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LAKESHOW wrote:glad hes back. We need all hands on deck, dialed in and focused if we are going to take down this title

I agree. As a Laker fan I was hoping they worked on their weaknesses during the hiatus.

1. Lebron on FT shooting, his % has been down since he became a Laker.
2. Caruso. I love this guy, his defense etc but he has a pretty bad pull up jumper from 12-20 feet.
3. Green. 3pt shooting. He has to regain his touch esp with Bradley not in the lineup.
4. AD- Core strength. I still had nightmares watching the Boston game here, where he as neutralized inside.
5. Kuzma- shooting and overall feel and finding out how to maximize his worth on the team. Him shooting above 37% from the 3pt area, getting extra rebs and blocks would make a huge difference.
6. Vogel and his staff to come up with the best offensive and defensive sets not just for starters but for the bench. He has been extremely reliant on his 2 superstars with very little options for the bench to score. I remember Pops designing plays for Manu and Daly setting up Vinnie "the Microwave" Johnson to sustain the offense while the starters are resting.

Some behind the curtains look from Javale's vlogs, looks like they turned the ball rooms in the hotels into practice courts. It looks like a claustrophobe's nightmare with the low ceilings and a high intensity workout.

Barkley predicts that Portland will beat the Lakers in the playoffs.
[https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/charles-barkley-still-has-the-9th-seeded-trail-blazers-beating-the-los-angeles-lakers-in-the-playoffs/ar-BB16RMUl][/url]

Charles Barkley made a bold prediction on Inside the NBA on Thursday night, saying that the Portland Trailblazers would beat the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Of course, this bold prediction came during a segment where Ernie Johnson asked for bold predictions, but still, that's pretty bold!

I am not shocked at all, I've been hearing Charles picking the Blazers for at least 3 years. I myself see how dangerous Portland is and I was so fortunate that I am not a gambling man bec I would have lost hard earned money if I bet on them 3-4 yrs ago.
I read Nurkic and Collins would be back and that would solidify their frontline.
btw, Does anyone know whatever happened about the discussion on putting some "advantages" for higher seeded teams bec they now LOSE HOME COURT ADVANTAGE?
The most realistic proposition for me is that higher seeded teams should have an extra challenge.

That's an interesting analysis. I believe its based on Guard play. He sees the starting guard go down from the Lakers. Then adds the Dynamic duo in McCollum and Lillard. Then predicts based on that advantage in guard play, blazers win. He's also stating the trailblazers have enuff to overcome the DYNAMIC duo of the Lakers. Then says, I'm Bold! This is why this playoff situation is gonna be fun. I however, am still highly interested in Boston vs Toronto. That's a matchup I've been waiting to see, big matchups everywhere all across the floor. Chuck? He wants to see a battle of DYNAMIC duos.

Can't wait till Thursday. It'll be like good ol times pre covid. Pre kobe death. Pre blm bull. Pre CCP international terror law.

Beethoven wrote:Can't wait till Thursday. It'll be like good ol times pre covid. Pre kobe death. Pre blm bull. Pre CCP international terror law.

You had me there for the first half.

^ ..uhh..
I mean, listen, we're talking about practice, not a game, not a game...not a game, we talking about practice. Not a game. ..

dockingsched wrote:

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In a scrimmage Kuzma will get some opportunity. In a playoff game? My guess is that his role diminishes with the Bron approved vets regardless of his shooting.

Beethoven wrote:^ ..uhh..
I mean, listen, we're talking about practice, not a game, not a game...not a game, we talking about practice. Not a game. ..

Ok AI we takin’ bout practice

I dont buy into any of the Kuzma hype. Left that station a long time ago.

They always pump Kuz up during the breaks... He's always the most in shape, the most engaged, the easiest to coach, etc... No surprise here. Keeping that value high...

What trips me out about the behind the scenes videos is how ghosted LeBron is... He's always lurking there somewhere but doesn't seem engaged at all... Like maybe all that love you see on the sidelines and durning warmups is all for the camera... Maybe?

.... Also... Did anybody catch the one where Javale is teasing the purple team for getting beat by his white team and AD says "I'm Purple Team for life, bro!!"

I thought there would be a scrimmage game thread

I've never been so damn excited for a pre-season game.

LET'S F**ING GOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

1) Play LeBron/AD two shifts: 12-14 minutes each
2) Lots of Dion Waiters/JR Smith

Excitement is Real! Basketball is back