Series Thread: 1st Round: 3) LA Lakers vs 6) Minnesota T-Wolves

[PPhan]

They are going to be underdogs and OKC will probably beat them though

They are underdogs, but I actually like the Nuggets' chances over OKC if they make it into the next round. We'll see.

 

[wildturkey]

Welp. We were fucked either way

Source: LeBron suffered MCL sprain in G5 loss

Lakers star LeBron James suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee in the fourth quarter of Wednesday's Game 5 loss to the Timberwolves, a source told ESPN.

www.espn.com

 

[shopson67]

Welp. We were fucked either way

Source: LeBron suffered MCL sprain in G5 loss

Lakers star LeBron James suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee in the fourth quarter of Wednesday's Game 5 loss to the Timberwolves, a source told ESPN.

www.espn.com

Especially since JJ would've tried to play with 4 instead of subbing in for him lol.

 

[tlance]

Doesn't mean anything, though. We saw what the We Believe Warriors did to the Mavs back in 07. After seeing that, and then seeing what Miami with pretty much just Jimmy did to the Bucks and Celtics, you can't really write these teams off against OKC.

Like I said, there have been bigger upsets than this.

Stop it.

I believe this OKC team is great.

Great teams don’t lose in the 2nd round.

There are 2 teams good enough to beat OKC. Boston and Cleveland.

And neither of them will be favored.

That is it.

You are talking about weak 1 seeds who lost. There is no comparison between OKC and those teams.

 

[tlance]

They are underdogs, but I actually like the Nuggets' chances over OKC if they make it into the next round. We'll see.

We will.

5 games at most.

Clippers pose a greater threat, but I still don’t think they have enough.

 

[PPhan]

Stop it.

I believe this OKC team is great.

Great teams don’t lose in the 2nd round.

There are 2 teams good enough to beat OKC. Boston and Cleveland.

And neither of them will be favored.

That is it.

You are talking about weak 1 seeds who lost. There is no comparison between OKC and those teams.

Not sure how you cNe to the conclusion that a team with a 67-15 record in the regular was a weak 1 seed, but OK. Mavs were heavily favored in 2007 to win it all.

 

[DJ Fieri]

JJ was a bit unfair and defensive. We're talking about a 40 year old Lebron with the most mileage on his body in league history and Luka coming off of an illness. Anyone in their right mind can look at that and think "maybe we should find a few minutes for them to catch their wind". Playing small only added to that toll.

The fact that it was the first time in however long that the same 5 played the entire half in a playoff game should tell you it's not advisable. He tried to be the smartest guy in the room and came up a bit short this time. The ego is fine, I just don't see the value in ripping your players for not being supermen when the season is over regardless. That kind of talk may be meant to inspire and challenge, but it could also scare away potential FAs this summer.

And while Hayes isn't great at all....he is a bigger body to try and defend Gobert from going all Shaq/Wilt on the Lakers small ball lineup.

Hachimura, Bron and DFS were no match for Gobert who clearly wanted to show Luka (from the '24 postseason) he can score.

 

[tlance]

Not sure how you cNe to the conclusion that a team with a 67-15 record in the regular was a weak 1 seed, but OK. Mavs were heavily favored in 2007 to win it all.

Nah.

Heavy favorites I am not buying that.

They were a good team. Spurs always better constructed for the playoffs despite Dallas’ better record.

They had Dirk who won MVP that year and 1 other all star in Josh Howard. They may have had the best regular season record, but there was nothing special about that team.

And if we are being honest, comparing Dirk stats from that season to other NBA MVPs his are pretty underwhelming. Only a couple seasons from the past 25 years where an MVP had comparably weak stat line.

Rose, Curry from 2015 and Nash

 

[UK Cowboy]

I'm not concerned about Luka in the slightest. He's made the finals already and is just getting to his prime.

Exactly. It's hysterical how so many people are influenced by what they see or hear on daily sports talk shows. Like any of that shit is right more than 10% of the time. I've watched almost all of Luka's games since he came into the NBA. He fit the fat and lazy narrative at the end of the season, but everyone discounts that when he got to L.A. he was coming off a serious calf injury. Atbthat point of the season, teams rarely even practice. Games are it, and he was just trying to stay healthy.
Then let's talk about the Wolves series...was he gassed...yeah he was. But FFS. The Wolves were throwing tough defenders at him, he's still getting his, and every game players are clanking wide open looks he's getting them. There were no easy Hayes lobs since their genius coach thought they could role with their tallest player 6'8". Oh, and the same genius coach never got him a blow in the 2nd half of a game 4 SMH. And as to his defensive effort....people should go back and watch how hard Luka was working on every offensive possession to score and get others looks while the other 4 guys are standing around waiting for a pass for an open jumper. How bout since he is carrying the water on the offensive end, the other 4 pick it up on defense?

 

[UK Cowboy]

And while Hayes isn't great at all....he is a bigger body to try and defend Gobert from going all Shaq/Wilt on the Lakers small ball lineup.

Hachimura, Bron and DFS were no match for Gobert who clearly wanted to show Luka (from the '24 postseason) he can score.

Also, many of the Lakers easy buckets this season were lobs to Hayes. How can the coach take that away, and also not have a guy in that can at least hold down Gobert so he doesn't look like prime Shaq? I can't believe Lakers fans aren't more put out with JJ. It's like they are hoping he is Riles 2.0. He's not

 

[DJ Fieri]

Also, many of the Lakers easy buckets this season were lobs to Hayes. How can the coach take that away, and also not have a guy in that can at least hold down Gobert so he doesn't look like prime Shaq? I can't believe Lakers fans aren't more put out with JJ. It's like they are hoping he is Riles 2.0. He's not

It's not like he is Ham.....he is a promising young coach who was a serious COY candidate this past season.

This is more on Pelinka.....acquiring Luka was great but it was a mismatched roster.....even Hayes isn't a great option as your starting C. He is serviceable but he's really a backup who can play 15mpg. He just isn't a starting C in todays NBA. He is all the Lakers had. He is a FA this summer and will leave.....prolly get 6-7 mill per (maybe more?) from some team.

Pelinka has to go land a legit starting C, a wing that can defend and shoot for the bench and probably another guy for the bench. The bench scored just 4 points in the final game, that is unacceptable.

 

[DJ Fieri]

Exactly. It's hysterical how so many people are influenced by what they see or hear on daily sports talk shows. Like any of that shit is right more than 10% of the time. I've watched almost all of Luka's games since he came into the NBA. He fit the fat and lazy narrative at the end of the season, but everyone discounts that when he got to L.A. he was coming off a serious calf injury. Atbthat point of the season, teams rarely even practice. Games are it, and he was just trying to stay healthy.
Then let's talk about the Wolves series...was he gassed...yeah he was. But FFS. The Wolves were throwing tough defenders at him, he's still getting his, and every game players are clanking wide open looks he's getting them. There were no easy Hayes lobs since their genius coach thought they could role with their tallest player 6'8". Oh, and the same genius coach never got him a blow in the 2nd half of a game 4 SMH. And as to his defensive effort....people should go back and watch how hard Luka was working on every offensive possession to score and get others looks while the other 4 guys are standing around waiting for a pass for an open jumper. How bout since he is carrying the water on the offensive end, the other 4 pick it up on defense?

At the same time. Luka had 15 guys drive to the basket on him, 9 were blowbys.....he has to try a little harder on the defensive end.....and get in better shape.

PS: I did rip JJ for playing the starters the entire 2nd half.....that was ridunkulous.

 

[UK Cowboy]

At the same time. Luka had 15 guys drive to the basket on him, 9 were blowbys.....he has to try a little harder on the defensive end.....and get in better shape.

PS: I did rip JJ for playing the starters the entire 2nd half.....that was ridunkulous.

Here is the thing. I saw more than once in the second half of games when Luka raised his hand to the bench for a blow that he didn't get it. Maybe since the guy was "out of shape", playing him 46 minutes wasn't the brightest idea.
There's a bottom line IMO...If a team has t9 play a 46 year old and an out of shape guy 46 minutes each, then it isn't those two who are the problem. The rest of the team sucks

 

[UK Cowboy]

It's not like he is Ham.....he is a promising young coach who was a serious COY candidate this past season.

This is more on Pelinka.....acquiring Luka was great but it was a mismatched roster.....even Hayes isn't a great option as your starting C. He is serviceable but he's really a backup who can play 15mpg. He just isn't a starting C in todays NBA. He is all the Lakers had. He is a FA this summer and will leave.....prolly get 6-7 mill per (maybe more?) from some team.

Pelinka has to go land a legit starting C, a wing that can defend and shoot for the bench and probably another guy for the bench. The bench scored just 4 points in the final game, that is unacceptable.

This is a big offseason for Pelinka. The Luka trade was a gift from his boy Nico, plain and simple. I think Pelincas job is fairly simple now. The Mavs went from the lottery to the WCF and Finals with Luka and one other scorer and a lot of role players. Pelinka has Luka and LBJ. Hayes must go since the coach won't play him in a go home game. They had a decent center trafe lined up using Knecht. I would go the other direction. I would keep Knecht, who I think has more potential, and use Reaves to bring in a quality defenive wing in the 6'8"-6'9" range. Get a 1st from someone in the Reaves deal(not hard to do these days), and draft a damn center.

 

[DJ Fieri]

Here is the thing. I saw more than once in the second half of games when Luka raised his hand to the bench for a blow that he didn't get it. Maybe since the guy was "out of shape", playing him 46 minutes wasn't the brightest idea.
There's a bottom line IMO...If a team has t9 play a 46 year old and an out of shape guy 46 minutes each, then it isn't those two who are the problem. The rest of the team sucks

Bron isn't 46.

I already said that was a mistake by JJ to play the entire starting lineup in the 2nd half all 24 minutes.

 

[DJ Fieri]

This is a big offseason for Pelinka. The Luka trade was a gift from his boy Nico, plain and simple. I think Pelincas job is fairly simple now. The Mavs went from the lottery to the WCF and Finals with Luka and one other scorer and a lot of role players. Pelinka has Luka and LBJ. Hayes must go since the coach won't play him in a go home game. They had a decent center trafe lined up using Knecht. I would go the other direction. I would keep Knecht, who I think has more potential, and use Reaves to bring in a quality defenive wing in the 6'8"-6'9" range. Get a 1st from someone in the Reaves deal(not hard to do these days), and draft a damn center.

I agree Pelinka has a lot to do this summer. They need to deal either Reaves or Hach....or both and get a legit starting C plus the defensive wing who can shoot and another bench guy. If it's Hachimura, DFS can start in his place. I don't want to see him being dealt since he is a solid role player and friends with Luka. Need to keep Luka happy so he signs that big extension on August 2nd.

They don't have a draft pick in this upcoming draft so they have to make a trade or sign some vet minimum guys who may want to platy with Luka and Bron on the Lakers.

 

[UK Cowboy]

I agree Pelinka has a lot to do this summer. They need to deal either Reaves or Hach....or both and get a legit starting C plus the defensive wing who can shoot and another bench guy. If it's Hachimura, DFS can start in his place. I don't want to see him being dealt since he is a solid role player and friends with Luka. Need to keep Luka happy so he signs that big extension on August 2nd.

They don't have a draft pick in this upcoming draft so they have to make a trade or sign some vet minimum guys who may want to platy with Luka and Bron on the Lakers.

Yeah, with the pieces the have to trade, they can shore up their needs. The stupidest comment i heard from JJ..."He couldn't play Hayes because they didn't have enough offense in the floor when he played"...WTF is that brain dead shit? Luka, Bron, Reaves, Ruan, not enough....offense? LOL. I think Hayes opened up their offense. Having a guy collect 4-5 lob dunks tends to suck guys to the lane. Also helps collect an offensive rebound. And don't start me on D. Freaking Gobert had 9 damn offensive rebounds SMH, most if which he stuffed afterwards. Hayes should have been kicked up to 30 minutes.l. not given none. You can look at two coaching decisions and say, if JJ doesn't play his starters the whole 2nd half they win game 4 and if Hayes plays game 5 they win there. Series should be 3-2 Lakers instead of delusional Wolves fans now thinking they can take OKC lol