Another Laker thread

[zimpy27]

Anyone bringing up records and net ratings I think is missing the overall point. For better or worse, season aggregates are becoming less of an indicator than prior years. I believe the play-in has changed the strategies of teams, particularly ones employing older superstars. The Lakers' record specifically is depressed by poor coaching and internal strife from the beginning of the year.

That stretch after the IST when they went 5-11 against the most winnable teams is the difference between them in the top 4-5 in the West and in the play-in. Would anyone reasonably use that as the differentiator when betting on them today? This team is very clearly markedly different right now. I'd take the Lakers over a fully healthy Clippers right now. I'd take them over anyone in the playoffs except the Nuggets, and so should you. They need another two-way starter and a better coach to compete with Denver though, so better luck next year I guess.

Yeah, Lakers only shot is if some other team miraculously beats Denver IMO

[JellosJigglin]

Anyone bringing up records and net ratings I think is missing the overall point. For better or worse, season aggregates are becoming less of an indicator than prior years. I believe the play-in has changed the strategies of teams, particularly ones employing older superstars. The Lakers' record specifically is depressed by poor coaching and internal strife from the beginning of the year.

That stretch after the IST when they went 5-11 against the most winnable teams is the difference between them in the top 4-5 in the West and in the play-in. Would anyone reasonably use that as the differentiator when betting on them today? This team is very clearly markedly different right now. I'd take the Lakers over a fully healthy Clippers right now. I'd take them over anyone in the playoffs except the Nuggets, and so should you. They need another two-way starter and a better coach to compete with Denver though, so better luck next year I guess.

What were they thinking hiring Darvin Ham

[FrobeBryant]

Anyone bringing up records and net ratings I think is missing the overall point. For better or worse, season aggregates are becoming less of an indicator than prior years. I believe the play-in has changed the strategies of teams, particularly ones employing older superstars. The Lakers' record specifically is depressed by poor coaching and internal strife from the beginning of the year.

That stretch after the IST when they went 5-11 against the most winnable teams is the difference between them in the top 4-5 in the West and in the play-in. Would anyone reasonably use that as the differentiator when betting on them today? This team is very clearly markedly different right now. I'd take the Lakers over a fully healthy Clippers right now. I'd take them over anyone in the playoffs except the Nuggets, and so should you. They need another two-way starter and a better coach to compete with Denver though, so better luck next year I guess.

Imagine if Ham had not effed around and had started Rui from the get go. I know Rui was hurt for a stretch earlier in the season but it took way too long to re-insert him back into the starting lineup. His lineup tinkering cost the Lakers a handful of games and prevented them from landing a top 6 seed.

[og15]

Anyone bringing up records and net ratings I think is missing the overall point. For better or worse, season aggregates are becoming less of an indicator than prior years. I believe the play-in has changed the strategies of teams, particularly ones employing older superstars. The Lakers' record specifically is depressed by poor coaching and internal strife from the beginning of the year.

That stretch after the IST when they went 5-11 against the most winnable teams is the difference between them in the top 4-5 in the West and in the play-in. Would anyone reasonably use that as the differentiator when betting on them today? This team is very clearly markedly different right now. I'd take the Lakers over a fully healthy Clippers right now. I'd take them over anyone in the playoffs except the Nuggets, and so should you. They need another two-way starter and a better coach to compete with Denver though, so better luck next year I guess.

I'm not sure if this is actually true of just recency bias because of the Lakers and Heat both coming from lower seeding in the same year. I think we'll have to see it play out more consistently to say it is a thing.

The 22 Warriors for example are a not a good example of this because they got 32 games from Klay, half of those just recovering and 46 games from Draymond, and even only 64 from Steph (45-19 when he played) then had them all fully healthy the whole playoffs. Despite this, they still won 53 in the regular season, and were 1st in Drtg in the regular season, meaning that could have been a 60 win team if they had something like 65 games from both of those guys.

[NyKnicks1714]

The Lakers the last several years are the #1 reason i HATE the play-in nonsense....it lets teams cake walk the season and be a 8, 9 or 10 seed most years being setn home instead they just have to come in and actually play well for 2 games and all of sudden they get a free ride through the playoffs becasue they lolligagged all season

This doesn't even make sense. The two times the Lakers were in the play-in, they were a 7-seed. Each time they won their game and remained a 7-seed. They have never once received any benefit from being in the play-in.

[AussieCeltic]

They’re 8th out of the 10 playoff/play in teams in terms of record vs teams over .500…

There’s a good chance they still have to win 2 games to even make the playoffs and I’m not sure that’s a lock.

They’re the only West playoff/play in team with a losing road record.

There’s a very small chance they can maybe make it past round 1, but I can’t see them getting to the conference finals.

[One Last Shot]

They’re 8th out of the 10 playoff/play in teams in terms of record vs teams over .500…

There’s a good chance they still have to win 2 games to even make the playoffs and I’m not sure that’s a lock.

They’re the only West playoff/play in team with a losing road record.

There’s a very small chance they can maybe make it past round 1, but I can’t see them getting to the conference finals.

You share the same opinion with a lot of people last season and that's with LeBron having a torn tendon, they thought Perkins was a clown when he declared that Lakers will make the Conference Finals when they"re the 13th seed. Anyway, we're about to find out soon.

[AussieCeltic]

They’re 8th out of the 10 playoff/play in teams in terms of record vs teams over .500…

There’s a good chance they still have to win 2 games to even make the playoffs and I’m not sure that’s a lock.

They’re the only West playoff/play in team with a losing road record.

There’s a very small chance they can maybe make it past round 1, but I can’t see them getting to the conference finals.

You share the same opinion with a lot of people last season and that's with LeBron having a torn tendon, they thought Perkins was a clown when he declared that Lakers will make the Conference Finals when they"re the 13th seed. Anyway, we're about to find out soon.

If you’re banking on making the conference finals from the play in every year, you’re going to be in for a tough time.

The West is way better top to bottom this season. They’re obviously a good team, but it’s going to be a gauntlet to even get to the 2nd round, let alone the conference finals.

[One Last Shot]

They’re 8th out of the 10 playoff/play in teams in terms of record vs teams over .500…

There’s a good chance they still have to win 2 games to even make the playoffs and I’m not sure that’s a lock.

They’re the only West playoff/play in team with a losing road record.

There’s a very small chance they can maybe make it past round 1, but I can’t see them getting to the conference finals.

You share the same opinion with a lot of people last season and that's with LeBron having a torn tendon, they thought Perkins was a clown when he declared that Lakers will make the Conference Finals when they"re the 13th seed. Anyway, we're about to find out soon.

If you’re banking on making the conference finals from the play in every year, you’re going to be in for a tough time.

The West is way better top to bottom this season. They’re obviously a good team, but it’s going to be a gauntlet to even get to the 2nd round, let alone the conference finals.

Like I said, we'll see about that and we don't have to wait for too long. I just want a healthy playoffs this time around like Tatum won't have a terrible ankle injury on the very first possession of Game 7 in ECF. That alone deprive us a great/atleast better Finals series than Heat vs. Nuggets.

[Chuck Everett]

The free throw line (aka officiating) kept them afloat during the dog days of the season. We' and ll see come playoff time, but if they lose tonight, their game against Golden State later this week will be a must win because if they lose that one, then the Warriors have the same record and the tiebreaker.

[levon]

Anyone bringing up records and net ratings I think is missing the overall point. For better or worse, season aggregates are becoming less of an indicator than prior years. I believe the play-in has changed the strategies of teams, particularly ones employing older superstars. The Lakers' record specifically is depressed by poor coaching and internal strife from the beginning of the year.

That stretch after the IST when they went 5-11 against the most winnable teams is the difference between them in the top 4-5 in the West and in the play-in. Would anyone reasonably use that as the differentiator when betting on them today? This team is very clearly markedly different right now. I'd take the Lakers over a fully healthy Clippers right now. I'd take them over anyone in the playoffs except the Nuggets, and so should you. They need another two-way starter and a better coach to compete with Denver though, so better luck next year I guess.

I'm not sure if this is actually true of just recency bias because of the Lakers and Heat both coming from lower seeding in the same year. I think we'll have to see it play out more consistently to say it is a thing.

The 22 Warriors for example are a not a good example of this because they got 32 games from Klay, half of those just recovering and 46 games from Draymond, and even only 64 from Steph (45-19 when he played) then had them all fully healthy the whole playoffs. Despite this, they still won 53 in the regular season, and were 1st in Drtg in the regular season, meaning that could have been a 60 win team if they had something like 65 games from both of those guys.

It's obviously not just the Heat and Lakers that exemplify this. If you don't think the play-in has changed how teams, particularly older ones, strategize about the regular season, you haven't really been paying attention. That being said, the champion will more than likely come from the top 4 in either conference.

[jus a fan]

Lakers get 2 much credit for getting to WCF last year. Memphis was injured. GS was a low seed also. Both these teams took it to 6 games
1st series vs a top healthy team, they were swept.
Last year was a Cinderella story don't expect it again .
They also needed OT to win play-in game

Sent from my SM-S918U using RealGM mobile app

[NZB2323]

Anyone bringing up records and net ratings I think is missing the overall point. For better or worse, season aggregates are becoming less of an indicator than prior years. I believe the play-in has changed the strategies of teams, particularly ones employing older superstars. The Lakers' record specifically is depressed by poor coaching and internal strife from the beginning of the year.

That stretch after the IST when they went 5-11 against the most winnable teams is the difference between them in the top 4-5 in the West and in the play-in. Would anyone reasonably use that as the differentiator when betting on them today? This team is very clearly markedly different right now. I'd take the Lakers over a fully healthy Clippers right now. I'd take them over anyone in the playoffs except the Nuggets, and so should you. They need another two-way starter and a better coach to compete with Denver though, so better luck next year I guess.

I'm not sure if this is actually true of just recency bias because of the Lakers and Heat both coming from lower seeding in the same year. I think we'll have to see it play out more consistently to say it is a thing.

The 22 Warriors for example are a not a good example of this because they got 32 games from Klay, half of those just recovering and 46 games from Draymond, and even only 64 from Steph (45-19 when he played) then had them all fully healthy the whole playoffs. Despite this, they still won 53 in the regular season, and were 1st in Drtg in the regular season, meaning that could have been a 60 win team if they had something like 65 games from both of those guys.

I feel like it’s been true since 2016: a 55 win team beats a 67 win team and has a 3-1 lead against a 73 win team that blew a 3-1 lead against a 57 win team.

In 2018 the Cavs only won 50 games and made it to the finals as a 4th seed.

2020 a 44 win team makes it to the finals.

2019 and 2020 the Bucks are the 1st seed and lose in the playoffs. In 2021 they’re the 3rd seed and win it all.

2022 the Heat are the 1st seed and don’t make it to the finals. 2023 Heat are the 8th seed and make it to the finals. The 6th seed and 7th seed in the West win in the playoffs against the 2nd and 3rd seeds.

[ajones9219]

The lakers are +2500 to win the title. If you're that confident, You can make a fortune on them.

I personally don't see it

[Mavrelous]

Pro jinx move OP, respect!

[shrink]

“When healthy”

Top 6 players in minutes per game have missed:
AD 5 games
Lebron 10 games (even after load management)
Reaves 0 games
Russel 0 games
Rui 12 games
Prince 4 games


Seems like they’ve had a pretty consistent main core, in fact - they’re all award eligible! - yet won’t win 50 games… tough to be 2nd best in the west when you can’t win 50

Because the team with the best record wins the title every year, right?

I’m pretty confident they have won more titles historically than the ninth place teams.

[shrink]

Lakers get too much credit for getting to WCF last year. Memphis was injured. GS was a low seed also. Both these teams took it to 6 games
1st series vs a top healthy team, they were swept.

In addition, in the first Play-In game MIN, without Gobert, McDaniels or Naz Reid, and a recently returned Towns, took them to overtime. One more point, and MIN gets that easy path as the seventh seed, and LAL, even if they win the next game to make the eighth seed, face DEN in Round 1. One more point, and we would look at both teams very differently.

[SweaterBae]

“When healthy”

Top 6 players in minutes per game have missed:
AD 5 games
Lebron 10 games (even after load management)
Reaves 0 games
Russel 0 games
Rui 12 games
Prince 4 games


Seems like they’ve had a pretty consistent main core, in fact - they’re all award eligible! - yet won’t win 50 games… tough to be 2nd best in the west when you can’t win 50

Because the team with the best record wins the title every year, right?

Condescend much?

[kazyv]

the lakers really really needed to get that 6th seed, because it's looking really grim vs nuggets or vs wolves

[Mr Puddles]

“When healthy”

Top 6 players in minutes per game have missed:
AD 5 games
Lebron 10 games (even after load management)
Reaves 0 games
Russel 0 games
Rui 12 games
Prince 4 games


Seems like they’ve had a pretty consistent main core, in fact - they’re all award eligible! - yet won’t win 50 games… tough to be 2nd best in the west when you can’t win 50

To add:

• AD is 2 games away from matching his career high in games played.
• Lebron has played his most games since the '17-'18 season.

This is not the year to use health as an excuse.