2021 NBA Offseason

[WiggyRuss]

what shaneman said.
Russ makes them a better regular season team in terms of load management

they won’t finish 7 again.

but I don’t think this really raises their playoff ceiling when you aren’t worried about how many minutes bron and brow are playing due to resting them all year

I totally agree.

Load management and injury protection. This way during the regular season if one guy gets injured they are not crippled.

It is still an odd way to put together a team- with 3 mega contracts and then basically vet mins---- especially since its not like LeBron and even RW are young guys----- even the Nets have a Joe Harris.

We shall see if Westbrook can fit in better than the low expectations many have for him in that regard. LeBron is going to be rested and motivated so that is a good thing- but dude is also going to be 37 in December and has more miles on him than anyone in NBA history at his age by a fair margin. Kareem had al ot of miles- but the playoffs were so much shorter than.

 

[trojanfan12]

but I don’t think this really raises their playoff ceiling when you aren’t worried about how many minutes bron and brow are playing due to resting them all year

Not sure what you're saying here. I'd say that not having to worry about Lebron and AD's minutes because the got to the playoffs rested and healthy significantly raises their playoff ceiling.

 

[WiggyRuss]

The thing Lakers Fans are forgetting is it wasn’t just Russ vs hield, it was Russ vs schroeder and hield

and possibly their first round pick. Not sure if that was def. gonna go in a Hield deal or not.

 

[trojanfan12]

We shall see if Westbrook can fit in better than the low expectations many have for him in that regard. LeBron is going to be rested and motivated so that is a good thing- but dude is also going to be 37 in December and has more miles on him than anyone in NBA history at his age by a fair margin. Kareem had al ot of miles- but the playoffs were so much shorter than.

Yeah, the playoffs being longer is a concern.

With most teams that have a lot of experience, you don't really worry about seeding. I think this team needs to be in the top 3. They want a short first round, which is more likely to happen facing a 6-8 seed than a 1-5 seed.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Yeah, the playoffs being longer is a concern.

With most teams that have a lot of experience, you don't really worry about seeding. I think this team needs to be in the top 3. They want a short first round, which is more likely to happen facing a 6-8 seed than a 1-5 seed.

true- that is a good point- but not the exact one I was making.

LeBron has played in 1310 regular season games and 266 post season games (total of 1575). Post season games obviously have a lot more stress and effort involved for the most part. thats over 3 extra 82 game seasons of just playoff games over the course of his career.

I think it would be a very safe assumption to say that no one in professional basketball history has played more games in less years than LeBron James.

just for comparison sake- LeBron just passed up Kobe in games played (1566- including postseason). Jordan played in 1211 games (including posteason). Shaq 1421.


and LeBron has played in the most postseason games in history--- the top 5---
LeBron 266
Derek Fisher 259
Duncan 251
Big Shot Rob 244
kareem 237

 

[DJ Fieri]

Doesn't matter. They offered him an overpay and he turned it down...but that wasn't the issue.

He played inconsistently all season long...that was some of the issue, but could be explained by the whole team never getting a chance to gel because of the injuries.

He became a problem in the locker room...that's something the Lakers have never really tolerated and I'd bet Lebron wasn't happy with it either.

As soon as the stuff about him being a locker room problem started coming out, I think most Lakers fans knew he wasn't coming back unless the Lakers were desperate.

Yep.

 

[DJ Fieri]

That's my biggest concern. The regular season is covered. Unless all 3 are out for significant time, it's hard to see the Lakers dropping out of the top 4 in playoff seeding.

But when it's an elimination game and Westbrook is wanting to play "hero ball"...that's where we'll see if Lebron can rein him in.

This season is going to be a challenge for Vogel's ability to build a defense. They had the #1 defense in the bubble season. Then they got a little worse defensively, lost AD and Lebron...and he still had the #1 defense.

This year, it's almost like the Lakers decided to give him a real challenge. lol

Yeah, Vogel's got guys that can play great defense in spurts and guys that he's going to have to "hide" defensively. Gonna be interesting to see what he comes up with. Part of why I'm glad they brought Dwight back is they now at least have rim protectors with him and AD. They didn't have that last year once AD was out.

We'll be better offensively and as long as we're 12-15th in defense.....we'll be fine.

 

[tlance]

Not sure what you're saying here. I'd say that not having to worry about Lebron and AD's minutes because the got to the playoffs rested and healthy significantly raises their playoff ceiling.

I don’t think it does that.

It definitely raises their playoff floor.

But the ceiling automatically assumes those 2 are at full health. To get a higher ceiling you have to have a complimentary 3rd star.

Time will tell if Russ can be that.

 

[Gman]

 

[bksballer89]

 

[bksballer89]

The nba is no longer hiding their hate for the Heat....i respect it

 

[trojanfan12]

The nba is no longer hiding their hate for the Heat....i respect it

Why y'all pissin' off the NBA?

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

Westbrook plays like a maniac. We love him for it. But, it's a easy way for a guy over 30 to constantly have nagging injuries.

Outside of hat filthy play by Pat Bev that blew his knee out, he hadn't had a ton of wear and tear issues until the last 2 years.

Even then, he still played hurt.

But, we are talking about a guy who went into last Season with a load management plan. He's a warrior. So, he only sat 10 games.

Still, his knees aren't getting healthier with age.

Not sure what you're saying here. I'd say that not having to worry about Lebron and AD's minutes because the got to the playoffs rested and healthy significantly raises their playoff ceiling.

Yes and no.

Significantly raises the probability of snuffing everyone in the West.

But, with health, you would have done that with Buddy or even Dennis The menace.

I don't think it gives you more than a punchers chance against a healthy Nets team.

Neither Team will field a roster of defensive stalwarts. But, their offense, specifically the ability to shoot...

That's gonna be hard to overcome with very few defenders on your team.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

thats cool. I like the Cavs jersey.

Of course you would. It could be covered in semen and you’d still like it

 

[trojanfan12]

Of course you would. It could be covered in semen and you’d still like it

The one he buys will be.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

The nba is no longer hiding their hate for the Heat....i respect it

Yeah but it’s ABC. If anything I’d be glad not to have to listen to JvG and Mark Jackson

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

We'll be better offensively and as long as we're 12-15th in defense.....we'll be fine.

I have series doubts you will be middle of the pack defensively.

Howard and Davis can't guard everyone, chase every shot.

 

[Black Adam]

 

[tlance]

I have series doubts you will be middle of the pack defensively.

Howard and Davis can't guard everyone, chase every shot.

That…

And “fine” usually isn’t good enough to win a ring.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

I have series doubts you will be middle of the pack defensively.

Howard and Davis can't guard everyone, chase every shot.

They'll be top 10