POLL How far will these misfit Lakers go?

[True Lakers Fan]

Yes.

Then you should know that they don't have the same players as last year. Paul George was received for a really good player that I thought had the potential to be better and George had a lot issues with his shoulder. They do have a couple of really good reserves, but the Lakers have more quality reserves and if Cousins is 100% healthy as he claims, I think the Lakers will be better. I also think that Kuzma has the potential to explode, so between LeBron, Davis, Kuzma, Cousins I think the Lakers will equal the Clippers front court , but on paper the Lakers reserves together are worth more then the Clippers reserves. I acknowledge, however Rivers is a much better coach. You should be wishing that I'm right you know

 

[True Lakers Fan]

It will definitely be interesting to see who comes out on top in the West. This should be an entertaining season.

Will LeBron be back in the Finals?

And I wouldn't count Golden State out just yet.

I think the top three teams easily could be Lakers, Warriors and Clippers, but the Warriors have a lot of work and every game will be like a playoff game. That hopefully will wear them down

 

[lebron23james]

Depth does matter though.

The Lakers held out for Kawhi for the same reason anyone else in the same position would...the same reason that the Warriors added KD. When you can add a player of that caliber, you do it and worry about the rest later. The idea is that, if you can put together 3 players of that caliber, you can get guys who will take less for a shot at a ring.

The key though, is that you have to stay healthy.

You can make a case that a lack of depth was part of what hurt the Warriors in the 2 finals that they lost.

There was some serious discussion as to whether or not the Lakers would have been better off if they had stayed out of the Kawhi hunt and just went after better role players.

They have managed to put together what looks to be a better roster than most thought they could. But you can make a solid argument that it could have been even better had they not waited on Kawhi.

Yea i worded that funny. Depth matters, just not as much as having a top star.

They held out over having better depth because it was the smart thing to do, you always sign a top star over depth any day of the week.

It just happened to blow up in their face, although the raptors came out the worse of the 2 lol

 

[True Lakers Fan]

Depth does matter though.

The Lakers held out for Kawhi for the same reason anyone else in the same position would...the same reason that the Warriors added KD. When you can add a player of that caliber, you do it and worry about the rest later. The idea is that, if you can put together 3 players of that caliber, you can get guys who will take less for a shot at a ring.

The key though, is that you have to stay healthy.

You can make a case that a lack of depth was part of what hurt the Warriors in the 2 finals that they lost.

There was some serious discussion as to whether or not the Lakers would have been better off if they had stayed out of the Kawhi hunt and just went after better role players.

They have managed to put together what looks to be a better roster than most thought they could. But you can make a solid argument that it could have been even better had they not waited on Kawhi.

The only chance I think the Lakers had to be better then they are now by not waiting is if they could have got Butler, and I don't they had any chance of getting Durant, Irving or Walker. I personally think they ended up on their feet on solid ground.

 

[shopson67]

The only chance I think the Lakers had to be better then they are now by not waiting is if they could have got Butler, and I don't they had any chance of getting Durant, Irving or Walker. I personally think they ended up on their feet on solid ground.

Durant/Kyrie/Kemba were all locked up before free agency started, if we're being honest. While I like Butler as a player, I wasn't big on his fit with AD and the Lakers moving forward due to his age. Then again, that might have prevented the Lakers from wasting money on KCP...

 

[trojanfan12]

Just saw something interesting on ESPN:

Caesars Sportsbook in Vegas has the Lakers as the favorites to win the title at 3-1 (Clips are 7-2, Bucks 5-1).

Meanwhile, 0 NBA execs picked the Lakers to win the title.

 

[Black Adam]

Just saw something interesting on ESPN:

Caesars Sportsbook in Vegas has the Lakers as the favorites to win the title at 3-1 (Clips are 7-2, Bucks 5-1).

Meanwhile, 0 NBA execs picked the Lakers to win the title.

interesting...

lol @NBA execs, though...

haters gonna hate...

kidding actually. I don't think they ALL hate our guts...

 

[trojanfan12]

interesting...

lol @NBA execs, though...

haters gonna hate...

kidding actually. I don't think they ALL hate our guts...

Yeah, it's interesting.

NBA execs are probably using more actual analysis, but those Vegas guys are pretty good too. All those lights, etc. are expensive and they don't make money being wrong.

I tend to lean towards the NBA execs assessment right now because I think that, while the Lakers did a nice job recovering from not getting Kawhi, there are still more questions around them than the other contenders.

 

[Black Adam]

Yeah, it's interesting.

NBA execs are probably using more actual analysis, but those Vegas guys are pretty good too. All those lights, etc. are expensive and they don't make money being wrong.

I tend to lean towards the NBA execs assessment right now because I think that, while the Lakers did a nice job recovering from not getting Kawhi, there are still more questions around them than the other contenders.

yeah, only other factor roster-wise i'll be looking forward to is the trade deadline. by then I HOPE we know where we're lacking and address the need accordingly...

 

[trojanfan12]

yeah, only other factor roster-wise i'll be looking forward to is the trade deadline. by then I HOPE we know where we're lacking and address the need accordingly...

Agree. That's where I think we can get a good idea of whether or not Pelinka is the right guy long term.

He did a nice job executing his Plan B.

Now, once the season starts and we see what they lack, if he can address those needs, maybe we can start to worry less about the FO?

 

[dtgold88]

Agree. That's where I think we can get a good idea of whether or not Pelinka is the right guy long term.

He did a nice job executing his Plan B.

Now, once the season starts and we see what they lack, if he can address those needs, maybe we can start to worry less about the FO?

Fair, but serious question.....if you could replace him would you? do you think there are others who could do his job as well or better?

 

[WiggyRuss]

Just saw something interesting on ESPN:

Caesars Sportsbook in Vegas has the Lakers as the favorites to win the title at 3-1 (Clips are 7-2, Bucks 5-1).

Meanwhile, 0 NBA execs picked the Lakers to win the title.

because the Vegas odds are heavily dependent on what the public is betting. There are a lot of over zealous fans out there obviously that will be losing a shit ton of money on the Lakers.

pretty similar to what is happening to the Browns who's Super Bowl odds are way way way too high.

 

[dtgold88]

because the Vegas odds are heavily dependent on what the public is betting. There are a lot of over zealous fans out there obviously that will be losing a shit ton of money on the Lakers.

pretty similar to what is happening to the Browns who's Super Bowl odds are way way way too high.

was gonna make same comparison to Browns before I saw you did. Gotta be nuts to bet on the Browns if they are among top 3-5 worst odds. same with Lakers I think.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

was gonna make same comparison to Browns before I saw you did. Gotta be nuts to bet on the Browns if they are among top 3-5 worst odds. same with Lakers I think.

LAKERS are 3 to 1 or 6 to 2
CLIPPERS are 7 to be

Not much difference

 

[True Lakers Fan]

LAKERS are 3 to 1 or 6 to 2
CLIPPERS are 7 to be

Not much difference

 

[Wamu]

I'm currently protesting potato salad because it gets way over pimped on SportsHoopla. But it figures the one time I would have voted for PS it's not an option. Dammit.

 

[shopson67]

I'm currently protesting potato salad because it gets way over pimped on SportsHoopla. But it figures the one time I would have voted for PS it's not an option. Dammit.

Poll is almost a year old; that potato salad turned and was tossed out a long time ago...

 

[WiggyRuss]

was gonna make same comparison to Browns before I saw you did. Gotta be nuts to bet on the Browns if they are among top 3-5 worst odds. same with Lakers I think.

you see Taylor Lewan, the Titans stud left tackle was just suspended for the first 4 games?

the Browns play them week 1....now the Titans are gonna have a backup LT starting against Myles Garrett to begin the season.

I would not be happy if I was Marcus Marriota. LOL.

 

[trojanfan12]

Fair, but serious question.....if you could replace him would you? do you think there are others who could do his job as well or better?

I don't think I would replace him right now. It's looking like a lot of the FO dysfunction may have been on Magic. He also did a good job on filling out the roster after waiting out Kawhi. What he does to address any weaknesses during the season and/or next off-season will determine whether or not he needs to be replaced.

I'm sure there are others who could have done as well. But I don't think they're available.

 

[trojanfan12]

because the Vegas odds are heavily dependent on what the public is betting. There are a lot of over zealous fans out there obviously that will be losing a shit ton of money on the Lakers.

pretty similar to what is happening to the Browns who's Super Bowl odds are way way way too high.

Yeah, I tend to lean towards the NBA execs view. Not that I don't think they can win. I just think they have more questions right now than other contenders.

The Vegas are usually pretty good though.