Lakers 2017-2018 Season Thread

[Retroram52]

Wow what a duo punch with IT and Randle for that three-point play.

 

[Retroram52]

The Lopez wide body just cannot be stopped by Cleveland.

 

[Retroram52]

Pick-n-roll is working magnificently.

 

[Retroram52]

IT to Randle for Randle to get a 30-point night.

 

[Retroram52]

I think the Lakers should stick with these guys and go get Nance again and let this LBJ talk just die as the announcers are discussing.

 

[Retroram52]

The lead is now 20.

 

[Retroram52]

Well this was a great win with number 30 and we still have a chance. Later.

 

[Retroram52]

I agree with Luke and maybe Pelinka and Magic should stop with the we-need-two-max-players-to win a championship nonsense.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/m/a980...ae8dd23a/ss_luke-walton-believes-lakers,.html

 

[trojanfan12]

I agree with Luke and maybe Pelinka and Magic should stop with the we-need-two-max-players-to win a championship nonsense.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/m/a980c755-7f6f-333e-aa17-07f1ae8dd23a/ss_luke-walton-believes-lakers,.html

There are a few problems with this, imo.

1. It's not about competing for the playoffs, it's about contending for championships. Sure, if you can keep this team together, they can definitely compete for the playoffs. But, the Lakers are about competing for titles. There is no guarantee that they continue to develop into a title contender.

2. You can't assume you can keep this roster together. Is IT, who has become a big part of why this team is playing well, going to be willing to continue to come off the bench? Will Lopez and KCP want to come back? They are UFA's.

3. Beware of the contract year. I love me some Julius Randle and am a big fanboy. But for the first 3 years of his career, he was showing "Shaq tendencies" when it came to staying in shape. Then suddenly, when he's about to be an RFA, he decides to start doing things he should have been doing all along? Did he have a real epiphany, or did he figure out what would get him paid and will revert back once the big deal is signed? He certainly wouldn't be the first to do that.

While it certainly wouldn't be the end of the world if the Lakers stood pat and looked to see what this group can become, I think that if you have the chance to add Lebron and PG (since that's who the rumors are about) and it costs you Julius Randle...you do it without a second thought.

 

[Retroram52]

You have some good points TJF12 but the way Kuzma, Randle, and IT are now playing, the Lakers might be silly to get rid of especially Randle.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/m/734f...fd833015499/ss_lakers-highlights:-julius.html

 

[Retroram52]

This is good news. The downside is we will be playing a back-to-backer. We could still eek out a win tonight even though the game is in Sacramento.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/birthday-boy-steph-curry-not-002652246.html

 

[Retroram52]

Apparently Kyle Kuzma liked what he heard and he had a career night after a visit from the Rock.

The Rock gave the Lakers an ‘inspirational message’

 

[trojanfan12]

You have some good points TJF12 but the way Kuzma, Randle, and IT are now playing, the Lakers might be silly to get rid of especially Randle.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/m/734f9075-9036-31df-8598-8fd833015499/ss_lakers-highlights:-julius.html

Unless any of them are as good as Lebron...they are all expendable to one degree or another.

It's extremely unlikely that Kuzma is going anywhere any time soon. He's on a rookie deal, so he's a bargain for the Lakers for the next 3 years or so.

IT is going to want a lot of money and a starting role. I don't see him coming back unless it's on another 1 year deal because he didn't get the kinds of offers he was looking for and the Lakers didn't land any max FA's.

Randle can be a little harder to know what to do with. If the Lakers land 2 max guys...he's gone unless he is willing to re-sign for a lot less than he's likely to be offered by other teams. So that part is fairly easy, even though I think everyone (including the Lakers) would love to be able to keep him and get 2 max guys.

If the Lakers don't land 2 max guys, then it gets tricky. The Lakers will then be looking to preserve cap space and go after 2 max guys in 2019. Do they match whatever he's offered and be faced with having to look to trade him to be able to get 2 max guys? Do they re-sign him and hope that he and the other youngsters continue to develop so that they maybe don't have to try to sign 2 max guys? Either one could turn out great or blow up in their face.

 

[lasportzphan]

Can't beat Golden State with Thompson, Curry, & Green out? Yikes.

 

[tomodach10]

Can't beat Golden State with Thompson, Curry, & Green out? Yikes.

We did not have two of our best players, but thanks for playing. Still waiting for the kings to ever be relevant.

 

[wildturkey]

Can't beat Golden State with Thompson, Curry, & Green out? Yikes.

We didn't have Ingram or Kuzma and it was the 2nd night of a back to back. Still...it was a winnable game all things considered. Not the worst thing in the world though

 

[trojanfan12]

Can't beat Golden State with Thompson, Curry, & Green out? Yikes.

The Lakers were missing Ingram, Kuzma and Hart. The Warriors also still had KD. The Lakers have no one as good as KD, even when fully healthy.

As wildturkey said, still was a winnable game though. The Lakers are a young team and young teams tend to lose games they shouldn't.

For that matter, veteran teams also lose games they shouldn't. The Warriors, at full strength, have been beaten by a couple of historically bad Lakers teams...but somehow managed to pull things together enough to win a couple of championships.

 

[Retroram52]

Well, they are down a few points to the Heat who are in town tonight.

 

[Retroram52]

Randle is on another scoring tear tonight.

 

[Retroram52]

Zubac is playing with some hutzpah this evening. Just had a great dunk with assist by IT.