2021-2022 NBA Season

[WiggyRuss]

What I do not wish on even the Lakers fans is having LeBron going into a contract year.

Its a miserable experience to everyone- the fans, the management, his teammates.

I would think Miami fans would say the same thing.

Every single game its just questions of if LeBron is staying or not---- its hard to enjoy the season because of it. You could blow out a great team that you are competing for a championship and the only thing that the media will ask after the game is what is LeBron thinking? Leaving or staying? It gets sooooooo annoying---- and that is when the team is GOOD- as in Miami and Cleveland he at least made the Finals his last season there.

If the Lakers are like 5 or 6 seed good next year- its going to be just a miserable experience for everyone involved until LeBron gives clarity on what his intentions are- and if he doesnt- itll be the focus of the entire year. The team will be paralyzed

teammates are constantly asked questions they have no answer for. Its constantly implied to the rest of the team they aren't good enough (even if its true) and it just brings morale down.

want to make a deal at the deadline but have to decide whether to trade a draft pick or two/and or take on long term money? How do you plan if LeBron is leaving? If he stays- certain trades are no brainers- but can you absolutely mortgage your last few assets without having a definitive answer? Do you hurt your cap space for a 3rd/4th best player that is overpaid on a bad team but is available like Buddy Hield type player/contract knowing that if LeBron leaves it could seriously kill your cap space?

its really brutal.

 

[WiggyRuss]

say like the Lakers are right around or slightly below the Suns, Warriors, and right there with the Jazz, Nuggets, etc......

and a McCollum or Randle become avaliable- good but not great players that make a ton of money. You have to decide- do we make this deal and give ourselves a little better chance for a championship adding a solid player, but not a star to the mix, that is overpaid, but is obtainable since the team they are on isnt very good and they want to get off the money?

If LeBron is DEFINITELY staying- you of course do the deal. If he is leaving- you pretty much know to pass on the deal since you can use 25-30 million in cap space as a big chunk of signing a potential all star in the offseason

but if you dont know what LeBron is doing - what do you do?

its a bitch of a situation.

 

[WiggyRuss]

I think this is the first time in a LONG LONG time that the East is better than the West.

Phoenix and GSW are great teams no doubt---- but the East has high level teams in the Nets and Bucks

The Heat, Bulls, Sixers are all extremely talented. The Celtics are inching up into that tier. The Cavs and Raptors are good.

The West's depth is not as good as the East. With the Nuggets' injuries and the Lakers taking a step back, the West is simply not as good anymore.

when was the last time the East was definitively better than the West? It has been a long time.

 

[msgkings322]

I think this is the first time in a LONG LONG time that the East is better than the West.

Phoenix and GSW are great teams no doubt---- but the East has high level teams in the Nets and Bucks

The Heat, Bulls, Sixers are all extremely talented. The Celtics are inching up into that tier. The Cavs and Raptors are good.

The West's depth is not as good as the East. With the Nuggets' injuries and the Lakers taking a step back, the West is simply not as good anymore.

when was the last time the East was definitively better than the West? It has been a long time.

Some truth to this but you're underselling Memphis and so on. East no doubt deeper, West is more top heavy. No question it's a transition year though for the East to be at least as good a maybe a little better.

Look at their head to head, East vs West is pretty even still, isn't it?

 

[WiggyRuss]

Some truth to this but you're underselling Memphis and so on. East no doubt deeper, West is more top heavy. No question it's a transition year though for the East to be at least as good a maybe a little better.

Look at their head to head, East vs West is pretty even still.

I dont think its more top heavy.

GSW and PHX are relatively even with the Bucks and Nets.

I would take Philly, and Miami over the Griz in a series- maybe even the Bulls.

If the Nuggets were fully healthy, and the Lakers didnt crap all over themselves with the RW trade and instead had DeRozan- the West would be right there.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Gotta say- it was pretty great hearing all the praise for Mobley and Garland this weekend. Everyone around the league really seems to think highly of and have a lot of respect for Garland. You hear a ton of vets say how they really like his game.

Mobley of course is just a rook- but people are just gushing over him. He is one of the best prospects the game has seen in a long time. He seems a little like Anthony Davis except he has balls. The guy is so smooth.

Since KG - I do not remember a big that has a higher more versatile ceiling defensively. Maybe he doesn't get there and become a Davis or KG player- the odds are against it--- but he certainly has all the tools. He needs to be more consistent with his shot- but his shot looks pretty good- like he can develop it. If he could get a semi-reliable 3 pointer itll just be nuts.

He may or may not make the All Star team next year--- but I am confident he will make the following year- and then for a lot of years in a row after that.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Some truth to this but you're underselling Memphis and so on. East no doubt deeper, West is more top heavy. No question it's a transition year though for the East to be at least as good a maybe a little better.

Look at their head to head, East vs West is pretty even still, isn't it?

I will say- Nets might have the highest ceiling in the league- but a ton of question marks.

I guess Dragic is going there- so at least they have some Kyrie insurance.

but if Kyrie and Simmons are playing at the height of their games that is going to be a rough team to stop. Especially if Mills continues to play well, if Harris comes back, if Dragic is decent....

 

[DJ Fieri]

Pretty funny James putting the Lakers on notice.

He wanted RW, LOL.

 

[thunderc]

Pretty funny James putting the Lakers on notice.

He wanted RW, LOL.

The more concerning thing here is that Father Time has put Lebron on notice

 

[DJ Fieri]

The more concerning thing here is that Father Time has put Lebron on notice

Sure, it won't last forever but this season has shown he can still play at a high level.

 

[dtgold88]

Some truth to this but you're underselling Memphis and so on. East no doubt deeper, West is more top heavy. No question it's a transition year though for the East to be at least as good a maybe a little better.

Look at their head to head, East vs West is pretty even still, isn't it?

Was for a while but West has surged ahead. something like +15 now.

 

[dtgold88]

I dont think its more top heavy.

GSW and PHX are relatively even with the Bucks and Nets.

I would take Philly, and Miami over the Griz in a series- maybe even the Bulls.

If the Nuggets were fully healthy, and the Lakers didnt crap all over themselves with the RW trade and instead had DeRozan- the West would be right there.

If you want to say better chance a team from East wins it I can buy that, but overall the West is still better as evidenced by the +15 head to head. That's not end all be all as matchups and injuries at time matter but hard to say 1-15 east is better.

 

[msgkings322]

Was for a while but West has surged ahead. something like +15 now.

By the way where did you find that number? I couldn't even Google the right place...

 

[dtgold88]

By the way where did you find that number? I couldn't even Google the right place...

just go to full standings. They show each team record vs. other conference. Add up one conference.

 

[msgkings322]

just go to full standings. They show each team record vs. other conference. Add up one conference.

Oh well sure I could do it myself, thought maybe some stat site kept a record

 

[Shanemansj13]

Pretty funny James putting the Lakers on notice.

He wanted RW, LOL.

This is the point where Laker fans start to turn their back on Lebron. If it comes to an end they got a ship out of his years with the Lakers but I think if it ended it would be a disappointment with one finals win and appearance but only bc of AD. AD being injury prone derailed something more…kind of like Kyrie with the Cavs except he had other issues, still injuries were a part of it but not the main issue.

It’s not LBJ’s fault they traded for Russ. All Pelinka and the FO

 

[DJ Fieri]

This is the point where Laker fans start to turn their back on Lebron. If it comes to an end they got a ship out of his years with the Lakers but I think if it ended it would be a disappointment with one finals win and appearance but only bc of AD. AD being injury prone derailed something more…kind of like Kyrie with the Cavs except he had other issues, still injuries were a part of it but not the main issue.

It’s not LBJ’s fault they traded for Russ. All Pelinka and the FO

James wanted RW. So, he's partly to blame.

He signed off on it.

 

[Heatles84]

What I do not wish on even the Lakers fans is having LeBron going into a contract year.

Its a miserable experience to everyone- the fans, the management, his teammates.

I would think Miami fans would say the same thing.

Every single game its just questions of if LeBron is staying or not---- its hard to enjoy the season because of it. You could blow out a great team that you are competing for a championship and the only thing that the media will ask after the game is what is LeBron thinking? Leaving or staying? It gets sooooooo annoying---- and that is when the team is GOOD- as in Miami and Cleveland he at least made the Finals his last season there.

If the Lakers are like 5 or 6 seed good next year- its going to be just a miserable experience for everyone involved until LeBron gives clarity on what his intentions are- and if he doesnt- itll be the focus of the entire year. The team will be paralyzed

teammates are constantly asked questions they have no answer for. Its constantly implied to the rest of the team they aren't good enough (even if its true) and it just brings morale down.

want to make a deal at the deadline but have to decide whether to trade a draft pick or two/and or take on long term money? How do you plan if LeBron is leaving? If he stays- certain trades are no brainers- but can you absolutely mortgage your last few assets without having a definitive answer? Do you hurt your cap space for a 3rd/4th best player that is overpaid on a bad team but is available like Buddy Hield type player/contract knowing that if LeBron leaves it could seriously kill your cap space?

its really brutal.

This is all accurate, at the same time though, Lebron has a pattern. We've seen it in Cleveland (twice) and Miami. If you have to ask if Lebron's staying in a contract year, analyze your roster, and if you see Lebron having a better option while you have challenges to maintain a competitive roster - he's gone.

 

[WiggyRuss]

This is the point where Laker fans start to turn their back on Lebron. If it comes to an end they got a ship out of his years with the Lakers but I think if it ended it would be a disappointment with one finals win and appearance but only bc of AD. AD being injury prone derailed something more…kind of like Kyrie with the Cavs except he had other issues, still injuries were a part of it but not the main issue.

It’s not LBJ’s fault they traded for Russ. All Pelinka and the FO

thing is- I dont really think Lakers fans ever truly embraced LeBron. It has always been kind of a wary relationship. And now LeBron's comments over the ASB will make it even more so.

and now they go into post-all star break without Davis being multiple games under .500.

its going to be interesting

I cant ever see trading LeBron- but I wonder if the Lakers consider it this offseason if they cant make a move to solidfy the team for next year.

Its an interesting situation. Everything is on the table if you ask me.

 

[dtgold88]

Oh well sure I could do it myself, thought maybe some stat site kept a record

probably is somewhere but that was how I did it.