Series Thread: 2023 Western Conference Finals: 1) Nuggets vs 7) Lakers (Bubble Rematch)

[shopson67]

This stat was shocking to me.

Once they took him off Jokic, he was basically roaming. Not sure how that gets measured for ratings purposes.

 

[msgkings322]

Twist what I said to fit your argument. I merely said counting on Lebron to decline before he shows any real sign of it is premature. His age indicates it should happen, but then again that indicator has been flashing for a few seasons now. The team doesn't need him to play like that consistently, and even when he does (like last night), it has the undesired effect of freezing out the other players to some degree.

They lost 4 closely contested games. It's not like they gave up before game 3 like the Celtics.

Are you going to claim that anyone else in the West is ready to take it to the Nuggets? Are you claiming the West is a single contender conference?

No like I said, you convinced me. Lakers are coming for that title next year. This playoffs showed how close they are.

 

[Mecca]

Thought they wanted Harden?

Maybe they do.

Gotta think Austin would be like…….3 rd or 4th choice if they whiff on other targets.

But, I would sign Reaves over Brooks.

Reaves knows his role.

Brooks is outta his goddamn skull.

 

[Mecca]

The only way to get Trae is if he has become a negative asset and the Hawks are willing to take a weak offer.

Even then…

Many teams can outbid you with picks.

 

[DJ]

Even then…

Many teams can outbid you with picks.

This.

 

[shopson67]

Even then…

Many teams can outbid you with picks.

Absolutely. The rumor has been out there for a while now, but I don't see (or want) it happening.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Maybe they do.

Gotta think Austin would be like…….3 rd or 4th choice if they whiff on other targets.

But, I would sign Reaves over Brooks.

Reaves knows his role.

Brooks is outta his goddamn skull.

aahhh im taking a break.


It is interesting how good Reaves has been will throw a wrench into the Lakers offseason to a certain extent isnt it?

I think he is restricted ...if I am not mistaken.....

I think another team could make a pretty substantial offer for him.

What do you think Reaves contract looks like? Right now a solid NBA player is making at least 15M a year.....I think Reaves will get between 15- and 20 per year.

 

[Mecca]

This.

It’s because of the length of his contract.

The Guy has no leverage to get a say in where he goes.

Being a Klutch client doesn’t remove that obstacle and you can’t expect a team to eat a trash contract that hard cap’s them, in a DLo sign and trade, and take back shit picks.

It would be a different story if you had the Thunder/Jazz/Knicks war chest of picks.

 

[Mecca]

aahhh im taking a break.


It is interesting how good Reaves has been will throw a wrench into the Lakers offseason to a certain extent isnt it?

I think he is restricted ...if I am not mistaken.....

I think another team could make a pretty substantial offer for him.

What do you think Reaves contract looks like? Right now a solid NBA player is making at least 15M a year.....I think Reaves will get between 15- and 20 per year.

He’s going to get Kevin Porter Jr money….imo

4/80 and the Lakers will have to match.

The problem will be if the Rockets just decide to fuck them over and go 4/100.

Yes, Lakers can match.

But, it will be Tyler Johnson 2.0.

Good, not great, find that has a disgracefully backloaded contract the last 2 years.

Good luck off loading that shit, unless he goes all Jalen Brunson.

 

[WiggyRuss]

It's just funny how everyone is eager to write him off as done, then he goes out and drops a 40 pt triple double. He'll decline, but he shows no signs of a sharp decline.

Lakers aren't looking for big additions (or shouldn't be), they just need more or better role player additions.

Yes, I do consider the team that was just in the WCF to be contenders for next year. Do you not? Are you also writing the Celtics off?

hmmmmmm......

I think a large part of them making the WCF is the rest of the West kinda sucks anda lot of teams had injuries and the Lakers were healthy in the playoffs.

I mean- I guess its like a 20% chance the Clips are ever healthy- so maybe we wont talk about them....

but the Suns had Durants issue that was pretty singificant and I am sure he was not fully there- and not fully integrated into the team after being traded and not playing much with them.

Who knows with Golden State who squandered the chance to keep their dynasty alive by not adding much, if any value with 2 top 5 picks....Is Draymond gone? What moves do they make to upgrade if any? they are pretty capped out.

Grizz with a healthy Ja, and JJJ progressing, and assets are going to get better.

Pelicans if Zion is ever healthy are interesting


I mean the West is just a mess- the Nuggets are the only complete team with guys in their primes - really the only stable team in the West.


The Clips, Suns, Lakers, Grizz, Pelicans, Warriors, Kings all could go either way. None of those teams are much better than any of the others.

 

[tlance]

Well, the intel was good.

So if DJ is drinking the Kool Aid, he is wise to do so.

 

[WiggyRuss]

He’s going to get Kevin Porter Jr money….imo

4/80 and the Lakers will have to match.

The problem will be if the Rockets just decide to fuck them over and go 4/100.

Yes, Lakers can match.

But, it will be Tyler Johnson 2.0.

Good, not great, find that has a disgracefully backloaded contract the last 2 years.

Good luck off loading that shit, unless he goes all Jalen Brunson.

and the Lakers fans will revolt if they let him leave too....

They might be stuck with DLo because of how Reeves played.

The cap room is gonzo.

it comes down to- do you let Russell walk for nothing or- sign him toa deal you dont want to sign him too- pay a bunch of tax- because its not like youll have cap space anyway if he walks.

We will get to see just how much $ the other siblings let Jeanie spend this offseason.

 

[tlance]

Nah but I’m ready to call him one of the best players in the world despite only being a one way guy. His one way is next level.

Definitely progress.

Also though, you don’t give him enough credit defensively.

He doesn’t move his feet well enough to ever be a plus defender.

But he is smart, has great hands and always in position.

He does his job defensively.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Even then…

Many teams can outbid you with picks.

no way on Trae....you gotta be kidding me...lol.....

I am not even sure if the Lakers have sign and trades available anyway since they are over the cap....the rules are really funky now on what you can and cannot do when you are over the cap....id have to do some serious analysis to concretely know the rule on sign and trades and cap implications right now as they stand.

 

[Mecca]

It's just funny how everyone is eager to write him off as done, then he goes out and drops a 40 pt triple double. He'll decline, but he shows no signs of a sharp decline.

Lakers aren't looking for big additions (or shouldn't be), they just need more or better role player additions.

Yes, I do consider the team that was just in the WCF to be contenders for next year. Do you not? Are you also writing the Celtics off?

I expect the Nugz, Grizz, Suns, Kings to be better than the Lakers if you return close to the same roster.

Yes, they beat the Griz.

Lets not forget the Griz we’re missing 2 starters.

I am still holding out hope the Clippers blow it up and I don’t know what to expect out of the Dubs.

So, if you consider top 5 a contender, sure.

 

[trojanfan12]

We all know that Lebron doesn't just say stuff, so there is some reason behind what he said last night.

I think there are a few things going on.

For one, he is 38 years old, he has missed more games due to injury over the past 3 or so years than in the previous 16 or 17 seasons combined, is looking at his first surgery and for the 1st time in his career, when he needed his body to respond in the 4th quarter...it didn't.

So, for the first time. retirement is probably something he's considering, although I doubt it's what he'll do.

I don't know if he wants any specific player(s). But I do think he wants to know that he has enough around him that he doesn't have to play heavy regular season minutes just to make the playoffs.

 

[tlance]

He's gotta be frustrated. For the WCF he averaged 27.8/9.5/10.0 on 51.9 % shooting.

AD averaged 26.8/14.0/2.8 blks/1.4 stls on 49.3% shooting and they still got swept.

Yeah, people saying AD was part of the problem.

I disagree.

He didn’t have great offensive games every time, but he did his job overall.

Needed more from the role players not named Reaves and needed more from Ham.

Just a bad idea to pair an inexperienced coach with a team that has championship aspirations. Especially a vet team like this one.

Not saying Ham should get fired, I don’t believe that.

But I think he was drastically outcoached by Mike Malone. And LeBron bears some of the weight of that dynamic too.

 

[WiggyRuss]

I expect the Nugz, Grizz, Suns, Kings to be better than the Lakers if you return close to the same roster.

Yes, they beat the Griz.

Lets not forget the Griz we’re missing 2 starters.

I am still holding out hope the Clippers blow it up and I don’t know what to expect out of the Dubs.

So, if you consider top 5 a contender, sure.

Clips wont blow it up- no incentive--- they owe like all their picks right?

I think they run it back one more year- I dont seee another option- what is the other option?

Lakers, Suns, Griz, Warriors, Kings, Pelicans, Clips---- depending on health and what each team ate for breakfast- any of those teams could beat the others in a series.

 

[Mecca]

and the Lakers fans will revolt if they let him leave too....

They might be stuck with DLo because of how Reeves played.

The cap room is gonzo.

it comes down to- do you let Russell walk for nothing or- sign him toa deal you dont want to sign him too- pay a bunch of tax- because its not like youll have cap space anyway if he walks.

We will get to see just how much $ the other siblings let Jeanie spend this offseason.

Yeah, they are pretty much fucked here.

They have to preserve D’Lo salary slot and pray some sucker will eat his deal for a draft pick later on.

 

[WiggyRuss]

We all know that Lebron doesn't just say stuff, so there is some reason behind what he said last night.

I think there are a few things going on.

For one, he is 38 years old, he has missed more games due to injury over the past 3 or so years than in the previous 16 or 17 seasons combined, is looking at his first surgery and for the 1st time in his career, when he needed his body to respond in the 4th quarter...it didn't.

So, for the first time. retirement is probably something he's considering, although I doubt it's what he'll do.

I don't know if he wants any specific player(s). But I do think he wants to know that he has enough around him that he doesn't have to play heavy regular season minutes just to make the playoffs.

he might want out too. Who knows. I think AD really disapointed him and he doesnt want to have everything on his shoulders. AD was healthy and still is not anything close to the guy everyone thought he would be when the Lakers dealt for him.

He went from being considered maybe the #1 asset in the league and a sure-fire top 5 future star to a guy that just doesn't look dependable to be a guy that carries the load.