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

[trojanfan12]

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.

I think the AD stuff is overblown to an extent.

He was up and down offensively, but he played consistently good defense and rebounded well.

Some of the problem was on him because he needs to be more assertive and demand the ball.

But some is also on his teammates who need to make a more concerted effort to get him the ball.

The Shaq/Kobe Lakers used to like to get Shaq rolling early because it got him involved for the whole game and made things easier for everyone else. The Lakers should take the same approach with AD next season, imo.

These were all close games and you can make a case that this series should be 2-2 or even 3-1 Lakers.

One of the things that made a difference was how late the Lakers roster was put together.

Late in games the Nuggets played as a unit while the Lakers played like 5 guys all trying to make a play themselves.

 

[Mecca]

tell that to the Chokaliers

Young rosters take time.

Baby steps.

 

[Shanemansj13]

He's not going to do it for free. Best of luck fitting a salary he's willing to take. He's already deflated the "gotta play on the same team with Bronny" story.

Besides, I heard that at his current rate of decline, he'll need a walker in 2 years.

He will in two years. He's already mentioned it. I'm not saying he would take the minimum he would take the MLE. If it meant playing with his son...absolutely

 

[DJ]

tell that to the Chokaliers

LOL.

 

[WiggyRuss]

I absolutely can. How many billionaires do you know that do their thing for less than market value?

How many superstars take significantly less at the end of their careers? What is Chris Paul making these days?

Dirk, Duncan, Kobe, Ginobli, Pierce, Allen, - many more

he is not taking the minimum- but i dont think he is after the maximum either at that point is what I would suspect.

 

[Sir Robin Of Camelot]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[trojanfan12]

tell that to the Chokaliers

Meh, they didn't choke. They got to the playoffs and came up young.

If memory serves, most thought they were a play in level/6th seed type team.

But they overachieved and ended up going into the playoffs with expectations they didn't have the experience to handle.

 

[WiggyRuss]

I think the AD stuff is overblown to an extent.

He was up and down offensively, but he played consistently good defense and rebounded well.

Some of the problem was on him because he needs to be more assertive and demand the ball.

But some is also on his teammates who need to make a more concerted effort to get him the ball.

The Shaq/Kobe Lakers used to like to get Shaq rolling early because it got him involved for the whole game and made things easier for everyone else. The Lakers should take the same approach with AD next season, imo.

These were all close games and you can make a case that this series should be 2-2 or even 3-1 Lakers.

One of the things that made a difference was how late the Lakers roster was put together.

Late in games the Nuggets played as a unit while the Lakers played like 5 guys all trying to make a play themselves.

AD is not close to Shaq.

If AD had to be the guy- and had Booker with him instead of LeBron- he would see more attention and need even more help.

I think Davis played really well, and even great at times- but he is not the guy that everyone thought he would be, or needs to be, to lead a franchise.

 

[DJ]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Mavs did not even make the play-in.

LOL.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Meh, they didn't choke. They got to the playoffs and came up young.

If memory serves, most thought they were a play in level/6th seed type team.

But they overachieved and ended up going into the playoffs with expectations they didn't have the experience to handle.

yah maybe playing like bitches isnt exactly choking. i dont know

the players were not ready

and the coach was not ready


they did need to fix some things- either Mobley needs to develop a solid outside shot- or Dean Wade needs to actually look like the guy they thought they were geteting when they signed him- instead of the abomination he was after his injury- or they need to sign a big man that can shoot.

the Knicks just packed the paint

Allen, Mobley and Okoro were no threat from 3....cant have 3 guys that are not a threat from on the floor- even if the other 2 are mitchell and garland. its just not gonna work.

no adjustments

too bad the Cavs did not have a crafty vet power forward that can shoot the 3, could rebound, move the ball, and use his extensive playoff experience to settle the team down when things got tough.

idiots.

 

[Wamu]

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.

Anyone saying AD was part of the problem didn't watch the series. Without him every game would have probably been a blowout.

AD put up damn good numbers & Jokic still averaged a trip-dub. 27.8/14.5/11.8 on 50.6 FG% and 47.1% from downtown.

Father time is right behind LeBron and he can't be playing 40++ minutes each game. He was gassed by the 4th quarter. But he made alotta mistakes in the series. Some uncharacteristic TO's at bad times.

I don't think Ham should be fired. The Nuggets were the better team.

 

[trojanfan12]

AD is not close to Shaq.

If AD had to be the guy- and had Booker with him instead of LeBron- he would see more attention and need even more help.

I think Davis played really well, and even great at times- but he is not the guy that everyone thought he would be, or needs to be, to lead a franchise.

Not saying he's Shaq. Just saying that, like Shaq, the Lakers need to feed him the ball early because it gets him involved and keeps him involved for the entire game.

He's not a #1, he doesn't have the personality for it. But he doesn't have to be a #1 for the Lakers to look to get him going early in games. Opponents having to contend with AD makes things easier for everyone else.

 

[dtgold88]

Meh, they didn't choke. They got to the playoffs and came up young.

If memory serves, most thought they were a play in level/6th seed type team.

But they overachieved and ended up going into the playoffs with expectations they didn't have the experience to handle.

I figured playoffs and maybe win a round was a reasonable goal. True was disappointing to go down 4-1 as the 4 seed. Just need to do what they've done every year with this coach/FO combo and get better next season.

 

[dtgold88]

yah maybe playing like bitches isnt exactly choking. i dont know

the players were not ready

and the coach was not ready


they did need to fix some things- either Mobley needs to develop a solid outside shot- or Dean Wade needs to actually look like the guy they thought they were geteting when they signed him- instead of the abomination he was after his injury- or they need to sign a big man that can shoot.

the Knicks just packed the paint

Allen, Mobley and Okoro were no threat from 3....cant have 3 guys that are not a threat from on the floor- even if the other 2 are mitchell and garland. its just not gonna work.

no adjustments

too bad the Cavs did not have a crafty vet power forward that can shoot the 3, could rebound, move the ball, and use his extensive playoff experience to settle the team down when things got tough.

idiots.

Agree with the first parts of this. Need a shooter and a solid backup big (if he can shoot even better). Guys like Korver and Frye would be perfect.

Seriously about Love? Miami has Bam and little else when it comes to size. They badly needed a guy like Love. He was unplayable here when he was benched and the team was winning without him. What would have been ideal is Love saying he wants to be here with his teammates and he'll be ready when called on. But he wanted to play and was miserable. No team wants a miserable Love around so when he asked to be let go they did him a solid.

 

[trojanfan12]

I figured playoffs and maybe win a round was a reasonable goal. True was disappointing to go down 4-1 as the 4 seed. Just need to do what they've done every year with this coach/FO combo and get better next season.

Yep. In an odd way, losing like that could actually end up being a good thing.

It's easy to hide deficiencies in a random regular season game.

It's much harder to do in a 7 game series against a coach like Thibs.

The Knicks exposed the Cavs deficiencies...now it's up to them to address them.

 

[dtgold88]

Yep. In an odd way, losing like that could actually end up being a good thing.

It's easier to hide deficiencies in a random regular season game.

It's much harder to do in a 7 game series against a coach like Thibs.

The Knicks exposed the Cavs deficiencies...now it's up to them to address them.

Very true.....though I don't think it's as bad as some are making it out. If Mitchell plays as expected they have a good chance to win that series. I also don't see Mobley as the soft player some said in the series. Led both teams in rebounds and played his usual elite D. Can agree needs to be more aggressive on offense. Allen I just don't know what to make of his performance. No doubt he had 2-3 really bad games but in some he just didn't look like himself. Was often just lazy which isn't something I'd expect from him.

Give the Cavs Hart and Hartenstein for that series and likely the outcome is reversed.....now we need to go get guys like that. a shooter and a backup big.

 

[WiggyRuss]

I figured playoffs and maybe win a round was a reasonable goal. True was disappointing to go down 4-1 as the 4 seed. Just need to do what they've done every year with this coach/FO combo and get better next season.

if they lost 4-1 and just did not look soft Iwouldnt care as much

The problem they need to address is that they cant have all of the 3, 4 and 5 not be able to shoot a 3.....thats a problem in todays game. The other team can just pack the paint.

that is not a terrible problem to have- there are way worse. They are still in great shape with a great core and now have some experience and maybe a little chip on their shoulder.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Meh, they didn't choke. They got to the playoffs and came up young.

If memory serves, most thought they were a play in level/6th seed type team.

But they overachieved and ended up going into the playoffs with expectations they didn't have the experience to handle.

No depth with a young team and coach can definitely cause problems in the playoffs as well

 

[Mecca]

Anyone saying AD was part of the problem didn't watch the series. Without him every game would have probably been a blowout.

AD put up damn good numbers & Jokic still averaged a trip-dub. 27.8/14.5/11.8 on 50.6 FG% and 47.1% from downtown.

Father time is right behind LeBron and he can't be playing 40++ minutes each game. He was gassed by the 4th quarter. But he made alotta mistakes in the series. Some uncharacteristic TO's at bad times.

I don't think Ham should be fired. The Nuggets were the better team.

He got outplayed by Aaron Gordon in a close out game that Lebron put up 30 in the first half.

Shit, he was outhustled by Tristan “ baby factory “ Thompson for a quick minute.

His defense was stellar all postseason.

His offense was every other day to Davis.

That can’t happen.

 

[Mecca]

Not saying he's Shaq. Just saying that, like Shaq, the Lakers need to feed him the ball early because it gets him involved and keeps him involved for the entire game.

He's not a #1, he doesn't have the personality for it. But he doesn't have to be a #1 for the Lakers to look to get him going early in games. Opponents having to contend with AD makes things easier for everyone else.

Yeah, agree.

The sooner we accept he isn’t a alpha, the more reasonable our expectations will be.

His talent says he should be the best player on that team.

But, truth is, he is a Uber-beta.

If I look at him through that lens, the picture looks different.

He can be Bam.

But, he doesn’t have it in him to be Jimmy consistently.

….and yes, they need to get him involved early and often.