2018 NBA offseason

[Wamu]

yah thats why i said hes not making it to the Finals. No one should expect it out of them. With no George, and so far no Kawhi, they are highly unlikely to even make the Conference Finals, and as i said, will be hard pressed in the first round.

If I were to rank the Lakers players right now I would go:

1. LeBron

then their is a chasm the size of the grand canyon.

2. Ingram
3. Caldwell-Pope
4. Ball
5. Kuzma

the Lakers have very very little 3pt shooting. Defensively they are decent. Its highly doubtful Randle is back since that would require a multi year deal and would eat into cap space for a high level all star.

If the Lakers do not get Kawhi- which is still on the table- but if they dont- i am not sure who i would pick to win a series against the Pelicans, Thunder, Twolves--- let alone the Rockets and Warriors.

It will make me feel better seeing LeBron lose the earliest he has lost in a long long long long time.

I stopped reading after you said nobody expects them to make the Finals. Well no shit! You're the only 1 saying this. Please don't tell me this is your lame attempt to put unrealistic expectations on LeBron/the Lakers so you can say next year the season's a failure.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Unless you are basing your rankings on potential, switch 4 and 5.

Kuzma is currently better than Ball.

plus dude.....its nota good thing when you are 20 years old and getting PRP injections on your knee. Kobe was getting that shit at 33 after half a lifetime of pounding on your knees.

If you are having knee problems at 19-20 years old- years and years of putting pressure on that knee by jumping and cutting etc. are certainly not going to make it better.

 

[WiggyRuss]

I stopped reading after you said nobody expects them to make the Finals. Well no shit! You're the only 1 saying this. Please don't tell me this is your lame attempt to put unrealistic expectations on LeBron/the Lakers so you can say next year the season's a failure.

I am the only one saying i dont expect them to get to the Finals?

id think everyone would be saying that

 

[Iggloo]

Happy the Sixers re-signed JJ Reddick. They needed his shooting.

 

[Black Adam]

Don't worry CL. It will be as bad as you expect it to be for the next 4 years. It's gotta hurt just a little bit to have LeHollywood in LA-LA Land for you.

Unfortunately I believe you...

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

plus dude.....its nota good thing when you are 20 years old and getting PRP injections on your knee. Kobe was getting that shit at 33 after half a lifetime of pounding on your knees.

If you are having knee problems at 19-20 years old- years and years of putting pressure on that knee by jumping and cutting etc. are certainly not going to make it better.

If I'm not mistaken, this is the 2nd issue with the same knee.

No matter.

If he remains on the roster, his workload becomes a hell of a lot lighter.

The ball should be in Lebron's hands most of the time.

So, he needs to work on that shot.

I know the Lakers intend you play like the Warriors and keep the ball moving.

Should be interesting to see if LeBron reverts to old habits.

 

[bksballer89]

I am the only one saying i dont expect them to get to the Finals?

id think everyone would be saying that

Lakers?

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

I am the only one saying i dont expect them to get to the Finals?

id think everyone would be saying that

I think he means you are the only one pointing it out as if it were somehow suggested by the masses.

It goes without saying that the Finals are a long shot at best.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

Lakers?

Yep

 

[WiggyRuss]

Lakers?

yah...i dont understand what he is talking about to be honest.

is anyone expecting the Lakers to make the Finals? If they got Kawhi i think theyd have a punchers chance, but without him, like i said, i think it would be very surprising to see them in the Conference Finals, and i think they will have a tough time in the first round depending on their opponent and seeidng.

 

[WiggyRuss]

I think he means you are the only one pointing it out as if it were somehow suggested by the masses.

It goes without saying that the Finals are a long shot at best.

yah i was just saying i am happy the Lakers probably wont make the Conference Finals and have practically not shot at the Finals. Is that surprising?

 

[bksballer89]

Yep

I don't see how they make the finals.

If they make the 2nd round with a roster of LBJ and no other stars, that would be a success in my book.

I think conference finals if things break right is their ceiling but I expect a 2nd round exit currently

 

[WiggyRuss]

If I'm not mistaken, this is the 2nd issue with the same knee.

No matter.

If he remains on the roster, his workload becomes a hell of a lot lighter.

The ball should be in Lebron's hands most of the time.

So, he needs to work on that shot.

I know the Lakers intend you play like the Warriors and keep the ball moving.

Should be interesting to see if LeBron reverts to old habits.

the shot is worrisome but so is the fact that he cant beat anyone off the dribble.

 

[bksballer89]

yah...i dont understand what he is talking about to be honest.

is anyone expecting the Lakers to make the Finals? If they got Kawhi i think theyd have a punchers chance, but without him, like i said, i think it would be very surprising to see them in the Conference Finals, and i think they will have a tough time in the first round depending on their opponent and seeidng.

I agree with you. Doesn't help that LBJ usually get off to slow starts in his first year with a new team as we saw in 2010 and 2014. Can't let that happen this year being in the west but it may not happen since he doesn't have to worry about playing with another star

 

[WiggyRuss]

I don't see how they make the finals.

If they make the 2nd round with a roster of LBJ and no other stars, that would be a success in my book.

I think conference finals if things break right is their ceiling but I expect a 2nd round exit currently

I agree...

if they win a playoff series against a Thunder, or Twolves or Blazers or Jazz- as the roster is currently constructed- that would be a pretty good start.

It still boggles my mind that LeBron, in one of the last years of his true prime, has gone to a roster that is ill equipped to make it past the 2nd round and will not have an easy time in the first round. It kind of blows me away.

Compare that to the Heat and Cavs where he walked into Bosh and Wade and KYrie and the ammo to get Love.

i dont think anyone can say he "stacked the deck" this time around.

 

[DJ Fieri]

I agree...

if they win a playoff series against a Thunder, or Twolves or Blazers or Jazz- as the roster is currently constructed- that would be a pretty good start.

It still boggles my mind that LeBron, in one of the last years of his true prime, has gone to a roster that is ill equipped to make it past the 2nd round and will not have an easy time in the first round. It kind of blows me away.

Compare that to the Heat and Cavs where he walked into Bosh and Wade and KYrie and the ammo to get Love.

i dont think anyone can say he "stacked the deck" this time around.

You think James is expecting to be there alone for long?

Or that they'll be very actrive next summer?

 

[WiggyRuss]

I don't see how they make the finals.

If they make the 2nd round with a roster of LBJ and no other stars, that would be a success in my book.

I think conference finals if things break right is their ceiling but I expect a 2nd round exit currently

yah if the Rockets and Warriors end up as like the #1 and #4 or something like that- and the LAkers are on the other side of the bracket, then that might give them a chance----- but also- seeing them win two playoff series against say the Thunder and Twolves or Jazz and Blazers would also be no walk in the park.

 

[DJ Fieri]

"LeBron James + promising young roster + another max slot + Magic Johnson + allure of #Lakers + all of L.A. market opportunities = it won’t be hard to figure everything else out."

-Vincent Bonsignore

One of the best Tweet's on why LBJ would want to go to the Lakers.

 

[WiggyRuss]

You think James is expecting to be there alone for long?

Or that they'll be very actrive next summer?

oh they will definitely be active next summer and likely bring in another big time player.

However, that will mean burning a year of his prime when he is going to be 34 in December.

I mean, at some point father time is unbeaten. Id say that LeBron will STILL be the best player in the league this season AND NEXT season.

after that, in 2020-2021 when he is playing the majority of the season at the age of 36 i think thats a very difficult thing to think--- not impossible though

 

[bksballer89]

It still boggles my mind that LeBron, in one of the last years of his true prime, has gone to a roster that is ill equipped to make it past the 2nd round and will not have an easy time in the first round. It kind of blows me away.

Same here but I'm pretty sure he is banking on the Lakers signing one of those stars next year who will become available. I think he's ok with being eliminated in early May this season if it means competing for the finals in the final 3 years of the contract