It's time to be honest - the Lakers look great and are bonafide contenders

[ScrantonBulls]

I mean, he’s definitely right. There are a lot of insecure Kobe kids that absolutely hate that LeBron brought a championship to LA. It burns them up that LeBron is a much better basketball player than Kobe. And this is evidenced very frequently by posters like slimlady83.

It's just crazy to me. The guy you replied to is a Lakers fan who completely stopped watching the Lakers since LeBron joined and doesn't acknowledge the recent championship. I'm not joking. He hates LeBron that much. I just can't fathom hating a player so much (aside from a murderer or something) that I'd stop watching my team. Especially a guy with such a clean record. There's no player I hate more than I love my team.

I'm here bud, what you got saying now?, like i said above, I've been here well b4 Bron became a Laker, I'm here while Bron is here, I'll be here well after Bron is Is a Laker... And I've kept my mouth shut since then and Ignored the bs coming from you since this post.

To the MODS.
***This thread thread should be locked for this reason alone, you don't know squat about me, I'm on Lakerboard daily doing game threads non stop, posting non stop about Lakers, I'm still here bud...

Clueless, Bron fan, but you do you bud, what ever floats your boat and keeps you happy.


I should report this nonsense to the mods, but I won't, I will let them decide what to do with this thread and your BS.

But you do you ScrantonBulls, troll away.

I wasn't even talking about you with that most recent post... Jesus dude, talk about a complete overreaction. Stop backseat modding and trying to tell the mods what to do. I created this thread to talk about the Lakers hot start and you predictably had to go after LeBron.

Regardless, it isn't that serious. There's no reason to get so upset.

[SlimShady83]

I wasn't even talking about you with that most recent post... Jesus dude, talk about a complete overreaction. Stop backseat modding and trying to tell the mods what to do. I created this thread to talk about the Lakers hot start and you predictably had to go after LeBron.

Regardless, it isn't that serious. There's no reason to get so upset.

Don't worry bud we done here.

I'm just mad because ScrantonBulls quoted Maxthirty who used my name man, then he quoted the above and you can see why I'm mad. But all is all good I'm done with ScrantonBulls from now on.

We can just move on from this.

[doogie_hauser]

All it takes is one serious injury to Luka and they are cooked. Having said that, they definitely playing way above my pre season expectations so far, JJ is really developing nicely as a young, if somewhat feisty coach.

Ayton seems like to have been a very good signing for them so far.

Curious to see the chemistry of the team once Lebron returns in a week or two.

Luka already missed 4 games, Lebron all 9 games so far and Reaves 2 games?
But okay, using your logic, can't you say the same thing with all the teams without their best players?
You think Denver, Boston, Bucks would not be cooked?

Pacers and Celtics already don't look like contenders this year (aside from Tatum, our big men losses in the off season for cap reasons mostly is really coming home to roost)

I can willingly admit i didn't see Austin Reaves take such a dynamic leap this season, and JJ has all your role players buying into his game plan especially defensively.

Knecht is probably the only concern Lakers fans have right now imo

[audiosway]

They should call up NOP about Herb Jones. If they can somehow get him to add on top of the current roster, they can be legit contenders.

I would love to see them add Herb. They are looking pretty legit already. Can't wait after they have more of the season under their belts. They are gelling really well.

[SlimShady83]

They should call up NOP about Herb Jones. If they can somehow get him to add on top of the current roster, they can be legit contenders.

I would love to see them add Herb. They are looking pretty legit already. Can't wait after they have more of the season under their belts. They are gelling really well.

I've quoted this b4 about Herb, but will most likely cost a FRP, would you?

[SlimShady83]

I apoligize my man, it just felt like because you quoted Maxharity and he used my name in vague (others not even seeing that), we good my man, we good, well at least for now. Mods, we've made love and we good.

I see the edit on page 6, respect that my man and thanks. See pages 2 and 6 all good.

[bonita_the_frog]

Every KD led team has looked good on paper. Crowning a KD led team as champs seems insane lol

I know, that's why I watch them play, and Phoenix never looked like champs.

Have they beaten a team with a winning record? What’s their best win so far

Suns started 9 and 1 last year.

I never saw the Suns play during those 10 games, and when I did see the Suns play it just looked like a "your turn, my turn" offense, and those offenses don't look like champions... plus they weren't known for defense.

Whereas I've been watching Houston and they are playing unselfish high-scoring basketball, despite being a brand new line-up, plus they have the athletic defense and SIZE at every position.

And even though Amen Thompson is new to the Point Guard role, he's doing a great job.
In my profile I predicted Houston would win multiple championships with KD, and their chemistry is actually ahead of schedule.

[durden_tyler]

The Lakers' next games:

@ Atlanta
@ Charlotte
@ Oklahoma City
@ New Orleans
@ Milwaukee
vs Utah
@ Utah
vs LA
vs Dallas

Thank you for this thread, i think they are near to 0.500 than top of the West standings before November ends.

[SlimShady83]

The Lakers' next games:

@ Atlanta
@ Charlotte
@ Oklahoma City
@ New Orleans
@ Milwaukee
vs Utah
@ Utah
vs LA
vs Dallas

Thank you for this thread, i think they are near to 0.500 than top of the West standings before November ends.

If healthy, should go 8-2 first 10 games (I predicted 7-3 on Lakersboard gamethread) just wrong games lols. OKC the real test (sorry Spurs, but we won) ... Bucks maybe lose to Giannis, ain't no Wemby and others need to show up though, 1 of Utah or both games should be Lauri Audition games (sorry no longer Kessler sorry). Clippers no doubt they'll have everyone playing but should be win. Mavs, should win. I say trap game.

In my eyes, 7-3 or 8-2 next 10 games, outcome as long as all is healthy.

[KyRo23]

The Lakers' next games:

@ Atlanta
@ Charlotte
@ Oklahoma City
@ New Orleans
@ Milwaukee
vs Utah
@ Utah
vs LA
vs Dallas

Thank you for this thread, i think they are near to 0.500 than top of the West standings before November ends.

This seems like a pretty mild schedule, no?

[kobe_vs_jordan]

The Lakers' next games:

@ Atlanta
@ Charlotte
@ Oklahoma City
@ New Orleans
@ Milwaukee
vs Utah
@ Utah
vs LA
vs Dallas

Thank you for this thread, i think they are near to 0.500 than top of the West standings before November ends.

That’s 2 teams with a winning record

[kobe_vs_jordan]

100% Lakers will do some trade this season to bring more defensive players (for Gabe & Knecht , picks)

The Lakers don't have any room in their rotation for a defensive wing.

Doncic, LeBron, LaRavia, and Hachimura have all earned the right to play substantial minutes at defensive wing.

Even if they trade Vanderbilt and Knecht, they don't have any real minutes at defensive wing unless LeBron and/or Hachimura get all the backup center minutes. Even still, with Ayton's good play, that only opens up another 15-18 minutes.

Their biggest need is a small, athletic point of attack defensive guard who can shoot and score. This is the archetype they should be pursuing, not an oversized defensive wing.

They need a DeAnthony Melton-type more than they need a Herb Jones-type. There just aren't any minutes for a guy like Herb Jones.

Nick Smith could fill that role, but he isn't nearly good enough defensively to give their rotation what it needs. Gabe Vincent is sufficient defensively, but he lacks the offensive spark. Bronny James is still a deer in head lights.

If I were them, I'd take a chance on Malik Monk. He's not what you think of when you think of defense, but I think when given a consistent role, with proper coaching, and vocal defensive leaders on the team (Marcus Smart), he can be impactful guarding most point guards.

Malik Monk is the guy they should go after:

Vanderbilt, Vincent, and Knecht
for
Monk, Carter, and Nique Clifford

Benefits SAC because they get off from Monk's 3 years, 60 million remaining on his contract in favor of Vincent's expiring and one more year of Vanderbilt at 11 mill. They also get to take a look at Knecht who could potentially replace Monk's firepower off the bench and, in getting Vanderbilt, they get to test a legit defensive PF out, something they severely lack on their roster.

Benefits LAL because they get scoring and athleticism (and hopefully some positive POA defense) off the bench from Monk. For taking on Monk's longer more expensive deal, they also get to try out two young defensive prospects in Carter and Clifford.

PG - Doncic - Reaves - Carter
SG - Smart - Monk - James
C -- Ayton - Hayes - Kleber
PF - James - LaRavia - Thiero
SF - Hachimura - Clifford

Monk a terrible fit. Lakers need a herb jones over melton any day of the week.

Gabe and smart are already melton types. Don’t have one legit wing defender

[kobe_vs_jordan]

They'll be fantastic in regular season while healthy if LeBron returns in last year's shape, we've already seen LeBron playing comfortably in more off-ball oriented role couple of times in the past 2-3 seasons - in the playoffs, tough to say, they found size (Ayton) and defense (Smart), but I don't think this is a top5-top8 defense material regardless.

So yeah, they look like a 2nd tier contender now, they fixed couple of things that killed them against the Wolves last year.

Exactly. The two real contenders out West are Denver and OKC.

Lakers, Wolves, Rockets, Warriors, Clippers are probably all the 2nd tier contenders.

I would put the Rockets above those other teams. They have the best point differential in the league, and they’ve been shockingly good on offense.

Lakers have been winning a lot of close games, which is good but not necessarily sustainable.

rockets haven’t beat a team with a winning record. Their net rating isn’t sustainable.

[sisibilio]

Was It ever a question?
Any team with a healthy Doncic is set to be a contender.

[tsherkin]

Was It ever a question?
Any team with a healthy Doncic is set to be a contender.

Yes, it's a question. No individual player is enough to guarantee contention.

Meantime, they've been a below-average defense against some unremarkable competition, they aren't rebounding well at either end, they've sucked from 3, and their offense is clicking along at an unsustainable level at the moment. And all that before Lebron returns and changes the chemistry. So there are loads and loads of questions about what this team will look like come playoff time.

Like, it's 9 games. Luka and Reaves have looked hot and the record is nice, but it's early as all sin, so it's wicked premature to be talking about contention.

[Optms]

The Lakers' next games:

@ Atlanta
@ Charlotte
@ Oklahoma City
@ New Orleans
@ Milwaukee
vs Utah
@ Utah
vs LA
vs Dallas

Thank you for this thread, i think they are near to 0.500 than top of the West standings before November ends.

This seems like a pretty mild schedule, no?

Mid as all hell.

RealGM grasping for straws with this declaration I see.

[hagredionis]

What people don't understand is that Ayton is clearly the best center that Luka ever played with. Let's not forget that he went to the conference finals with Powell and to the NBA finals with a rookie Lively so I think the Lakers definitely are contenders. But in my opinion to have a real chance to beat OKC, Houston or Denver in a series they sort of need another good versatile defender.

[tsherkin]

What people don't understand is that Ayton is clearly the best center that Luka ever played with. Let's not forget that he went to the conference finals with Powell and to the NBA finals with a rookie Lively

That's true, but he also had pretty high-end defense by the end of the season and into the playoffs, which was a large part of their success that happens to be lacking in the present incarnation of the Lakers. Like, Dallas was the 6th-best defense in the playoffs, and 0.2 away from 4th place in that regard. And that team was much better from the perimeter. And basically the polar opposite of LA in terms of ball protection (Dallas was 4th, LA is presently 28th in offensive TOV%).

They're not exactly the same situation, nor does Ayton's presence alone make them contenders by virtue of the upgrade in offense from Lively/Powell.

We'll get a better sense of LA's place when they've played more than mediocre competition over 9 games, but it's definitely aggressively optimistic to call them contenders right now. It's possible, but it's way, way, way too early to be sounding that horn. They've been beating up on teams they should, but that's no different than, say, the 2017 Raptors.

[Gus McCrae]

We’re playong great and wining close games. The role players are stepping up. Lukas defense is so much better now that he’s fit.

That said, I struggle seeing us beating OKC or even Golden State or Denver in a 7 game series. Also don’t know what happens when LeBron comes back and zaps all these role players usage rates.

We’ll see. Fun start to the season though!

[Mavrelous]

Both healthy Lively and healthy KP are better than Ayton, even this version of Ayton.
Lakers look like a lock to be 120+ in ORTG if Reaves and Luka play 70+ each, but there are a lot of concerning signals defensively.
They are outperforming their NetRTG right now, similar to last year.