The LeBron James and Luka Doncic - 25-26 Thread

[EmpireFalls]

Sleeper pick to miss the playoffs

Luka's gonna have to go nuclear.

Nah there’s no chance they aren’t at least a play-in team for a few different reasons (mainly Memphis’ injuries and potential Clippers disaster potential).

However they’re clearly a tier below OKC, Denver, Houston, Minnesota, Golden State, and Dallas.

What makes them a tier below Golden State?

If the LeBron cliff drop ever hits then yeah they're cooked, but as is they probably have two players better than anybody on the Warriors

So let’s say the top 2 are equal because I really think it’s pointless to do the millionth Steph and Bron debate (I think Steph is ahead now but whatever, and we’ll see if Jimmy can stay healthy)

The Warriors roster fits much better around that top 2. It has a very strong identity of high feel vets who move play unselfishly and can shoot-dribble-pass leading to beautiful basketball outcomes.

In Al they have a stretch 5 and a really smart switcher who Draymond will love. In their additions of Melton and Seth they get a defensive POA specialist and a sniper for when spacing is tight. They have so many different looks to pick each lock of each game.

The Lakers have no real two-way players. Very strong case that Bron is their strongest two way guy and he barely tries on defense half the year. Rui/Luka/AR - no defense. Smart/Gabe/Vando - no offense. Their entire season hinges on Ayton being both healthy (not a given) and locked in (almost certainly a given that he won’t be)

Meanwhile, Luka’s brilliance overshadows the fact that he doesn’t actually win many games in the regular season historically. Only two 50-win teams in his Dallas career and both barely got to 50. He is a great player but his style isn’t as conducive to winning as people think.

[nzahir]

18th-22nd on defense and hopefully top 5 on offense. 48-53 wins?

I feel like we will be a better defense

Maybe wishful thinking

We were doing pretty well last year after the Luka trade, but maybe a string of luck and extra energy

But Smart is a nice add, having Ayton helps vs no big and definitely in the rebounding department, I think Vando has a role this year (on the perimeter), Laravia should be a positive/versatile guy there, and Lebron gives more effort on D with Luka handling more of the offense

Need Luka to give more effort on defense though. Hes solid at passing lanes and steals, but lazy in moving his feet

Lets see how the squad looks

If we dont have enough defense/athleticism, I wonder if we look to move AR

If we look like we can contend or are like a piece or two away, then trade for those guys

Rw3 and Thybulle for Gabe, Kleber, and Knecht for example

[jalengreen]

Nah there’s no chance they aren’t at least a play-in team for a few different reasons (mainly Memphis’ injuries and potential Clippers disaster potential).

However they’re clearly a tier below OKC, Denver, Houston, Minnesota, Golden State, and Dallas.

What makes them a tier below Golden State?

If the LeBron cliff drop ever hits then yeah they're cooked, but as is they probably have two players better than anybody on the Warriors

So let’s say the top 2 are equal because I really think it’s pointless to do the millionth Steph and Bron debate (I think Steph is ahead now but whatever, and we’ll see if Jimmy can stay healthy)

The Warriors roster fits much better around that top 2. It has a very strong identity of high feel vets who move play unselfishly and can shoot-dribble-pass leading to beautiful basketball outcomes.

In Al they have a stretch 5 and a really smart switcher who Draymond will love. In their additions of Melton and Seth they get a defensive POA specialist and a sniper for when spacing is tight. They have so many different looks to pick each lock of each game.

The Lakers have no real two-way players. Very strong case that Bron is their strongest two way guy and he barely tries on defense half the year. Rui/Luka/AR - no defense. Smart/Gabe/Vando - no offense. Their entire season hinges on Ayton being both healthy (not a given) and locked in (almost certainly a given that he won’t be)

Meanwhile, Luka’s brilliance overshadows the fact that he doesn’t actually win many games in the regular season historically. Only two 50-win teams in his Dallas career and both barely got to 50. He is a great player but his style isn’t as conducive to winning as people think.

Bringing up seth curry in this conversation lol come on man

[Mos_Heat]

18th-22nd on defense and hopefully top 5 on offense. 48-53 wins?

I feel like we will be a better defense

Maybe wishful thinking

We were doing pretty well last year after the Luka trade, but maybe a string of luck and extra energy

But Smart is a nice add, having Ayton helps vs no big and definitely in the rebounding department, I think Vando has a role this year (on the perimeter), Laravia should be a positive/versatile guy there, and Lebron gives more effort on D with Luka handling more of the offense

Need Luka to give more effort on defense though. Hes solid at passing lanes and steals, but lazy in moving his feet

Lets see how the squad looks

If we dont have enough defense/athleticism, I wonder if we look to move AR

If we look like we can contend or are like a piece or two away, then trade for those guys

Rw3 and Thybulle for Gabe, Kleber, and Knecht for example

I don't see that with the luck of wing defense and rim protection. But they can scheme things up to be relatively respectable

[SideshowBob]

12st Century Peaks Ep 12 - The 3 LeBrody Problem

[eminence]

12st Century Peaks Ep 12 - The 3 LeBrody Problem

Mind giving a quick summary?

[SideshowBob]

12st Century Peaks Ep 12 - The 3 LeBrody Problem

Mind giving a quick summary?

Basically 30 minutes each on 09/10, Miami stretch, and then Cleveland 2.0.

09/10 Cleveland section was mostly appraising his athleticism and summarizing the enormous team lift numbers that we saw. Thought late Cleveland teams were well designed for Lebron's offensive skillset for the time. A lot of good discussion on his defense from the 09-13 era and honing in on 12 & 13 being the peak with the combination of motor + size to cover all positions and being able to run the floor from the inside. Talked about how offensive ecosystem in Miami was suboptimal but they made it work anyway with slightly better PO team numbers than Cleveland 1.0.

Cleveland 2.0 they both marveled at the team offensive results especially PO results, Ben saying that weaker EC competition matters, but the scheme, structure, & execution still made it feel legit. They both think Cleveland 2.0 is his offensive peak now (2017 focal point), due to scoring skillset being better (Ben made a point about how 3P/outside shot became a weapon for him, vs in Cleveland 1.0 it was weaker and just a product of so much on-ball time & in Miami was more developing & spot-up focused to fit into system), playmaking/game control being better, and passing being better (Cody had a good framework for splitting passing into IN-OUT, OUT-OUT, OUT-IN, and IN-IN, with the latter being Lebron's weak point until his later years).

They had some back & forth on if CLE 2.0 offensive strength was enough to offset MIA defensive strength. Cody hesitated for a while on picking a definitive peak year, then finally settled on 2013 due to favoring the defense. Ben was leaning towards Cleveland 2.0 but never gave a final answer and I think said would return to it once they wrap up with the next two.

[TroubleS0me]

Read on Twitter

[nzahir]

18th-22nd on defense and hopefully top 5 on offense. 48-53 wins?

I feel like we will be a better defense

Maybe wishful thinking

We were doing pretty well last year after the Luka trade, but maybe a string of luck and extra energy

But Smart is a nice add, having Ayton helps vs no big and definitely in the rebounding department, I think Vando has a role this year (on the perimeter), Laravia should be a positive/versatile guy there, and Lebron gives more effort on D with Luka handling more of the offense

Need Luka to give more effort on defense though. Hes solid at passing lanes and steals, but lazy in moving his feet

Lets see how the squad looks

If we dont have enough defense/athleticism, I wonder if we look to move AR

If we look like we can contend or are like a piece or two away, then trade for those guys

Rw3 and Thybulle for Gabe, Kleber, and Knecht for example

I don't see that with the luck of wing defense and rim protection. But they can scheme things up to be relatively respectable

I think some of the role guys are real positives on D, but the issue is the main guys have weaknesses

If we’re closing with Luka, Bron, and AR, we need 2 solid defenders around them

Vando is a very good defender and super disruptive. But he was an offensive liability…let’s see if the talk this summer is real about him improving

Smart is a solid defender still, versatile, and pretty disruptive as a guard. Just not long enough for star wings

Laravia has potential, but likely not good enough in the top 5

We need to see if we want to keep Reaves and make this work or move him for a better defender that can play both ends

Ayton can at least rebound, but not a defensive anchor. Maybe asking price for Kessler is lower now since he will become a FA

[dcstanley]

18th-22nd on defense and hopefully top 5 on offense. 48-53 wins?

I think they can hover around 15-18 on defense. They can play some more conventional defensive coverages instead of relying on switching or blitzing the ball-handler now that they have Ayton and Smart. Should also be better on the defensive glass with the amount of size on the roster.

I'm pretty bullish on this team in the regular season if they stay healthy and Luka is back to 2023-2024 form.

[PistolPeteJR]

I’m so sad. Retirement announcement incoming.

[TroubleS0me]

Read on Twitter

[parsnips33]

I’m so sad. Retirement announcement incoming.

*Superbowl Ad incoming

[TroubleS0me]

I’m so sad. Retirement announcement incoming.

*Superbowl Ad incoming

I think its gonna be Amazon related
Amazon day is tomorrow too

[jalengreen]

He did the same thing in June and it ended up being an ad for Prime Day. And Prime Day is tomorrow. Though this time he didn't post it with #ad in the caption like he did last time, which lends credence to it being a retirement announcement (or a "I'm not retiring" announcement lol). We'll see ig

[TroubleS0me]

It possible though for retirement. He does not have an contract with the Lakers after this season making him a free agent unless he wants to go back to Cleveland.

Read on Twitter

[1993Playoffs]

Hope it’s not the end. He still so good

[PistolPeteJR]

The time in which this airs is super odd, it doesn’t conduct high viewership, so I’m hoping it’s not that.

[Greatness]

[x]

Read on Twitter

[/x]

He's gonna get killed for this and rightfully so

[jalengreen]

LeBron is hilarious man lmao