The Lebron Thread | 2021 & Offseason

[Homer38]

Remember when Gary Trent Jr. was on fire vs Lakers....It was a fluke

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[MyUniBroDavis]

Par for the course. Lakers after tonight will be bottom 3 in free throw rate and of course James will be have one of the lowest FTr given usage and shots at the rim.

AD really taking less than 4.5 free throws a game is really weird lol

Interesting thing is that Lakers aren’t taking threes [22nd in attempt rare] nor FTs at 25th in attempt rare (the TWO HIGHEST correlative elements to high ORtgs are 3p attempt rate and FTr) but are playing well offensively on talent alone while tinkering with offense. The last two games havent been good offensive showings, but watching these games, you saw them tinkering with things as far as offense initiation goes (incorporating Gasol and Schroeder), but LeBron initiating playing 5 out has been a very, very good offense.

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Updated:

LBJ+Gasol, +31.5 per 100 possessions, 125 minutes
LBJ+AD, +23.4, 144 minutes
LBJ+Schroeder, +23.0, 161 minutes
LBJ+KCP, +22.7, 107 minutes
LBJ+Kuzma, +19.5, 124 minutes [89.7 DRtg ]
LBJ+Caruso, +13.4, 20 minutes
LBJ+THT, +3.4, 42 minutes
LBJ+Matthews, +2.8, 102 minutes
LBJ+Morris, +1.0, 98 minutes
LBJ+ Trez, -3.0, 112 minutes [99.0 ORtg]

The starters and core presumptive playoffs lineups and closer lineups are playing better than ever though shoddy competition this far.

Worth mentioning that defensively we are now third in the league. That’s with our best guard defender who was pretty clearly a top 3-4 impact defender on our team last year in both the RS and PS out for 5/8 games, with us adjusting to the system on defense, and with AD and Harrell BOTH playing out of position

AD and Harrell seem to be the notably based defensive pairing which makes sense, AD gets stuck guarding wings and Harrell is guarding the 5. It’s the worst high minute defensive combo we have.

Otoh, AD at the 5 and Harrell at the 4 in theory should be fine, On paper it shouldn’t be much worse than Kuz and AD if at all even with Kuzmas improvements since Harrells defense at the 4 us actually solid

We essentially have a top 3 caliber offense and defense with both of our top guys coasting heavily. Lebrons coasting harder than ever in terms of not taking over most of the time, AD isn’t attacking as hard as normal.

AD is now scoring 45% off of midrangers which is great, and it’s not as if these are open pick and pops. This trend has held for awhile now too. Footwork looks improved, passing is improving rapidly too.

I think next year AD might surpass bron, it’s still too early for now though. I will say, even though bron was better in the playoffs, the gap between RS AD and Playoff AD was bigger than the gap between RS bron and Playoff Bron

But the fact that we prolly will have a top 3-5 offense and defense, with our best offensive player and best defensive player (both a year removed from being the best at offense and defense in the league), who are also our second best offensive/defensive players, basically not trying, is REALLY impressive

Worth mentioning Vogel’s staff is the second or first best in the league at defensive adjustments. (Him + nurse and gap vs everyone else). And we haven’t utilized that much.

Only concern is some teams, clippers when zubac is out for example, can play marc off the floor potentially. We’ll see how true that is but at the same time, kuz’s imrpovements on D, Harrell playing his natural position, make it not so scary.

[MyUniBroDavis]

If the lakers play the warriors in the playoffs, Bron gonna average a quintuple double of revenge lol

I’m hoping the run is

Lakers vs Mavs
Lakers vs Warriors
Lakers vs Clippers
Lakers vs Nets

Would be the most lit playoff run ever.

[Dupp]

Warriors have no chance of making the second round. They ain even making the playoffs

[MyUniBroDavis]

Warriors have no chance of making the second round. They ain even making the playoffs

U right but I think we all want to beat their ass lol

[toodles23]

Dominant 5 minute stretch by Lebron there, knocking down a couple threes, hitting twice on drives, and dishing for 2 threes and 2 layups.

[MisterHibachi]

This entire game feels very rushed since the beginning.

[Greatness]

Feels like the Spurs never miss

[MisterHibachi]

Feels like the Spurs never miss

They're 9/13 from 3. Incredible shooting performance.

[Greatness]

Feels like the Spurs never miss

They're 9/13 from 3. Incredible shooting performance.

They've gotta cool off at some point, but the Lakers also need to start acting like they give a crap on that end.

[homecourtloss]

Dominant 5 minute stretch by Lebron there, knocking down a couple threes, hitting twice on drives, and dishing for 2 threes and 2 layups.

The LBJ/Caruso/Matthews trio was nice there. That was with Trez mucking things up. An AD/LBJ/Kuz/two of Caruso/KCP/Matthews will make for a really nice lineup.

[MisterHibachi]

Feels like the Spurs never miss

They're 9/13 from 3. Incredible shooting performance.

They've gotta cool off at some point, but the Lakers also need to start acting like they give a crap on that end.

Yeah, the Spurs aren't really hitting some incredible 3s. Most of them have been pretty open and regular. The defensive rotations just aren't on point yet. The POA defense looks worse to me and everyone is having to dig in just a bit further.

[MisterHibachi]

LaMarcus Aldridge moves like he's 40 years old, but he has 16 points at half time.

[MisterHibachi]

Somehow 36 year old LeBron James has been one of the most engaged and energized player on this team so far this season.

[toodles23]

Dominant 5 minute stretch by Lebron there, knocking down a couple threes, hitting twice on drives, and dishing for 2 threes and 2 layups.

The LBJ/Caruso/Matthews trio was nice there. That was with Trez mucking things up. An AD/LBJ/Kuz/two of Caruso/KCP/Matthews will make for a really nice lineup.

Yeah this is clearly looking to be the best team Lebron's ever played on for playoff purposes. That lineup (at least on paper) can play 5 out offense and still be great defensively against any team without a dominant low post big, and of course they have Gasol for that. His Heat teams always had at least 1 non-shooter on the floor because of Wade and while those smallball lineups were great offensively they never were great on defense IIRC. And of course in Cleveland they reached absurd, historic heights offensively in the playoffs but Kyrie and Love weren't gonna help on the other end.

Somehow 36 year old LeBron James has been one of the most engaged and energized player on this team so far this season.

He wants that MVP. Great game from him so far

[MisterHibachi]

Schroder has been awful today. Basically everyone outside of LeBron and Caruso has been bad today.

Not used to this team being unable to lock in on defense when they need to. They just can't stop giving up open shots tonight no matter the combination on the floor.

[SideshowBob]

Is Lebron's jumpshot back up to 14/17/18 tier? Stroke on that three looked fantastic.

This could be another mega year from him if he can stay healthy.

[Greyhound]

Somehow 36 year old LeBron James has been one of the most engaged and energized player on this team so far this season.

That is true, and also disappointing.

Anthony Davis is in the prime of his career...

I expected him to be out here gunning for MVP, defensive player of the year, whatever (trying to craft a legacy).

Instead we get fat, content, “look mama I made it” Davis.

Not everyone (very few, in fact) has that never content, hunger for greatness that LeBron has.

[Greatness]

Alright Aldridge is hitting some shots he will probably never make again

[Greyhound]

Schroder has been awful today. Basically everyone outside of LeBron and Caruso has been bad today.

Not used to this team being unable to lock in on defense when they need to. They just can't stop giving up open shots tonight no matter the combination on the floor.

Tucker is playing well.