The Lebron '20 Thread (Pt. 5)

[Bidofo]

The Suns are absolutely better than the Blazers lol. The Lakers are pretty fortunate not to match up against them, I think the Suns could actually take them to 6. This Blazers team on the other hand is absolutely pathetic on defense and they’re barely getting wins on depleted teams. I was scared of them before but now it’s looking like another fizzle out for Lillard and co.


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[JordansBulls]

Well I think a Melo has a better chance now vs Lebron than he had in 2012 vs him in the first round

[Greyhound]

Bruv, Valanciunas is out here dropping 15 in the first half on the Blazers; AD boutta wild the **** out on them lmao. Why is everyone acting so scary about these Blazers lol. Dame-Nurk one is like the goofy version of Steph-Dray Pnr. You just gotta switch it with AD instead of blitzing and playing into their strength imo. Even though it's tempting to just trap and take it outta Dame's hands. Nurkic is too deft at navigating the power play and the Blazers also toy with shorting the screen and kicking it to the guy on the wing who hits Nurk on the short roll. I don't think that's gonna be a viable strategy for a series where they'll just design counters for it.

It’s not being “scary” to show respect to the opponent.

The Lakers are expected to win but these Blazers pose a great challenge to them. They are a much better team then their record indicates and they will be performing in a pressure reduced (fan less) environment that benefits them. The Lakers are going to have to beat them. They are not some young team that will be happy just to be there (like the Grizzlies).

As much as I want the Lakers to win, it would be just as good to watch some of you choke on the obnoxious arrogance on display in this thread.

It’s a win win as far as I am concerned.

Respect the opponent with the appropriate level of fear is a state of mind popularized my Gregg Popovich.

Respect these Blazers. They have been playing for their lives for two weeks now. The Lakers have been goofing around most of that time (after coming off of a long layoff).

I would feel a lot better about the Lakers if I knew they had a coach with championships experience to lean on.

They do not.

I suspect that the intensity level of the first game will be a shock to their system. This goes six, maybe seven games.

[xb3at band1tx]

Bruv, Valanciunas is out here dropping 15 in the first half on the Blazers; AD boutta wild the **** out on them lmao. Why is everyone acting so scary about these Blazers lol. Dame-Nurk one is like the goofy version of Steph-Dray Pnr. You just gotta switch it with AD instead of blitzing and playing into their strength imo. Even though it's tempting to just trap and take it outta Dame's hands. Nurkic is too deft at navigating the power play and the Blazers also toy with shorting the screen and kicking it to the guy on the wing who hits Nurk on the short roll. I don't think that's gonna be a viable strategy for a series where they'll just design counters for it.

It’s not being “scary” to show respect to the opponent.

The Lakers are expected to win but these Blazers pose a great challenge to them. They are a much better team then their record indicates and they will be performing in a pressure reduced (fan less) environment that benefits them. The Lakers are going to have to beat them. They are not some young team that will be happy just to be there (like the Grizzlies).

As much as I want the Lakers to win, it would be just as good to watch some of you choke on the obnoxious arrogance on display in this thread.

It’s a win win as far as I am concerned.

Respect the opponent with the appropriate level of fear is a state of mind popularized my Gregg Popovich.

Respect these Blazers. They have been playing for their lives for two weeks now. The Lakers have been goofing around most of that time (after coming off of a long layoff).

I would feel a lot better about the Lakers if I knew they had a coach with championships experience to lean on.

They do not.

I suspect that the intensity level of the first game will be a shock to their system. This goes six, maybe seven games.

It's fine to respect their offense, but unless they find out how to shore up their weaknesses at like 3-4 positions on defense it's tough to see how POR can get it to 7.

Like dude, they are literally trying and contesting everything but they are so small and inept it doesn't even matter.

[GSP]

Portland has the worst defense and specially perimeter defense of the playoffs by a good margin. Its insanely bad. I cant believe ppl are actually picking Portland to win LOL altho i see it going 6 maybe 5 if La can hit some open shots

[bondom34]

They're just too weak at almost every spot defensively (other than now Nurkic) to push the Lakers at all. I'd say 5 games, just because its hard to sweep and there's probably one game LA goes cold but beyond that it's a 1-8 matchup for a reason.

[xb3at band1tx]

Bron probably wants to get AD going but I want to see what he does to this portland defense.

Like I feel like theirs some 2017 vs Celtics potential here.

[Greyhound]

Bron probably wants to get AD going but I want to see what he does to this portland defense.

Like I feel like theirs some 2017 vs Celtics potential here.

This concerns me a bit.

I think LeBron needs to exploit the Blazers on defense by hunting for big scoring outings. My concern is that LeBron does not play that way anymore. He will be content to score in the 22-28 point range while playing his typical overall game.

That will take Portland’s poor defense off the hook, if those who should be able to, are not actively trying to exploit it. Melo has played LeBron tough defensively in the past (just putting that out there). At the very least he will make LeBron work harder then usual to establish post position.

With Davis, I suspect they will fall back into the Nurse strategy (so we will see how that goes).

The others need to make shots to make Portland’s defense pay. It does not matter how poor a defense is when guys like Green, KCP, Caruso, Morris and Waiters are bricking wide open three point shots.

If the others can make their open looks, the Lakers should be in good shape. That will get LeBron going, who will in turn fuel Davis’s GOAT complimentary finisher type game.

[RCM88x]

LeBron will be fine, his playoff game is always based around looking for mismatches in the PnR. There are plenty on the Blazers, I don't really think they have any "classical" LeBron defenders either. He'll be fine.

[Dupp]

LeBron will be fine, his playoff game is always based around looking for mismatches in the PnR. There are plenty on the Blazers, I don't really think they have any "classical" LeBron defenders either. He'll be fine.

Well melo always plays him to a standstill

[Joey Wheeler]

Come on, this will be a sweep, Lebron and AD will feast on Portland's awful defense, Lillard is just another undersized guard who can look like a GOAT in the RS but whose impact severely decreases in the playoffs. This is just your typical 1 vs 8 matchup, one team is clearly superior and expected to dominate.

The Lakers might be in luck too with Westbrook out, OKC have a real chance to advance, in which case it'd be two very easy series before the conference finals.

[Greyhound]

LeBron will be fine, his playoff game is always based around looking for mismatches in the PnR. There are plenty on the Blazers, I don't really think they have any "classical" LeBron defenders either. He'll be fine.

None of that will matter if guys being paid to shoot (Green, KCP, Morris, Caruso, Smith) cannot make open shots. The Blazers will load up on LeBron drives, they win Nurse Davis off the catch, and they will force those other guys to make shots.

Classic LeBron stoppers are typically back line bigs who can protect the rim (btw). The Blazers have a lot of quality size, athleticism and rim protection right now.

I expect a long series, but would be thrilled if it were a short one (with the Lakers advancing).

[nzahir]

Come on, this will be a sweep, Lebron and AD will feast on Portland's awful defense, Lillard is just another undersized guard who can look like a GOAT in the RS but whose impact severely decreases in the playoffs. This is just your typical 1 vs 8 matchup, one team is clearly superior and expected to dominate.

The Lakers might be in luck too with Westbrook out, OKC have a real chance to advance, in which case it'd be two very easy series before the conference finals.

Lol, how is this a typical 1-8 matchup? They have a top 10 guy in Dame, usually not the case for the 8th seed

This blazers team is very similar to last years team that went to the conference finals without Nurkic, Melo, or an improved Gary Trent Jr

If Portland was relatively healthy this year, they would be a top 5 seed in the west

[Joey Wheeler]

Come on, this will be a sweep, Lebron and AD will feast on Portland's awful defense, Lillard is just another undersized guard who can look like a GOAT in the RS but whose impact severely decreases in the playoffs. This is just your typical 1 vs 8 matchup, one team is clearly superior and expected to dominate.

The Lakers might be in luck too with Westbrook out, OKC have a real chance to advance, in which case it'd be two very easy series before the conference finals.

Lol, how is this a typical 1-8 matchup? They have a top 10 guy in Dame, usually not the case for the 8th seed

This blazers team is very similar to last years team that went to the conference finals without Nurkic, Melo, or an improved Gary Trent Jr

If Portland was relatively healthy this year, they would be a top 5 seed in the west

Blazers in the playoffs:

2016 - backdoor swept
2017 - swept
2018 - swept
2019 - swept

Notice a pattern? Lillard is an explosive RS scorer but in the PS he can be contained, Lebron and AD are the two best players in the series by an enormous margin.

[xb3at band1tx]

LeBron will be fine, his playoff game is always based around looking for mismatches in the PnR. There are plenty on the Blazers, I don't really think they have any "classical" LeBron defenders either. He'll be fine.

None of that will matter if guys being paid to shoot (Green, KCP, Morris, Caruso, Smith) cannot make open shots. The Blazers will load up on LeBron drives, they win Nurse Davis off the catch, and they will force those other guys to make shots.

Classic LeBron stoppers are typically back line bigs who can protect the rim (btw). The Blazers have a lot of quality size, athleticism and rim protection right now.

I expect a long series, but would be thrilled if it were a short one (with the Lakers advancing).

Again, LA's 3PT% have rose the last couple of games to more acceptable numbers, and that was with Vogel trotting out random lineups and AD and Bron being in and out.

That POR defense is not scaring anyone.

[nzahir]

Come on, this will be a sweep, Lebron and AD will feast on Portland's awful defense, Lillard is just another undersized guard who can look like a GOAT in the RS but whose impact severely decreases in the playoffs. This is just your typical 1 vs 8 matchup, one team is clearly superior and expected to dominate.

The Lakers might be in luck too with Westbrook out, OKC have a real chance to advance, in which case it'd be two very easy series before the conference finals.

Lol, how is this a typical 1-8 matchup? They have a top 10 guy in Dame, usually not the case for the 8th seed

This blazers team is very similar to last years team that went to the conference finals without Nurkic, Melo, or an improved Gary Trent Jr

If Portland was relatively healthy this year, they would be a top 5 seed in the west

Blazers in the playoffs:

2016 - backdoor swept
2017 - swept
2018 - swept
2019 - swept

Notice a pattern? Lillard is an explosive RS scorer but in the PS he can be contained, Lebron and AD are the two best players in the series by an enormous margin.

Sure didn't seem like he could be contained the past couple of weeks

The environment and games POR just played will be similar to the playoff atmosphere in the bubble. Almost every game was a must win for them

I still got LAL in 5/6, but Portland is a bit scary. How do you defend a dame 35-40 footer?

[Heej]

Bruv, Valanciunas is out here dropping 15 in the first half on the Blazers; AD boutta wild the **** out on them lmao. Why is everyone acting so scary about these Blazers lol. Dame-Nurk one is like the goofy version of Steph-Dray Pnr. You just gotta switch it with AD instead of blitzing and playing into their strength imo. Even though it's tempting to just trap and take it outta Dame's hands. Nurkic is too deft at navigating the power play and the Blazers also toy with shorting the screen and kicking it to the guy on the wing who hits Nurk on the short roll. I don't think that's gonna be a viable strategy for a series where they'll just design counters for it.

It’s not being “scary” to show respect to the opponent.

The Lakers are expected to win but these Blazers pose a great challenge to them. They are a much better team then their record indicates and they will be performing in a pressure reduced (fan less) environment that benefits them. The Lakers are going to have to beat them. They are not some young team that will be happy just to be there (like the Grizzlies).

As much as I want the Lakers to win, it would be just as good to watch some of you choke on the obnoxious arrogance on display in this thread.

It’s a win win as far as I am concerned.

Respect the opponent with the appropriate level of fear is a state of mind popularized my Gregg Popovich.

Respect these Blazers. They have been playing for their lives for two weeks now. The Lakers have been goofing around most of that time (after coming off of a long layoff).

I would feel a lot better about the Lakers if I knew they had a coach with championships experience to lean on.

They do not.

I suspect that the intensity level of the first game will be a shock to their system. This goes six, maybe seven games.

Lol I respect them as far as accounting for the rule that a great player will win you one game on his own, and Dame is clearly a great player. CJ maybe might be the difference maker in another one but that's a crapshoot. I'm expecting it to be a real competitive series no doubt, but when push comes to shove there's not enough defensive IQ on the Blazers to hold up on that end of the court down the stretch more than once or twice.

Let's relax and critically analyze the matchups and difference in talent here lol. We've seen this song being sung about LeBron teams many times over now. And it's not like this is the 2015 Cavs he's playing with, many of the major rotation minute players are gonna be battle tested veterans. These guys have seen playoff intensity before, it'll be a shock in the first quarter or half but it's not gonna be a slap in the mouth that gets them in a 2-0 hole lmao.

Y'all really gonna let yourselves get hoodwinked by a Blazers squad playing balls to the wall vs teams treating these games as warmups. It's the Russell Westbrook phenomenon. Suddenly that energy doesn't look so otherworldly once every player on the court decides to turn up lol

[Joey Wheeler]

Lol, how is this a typical 1-8 matchup? They have a top 10 guy in Dame, usually not the case for the 8th seed

This blazers team is very similar to last years team that went to the conference finals without Nurkic, Melo, or an improved Gary Trent Jr

If Portland was relatively healthy this year, they would be a top 5 seed in the west

Blazers in the playoffs:

2016 - backdoor swept
2017 - swept
2018 - swept
2019 - swept

Notice a pattern? Lillard is an explosive RS scorer but in the PS he can be contained, Lebron and AD are the two best players in the series by an enormous margin.

Sure didn't seem like he could be contained the past couple of weeks

The environment and games POR just played will be similar to the playoff atmosphere in the bubble. Almost every game was a must win for them

I still got LAL in 5/6, but Portland is a bit scary. How do you defend a dame 35-40 footer?

Yes, Lillard is a great RS player. He's a lot like Curry, all-time scorer and offensive player in the RS but in the postseason against contenders his lack of size and physicality can be exploited and his impact is greatly diminished. Curry had a stacked team around him though, Lillard does not.

Lillard did look amazing in the RS and in the bubble seeding matches, but now he's up against a team with two players considerably better than he is. Great player, never good enough to challenge a Lebron/AD team as the best player.

[Heej]

I still got LAL in 5/6, but Portland is a bit scary. How do you defend a dame 35-40 footer?

You bum hunt him and kill his legs on defense the entire series

[GSP]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29662426/nba-playoffs-2020-experts-predictions-every-opening-round-series

drza is picking Blazers in 7 wow. Only Espn guy tho