick the Thunder and Jazz in a series right now today if they played---- but we have yet to see if they make any moves. I'd imagine that buy-out guys will want to go to LA- and while there have not been any buyout guys that have made an impact the last few postseasons- imagine a buyout guy is replacing say- JaVale McGee or say Lance Stephensen- they might be able to make an impact.

I'd like a shooter or C please.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Not the top 2.

But, LeBron is the best player in the NBA.

Davis was able to carry the Pelicans for one series.

LeBron could too depending on the matchup.

Holiday scored like 40- in a couple of those games or something didnt he? He was really good.

Pelicans back court is okay---- Holiday is obviously a really good player at PG. SG is a real weakness of their's though with just Etwuan Moore, DeAndre Liggins......

Solomon Hill is nothing special at SF.

The Pelicans need a wing that can put up some points- whether its at SF or SG.

Their front court is very deep and very talented- Davis of course, and Mirotic and Randle are both very solid talents as guys that are good but dont have to carry any kind of load. that might be one of the best front courts in basketball- Davis/Randle/Mirotic.

Davis is coming into his prime. He is 25 now. Durant might take LeBron's mantle as best player alive before too too long, but I do not think he iwll hold it very long.

 

[Mecca]

Why not? The Lakers are pretty much a completely different team. I just don't see how people can say the Lakers couldn't win a 7 game series against (enter team here). They lost some key players, gained the best player in the world, drafted some good shooters and invited the circus to town.

I mean heck, you could be right. But it's far too early to tell.

Because the Lakers roster is the Land of misfit toys.

You can't beat the Warriors, Rockets, Celtics as currently constructed.

I don't think you can beat the 76ers either.

But, I wouldn't bet against LeBron on a single game basis.

In a series....yeah, I'd take the 76ers, Thunder, Jazz, Denver over the Lakers Maybe even Raptors if they were in your conference.

But, you are entitled to your opinion just like the rest of us.

Outside of the Celtics, Warriors and Houston....

It's not IMPOSSIBLE.

Just improbable.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Because they are not currently constructed to win big in the post season. And you are correct that we don't know what will happen but we do know that a combination of several things will have to happen in order for them to win big. Such as, one or more of the top teams will have to fall off maybe due to injuries and the Lakers will have to add a difference making player by the deadline.

I think many of these Lakers fans do not realize this will be the first year in a decade that LeBron will not be playing with another All-Star. That is going to be an adjustment. Also, LeBron is not used to playing with so many young guys. That is going to be an adjustment as well. Also, LeBron is not used to playing on a team with so little three point shooting, that is going to be an adjustment as well.

It will definitely be a different look taht LeBron gets than he has gotten in a long long time. ITll be fascinating to see how he reacts.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Because the Lakers roster is the Land of misfit toys.

You can't be the Warriors, Rockets, Celtics as currently constructed.

I don't think you can beat the 76ers either.

But, I wouldn't bet against LeBron on a single game basis.

In a series....yeah, I'd take the 76ers, Thunder, Jazz, Denver or the Lakers May be even Raptors if they were in your conference.

the Lakers perimeter defense should be pretty solid I would think. Their interior defense is going to be atrocious though. Like you said- a matchup against say the Pelicans would be a toss up--- while the Pelicans would have to throw EXTREMELY overmatched guys like Solomon Hill or Randle or Moore at LeBron- who are the Lakers throwing at Davis? McGee? Wagner? yikes.

 

[Mecca]

That Boston team they beat in the ECF is better than every team in the WC.....except for GS & Houston.

Dude....nah

 

[Gman]

Put that Boston team from the playoffs in the West this year and they would struggle to even make the playoffs and wouldn't come close to being the 3rd best

I don't know about 3rd best, either... but they'd definitely make the playoffs... another year of maturation from Tatum, Brown, Rozier, Ojeleye.... good coaching, they'd be a tough team night in and night out.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Nuggets have put a pretty impressive team together on the sly.

That back court of Harris, Murray and IT is pretty amazing really.

Jokic/Milsap/Plumlee is one of the better front courts around as well.

On the wing they have Barton at SF--- who is a scorer but not a whole lot else. This is another team that I think is a good wing player away from being the 3rd best team in the West.

So many of these teams are just one player away.....

Right now I gotta give 3rd and 4th to Thunder and Jazz though in the West. The Jazz are just such a deep, well coached team with the star power of Mitchell and Gobert.

And of course the Thunder have RW- a top 6-7 player in the league---- and George- a top 20 guy in the league, and a helluva lot of solid role players and defenders. I think they will be a very tough matchup. Adams is really coming into his own as an impact big man. He is quick enough not to get eaten up on the switches and pick and rolls which is huge.

 

[Mecca]

I think many of these Lakers fans do not realize this will be the first year in a decade that LeBron will not be playing with another All-Star. That is going to be an adjustment. Also, LeBron is not used to playing with so many young guys. That is going to be an adjustment as well. Also, LeBron is not used to playing on a team with so little three point shooting, that is going to be an adjustment as well.

It will definitely be a different look taht LeBron gets than he has gotten in a long long time. ITll be fascinating to see how he reacts.

I mean, it took over a Season for it to click in Miami and that was with 2 other future HoFers.

Guys who had the green light last year * Kuzma, KCP * gonna have to tack a backseat and fall in line with the pecking order.

They have so many new guys that will expect rotation minutes.

It will be a process.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Dude....nah

lol....couldnt agree more.

That Boston team was well coached, didnt make mistakes and played hard. But man, offensively they were lost at times. The Cavs had some guys step up but against a real defense like a Jazz or Thunder that Boston team would have gotten eaten alive offensively.

 

[WiggyRuss]

I mean, it took over a Season for it to click in Miami and that was with 2 other future HoFers.

Guys who had the green light last year * Kuzma, KCP * gonna have to tack a backseat and fall in line with the pecking order.

They have so many new guys that will expect rotation minutes.

It will be a process.

when you have that many guys on 1 year contracts expecting minutes, and a ton of young players that need minutes you are going to have some issues.

Guys on 1 year contracts that need minutes and need to put up stats to get paid next year arent gonna just sit back and let Josh Hart work through his growing pains. lol.......

I mean- its just human nature- imagine your are Stephensen, on a 1 year deal, the Lakers make it pretty much known in the media that you are there as a stop gap and that they are going big game hunting next summer and you are not part of their long term plans....you really think Lance Stephensen is gonna go be Mr. Team Player?

 

[Gman]

lol....couldnt agree more.

That Boston team was well coached, didnt make mistakes and played hard. But man, offensively they were lost at times. The Cavs had some guys step up but against a real defense like a Jazz or Thunder that Boston team would have gotten eaten alive offensively.

Not saying offense wasn't the weak point because it was... especially when it came to consistency... but that said, Philly had a good defense and Boston didn't get "eaten alive" by them.

 

[Mecca]

Nobody is beating the Warriors.

Rockets aren't untouchable. They matched up quite well with them last season, even beating them in Houston with a couple of key players out. Not to mention they got weaker defensively this offseason. So why not?

Because you won't keep pace offensively.

They are significantly better than the Lakers offensively.

But, yeah....

They will take a step back on defense.

Just not enough for the Lakers to catch them this year.