2018 NBA offseason

[Shaqdaddy11]

I remember those stats, but that's not entirely fair because he only missed a handful of games. So the sample size is questionable IMO.

It shows how the Cavs are without him. At that INCLUDES Kyrie being on the team.

So are you seriously going to say the 2017/18 Cavs team without lebron is better than the 2017/18 Lakers team?

 

[LAD]

Da faq? Javale Mcghee?

Yes. As a traditional C he was much better than Looney AND light years better than Pachulia. Looney is more of a hybrid C because he's really good at guarding out on the perimeter - but he pretty much sucks at blocking the rim. Each of them were good at different things which is why we saw Kerr stagger their play.

 

[flyerhawk]

No.

He's not as long, nor as skilled, as other bean poles like Durant or Garnett....especially on defense.

If they didn't massively overpay for KCP, I would play Ingram at the 2.

Ingram as a 2 is a huge matchup problem for other teams. Ingram as a 4 is a speed bump.

 

[LAD]

Some Dudes are just wirery....

Tashaun Prince, Garnett never bulked up.

KD too, he just learned how to play through the contact.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

Yeah, trying to type to fast. Nice catch. I'll take the L.

Happens to the best of us.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

Looks like the Kings are about to dodge a bullet here!


Damn!!!

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

 

[LAD]

It shows how the Cavs are without him. At that INCLUDES Kyrie being on the team.

So are you seriously going to say the 2017/18 Cavs team without lebron is better than the 2017/18 Lakers team?

I think talent wise yes the Cavs were better than LA. Maybe that's because LA had a lot of rookies - but IMO Love, JR, Kyrie were all better than what LA had - maybe with the exception of Randle. And even then as much as I hate to say it I think Love still edges Randle out.

 

[trojanfan12]

The real wildcard here is how well and how quickly the Lakers are able to gel as a team. As I said upthread I think it is entirely possible that the Lakers will have a losing record at the half way mark.

Agree. If memory serves, the Heat had a losing record near that point in the first year of their big 3 and made the finals.

I'm not predicting that the Lakers will make the finals obviously. Just that it takes time to gel.

 

[flyerhawk]

Yes. As a traditional C he was much better than Looney AND light years better than Pachulia. Looney is more of a hybrid C because he's really good at guarding out on the perimeter - but he pretty much sucks at blocking the rim. Each of them were good at different things which is why we saw Kerr stagger their play.

OK. You were saying he was the Warriors best center? I misinferred what you were saying.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

Ingram as a 2 is a huge matchup problem for other teams. Ingram as a 4 is a speed bump.

Don't think Ingram will be playing the 4 this season with guys like Lebron and Kuzma on the roster

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

I got 52

That's it?

That's a lil high to me.

But, not unreasonable.

Blazers, Thunder, Jazz won 48-49 last year.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

I think talent wise yes the Cavs were better than LA. Maybe that's because LA had a lot of rookies - but IMO Love, JR, Kyrie were all better than what LA had - maybe with the exception of Randle. And even then as much as I hate to say it I think Love still edges Randle out.

Well that's your opinion. I completely disagree.

 

[flyerhawk]

Agree. If memory serves, the Heat had a losing record near that point in the first year of their big 3 and made the finals.

I'm not predicting that the Lakers will make the finals obviously. Just that it takes time to gel.

Yup. And he was playing with a 1st ballot Hall of Famer and a near Hall of Famer and they STILL needed 3 months to sort things out. And Lebron was peak Lebron.

Barring some major changes to the Lakers roster, they don't have that.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

Don't think Ingram will be playing the 4 this season with guys like Lebron and Kuzma on the roster

LeBron has frowned upon playing the 4 in the past.

Takes away his size, strength advantages.

That's why I would have kept Randle, in a perfect world.

Randle at 4, Bron at 3, Ingram at Sg......

Kcp playing overseas...lol

 

[trojanfan12]

I got 52

They could get there. If they can gel fairly quickly and the kids respond well to new expectations and pressure, it's doable.

 

[flyerhawk]

LeBron has frowned upon playing the 4 in the past.

Takes away his size, strength advantages.

That's why I would have kept Randle, in a perfect world.

Randle at 4, Bron at 3, Ingram at Sg......

Kcp playing overseas...lol

Clearly there was some bad blood with Randle and/or his agent. No WAY they should have let him go for 9 million a year.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

KD too, he just learned how to play through the contact.

True.

But, KD also played with Dray and Ibaka, who are capable of guarding 4's and 5's.

LeBron is big enough to do that for the Lakers.

He would probably prefer not to though...

They could have used a guy like Jeff Fools Gold Green or Derek Favors.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

That's it?

That's a lil high to me.

But, not unreasonable.

Blazers, Thunder, Jazz won 48-49 last year.

I'm keeping the number at a firm 52.

That's with this current roster, which I doubt will stay the same.

I don't see Javale being the starter. They're going to bring a starting center in. So IMO they improved that position by replacing Thomas Bryant with him.

They replaced the backup PG with Rondo (for sake of argument lets say Ball starts) in place of Tyler Ennis. One hell of an improvement.

Then they added Lance who is essentially going to replace Travis Wear. Another improvement.

Lost Randle but gained Lebron. No contest.

Then keep in mind the young guys are going to improve from last year.

Last year they had 35 wins. Had players not significantly been injured that number could have been 40-42.

So a healthy team this season, with the additions and improvements could easily top 50 wins.

 

[flyerhawk]

They could get there. If they can gel fairly quickly and the kids respond well to new expectations and pressure, it's doable.

52 is certainly possible. But it is expecting an awful lot from a team that really isn't structured to win 52.

Let me ask as you this. Assuming that the Lakers do nothing else, do you really feel that the Lakers are trying to even WIN 52 games next year? They brought a bunch of high effort/high IQ/average to below average talent to the team. Do you think it is possible they are trying to get the young kids ready for the big time by seeing how those guys play?