Hans1984 wrote:They get blown out by a Dallas team without Donkic and Kyrie. This team is cooked.
I’m feeling pretty good about this team, but my Lakers cup is always 3/4 full. Reasons to feel good about being a Lakers fan right now:
Great new coaching staff! Way better than last year. Defense first philosophy, check! Ball movement and inside-out philosophy, check.
Bron still plays well enough to sort of merit his paycheck.
AD is a top 5 center both ends. Monster games every night on defense. Needs to be force fed the ball on offense more to get into the games.
Crucial roster members have been on IL since start of season, but we’re still in the hunt despite it.
Had we won yesterday we would sit at #4 in the WCF ahead of Denver.
We got rid of our biggest defensive liability D Lo via trade and turned that into an intelligent 3&D veteran player who is clutch and a badass competitor in DFS.
Vanderbilt is not a favorite of those who watch O only but I personally can’t wait to see him back making life difficult for 1-4 opponents every night. It’s going to make a big impact if(!) he stays healthy rest of season.
Max is a super value contract. Keep him. He is a super smart and young(!) player whose offense is better than he has shown yet. His defense is already amongst the best on our team. At 32M per for four years…
Knecht! He stays, too. We got so lucky.
Reaves stays, too. He fills the function offensively that Ginobili and Parker used to for the Duncan led Spurs. He penetrates jerky jerky unpredictable stop and go style, makes the right decisions after he collapses their defense. Stronger base needed for better defense.
Gabe is playing well.
Hayes is looking better than ever.
Wood is coming back.
Olivari is a wild joker card to play in the playoffs.
Reddish is playing well on defense but needs to knock down the midrange opportunities he always gets and never takes. A reliable pull-up 15-18’ footer jump shot could change his impact significantly.
Even if Bron retires, a roster of Vincent, Reaves, Christie, Knecht, AD, Vando, isn’t exactly a bad starting situation for a star to go to.
Then, there’s always improvements via trade. When a Butler is moved, let’s hope we can somehow capitalize on the ripples made.
OKC/CLE will be fun to watch tonight.