2018-2019 NBA Regular Season Thread

[Mecca]

yah...LeBron is clearly suffering defensively more than anywhere else and that is just the continuance of a downward trend.

Kuzma is a bad defensive player and Ingram is not a good defensive player.

if they ar going to clean up their defense next year -just like you said- they need Ball to stay healthy and they need a big man who can be a big time defensive rebounder and guard the rim efficiently.

Davis could solve that problem.

But, will they get him?

If the Knicks get a top 2 pick, the Lakers are in trouble.

Once it becomes mathematically impossible for them to get in the playoffs, I'd sit anyone who has a broken toenail or worse to get a better pick.

In all honesty, I would love to see the LAkers get the #1 pick just so I can see the internet implode....lol

It would be ANARCHY.

 

[trojanfan12]

That Pacers game told me everything I needed to know about what the AD trade did to those guys.

You lose 136-94 to that team without Oladipo? Yeah something was very wrong with that group

Agree 100%. Losing Lebron killed the momentum they had, but that was recoverable.

The AD debacle killed the chemistry they had managed to build. That has proven to not be recoverable.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

well no doubt.....but it's not getting what you pay for when you could get more for far less.

So 20 acres of farm land in Iowa is better then 1 acre of land on the Florida intercoastal?

Maybe if you are a farmer. If not it's a no brainer for most.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

Agree 100%. Losing Lebron killed the momentum they had, but that was recoverable.

The AD debacle killed the chemistry they had managed to build. That has proven to not be recoverable.

Beasley trade was the downfall/end.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

That Pacers game told me everything I needed to know about what the AD trade did to those guys.

You lose 136-94 to that team without Oladipo? Yeah something was very wrong with that group

Then they won at Boston very next game.

 

[dtgold88]

Yeah which is why I blame the AD situation more.

Are they really losing to the Hawks, Pelicans (without AD), Memphis, and Phoenix if those rumors are never started? I doubt it. Maybe they drop one of those games but not all 4

Very possible, but pretty weak minded if you are right.

 

[Mecca]

Right now, they are 5th in the East. If they were playing a Western Conference schedule, they'd likely be lower than 6th.



He's been back, but he's also clearly not 100% and he came back as they hit the hardest part of their schedule.

And again, most teams haven't been missing the 1 guy who could have kept their heads above water. I think we all knew that the 1 guy the Lakers couldn't lose for any significant time was Lebron.

Some teams don't even have one guy that they couldn't lose to begin with.

LeBron at 70 percent is better than anyone on the Clippers, Spurs, Jazz, Kings rosters.

I won't even bring up the Pacers because they are in the East.

Even without LeBron, the Lakers record should not be this bad.

So, either the rest of your roster isn't as good as some thought or your team quit.

I say it's both.

 

[trojanfan12]

especially when no one on earth could have expected LeBron to play all 82 games again anyway.

I don't think anyone expected Lebron to play 82 games. Personally, I was hoping for 70-75.

What no one expected was that he would miss 18 games in a 19 game stretch.

Lonzo does look like he may be injury prone. Missing as many games as he has in his first 2 seasons will do that. He's young and hopefully it's been a combination of some fluke stuff and the Lakers being overly cautious bringing him back.

Seems like Kyrie missed a lot of games over his first couple of seasons before having a few relatively healthy ones. Hopefully, Lonzo will be able to do the same.

 

[dtgold88]

Right now, they are 5th in the East. If they were playing a Western Conference schedule, they'd likely be lower than 6th.



He's been back, but he's also clearly not 100% and he came back as they hit the hardest part of their schedule.

And again, most teams haven't been missing the 1 guy who could have kept their heads above water. I think we all knew that the 1 guy the Lakers couldn't lose for any significant time was Lebron.

Guess it's possible they'd be lower, but I think they could stay ahead of SA and the LACs.

As for your second comment, sure, but they aren't missing him anymore.

 

[bksballer89]

Very possible, but pretty weak minded if you are right.

I am right

 

[Mecca]

He's still getting his numbers because he's a great player who is also smart and knows how to play.

But offense, especially in the first 3 quarters is the easy part. The problem is that he's not in shape and can't close games, he also doesn't have the same explosiveness as he did before the injury.

As for defense, he has mostly rested on defense for years, but has always been able to turn it up a bit late in the season and in the playoffs. Since he came back, he hasn't been able to. Partially because he's out of shape and partially because defense is a reactionary position and he doesn't trust his groin yet when a guy makes a quick move that he has to try to match.

I can agree with this.

AGAIN: LeBron, Ingram and Kuz have not been the problem.

It's the rest of the roster.

Mcgee checked out when you brought in Tyson.

Lance checked out when his minutes decreased because of dumb fuckery.

KCP has been hot, and mostly cold, for 2 years.

Rondo......

Some games he looks like the answer.

Other games?

He looks like he forgot the question.

 

[Mecca]

Agree 100%. Losing Lebron killed the momentum they had, but that was recoverable.

The AD debacle killed the chemistry they had managed to build. That has proven to not be recoverable.

Okay...

So, what the fuck are we arguing about?.....lol

This was my original point.

 

[dtgold88]

So 20 acres of farm land in Iowa is better then 1 acre of land on the Florida intercoastal?

Maybe if you are a farmer. If not it's a no brainer for most.

No, but guessing here) getting a 4000-5000 square foot home in a nice suburb in Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh, etc might be nicer than a 1200 square foot home in a not as nice area in LA

 

[dtgold88]

I am right

did they forget this when they went to play in Boston?

 

[trojanfan12]

I was referring to the Celtics last year.

Obviously, the injuries played a role.

But, @shopson67 can't have it both ways.

He says the team didn't quit.

Then that must mean the young guys and castoffs aren't as good as advertised.

It has to be one or the other and at times it was BOTH.

Quit can be a relative term, imo. I don't think the kids have quit as far as effort. I think it's been more the vets than the kids.

But, I do think the kids no longer trust Lebron because of the AD debacle. So they are definitely not playing as a team, at least not with him.

I think some of the vets have checked out and are playing for themselves. Which is probably to be expected from guys on 1 year deals when the season goes sideways.

But the kids? Ingram has been playing at an all star level since the break. Kuzma has fallen off a little, but not too bad, Hart hasn't been healthy all season and Lonzo is out.

 

[Mecca]

No, but guessing here) getting a 4000-5000 square foot home in a nice suburb in Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh, etc might be nicer than a 1200 square foot home in a not as nice area in LA

Eh......

Depends on the person.

When I was younger, the 1200 square foot home in LA would suit my lifestyle better.

Now that I'm older, with school age kids, Arizona and the bigger house is the better choice.

 

[dtgold88]

Quit can be a relative term, imo. I don't think the kids haven't quit as far as effort. I think it's been more the vets than the kids.

But, I do think the kids no longer trust Lebron because of the AD debacle. So they are definitely not playing as a team, at least not with him.

I think some of the vets have checked out and are playing for themselves which is probably to be expected from guys on 1 year deals when the season goes sideways.

But the kids? Ingram has been playing at an all star level since the break. Kuzma has fallen off a little, but not too bad, Hart hasn't been healthy all season and Lonzo is out.

I think this could all be true. My guess is they were probably excited when they heard Lebron was coming. Then they were around the drama and weren't so thrilled anymore.

 

[Stakesarehigh]

Lakers should still be able to beat the freaking Suns with Lebron not at 100% and Ball missing.

While we're on the topic of constant lotto the Sun's should be a heck of a lot better

 

[Mecca]

Quit can be a relative term, imo. I don't think the kids haven't quit as far as effort. I think it's been more the vets than the kids.

But, I do think the kids no longer trust Lebron because of the AD debacle. So they are definitely not playing as a team, at least not with him.

I think some of the vets have checked out and are playing for themselves. Which is probably to be expected from guys on 1 year deals when the season goes sideways.

But the kids? Ingram has been playing at an all star level since the break. Kuzma has fallen off a little, but not too bad, Hart hasn't been healthy all season and Lonzo is out.

No.

Maybe I'm not expressing my position clearly...

The kids haven't quit.

The 1 year, castoffs did.

But, I am saying the youngsters haven't lived up to the hype, collectively.

Ingram has lately.

Kuz has the whole year...imo

But, you have enough talent, on paper, to be better than the Kings and Clippers.

But, as a group, they aren't.

 

[dtgold88]

Eh......

Depends on the person.

When I was younger, the 1200 square foot home in LA would suit my lifestyle better.

Now that I'm older, with school age kids, Arizona and the bigger house is the better choice.

No doubt depends on the person/lifestyle.

People who live behind us now were from here but moved to Chicago and had kids there. Just could not see raising kids where they were in Chicago compared to what they had for a lot less in Cleveland.

Is it NY or Chicago here? Nope. And of course cannot compare to weather in LA, FL or AZ. Not even close when it comes to the actual city. But I would bet most who haven't been here would be surprised when they saw the nicer suburbs (but still the weather issue).