The remaining 23 games

LAKESHOW · Post #241 » by **LAKESHOW** » Sun Apr 9, 2023 12:04 am

Welp this is it folks. We came from 12th/13th. 1 game to go, and we ride 7th. Without a doubt we should be at least 5th. We can all point to a game here or there, (Dallas or Houston) or any freakin game and know we had top 5 locked up. So I'm happy we didn't jack off and ended at 13th. So there's that.
So at the end of 23? I would say We had a successful 23 game run.

Catchall · Post #242 » by **Catchall** » Sun Apr 9, 2023 12:57 am

You guys need to take this game against the Jazz seriously or they might screw around and beat you.

MAMBAEMD · Post #243 » by **MAMBAEMD** » Sun Apr 9, 2023 1:21 am

LAKESHOW wrote:Welp this is it folks. We came from 12th/13th. 1 game to go, and we ride 7th. Without a doubt we should be at least 5th. We can all point to a game here or there, (Dallas or Houston) or any freakin game and know we had top 5 locked up. So I'm happy we didn't jack off and ended at 13th. So there's that.
So at the end of 23? I would say We had a successful 23 game run.

I'm wired in such a way that I faithfully follow the P&G no matter what. Even when painful to watch.

The last 23 games though have been an enjoyable ride.
Since the trades, we playing much better defensively, the offense is smoother, AD has come alive, we're rebounding much much better, and we're winning.

I'd say the last 23 games have been successful and enjoyable.

Very much looking forward to the game tomorrow and the playoffs.

LAKESHOW · Post #244 » by **LAKESHOW** » Sun Apr 9, 2023 5:44 am

I can look at that 23 and also say that these 23 games were actually building towards something. These past years we dumped so many dudes it all wasn't building towards the goal. We then got Westbrook and his contract?? And went tailspin. I also agree, these 23 have shown a move towards a progression to where we eventually want to go.

stan francisco · Post #245 » by **stan francisco** » Sun Apr 9, 2023 2:28 pm

I’m really impressed with how we’ve tightened things up during this 23 game stretch. It literally feels like Jeannie Buss gave the reigns back to Rob after her Westbrook idea proved to stink it up. If so, bright future ahead for us.

Even LeBron seems excited going into the playoffs. Last year he gave up long before there were only 23 games left. The fact that he believes means there is still a shot. If he didn’t, this season would’ve been over already weeks ago.

So I’m hopeful but I have a hard time seeing us winning it all this year because we need another big man and Bamba probably isn’t enough yet to go up against Jokic, Lopez, Sabonis, but for the long term I’m hopeful about Bamba. Relying on AD as our only real serviceable big to use against our opponents who all have at least two big men threats on both ends, spells an early exit for us.

If we, next to AD, had a low block enforcer in addition to AD, we’d be unstoppable. Hear that, Bamba? Any one of B Lopez, Adams, Ayman, Williams next to AD and we’d be so set. With LBJ occupying the offensive PF spot, II still think AD is the perfect 6’11” wing, a la KD but with post up dominance on call. We need a C to set AD free to play free on the wing AND down low (walking mismatch).

Any good defensive bigs in the draft?

MAMBAEMD · Post #246 » by **MAMBAEMD** » Sun Apr 9, 2023 5:04 pm

We signed Tristan Thompson and Shaquille Harrison today.

Roster is set for the play-in and hopefully the playoffs

stan francisco · Post #247 » by **stan francisco** » Sun Apr 9, 2023 10:00 pm

lakerRD wrote:We signed Tristan Thompson and Shaquille Harrison today.

Roster is set for the play-in and hopefully the playoffs

Nice. I hope Thompson is in game shape. What’s the word on Harrison other than available stats?

Doug_12 · Post #248 » by **Doug_12** » Sun Apr 9, 2023 10:50 pm

stan francisco wrote:
lakerRD wrote:We signed Tristan Thompson and Shaquille Harrison today.

Roster is set for the play-in and hopefully the playoffs

Nice. I hope Thompson is in game shape. What’s the word on Harrison other than available stats?

You mean what type of player is he or in what shape is he atm? If the former: he is a good guard defender, apart from that he can't do much. If the latter: I don't know. Hopefully he will be useful in certain matchups

Beethoven · Post #249 » by **Beethoven** » Sun Apr 9, 2023 10:57 pm

First opponent pelicans.

HUGE TRAP GAME.

This is a trap game if there ever was one.
We can't be caught standing around.
We have to win this game.

DO NOT LET PELICANS JUMP TO A BIG LEAD in first half where we are playing from behind. We DO NOT WANT TO BE FOUND WITH OUR THUMBS UP OUR BEHINDS.

LEBRON AND AD GO GET THIS ONE

MAMBAEMD · Post #250 » by **MAMBAEMD** » Sun Apr 9, 2023 11:25 pm

We’re playing the Wolves Tuesday night .
McDaniels is likely out with a fracture in his hand.
I’m hoping Gobert will be suspended for throwing a punch at his teammate, Anderson.

tamaraw08 · Post #251 » by **tamaraw08** » Mon Apr 10, 2023 12:13 am

Davis averaging 15.6 points in his last 3 games. 16.75 in last 4 games
Last 2 games versus Utah, Olynik outscored him both times. Please tell me he’s not running on fumes.

Beethoven · Post #252 » by **Beethoven** » Mon Apr 10, 2023 3:26 am

tamaraw08 wrote:Davis averaging 15.6 points in his last 3 games. 16.75 in last 4 games
Last 2 games versus Utah, Olynik outscored him both times. Please tell me he’s not running on fumes.

AD is not running on fumes.

MAMBAEMD · Post #253 » by **MAMBAEMD** » Mon Apr 10, 2023 3:38 am

I was at the game today.
LBJ saved the day for sure.

Our defense wasn’t good, specially our guards. Dunn basically did whatever he wanted.

AD is okay. He came alive when he needed to, with some great blocks and rebounds.

Problem today was our porous defense.
I wouldn’t be surprised if they outscored us heavily in the paint .

xinxin · Post #254 » by **xinxin** » Mon Apr 10, 2023 3:44 am

lakerRD wrote:We’re playing the Wolves Tuesday night .
McDaniels is likely out with a fracture in his hand.
I’m hoping Gobert will be suspended for throwing a punch at his teammate, Anderson.

If i'm the wolves, I wouldnt put Gobert on the floor unless some penalty is handed out against him.

sends a bad message to the rest of the Wolves, especially Anderson, if Gobert is not punished.

the fact that lakers will benefit from Gobert's possible absence is just a bonus. Hope the Wolves do the right thing for their own good.

not much differenct from the Draymond - Poole incident ( happened inside their gym except the video leaked out)... this one with Gobert was televised for everyone to see... yikes.

TheHartBreakKid · Post #255 » by **TheHartBreakKid** » Mon Apr 10, 2023 3:46 am

tamaraw08 wrote:Davis averaging 15.6 points in his last 3 games. 16.75 in last 4 games
Last 2 games versus Utah, Olynik outscored him both times. Please tell me he’s not running on fumes.

I don't think those numbers indicate that AD is running on fumes, or is banged up, or anything like that. I think they are more indicative of how AD's mindset changes when Lebron becomes the focal point of the offense. It's a concern for sure, as we need dominant AD to make a solid playoff run, along side a healthy Lebron.

But I don't think this is a physical/stamina/fatigue type of issue....It's more about AD's mentality, and what Lebron is doing/isn't doing that's affecting AD's mentality.

They need to figure it out though, because we need AD in the elite mindset alongside a healthy Lebron to make any noise in the playoffs.

Beethoven · Post #256 » by **Beethoven** » Mon Apr 10, 2023 5:29 am

Am I the only one who thinks having gobert out will effectively allow Conley and Edwards to run amuck in the paint against us?

MAMBAEMD · Post #257 » by **MAMBAEMD** » Mon Apr 10, 2023 6:07 am

Beethoven wrote:Am I the only one who thinks having gobert out will effectively allow Conley and Edwards to run amuck in the paint against us?

It’s a valid concern.
Whether Gobert plays or not , our guards have to be ready to play solid D won’t pressure on the ball handlers.

In the last game against the Wolves, Dennis was awesome in the second half putting pressure on Conley.
Rui was also terrific staying with KAT in the periphery .

That allowed AD to control the paint and protect the rim.
Vandy is just not big enough to stay with KAT. Vandy should roam around and try to stay with Edwards.
Rui should get big minutes against KAT and Dennis against Conley .

Fedor · Post #258 » by **Fedor** » Mon Apr 10, 2023 6:25 am

I think Schroder really sets the tone for our defense and brings the energy. We’ve been flat as hell

stan francisco · Post #259 » by **stan francisco** » Mon Apr 10, 2023 2:28 pm

tamaraw08 wrote:Davis averaging 15.6 points in his last 3 games. 16.75 in last 4 games
Last 2 games versus Utah, Olynik outscored him both times. Please tell me he’s not running on fumes.

Foot injury, plus LBJ returned which allowed AD to semi idle it and heal his foot on the court, would be my guess as to why. Plus, as pointed out above, he typically gets more passive when James is healthy.

Elimination time will bring out the dog in AD.

tamaraw08 · Post #260 » by **tamaraw08** » Mon Apr 10, 2023 3:08 pm

TheHartBreakKid wrote:
tamaraw08 wrote:Davis averaging 15.6 points in his last 3 games. 16.75 in last 4 games
Last 2 games versus Utah, Olynik outscored him both times. Please tell me he’s not running on fumes.

I don't think those numbers indicate that AD is running on fumes, or is banged up, or anything like that. I think they are more indicative of how AD's mindset changes when Lebron becomes the focal point of the offense. It's a concern for sure, as we need dominant AD to make a solid playoff run, along side a healthy Lebron.

But I don't think this is a physical/stamina/fatigue type of issue....It's more about AD's mentality, and what Lebron is doing/isn't doing that's affecting AD's mentality.

They need to figure it out though, because we need AD in the elite mindset alongside a healthy Lebron to make any noise in the playoffs.

yeah, It's weird though. I checked his shot/game 4 years here, he shot between 17.0(2nd year here)-17.7 attempts per game so it's not like he is shooting much less the year/s that James is ultra aggressive.
He took 20 shots in Chicago, 26 in Minnie, 20 at Houston, all these games Lebron played so.....
then his Last 4 games he shot below his normal attempts about 14.
He sat only 3 games ever since he came back on January 25. Kawhi sat 5 with the same time span.