(Please Lock Thread) The LeBron James - 22-23 NBA Season Thread -All-Time Scoring Leader! (Part 2)

[zimpy27]

I hope Lakers can win 1 of their b2b with @MEM then @OKC..

It feels like they should lose both but if they win 1 then I think that would be an excellent sign. Prefer them to beat OKC honestly

Assuming you prefer they beat OKC because then it’s a sign they’re doing what they need to do vs potentially fluking a win vs MEM?

Nah because if they beat OKC then Lakers odn't just get a win but they give OKC a loss, which will matter in the standings I think. OKC are a good team and likely make the play-in with their schedule from here.

[nzahir]

Thoughts on the game (I tuned in right at the 3rd Q):

Vando was amazing and sparked the run to win us this game in that 3rd

AD wasn't too impressive for me somehow until the 4th, but the box score was quite good

Lebron was very meh, until the 4th

Refs still are trash imo. How was that block on Kyrie a foul?

And why didn't Darvin Scam challenge it?

Beasley was very unimpressive. Missed some good shots though, but also makes some low iq plays

Not sure if he should start over Reaves tbh, but I still prefer this over Dennis starting

Which we could have somehow swapped him and 1-2 2nds for Bogdan on ATL or GTJ

Hopefully Lebron is okay to play next, not sure if that was an ankle injury or knee, but apparently he heard it pop, not good

Also hope Dlo is back next game or worst, the 1 after, can't miss much time

[LukaTheGOAT]

We've come a long way

Read on Twitter

/photo/1

[homecourtloss]

Wild game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Denver Nuggets—the Clippers got off to a terrible start and then slowly clutter way back. They sat Westbrook down at the 1:21 minute mark of a third quarter done by eight and then they never brought him back. The clippers came back to take the lead late but Jokić just wouldn’t let the Nuggets lose as he scored or got fouled every single time down the court at the end of the 4th.

Depends what kind of health LeBron has and AD has, but this team can matchup decently well vs. all contenders. I still think probably the clippers and the suns will be the most difficult to defeat in a seven game series.

[MyUniBroDavis]

Wild game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Denver Nuggets—the Clippers got off to a terrible start and then slowly clutter way back. They sat Westbrook down at the 1:21 minute mark of a third quarter done by eight and then they never brought them back. The clippers came back to take the lead late but Jokić just wouldn’t let the Nuggets lose as he scored regatta fell down the stretch.

Depends what kind of health LeBron has and AD has, but this team can matchup decently well vs. all contenders. I still think probably the clippers and the suns will be the most difficult to defeat in a seven game series.

Westbrook won’t let us down

[xb3at band1tx]

They gonna play Russ more after that OT.

Best outcome for west teams if he gets more minutes/responsibilities.

[Slava]

It never ceases to amaze me how this team can pull out wins shooting 17% from 3. I was hoping to watch the full game as it was an early start and a reasonable time of the day here in Europe but that 16 point 1st quarter killed my spirit.

[BladeDaywalker]

Read on Twitter

[ardee]

Now 2.5 games out of the 6th seed and 3.5 games out of the 4th seed.

Can you imagine if after everything that happened in this season they get HCA in the first round?

[ardee]

This team hypothetically managing a title run would be highly reminiscent of the '95 Rockets. Former champion team led by an aging great (in this case, GOAT), turning it around and going on a tear after a midseason trade.

[Homer38]

And it don't include his 7 or 8 offensives rebounds in this game!

Watch on YouTube

[Slava]

We should be calling it the Jarred Vanderbilt trade ft. Westbrick, D'lo and Beasley.

[NbaAllDay]

Ankle pops are usually ligament. You can run on it while it's hot but it can be a 2-4 week kind if thing at least depending on grade.

So considering it's Lebron he might miss 1 game.

[Joao Saraiva]

Bron playing the worse basketball of the year and Lakers still winning. Less involved, fresher, and even not being 100% he puts 11 in the 4th cause he is... less tired.

I'm surprised how things are turning arround for the Lakers. Didn't expect this at all. After so many mistakes it seems like they really found the correct moves. Hope they keep motivated for the playoffs.

I'm not saying they winning it but it seems at least possible right now.

[Colbinii]

And it don't include his 7 or 8 offensives rebounds in this game!

Watch on YouTube

Luka wanting a foul at the 2:58 mark shows how much of a whistle he typically gets. He initiates the contact, Vando is straight up, and he complains.

edit: The better view is at 3:07. Vando moves into the space between Luka first. Excellent defense.

[xRapHeadx]

I chuckled at the thread last year comparing Vanderbilt to Rodman, but the dude has some great energy. Defense + rebounding is such a huge positive on this roster. What a revelation he has been.

[PistolPeteJR]

And it don't include his 7 or 8 offensives rebounds in this game!

Watch on YouTube

Luka wanting a foul at the 2:58 mark shows how much of a whistle he typically gets. He initiates the contact, Vando is straight up, and he complains.

edit: The better view is at 3:07. Vando moves into the space between Luka first. Excellent defense.

Legit yelled at him when I saw that live yesterday, he’s so annoying. I don’t think any star has or does complains like he does frequency-wise.

[JLei]

I'll rewatch tomorrow looking for a more granular / tactical standpoint, but who would have thought the Lakers pulled this off. Vanderbilt already has grown on me, I'm very happy with Davis' and Dennis' in-game resurgence, and James' ability to foot-work / dance his way to the basket in winning-time after a slow start to kick us off.

Lol Bron resorting to the post up cheese on his bum ankle is basically a glimpse at what ultimate old man Bron game is gonna be. Kinda like PF Magic during his comeback lol

That footwork though. I think people are so used to the fadeaway being his only move other than power dribble to the front of the rim that everyone on the Mavs was falling for the up and under. Though to be fair unless they bite they don't contest the fadeaway one bit if he decides to shoot it because most of their defenders are so small.

But that's as nifty as his post footwork has looked in a while.

[MisterHibachi]

Now 2.5 games out of the 6th seed and 3.5 games out of the 4th seed.

Can you imagine if after everything that happened in this season they get HCA in the first round?

Honestly, 6th seed is probably more preferable than 4th. Ideally, it's Clippers/Suns in the 4/5 so they beat each other up, and the Kings in the 3rd seed are an easier opponent than either of those other two.

I want to see the KD/Kawhi match up again, and of course the Russ factor. I think Clippers are probably best suited to guard the Suns and if they're able to knock them out, that would be great. That also leaves the Clippers on the same side of the bracket as the Nuggets, who have their number.

So, in an ideal world, the Clippers knock out the Suns, then get knocked out by the Nuggets, and the Lakers face the Nuggets in the WCF, and I generally like that match up for the Lakers.

[dcstanley]

Imagine the havoc that 27 year old Lebron, Vanderbilt, and AD would cause on defense