Lakers Are Now 2nd Seed In The West

[Tottery]

Luka getting credit for the turnaround is funny. Outside of tonight, they've been winning despite his poor shooting.

The pairing of Vando and DFS has transformed this team. Since 01/25/25 (when Vando came back) the lakers are 14-3. 1st in defensive rating, 10th offensive rating, and 3rd in net rating. If we only include games after AD was traded, they are still 1 for defensive rating, 10th for offensive, and 6th for net rating. It's really the defensive role players that have changed the team (Vando, DFS, Vincent, Goodwin).

[cgf]

You think the West are the junior bracket when 10 of the top 16 teams record-wise are in that conference?

I like to tease some western fans about OKC being the only western conference team who would make it to round 2 if they got moved to the east. The west certainly has more 2nd/3rd tier teams, but the east has 3 of the top 4 teams in the NBA this season and that shift annoys some western conference fans (like CG) to no end.

The Knicks are about to be 0-9 against the top 4 teams in the NBA after Thursday and none of the games have been close.

There's no annoyance from me about what the facts are. Delusion runs strong.

There's a reason Los Angeles sports teams own New York sports teams. It must sting that much to you I guess.

0-7, Knicks can't play themselves we are 5-2 against the non-OKC playoff teams in the west...shame all our games aren't against those big bad pretenders in the west.

I didn't know that LA had sports teams other than the Lakers. Unless you're talking about those weird american sports like cricket and rugby-for-cowards, but only americans care about those.

[Tottery]

Something is being built and I'm starting to think everything is rigged. We will see a first-round exit against a healthy Mavericks and I will be done with the NBA.

Rigged as in all the players are in on it like WWE? Pretty sure we would have heard tons of players talking openly about something like that now. Mavs have injuries. If they meet early that's why.

[DoctorX]

Lakers are a fake good team as what happens often with LeBron led squads. Luka is who he is but the surrounding talent doesn't mesh as it did in Dallas. Next season it will. They lose to the Warriors this season.

I feel they are a fools gold team. They can win a lot of regular season games, but their roster structurally doesn't strike me as a contending team compared to the best teams such as OKC, Boston, Cleveland. Fools gold teams in past years for reference would be 2015 Hawks, 2011 Spurs. They will have a similar crash and burn to those teams once they play in a 7 game series and teams can adjust to game planning for them and their gimmicks. Right now, their biggest weapon is the element of surprise since teams are not used to game planning against Lebron and Doncic.

I see them also falling and finishing the season in 4th or 5th place. 1 or 2 losses puts them back in that position.

[cgf]

Something is being built and I'm starting to think everything is rigged. We will see a first-round exit against a healthy Mavericks and I will be done with the NBA.

Rigged as in all the players are in on it like WWE? Pretty sure we would have heard tons of players talking openly about something like that now. Mavs have injuries. If they meet early that's why.

Don't you know anything about conspiracies? Getting thousands of people to keep a secret is easy.

[One Last Shot]

I like to tease some western fans about OKC being the only western conference team who would make it to round 2 if they got moved to the east. The west certainly has more 2nd/3rd tier teams, but the east has 3 of the top 4 teams in the NBA this season and that shift annoys some western conference fans (like CG) to no end.

oh fair enough, carry on . Good luck in the playoffs. I really hope Mitch will be healthy this time around and the Knicks should have a decent shot to win it all imo.

Our top 7 staying healthy would be huge as I do think playing KATman & Robinson together could level up our A-game, but with the way the top 3 have taken us apart so far, it's hard not to think we need another offseason to build up our depth, so we can maintain our A-game for longer...as we gassed down the stretch in our first matchups with OKC & CLE, and ran out of steam after pulling within 4 in our last match with Boston.

This season has been a lot of fun against 26 of the 29 other teams in the league, but unfortunately we seem destined to run into one of those 3 teams that wreck us in round two.

Remember last playoffs when the Suns swept the Wolves in the regular season then got swept in the 1st round of playoffs by the same squad? Either way, should be a great semifinals series for the Knicks regardless, I just want everyone to be healthy.

[cgf]

oh fair enough, carry on . Good luck in the playoffs. I really hope Mitch will be healthy this time around and the Knicks should have a decent shot to win it all imo.

Our top 7 staying healthy would be huge as I do think playing KATman & Robinson together could level up our A-game, but with the way the top 3 have taken us apart so far, it's hard not to think we need another offseason to build up our depth, so we can maintain our A-game for longer...as we gassed down the stretch in our first matchups with OKC & CLE, and ran out of steam after pulling within 4 in our last match with Boston.

This season has been a lot of fun against 26 of the 29 other teams in the league, but unfortunately we seem destined to run into one of those 3 teams that wreck us in round two.

Remember last playoffs when the Suns swept the Wolves in the regular season then got swept in the 1st round of playoffs by the same squad? Either way, should be a great semifinals series for the Knicks regardless, I just want everyone to be healthy.

Don't get me wrong, I'm optimistic...I've been saying since the trade happened that we'd need Mitch next to Towns to stand a chance of slowing down the top teams and if healthy think we'd be a tough matchup for the Cavs or Thunder...but until we see that, it's hard to expect it. Luckily this season has been very enjoyable, even if we do end up needing one more offseason before we're ready.

[Edrees]

Would be the 4th seed in the east.

The top 3 East teams have an amazing privilege of going up against under .500 7th and 8th seeded teams like the Heat and Magic all the time.

Great way to inflate their win/loss records.

Does telling yourselves this actually make you feel better? The top of the east wrecks the west the same way it does the east.

They have a worse record against the west than they do the bottom feeder east teams. That's why they get an inflated record.

[Edrees]

Luka getting credit for the turnaround is funny. Outside of tonight, they've been winning despite his poor shooting.

The pairing of Vando and DFS has transformed this team. Since 01/25/25 (when Vando came back) the lakers are 14-3. 1st in defensive rating, 10th offensive rating, and 3rd in net rating. If we only include games after AD was traded, they are still 1 for defensive rating, 10th for offensive, and 6th for net rating. It's really the defensive role players that have changed the team (Vando, DFS, Vincent, Goodwin).

It's also addiction by substraction not having DLO's defense out there.

[One Last Shot]

Our top 7 staying healthy would be huge as I do think playing KATman & Robinson together could level up our A-game, but with the way the top 3 have taken us apart so far, it's hard not to think we need another offseason to build up our depth, so we can maintain our A-game for longer...as we gassed down the stretch in our first matchups with OKC & CLE, and ran out of steam after pulling within 4 in our last match with Boston.

This season has been a lot of fun against 26 of the 29 other teams in the league, but unfortunately we seem destined to run into one of those 3 teams that wreck us in round two.

Remember last playoffs when the Suns swept the Wolves in the regular season then got swept in the 1st round of playoffs by the same squad? Either way, should be a great semifinals series for the Knicks regardless, I just want everyone to be healthy.

Don't get me wrong, I'm optimistic...I've been saying since the trade happened that we'd need Mitch next to Towns to stand a chance of slowing down the top teams and if healthy think we'd be a tough matchup for the Cavs or Thunder...but until we see that, it's hard to expect it. Luckily this season has been very enjoyable, even if we do end up needing one more offseason before we're ready.

For half a decade, all defending champs never get past the second round of the playoffs and Brunson is Donovan Mitchell's dad until proven otherwise.

[Raps in 4]

Should be a lock for the WCF. Luka is too good, and LeBron is still good enough to be an elite second option.

[Raps in 4]

Lakers are a fake good team as what happens often with LeBron led squads. Luka is who he is but the surrounding talent doesn't mesh as it did in Dallas. Next season it will. They lose to the Warriors this season.

I feel they are a fools gold team. They can win a lot of regular season games, but their roster structurally doesn't strike me as a contending team compared to the best teams such as OKC, Boston, Cleveland. Fools gold teams in past years for reference would be 2015 Hawks, 2011 Spurs. They will have a similar crash and burn to those teams once they play in a 7 game series and teams can adjust to game planning for them and their gimmicks. Right now, their biggest weapon is the element of surprise since teams are not used to game planning against Lebron and Doncic.

I see them also falling and finishing the season in 4th or 5th place. 1 or 2 losses puts them back in that position.

Luka will be the best player in most series they play in, and LeBron will usually be the third best player. That's good enough to beat anyone.

[MaliBrah]

Darvin Ham legit cost LeBron at least one ring, maybe two. Never forgiving that idiot.

Denver probably beats them anyway but Dlo and Ham legit ensured it was a sweep.

[Mrakar]

Luka getting credit for the turnaround is funny. Outside of tonight, they've been winning despite his poor shooting.

The pairing of Vando and DFS has transformed this team. Since 01/25/25 (when Vando came back) the lakers are 14-3. 1st in defensive rating, 10th offensive rating, and 3rd in net rating. If we only include games after AD was traded, they are still 1 for defensive rating, 10th for offensive, and 6th for net rating. It's really the defensive role players that have changed the team (Vando, DFS, Vincent, Goodwin).

[xinxin]

Lots of coping in this thread ..

I admit I didn’t think much of the lakers chances at the start of the season..

But the DFS signing, the return of Vando and the improved play of Vincent have definitely sparked the defense of the team. Goodwin as a throw in is a nice bonus. I don’t think they’re fool’s gold.

Perhaps not as good as the Celtics or the Cavs but they are definitely contenders now, barring any new injury to the team.


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[Optms]

Lebron sliding into a second option role unlocks other abilities. More focus on guarding guys 1 through 5 and playing decoy to Luka.

League is in trouble. Lakers aren't even trying to win it this year but will be dangerous vs anyone.

[LakersSoul]

Luka giving this team new life.

Mavs you idiots. Their fans don’t deserve this.

Luka is opening up the Lakers players!

So many open 3s!

Knecht on fire hitting everything yesterday, plus kid is hustling and looking much better on D.

[Homer38]

Read on Twitter

[Johnny Firpo]

Would be the 4th seed in the east.

Hope this is just a random, totally useless information - for which it's excellent -, and you are not suggesting that the East is stronger.

[Ssj16]

Would be the 4th seed in the east.

After they beat the Knicks on Thursday that would be moot anyway since they're a better team than the Knicks.

Aww, you're so cute when you get all worked up about how good the Knicks have become

https://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/east_vs_west.html

The west has a .567 win percentage against the east.

Overall the west is more talented when you look at the fact the Spurs who are in 13th place in the west with .424 winning percentage would 10th in the east.

Overall, 1 -10 in the west have a higher winning percentage than 1 - 10 in the east with all those west teams being over .500.

This would equate to there being more quality and parity in the west.

The west teams play themselves more, meaning they are playing higher quality teams more frequently.

You could use grade 2 logic to figure out that Lakers would have a better record in the east and at worst be third place.

A team like the Knicks would probably be 5th place in the west, if lucky.