2018 NBA offseason

[ericd7633]

I couldn't agree more. But they were marketing that OKC team as having a BIG 3, once they signed Melo. So my point is I understand where that narrative came from.

Yeah, going into last season, sure, having watched him play this season, and to still suggest he was their 3rd best player, is why shaqdaddy has no cred.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

The Cavs minus LeBron were statistically one of the worst teams in the league.

Heck even when Kyrie was taking over a few seasons ago they were bad.

They played in the East.

The Lakers don't.

So, expecting LeBron to win as many or more games than he did last Season with a bunch of non shooters is an exercise in futility.

Beating the Jazz, Nola, Blazers 4 times a year is a little harder than beating Atlanta, Bulls and Charlotte.

...and those are the bottom playoff teams in the West.

 

[DJ Fieri]

Sorry, @Bolts

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

Yeah, going into last season, sure, having watched him play this season, and to still suggest he was their 3rd best player, is why shaqdaddy has no cred.

I was referring to melo being part of the 'Big 3'

But keep those panties in a twist.

 

[LAD]

I didn't gloss over that fact. It's well within reason to think that had Butler not missed significant time, they wouldn't have needed to win the last game of the season, and at worst probably would have been a top 4 seed. Like I said with Butler they had the 3rd best record in the WC.

What if game there. What if NO player gets hurt? What if Steph doesn't miss 6 weeks? Maybe GS catches Hou & keeps that #1 seed all season. But none of that happened.

All I'm saying is Minny wasn't the #3 seed in the end - they were 8th & Butler was playing during that time. How/where you finish is all that matters in the end.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

I don't see OKC being better. I just don't.

Better than the Lakers?

They are better at every position except the one LeBron plays.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

They played in the East.

The Lakers don't.

So, expecting LeBron to win as many or more games than he did last Season with a bunch of non shooters is an exercise in futility.

Beating the Jazz, Nola, Blazers 4 times a year is a little harder than beating Atlanta, Bulls and Charlotte.

...and those are the bottom playoff teams in the West.

I agree. But this is in regard to the Cavs without LeBron being a better team than last year's Lakers.

If anything the Cavs still having a terrible record without LeBron despite playing in the east hurts that argument even more.

 

[LAD]

Yeah, going into last season, sure, having watched him play this season, and to still suggest he was their 3rd best player, is why shaqdaddy has no cred.

I've got nothing....

 

[ericd7633]

You do realise the Lakers beat OKC last year twice? Without Lonzo.

Plus the Lakers just added the best player in the game and the Thunder are about to lose one of their top 3.

So no, they're not.

I was referring to melo being part of the 'Big 3'

But keep those panties in a twist.

Sure dumbass.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

Better than the Lakers?

They are better at every position except the one LeBron plays.

And LeBron makes a hell of a difference.

They were 2-2 against them last year and that was without LeBron. And Lonzo for that matter too.

Since then they've upgraded multiple positions too.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

What do you guys see as the Lakers starting lineup?

Are they starting Mcgee and Who plays PF, Kuzma?

Who plays the four in OKC, Patterson?

 

[LAD]

The Cavs minus LeBron were statistically one of the worst teams in the league.

Heck even when Kyrie was taking over a few seasons ago they were bad.

Yes but that has zero to do with this Lakers roster today. With LBJ on that team it changes EVERYTHING. He does so much that sometimes it actually hurts his team mates if they don't know how to take initiative & stay involved. Rookies/Sophomores could easily fall into that category.

 

[ericd7633]

What if game there. What if NO player gets hurt? What if Steph doesn't miss 6 weeks? Maybe GS catches Hou & keeps that #1 seed all season. But none of that happened.

All I'm saying is Minny wasn't the #3 seed in the end - they were 8th & Butler was playing during that time. How/where you finish is all that matters in the end.

I get all of what you're saying. I'm just saying they were the 3rd best team in the conference for 2/3 of the season before he got hurt. It's well within reason to expect them to duplicate that, or exceed that considering KAT and Wiggins are young.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

Sure dumbass.

Terribly sorry for accidentally writing top instead of big in my original post.

Kinda assumed you would get the context but it seems I need to spell things out a little clearer for the slower posters amongst us.

 

[Bolts]

Looking good for you @Bolts

48 hours to make it happen, save Vlade from himself.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

Yes but that has zero to do with this Lakers roster today. With LBJ on that team it changes EVERYTHING. He does so much that sometimes it actually hurts his team mates if they don't know how to take initiative & stay involved. Rookies/Sophomores could easily fall into that category.

We're not comparing the Lakers roster today.

It was last year's Lakers roster vs last year's Cavs roster without LeBron

 

[Bolts]

Sorry, @Bolts

If this is reference to the Kings signing Lavine, I'm used to the mistakes. But still thanks. Could be all for nothing though if the Bulls match.

 

[LAD]

I get all of what you're saying. I'm just saying they were the 3rd best team in the conference for 2/3 of the season before he got hurt. It's well within reason to expect them to duplicate that, or exceed that considering KAT and Wiggins are young.

I would say I can see that happening - if Thibs can figure out that he should be using KAT more on the block vs. making him an outside shooter all the time.

I couldn't believe how many times in that first round KAT had open looks around the rim but instead stepped out to shoot jumpers. Somebody better get in KAT's head & remind him of his ability in the paint.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

And LeBron makes a hell of a difference.

They were 2-2 against them last year and that was without LeBron. And Lonzo for that matter too.

Sure.

He made a hell of a difference, statistically, against the Warriors in a 4 game sweep.

Go back and look at how badly his team's got slaughtered against the Rockets at the end of the year.

LeBron alone is enough to get by in the East.

Not in the West.

Westbrook is better than Ball, Rondo combined.

Adams over Mcgee doesn't even require an explanation.

LeBron is a Megastar to Paul George's All-star.

Roberson and Caldwell-Pope would be a wash if Roberson was at least respectable at the charity stripe, he isn't.

So, Pope by a hair.

I'm sorta confused as to what your lineup is going to look like.

Is Ingram starting at the 4?

Is LeBron?

If Ingram matches up with George, Paul wins that one hands down.

 

[LAD]

They played in the East.

The Lakers don't.

So, expecting LeBron to win as many or more games than he did last Season with a bunch of non shooters is an exercise in futility.

Beating the Jazz, Nola, Blazers 4 times a year is a little harder than beating Atlanta, Bulls and Charlotte.

...and those are the bottom playoff teams in the West.

THIS