The LeBron James All-NBA (2nd) and Luka Doncic - 24-25 Thread

[Tracymcgoaty]

You know i was optimistic about JJ and im gonna give him time. But if it was up to me i'd put his ass on the hot seat right now. Clear to me this man doesn't value defense. His rotations are weird and his refusal to plug DFS into the starting lineup tells me eveyrthing i need to know. Rui gets a pass for his horrid defense but he benches Max for 2 straight quarters.

Again if our offense looks bad we cant have an equally bad defense. Play your **** best defenders. Ar is probably out with an injury now.

Gabe
Christie
DFS
Lebron
AD

Just try that **** lineup it's defensively sound. What the hell does he even have to lose? Lebron has to create regardless if Rui is out there or not. Rui cant even create for himself or others so i might as well have the much better defender starting.

Nah this dude does the weirdest rotations and lineups. Im convinced his whole thing is to outscore teams instead of getting stops.

I believe Rui is being shopped, putting him to bench before deadline hurts his value. After deadline I bet that DFS starts.

Hopefully he is but i dont know. DFS isn't even cracking 25 minutes under JJ.

[zimpy27]

You know i was optimistic about JJ and im gonna give him time. But if it was up to me i'd put his ass on the hot seat right now. Clear to me this man doesn't value defense. His rotations are weird and his refusal to plug DFS into the starting lineup tells me eveyrthing i need to know. Rui gets a pass for his horrid defense but he benches Max for 2 straight quarters.

Again if our offense looks bad we cant have an equally bad defense. Play your **** best defenders. Ar is probably out with an injury now.

Gabe
Christie
DFS
Lebron
AD

Just try that **** lineup it's defensively sound. What the hell does he even have to lose? Lebron has to create regardless if Rui is out there or not. Rui cant even create for himself or others so i might as well have the much better defender starting.

Nah this dude does the weirdest rotations and lineups. Im convinced his whole thing is to outscore teams instead of getting stops.

I believe Rui is being shopped, putting him to bench before deadline hurts his value. After deadline I bet that DFS starts.

Hopefully he is but i dont know. DFS isn't even cracking 25 minutes under JJ.

He's getting most of bench guys. It's limitation of rotation but he will.switch to 30mpg when swapped into starting lineup.

Rebounding is the main concern though, I wouldn't be surprised if Vando walks in to the starting lineup. Lakers need a wing defender that rebounds like a PF/C and that's Vando.

I'd be keen if they could find someone else for that role though. I'm hopeful they don't need to put Vando on guards anymore with Christie and DFS, perhaps they can protect him more.

[zimpy27]

Would you guys trade Davis for Embiid?

[SlimShady83]

Would you guys trade Davis for Embiid?

Bron has one more year on his contract, I'll bet you all free taco's, that Lakers won't trade AD while they have still have Bron.

Post Bron Is another story, but even then I still don't see it happening unless AD asks for it.

[Tracymcgoaty]

Would you guys trade Davis for Embiid?

Bron has one more year on his contract, I'll bet you all free taco's, that Lakers won't trade AD while they have still have Bron.

Post Bron Is another story, but even then I still don't see it happening unless AD asks for it.

Depending on what we surround AD with post Lebron. If the team post Lebron is good i think he'll stay.

Also on Embiid..Hard pass. Dudes body is shot. He is the much better offensive player but health wise he's just not the dude you'd want on a team.

[trickshot]

You know i was optimistic about JJ and im gonna give him time. But if it was up to me i'd put his ass on the hot seat right now. Clear to me this man doesn't value defense. His rotations are weird and his refusal to plug DFS into the starting lineup tells me eveyrthing i need to know. Rui gets a pass for his horrid defense but he benches Max for 2 straight quarters.

Again if our offense looks bad we cant have an equally bad defense. Play your **** best defenders. Ar is probably out with an injury now.

Gabe
Christie
DFS
Lebron
AD

Just try that **** lineup it's defensively sound. What the hell does he even have to lose? Lebron has to create regardless if Rui is out there or not. Rui cant even create for himself or others so i might as well have the much better defender starting.

Nah this dude does the weirdest rotations and lineups. Im convinced his whole thing is to outscore teams instead of getting stops.

Trade deadline will say a lot but some of these priorities really are entering the play with fire territory. Most of these guys are too green to be out there on their own. The way Max, Rui and Reaves left Curry wide open on the christmas day game wasn't some one off. That's how they defend every night. It's February and they aren't there yet. Don't throw in Jaxson Hayes to make that fire worse. Start budding something different.

[IG2]

No trade(s) is turning this team from mediocrity to a Top 4 player in the West. Even if they somehow acquired the 'right' role players (size+wing defense), AD and LeBron themselves aren't good enough anymore to lead a deep playoff run. AD will be 32 in 1.5 months and his best years are clearly behind him. LeBron's 40 and while still a very good offensive player, he's a defensive liability on most nights.

I'm just thankful for 2020. LeBron won a title with every franchise he played for and that's a good feeling.

[RRR3]

At least he waited till 40 to be washed

[Ian Scuffling]

LOL...Not sure he's washed. Well, defensively I guess he is. No argument, there.

[trickshot]

Rob has failed on all his bets but JJ has also been trending stagnant lately. There's no point of calculus just to fail at basic arithmetic. Common scenario, When, not If, when Reaves gets beat off the dribble and AD steps out to challenge a shot, for the millionth time who's left to box out and grab the rebound? Rui? Lebron? the same unathletic Reaves? What of when AD is the primary defender on a scoring big? This is how the Nuggets keep getting you. You're bottom in rebounding because your guys are soft and can't jump over a phonebook and still insist on smallball as the default.

[nzahir]

Rob has failed on all his bets but JJ has also been trending stagnant lately. There's no point of calculus just to fail at basic arithmetic. Common scenario, When, not If, when Reaves gets beat off the dribble and AD steps out to challenge a shot, for the millionth time who's left to box out and grab the rebound? Rui? Lebron? the same unathletic Reaves? What of when AD is the primary defender on a scoring big? This is how the Nuggets keep getting you. You're bottom in rebounding because your guys are soft and can't jump over a phonebook and still insist on smallball as the default.

I feel like the only shot this team has is to play bigger and be more physical

We dont have the elite end offensive firepower and nobody is available to put us there really

Could have had Kyrie a couple years back, was such an obvious buy low trade to make even at the time......

If Danny is willing to move Kessler, he makes a lot of sense for now AND the future

If we arent willing to move an unprotected 1st and unprotect a 1st (at the least), then we have to get creative

Unprotect 27 and get a CLE 1st from Utah

Can swap our 26 1st with OKC for another 1st at least, maybe more since they need to consolidate assets

Can we do something with these assets?

ZERO ARGUEMENT for not having a C:

Kessler, Gafford, RW3, Vuc should be the main targets.

Then you need a 3rd ball handler:
Lozno, BI, DJM, etc

If we arent willing to get creative and make moves, I dont see why Bron wouldnt ask to go elsewhere and then LA ships out AD

[trickshot]

Rob has failed on all his bets but JJ has also been trending stagnant lately. There's no point of calculus just to fail at basic arithmetic. Common scenario, When, not If, when Reaves gets beat off the dribble and AD steps out to challenge a shot, for the millionth time who's left to box out and grab the rebound? Rui? Lebron? the same unathletic Reaves? What of when AD is the primary defender on a scoring big? This is how the Nuggets keep getting you. You're bottom in rebounding because your guys are soft and can't jump over a phonebook and still insist on smallball as the default.

I feel like the only shot this team has is to play bigger and be more physical

We dont have the elite end offensive firepower and nobody is available to put us there really

Could have had Kyrie a couple years back, was such an obvious buy low trade to make even at the time......

If Danny is willing to move Kessler, he makes a lot of sense for now AND the future

If we arent willing to move an unprotected 1st and unprotect a 1st (at the least), then we have to get creative

Unprotect 27 and get a CLE 1st from Utah

Can swap our 26 1st with OKC for another 1st at least, maybe more since they need to consolidate assets

Can we do something with these assets?

ZERO ARGUEMENT for not having a C:

Kessler, Gafford, RW3, Vuc should be the main targets.

Then you need a 3rd ball handler:
Lozno, BI, DJM, etc

If we arent willing to get creative and make moves, I dont see why Bron wouldnt ask to go elsewhere and then LA ships out AD

Absolutely. Lakers will never be top contenders but the blow it up thing is unrealistic. Jeannie doesn't have some business she can rely on if Lebron leaves so it's not going to happen and rolling over to die isn't an option either. All you can do is make the most of what you have and get as far as you can.

Not giving Hayes and Wood player options would have been a good start.The worst thing the 20 title did is trick the FO into thinking you can keep winning by exclusively signing budget bigs. Getting a Dwight level player for peanuts was pure luck. Treating the frontcourt like some afterthought because of the notion that AD at the 5 can beat anyone when it's really just matchup dependent. The league is trending back to size. It worked in 20 because Heat and Rockets had small 5s, Bam and PJ Tucker. It's not some ultimate uno reverse card.

[zimpy27]

It sounds insane but Ben Simmons still seems like the guy that helps the most without using FRPs.

Lakers are one of the worst rebounding teams in the league (by far their worst metric), you have limited ability to improve frontcourt positions to improve that too. What you can do is upgrade a guard to Simmons and make a big impact on rebounding.

Lakers also need defense, Simmons would be the best perimeter defender on the team day one.

Lakers also need another playmaker, again Simmons can do this.

Lakers also need a backup big, Simmons has played that role but you could be big by committee on this team by having several large players on the court when Davis sits (e.g. Simmons, DFS, LeBron, Vando, Wood - a huge lineup).

The path to get Simmons is as simple as paying to move Vincent in to space, maybe with the Wizards using LAC25SRP and LAL25SRP. Now you're under 1st apron and can pick him up after a buyout. Ben has long anted to live in LA.


Simmons, Reaves, DFS, LeBron, Davis -- Christie, Rui, Vando, Wood
Backups: Milton, Knecht, Reddish, Hayes

[trickshot]

Western conference is hilarious. Anyone from 4-6 can go on a 3 game win streak and be the 3rd seed by next week. New CBA wrecked a lot of teams's avenues to improve. How do the Mavs drop that game? I don't think people see the Lakers are just the most mediocre team with the most spotlight.

[nzahir]

It sounds insane but Ben Simmons still seems like the guy that helps the most without using FRPs.

Lakers are one of the worst rebounding teams in the league (by far their worst metric), you have limited ability to improve frontcourt positions to improve that too. What you can do is upgrade a guard to Simmons and make a big impact on rebounding.

Lakers also need defense, Simmons would be the best perimeter defender on the team day one.

Lakers also need another playmaker, again Simmons can do this.

Lakers also need a backup big, Simmons has played that role but you could be big by committee on this team by having several large players on the court when Davis sits (e.g. Simmons, DFS, LeBron, Vando, Wood - a huge lineup).

The path to get Simmons is as simple as paying to move Vincent in to space, maybe with the Wizards using LAC25SRP and LAL25SRP. Now you're under 1st apron and can pick him up after a buyout. Ben has long anted to live in LA.


Simmons, Reaves, DFS, LeBron, Davis -- Christie, Rui, Vando, Wood
Backups: Milton, Knecht, Reddish, Hayes

Rumor is nets wont buyout Simmons, but that would be nice

Also I still think we would need a C. Vuc could work if we had Simmons maybe?

Also see no need for Vando if we have Simmons

I hope we can be creative and swap a 1st with OKC or unrpotect that 1st to Utah to get some additional assets

Im good with any of the deals we have in terms of
C +3rd playmaker

Cs: Kessler, Rw3, Gafford, Vuc
3rd playmaker (lean more defense if getting Vuc, can lean more offense if getting a more defensive minded C): Zo, Smart, DJM, Brogdon? This is the harder one

[zimpy27]

It sounds insane but Ben Simmons still seems like the guy that helps the most without using FRPs.

Lakers are one of the worst rebounding teams in the league (by far their worst metric), you have limited ability to improve frontcourt positions to improve that too. What you can do is upgrade a guard to Simmons and make a big impact on rebounding.

Lakers also need defense, Simmons would be the best perimeter defender on the team day one.

Lakers also need another playmaker, again Simmons can do this.

Lakers also need a backup big, Simmons has played that role but you could be big by committee on this team by having several large players on the court when Davis sits (e.g. Simmons, DFS, LeBron, Vando, Wood - a huge lineup).

The path to get Simmons is as simple as paying to move Vincent in to space, maybe with the Wizards using LAC25SRP and LAL25SRP. Now you're under 1st apron and can pick him up after a buyout. Ben has long anted to live in LA.


Simmons, Reaves, DFS, LeBron, Davis -- Christie, Rui, Vando, Wood
Backups: Milton, Knecht, Reddish, Hayes

Rumor is nets wont buyout Simmons, but that would be nice

Also I still think we would need a C. Vuc could work if we had Simmons maybe?

Also see no need for Vando if we have Simmons

I hope we can be creative and swap a 1st with OKC or unrpotect that 1st to Utah to get some additional assets

Im good with any of the deals we have in terms of
C +3rd playmaker

Cs: Kessler, Rw3, Gafford, Vuc
3rd playmaker (lean more defense if getting Vuc, can lean more offense if getting a more defensive minded C): Zo, Smart, DJM, Brogdon? This is the harder one

I think Nets just want to get value and are trying to get teams to pay up before deadline with those rumors. Simmons is winning them games, they will want to buyout Simmons and DLo if no one trades for them.

Brogdon, Simmons, DLo, Bojan, Brown
Expect buyouts of all these guys if they aren't traded.

Bulls seem to want to compete so I don't think Lonzo gets bought out.

Vando and Simmons would be solid, just wouldn't play all 3 of Simmons, Vando, Davis at once. 2 at a time maximum. Good backup for each other. As long as Vando is seen as a negative deal the Lakers are better off keeping him.

I think Lakers want Reaves to be their smallest player, I think they want to be big but not necessarily have a traditional big. I think a stretch 5 would be of interest but maybe Wood or Rui can be that.

12 mins: Reaves, Christie, DFS, LeBron, Davis
12 mins: Simmons, Christie, Vando, LeBron, Wood
12 mins: Reaves, DFS/Vando, Rui, LeBron, Davis
12 mins: Simmons, Reaves, DFS, Rui, Davis

36 mins: Davis, LeBron, Reaves
30 mins: DFS
24 mins: Christie, Simmons, Rui
18 mins: Vando
12 mins: Wood

[tone wone]

Western conference is hilarious. Anyone from 4-6 can go on a 3 game win streak and be the 3rd seed by next week. New CBA wrecked a lot of teams's avenues to improve. How do the Mavs drop that game? I don't think people see the Lakers are just the most mediocre team with the most spotlight.

LAL is like noticeable worse than their record. -2.7 net rtg, -2.21srs. They should be 4-5 games under .500. This phoney 22-18 record is keeping the vultures from circling.

They’re not good at anything.

[Tracymcgoaty]

Look at Vuc..Dude has to be the worst defender at the center position. No thanks. dude is a layup line.

[Mos_Heat]

Last year AD and Lebron were legit 2 top 10 level players, but this year they are closer to 20-25 level. Realistically you can't close the gap in top end talent unless you can assemble a crazy ensemble cast of very good players. It would have to be Fox(or similar level offensive guard) + solid starter at the wing + deep bench of great role players. Unfortunately LAL doesn't have enough assets, enough smart people in the office or enough of want to do so

Retirement tour will be dope though

[trickshot]

Western conference is hilarious. Anyone from 4-6 can go on a 3 game win streak and be the 3rd seed by next week. New CBA wrecked a lot of teams's avenues to improve. How do the Mavs drop that game? I don't think people see the Lakers are just the most mediocre team with the most spotlight.

LAL is like noticeable worse than their record. -2.7 net rtg, -2.21srs. They should be 4-5 games under .500. This phoney 22-18 record is keeping the vultures from circling.

They’re not good at anything.

LAL have teams they don't have a chance of beating before tip off. They left massive holes in their starters unaddressed because of unfounded confidence in AD and Lebron. They wreck their net rating getting blown out when they lose and giving up leads at the end of wins because they didn't even bother to build a closing lineup.

This isn't some compliment to LA or any of the other crappy teams. Not here to raise anyone's morale. The reason anyone can make a run at WCSF is because all the true contenders had to dilute their rosters. The days of running 8 team deep contenders with 2 max players is dead for the foreseeable future. It's just a projection but I believe stars with simply okay casts will make noise in this year's playoffs. Clippers and Nuggets are best set to make it far. Dallas as well but Kyrie misses every third postseason. TLDR the well known 8 man deep playoff requirement is now less than previous years.