AD is settling? look at Lebron James.

[tamaraw08]

Lebron James for this season is taking 8.4 3pt attempts per game as compared to shooter Kevin Durant's 4.6 3's/game.
Giannis is taking 4.1/game, a legit shooter like Booker who is shooting 40.9% is taking 5.9
Lebron's FT rate has dropped from 31% last season to just 24% this year. His TS% is lowest since 2007.
He is actually taking more attempts at 20.2 with Westbrook than 18.3 last season.
His shots from 0-3 feet is down to 26% of his attempts as compared to 36.5% 2 seasons ago.
Bear in mind He is turning 37 in several weeks, also nursing a few injuries.

[Kilroy]

I agree with all of that... That said, even with all the other shooters we have on the team, outside of Ellington and maybe Monk, LeBron is the guy I trust taking the 3 more than anyone... Melo is up there too... But Melo is hard to trust...
AD used to be up there, but not anymore...

[tamaraw08]

I agree with all of that... That said, even with all the other shooters we have on the team, outside of Ellington and maybe Monk, LeBron is the guy I trust taking the 3 more than anyone... Melo is up there too... But Melo is hard to trust...
AD used to be up there, but not anymore...

IMO, most 3’s that Lebron is taking are pretty much taking away 3 pt attempts from actual 3 pt shooters like Ellington.
James will probably not admit this but his one other agenda is to hit that record of a consecutive 25 pts/ game.
And because he has lost a step and also nursing injuries, he has to get those points from just taking 3’s. Last year KCP AND Caruso were hitting like 48% but kept getting limited touches, yes some of it is passiveness but some are Lebrons “aggression to score points

[Pythagoras]

A lot of it has to do with Vogel’s lineups. If Frank is going to go with two bigs, Lebron and Westbrook, then Ellington or Monk really need to be the other starter. When Frank runs the Dwight-AD-Lebron-THT-Russ lineup, it leaves Lebron as the de facto floor spacer.

It’s also hurt that Bazemore has completely fallen out of the rotation due to extreme suckage. He was supposed to be a 3 and D wing for this team this year. Another wing who could shoot could give the team more lineup versatility and Lebron wouldn’t have to shoot as much.

[ROballer]

He's got Kareem on his mind and that's it.

He knows he missed a lot of games last year due to injury and a lot of games the year before because of the covid outbreak which shorthened the season. He's got points to pick up.

He want to pass Kareem for #1 all time in points because in his mind with this other accolades, it would be enough to make him the undisputed GOAT.

Championships come second. He'd rather die than be a complimentary piece to a championship right now.

I'm half ass joking about the dying part but I'm 1000% SURE Lebron would rather lose a finals or earlier in the playoffs than win it and see a guy like Davis winning FMVP over him.

[tamaraw08]

A lot of it has to do with Vogel’s lineups. If Frank is going to go with two bigs, Lebron and Westbrook, then Ellington or Monk really need to be the other starter. When Frank runs the Dwight-AD-Lebron-THT-Russ lineup, it leaves Lebron as the de facto floor spacer.

It’s also hurt that Bazemore has completely fallen out of the rotation due to extreme suckage. He was supposed to be a 3 and D wing for this team this year. Another wing who could shoot could give the team more lineup versatility and Lebron wouldn’t have to shoot as much.

Your point makes sense but I wonder if you and ESPECIALLY Vogel is aware that a combo of James, Melo and AD has +7.2 net rating, actually the highest trio combo for Lebron. His lowest is with Bazemore and Westbrook.
Even if you add Westbrook for a 4 man, AD, Melo, Lebron lineup ​they are still a +6.4 pts net rating.
The highest NET for 5 team lineup is Melo, Ellington, James, Russ and AD but Frank only used that for 12 measly minutes while Frank was so adamant in using a 5 man lineup of Jordan, Bazemore, AD, Russ, James for 47 freaking minutes which yielded a -15.7 pts.
Btw, the highest partner for James is ..... AR-15 Austin Reaves with a +24pts, can you say Caruso 2.0

[Pythagoras]

A lot of it has to do with Vogel’s lineups. If Frank is going to go with two bigs, Lebron and Westbrook, then Ellington or Monk really need to be the other starter. When Frank runs the Dwight-AD-Lebron-THT-Russ lineup, it leaves Lebron as the de facto floor spacer.

It’s also hurt that Bazemore has completely fallen out of the rotation due to extreme suckage. He was supposed to be a 3 and D wing for this team this year. Another wing who could shoot could give the team more lineup versatility and Lebron wouldn’t have to shoot as much.

Your point makes sense but I wonder if you and ESPECIALLY Vogel is aware that a combo of James, Melo and AD has +7.2 net rating, actually the highest trio combo for Lebron. His lowest is with Bazemore and Westbrook.
Even if you add Westbrook for a 4 man, AD, Melo, Lebron lineup ​they are still a +6.4 pts net rating.
The highest NET for 5 team lineup is Melo, Ellington, James, Russ and AD but Frank only used that for 12 measly minutes while Frank was so adamant in using a 5 man lineup of Jordan, Bazemore, AD, Russ, James for 47 freaking minutes which yielded a -15.7 pts.
Btw, the highest partner for James is ..... AR-15 Austin Reaves with a +24pts, can you say Caruso 2.0

Um, you’ll get no argument from me on that lineup data you gave. I’ll be one of the first ones to point out that while the roster has its flaws, Vogel’s rotations have been AWFUL. In particular, I have no clue why the AD, Melo, Lebron, Ellington lineup isn’t ALWAYS closing games when those guys are all healthy and available. And the DJ experiment was unforgivable.

[SlimShady83]

Welcome to the 3 ball era ladies and gentlemen - so much fun isn't it? LOL

Could you all Imagine someone like Kareem, Karl Malone, heck even Shaq etc all playing in this Era and spending their time on the 3 point line LMAO

[tamaraw08]

Welcome to the 3 ball era ladies and gentlemen - so much fun isn't it? LOL

Could you all Imagine someone like Kareem, Karl Malone, heck even Shaq etc all playing in this Era and spending their time on the 3 point line LMAO

3pt shooting a nice weapon... if you have legit shooters who are actually taking the bulk of the shots. Pelinka went shopping for legit 3pt shooters and found Ellington, Monk and Melo and let go of good defenders to improve their offense which ranked 24th last season.
Guess what, Ellington is shooting well at 39.5%, Melo at 43%, Monk ok at 37% and yet they just ranked 23rd on ORTG.
Why? Because the freaking Lebron James after that Indiana Game where he made of his 3's declared "I AM THE BEST DESIGNATED SHOOTER OF THIS TEAM, I will take 8.4 attempts!" Now is Lebron that dumb? I don't think so but one of his top agendas is to hit that string of 25/game average which I think, is an all time record and for the season he is just hitting 33.7%

[kblo247]

Bull ****

Anthony Davis ranks:

• 1st in points in the paint
• 1st in points as the pick-and-roll roll man
• 2nd in baskets in the restricted area
• 2nd in points off post-ups
• 4th in dunks
• 5th in second-chance points
• 5th in percentage on layups
• 7th in layups

[wco81]

One one of the podcasts I listen to, someone said AD has been adding a lot of muscle.

Maybe it was in anticipation of playing the 5 more.

But did he lose some agility by adding weight?

Lebron also seems heavier than earlier in his career. He can still get up there but seems like he has to generate some momentum.

Along with Westbrook, Lakers have the most muscles at G, F, F/C.

Should be enough right? It worked in the Bubble, though AD shots well from midrange and 3, maybe one of his best stretches for jump shooting. Didn't hurt that he got a lot of soft calls when defenders tried to body him up on those mid post ups.

But the Lakers big lineup was suppose to turn the clock back from the pace and space game, somewhat. Well AD and Lebron like shooting more jumpers.

[dockingsched]

….
Bear in mind He is turning 37 in several weeks, also nursing a few injuries.

So knowing this you still created this thread? You’re not a Lakers fan, that simple.

Anyway…

Read on Twitter

[tamaraw08]

….
Bear in mind He is turning 37 in several weeks, also nursing a few injuries.

So knowing this you still created this thread? You’re not a Lakers fan, that simple.

Anyway…

Read on Twitter

Wow, I am not a Lakers fan because I pointed out ONE aspect that Lebron is not doing great.
But you and other Lebron worshippers are, right?
How many threads have you started again to complement other players like Ellington, Westbrook etc?
What about just plainly replying to other laker related threads on this specific board, lately? How many?
Lebron James was settling as evidenced by very high 3pt rate whether theres a legit reason or not.
And it's ok for him to settle....IF HE IS AVERAGING Above 38%
Fire away if your shooters like Ellington, Monk, Melo are struggling all year but they are NOT!
So we want to just give him a pass because he is old, so fine King, just dribble 12 times then take a difficult 29 footer, that's fine?
Age is not a valid reason to settle esp if your shots are not falling. James shot below 25% in the last 3 losses. Kobe got criticized for taking too many shots, but he didn't have legit shooters back then. Lebron can set up his scorers, provide screens, play harder on defense etc.
In fairness, he's been playing well, not just shooting great but actually working very hard on defense. A lot of it is just simply getting into better shape, into a nice rhythm which he didn't get when he got injured.

[sonnyhill]

He's got Kareem on his mind and that's it.

He knows he missed a lot of games last year due to injury and a lot of games the year before because of the covid outbreak which shorthened the season. He's got points to pick up.

He want to pass Kareem for #1 all time in points because in his mind with this other accolades, it would be enough to make him the undisputed GOAT.

Championships come second. He'd rather die than be a complimentary piece to a championship right now.

I'm half ass joking about the dying part but I'm 1000% SURE Lebron would rather lose a finals or earlier in the playoffs than win it and see a guy like Davis winning FMVP over him.

If this is true, then the Lakers need to trade him to an Eastern Conference team and be done with him.

The Laker brand is about winning championships. Even the great Kareem deferred to Magic.

LeBron's drive is commendable; however, AD's lack of drive is detestable. Also, with NBA teams evolving to smaller lineups, why is AD so against playing center?

This current iteration of the Lakers with LeBron, AD, and Westbrook is too selfish to win a championship.