2021-2022 NBA Season

[tlance]

Yes....and the NBA when LA won many of those titles is nothing like the NBA today. Using either group of titles is absurd.

Far less absurd than trying to use an NFL comp.

 

[dtgold88]

Far less absurd than trying to use an NFL comp.

Not at all....point was winning those titles with people who are not even there to help AND when game/CBA was totally different is valid.

 

[tlance]

Not at all....point was winning those titles with people who are not even there to help AND when game/CBA was totally different is valid.

Young players grow dream of wearing a Laker uniform because of Kobe and now LeBron and the glitz and glamour that come with it.

So they are always going to more able to land a free agent star when they have a quality core.

The last rebuild took a long time because the organization was run poorly.

BUT their market creates such a huge built in advantage that it would take a real fool to think they won’t get back to the top again in the future.

 

[msgkings322]

Like I have said many times Dray is a very good player with grest players or a good supporting cast of players..when he doesn’t, it looks like he isn’t on the court. But it’s pretty dramatic the difference.

Yep, his game is hard to see clearly for how good it is, because it's contingent on who's around him. He's the ultimate complimentary player, not at all an "alpha". But he's every bit as important to the title teams as Steph and Klay.

 

[trojanfan12]

Not at all....point was winning those titles with people who are not even there to help AND when game/CBA was totally different is valid.

Actually, because of the difference in cap rules, it isn't very valid at all.

The NFL basically has a hard cap...that's why when a QB "gets his bag", teams have to start making salary cuts in other areas. In the NBA, a team can pay a superstar player and still add at least 1 or 2 more because of all of the different ways there are to go over the cap.

Because the NBA has more ways to work around the cap, NBA FA's have more choices and, like it or not, most are going to choose "destination cities". The advantage isn't as big as it used to be...but it's still there and we see it play out in some fashion most off seasons.

 

[trojanfan12]

Young players grow dream of wearing a Laker uniform because of Kobe and now LeBron and the glitz and glamour that come with it.

So they are always going to more able to land a free agent star when they have a quality core.

The last rebuild took a long time because the organization was run poorly.

BUT their market creates such a huge built in advantage that it would take a real fool to think they won’t get back to the top again in the future.

^^^This^^^

Especially the bold.

The Lakers missed out on star FA's after Kobe retired because Short Buss was incompetent and thought all he had to do was say "We're the Lakers, here's the contract, here's a pen" and they'd just sign on the dotted line.

But a team like the Lakers with at least a competent FO is going to have an advantage over a non-destination city with a competent FO.

 

[bksballer89]

Collins among 10 Hawks in NBA COVID protocol

The Atlanta Hawks have 10 players in the NBA's health and safety protocols, the team announced on Sunday, with John Collins and Jalen Johnson among them.

www.espn.com

 

[dtgold88]

Young players grow dream of wearing a Laker uniform because of Kobe and now LeBron and the glitz and glamour that come with it.

So they are always going to more able to land a free agent star when they have a quality core.

The last rebuild took a long time because the organization was run poorly.

BUT their market creates such a huge built in advantage that it would take a real fool to think they won’t get back to the top again in the future.

They do, eh? too bad none of those young guys grew up and chose to play with Lebron when there was a max deal available, huh?

Back to the topic again...in the future? Ok, but not exactly the same as soon or quickly is it? has the current regime really offered that much promise?

 

[bksballer89]

I'll say it once again out of the last 3 seasons, this is the one that deserves an asterisk at least for the regular season.

 

[dtgold88]

Actually, because of the difference in cap rules, it isn't very valid at all.

The NFL basically has a hard cap...that's why when a QB "gets his bag", teams have to start making salary cuts in other areas. In the NBA, a team can pay a superstar player and still add at least 1 or 2 more because of all of the different ways there are to go over the cap.

Because the NBA has more ways to work around the cap, NBA FA's have more choices and, like it or not, most are going to choose "destination cities". The advantage isn't as big as it used to be...but it's still there and we see it play out in some fashion most off seasons.

Ok....but that kind of helps make my point. Lakers winning titles when there was no cap or some with no FA does not mean they can win them quickly now....never mind no one around to help from even their most recent successful era.

 

[dtgold88]

^^^This^^^

Especially the bold.

The Lakers missed out on star FA's after Kobe retired because Short Buss was incompetent and thought all he had to do was say "We're the Lakers, here's the contract, here's a pen" and they'd just sign on the dotted line.

But a team like the Lakers with at least a competent FO is going to have an advantage over a non-destination city with a competent FO.

agreed.....even with Lebron was this "competent FO" able to lure another elite FA with max cap room available?

 

[bksballer89]

 

[thunderc]

Can only Lebron and AD for this. Wasn't there reports of them meeting with Russ prior to the deal being made? Did they ever consider how poor of a fit he would be?

Did anyone consider how poor of a GM Lebron is?

 

[bksballer89]

 

[trojanfan12]

Ok....but that kind of helps make my point. Lakers winning titles when there was no cap or some with no FA does not mean they can win them quickly now....never mind no one around to help from even their most recent successful era.

Not really. It kind of proves @tlance point. Considering they just won a title, they are kind of having a successful era right now, if not necessarily a successful current season Neither of those things happen if Short Buss is still there.

Everything else being equal or even slightly better with a team that is in a non-destination city, most top FAs are going to a destination city. That makes for a chance to win titles quickly.

 

[trojanfan12]

agreed.....even with Lebron was this "competent FO" able to lure another elite FA with max cap room available?

They used cap room to extend AD, so yes, they were.

 

[CitySushi]

That's kind of embarrassing that the first time you are on a shit team you mail it in

Well 5 straight post season appearance, then you lose Durant, Klay and then Steph gets injured. Team was forced to start Ky Bowman at PG who’s not even in the league anymore.

I tend to agree with you, but I also understand the need for a break from the grind.

 

[trojanfan12]

Yep, his game is hard to see clearly for how good it is, because it's contingent on who's around him. He's the ultimate complimentary player, not at all an "alpha". But he's every bit as important to the title teams as Steph and Klay.

He is like a bigger, louder Derek Fisher. He is the guy who does the things that have to be done to win that dont always show up on the stat sheet. He is also the guy who can say the things that need to be said to teammates, including the stars, that no one else can or will.

 

[msgkings322]

He is like a bigger, louder Derek Fisher. He is the guy who does the things that have to be done to win that dont always show up on the stat sheet. He is also the guy who can say the things that need to be said to teammates, including the stars, that no one else can or will.

He's orders of magnitude more than Fisher. Fisher was never in danger of winning DPOY, nor could he distribute (or rebound) like Draymond.

But agreed that they are similar in terms of leadership.

 

[trojanfan12]

He's orders of magnitude more than Fisher. Fisher was never in danger of winning DPOY, nor could he distribute (or rebound) like Draymond.

But agreed that they are similar in terms of leadership.

Yeah, the things you mentioned show up on stat sheets. Thats not really what Im talking about. Im talking about the dirty work. Like Fisher, Dray is the guy sacrificing his body, setting picks, taking charges, making sure they stay in their offense, etc. Its not that difficult to replace his stats. Replacing that other stuff is harder to do.