LeBron out of the playoffs for just the second time since 2005… Let’s celebrate!

[DJ]

Seems like the last time he had a healthy roster, the Lakers won a title...and that roster was considered an older roster.

In fact, in the bubble, when other older rosters were faltering and people were saying it was harder on older players because they missed their families, Vogel's older players held it together.

This roster is older than that one was, so even healthy, it's unlikely they were going to defend like that roster did. But I'd bet they'd have been better than what we saw.

The big 3 were 11-10 together. If they played just another 15-18 games together.....they would have made the playoffs IMO.

 

[trojanfan12]

While not all his fault, still very possible he's fired as early as Monday.

Wouldn't surprise me and lazy fans will have their pound of flesh even though it was taken from the wrong person.

 

[trojanfan12]

Didn't help that he's defensive minded, but his new roster was not. One of the few guys that might've provided some defense sat out the whole season.

Exactly. Even healthy, this roster was never going to be that good defensively. The floor is too spread out these days for players getting into their mid-late 30's to be able to defend effectively for any length of time. That's why see a lot of games where they would fall apart defensively in the 2nd half.

 

[trojanfan12]

The big 3 were 11-10 together. If they played just another 15-18 games together.....they would have made the playoffs IMO.

Yeah, I doubt they'd have won a title or even gotten out of the West, but they'd have been solidly in the playoffs.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Wiggy is a prime example of how most fans are just lazy. Vogel didn't put the roster together and he didn't cause any of the games missed by players who were injured. He also isn't the reason this team was too old to be able to defend effectively.

He was just handed an old, injured roster and left to try to somehow make it work.

But lazy people always default to "fire the coach".

my point was Vogel was originally suppose to be an assistant on the Lakers staff behind Lue.

the Lakers ownership/management bungled the situation. While Vogel is not a bad coach- no one in the NBA would compare him favorably to Lue- who is considered one of the best in the NBA.

You could have had one of the best coaches in the NBA- and instead settled for a mediocre coach because of incompetence- and it has come back to bite you.

if you are okay with mediocre- and a coach that can run the ship but cant elevate- Vogel is fine. Lakers had a chance at more than that- and bungled it.

 

[Heatles84]

Laughingly untrue. Lebron has the strongest business portfolio in sports. The article is a year old, so he's most likely in an even better position now.

LeBron James: The Superstar's Business Portfolio

In this post, we're going to look at Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James business portfolio. Using intel, data, reporting and...

clutchpoints.com

I'm not a fan of Lebron, but to say he's a business hack is one of the most absurd statements on this board.

One of the things I've given up to Lebron is his ability to look out his friends and put them in a position to succeed. Look at Maverick Carter as well as Rich Paul. Lebron's established an empire and his businesses alone have set up his family for generations.

 

[trojanfan12]

I'm not a fan of Lebron, but to say he's a business hack is one of the most absurd statements on this board.

One of the things I've given up to Lebron is his ability to look out his friends and put them in a position to succeed. Look at Maverick Carter as well as Rich Paul. Lebron's established an empire and his businesses alone have set up his family for generations.

Not sure how accurate it is, but Cowherd has said that since Lebron joined the Lakers, his net worth has gone from something like $400 million to over $800 million.

Seems like he's doing something right. For all we know, it might be because of nothing more than hiring/trusting the right people...but considering where he came from and how many guys don't get that part right...it's still a pretty big accomplishment, imo.

 

[Montalban]

James tried to buy a championship and he failed miserably

 

[Montalban]

Not sure how accurate it is, but Cowherd has said that since Lebron joined the Lakers, his net worth has gone from something like $400 million to over $800 million.

Seems like he's doing something right. For all we know, it might be because of nothing more than hiring/trusting the right people...but considering where he came from and how many guys don't get that part right...it's still a pretty big accomplishment, imo.

The one thing he still has trouble buying though is an NBA championship

 

[HurricaneDij39]

We obviously have different definitions of "business hack".

Let me simply it... LeBron is a businessman first and a basketball player second. This one is obvious.

 

[HurricaneDij39]

You seem angry. Want to talk about it?

I still can't believe that after all these years you're surprised that people could hate on Draymond.

 

[shopson67]

The one thing he still has trouble buying though is an NBA championship

Explain how Lebron and the Lakers have tried to "buy" anything. Their free agency buys have been limited to minimum deals and exceptions just like any other capped out team, and the team has actually erred on the side of being cheap in not hiring Lue and not re-signing Caruso.

You'll need to be more creative to explain away your hatred of Lebron.

 

[Montalban]

Explain how Lebron and the Lakers have tried to "buy" anything. Their free agency buys have been limited to minimum deals and exceptions just like any other capped out team, and the team has actually erred on the side of being cheap in not hiring Lue and not re-signing Caruso.

You'll need to be more creative to explain away your hatred of Lebron.

Bullshit. Russel Westbrook and The Unibrow are two of the highest paid players in the NBA and James forced the team to wreck itself to buy these players.

 

[shopson67]

Bullshit. Russel Westbrook and The Unibrow are two of the highest paid players in the NBA and James forced the team to wreck itself to buy these players.

Trade for, not buy. Salary traded for salary. Lakers have been interested in AD for far longer than Lebron has been in LA.

 

[Montalban]

Trade for, not buy. Salary traded for salary. Lakers have been interested in AD for far longer than Lebron has been in LA.

Nope. They bought those players and had to clear cap money by getting rid of their future. They paid them the money to get them there. James tried to buy a championship

 

[shopson67]

Nope. They bought those players and had to clear cap money by getting rid of their future. They paid them the money to get them there. James tried to buy a championship

Keep banging your head into that wall if helps you feel better, but you're dead wrong.

Oh yeah, and Lebron does have a title with the Lakers, BTW. One of those years that an injury put the Warriors into the deep lottery the past few years.

 

[Montalban]

Keep banging your head into that wall if helps you feel better, but you're dead wrong.

Oh yeah, and Lebron does have a title with the Lakers, BTW. One of those years that an injury put the Warriors into the deep lottery the past few years.

That title in the COVID bubble doesn't count. It should have an asterisk. Its phoney

 

[Black Adam]

That title in the COVID bubble doesn't count. It should have an asterisk. Its phoney

Keep on hating it, Monty...

 

[Montalban]

Keep on hating it, Monty...

Doesn't everyone? They didn't even play enough games to have a season. If they did, broken ass AD and probably James would have got hurt again.

 

[Black Adam]

Doesn't everyone? They didn't even play enough games to have a season. If they did, broken ass AD and probably James would have got hurt again.

Coulda, woulda, shoulda...

17 titles, bud...