(Lock Please) The LeBron James - 22-23 NBA Playoff Thread - (Part 3)

[Heej]

Holy s*** this TNT interview with Lonnie. I didn't realize his mentality and poise were this elite

[GSP]

Silver Spoon Steph was in hell that fourth quarter. Not so easy to beat LeBron when KD isn’t on that court with ya huh?

His defense was so **** bad man hunted so badly

The amount of stans that try to paint him as aKtUalLy A gOoD dEfeNdEr is so cringe

hes not a horrible defender but man i dont think any other alltimer has played w/ more stacked defensive rosters not to mention an alltimer and best of his era defender, switch defender and help defender in Draymond

[IG2]

Read on Twitter

Took the haymakers and still standing. Tough ass team. The Celtics folded against Steph playing like this last year

He couldn't make a shot and is a shell in general but I thought LeBron's determination was huge in LA's multiple comebacks in this game. He poured his heart out on the floor today. Probably the most determined I've ever seen him, honestly.

[MisterHibachi]

Steph going on ball kept the game close but he lost his legs in the last few minutes. Not a sustainable strategy for 3 more games.

[EmpireFalls]

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LeBron was literally in the exact spot that the ball was supposed to go on that last play at 104-101

He actually knew Kerr’s play better than the Warriors did.

Go watch it again he immediately recognizes the play and tells AD to switch and then blows it up himself.

That my friends is basketball IQ and that is clutch. I’m in awe of that from him. He completely snuffed that out himself.

[J Shuttlesworth]

Did anyone get flashbacks to KLoves stop on curry in 2016 G7 when AD was guarding Steph on the final possession?

[The Master]

Steph going on ball kept the game close but he lost his legs in the last few minutes. Not a sustainable strategy for 3 more games.

He played on Harden-like usage as a scorer/ballhandler and this is something he probably is not that much used to. He's also 35yo after all as well. Warriors are reliable 2nd option away from championship-level team and that's why they'll probably get eliminated this round.

I think game 5 will be a blowout for Warriors and game 6 will be a nerve-wrecking experience, at least pre-game, once again. I don't think Lakers will put everything they have on Wednesday considering how exhausting was today's game, so the only chance I see for us is being hot hot from 3pts to be honest to close this series in 5.

As great as Davis is defensively - his offensive unreliability so far makes this postseason run a tier below Duncan/Hakeem's runs. Not saying this is a knock against him, lol, but since he's the best player on this team/Lakers are a legitimate contender this is nice convo to have perhaps.

[nzahir]

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LeBron was literally in the exact spot that the ball was supposed to go on that last play at 104-101

He actually knew Kerr’s play better than the Warriors did.

Go watch it again he immediately recognizes the play and tells AD to switch and then blows it up himself.

That my friends is basketball IQ and that is clutch. I’m in awe of that from him. He completely snuffed that out himself.

Just beautiful

Man we need just 1 more....

Then we get Denver or Phoenix...

[tone wone]

Steph going on ball kept the game close but he lost his legs in the last few minutes. Not a sustainable strategy for 3 more games.

Could argue Steph being on ball so much actually iced Klay out the offense. Just 11 shots with a couple terrible 3's late. Five minutes left in the 4th and he'd only attempted like 8 shots.

He's his most dangerous amid chaos. Running spread pick n rolls all game sort of regulates him to a spot up guy.

[nzahir]

What defensive adjusments should we make?

I hated all the wide open layups....but we also didn't let them get like 20 3s....

High drop and top lock gives them some 3s, but can't get easy layups and those 4 on 3s/3 on 2s/2 on 1s with the roll man having a head start to the rim

This hedge defense gives them an easy lane and some open 3s if they pass it around well, but AD is meeting them up there

[homecourtloss]

Holy s*** this TNT interview with Lonnie. I didn't realize his mentality and poise were this elite

It’s absolutely wild listening to him because you wouldn’t think he had such low basketball IQ for most of his playing career, the blown rotations, the lack of motor on defense, and so on. Obviously he has elite physical gifts that should have made him better than he is but better late than never. I wonder what kind of odds a futures’ Bet at the beginning of the series predicting a Lonnie walker 15 point quarter would get.

[dreamshake]

Read on Twitter

Took the haymakers and still standing. Tough ass team. The Celtics folded against Steph playing like this last year

He couldn't make a shot and is a shell in general but I thought LeBron's determination was huge in LA's multiple comebacks in this game. He poured his heart out on the floor today. Probably the most determined I've ever seen him, honestly.

Agree with the general point, but nothing will ever match his determination in that 2012 G6 in Boston. Stakes were so much higher and I think he hated that team a lot more than GSW.

[RRR3]

Read on Twitter

Took the haymakers and still standing. Tough ass team. The Celtics folded against Steph playing like this last year

He couldn't make a shot and is a shell in general but I thought LeBron's determination was huge in LA's multiple comebacks in this game. He poured his heart out on the floor today. Probably the most determined I've ever seen him, honestly.

Agree with the general point, but nothing will ever match his determination in that 2012 G6 in Boston. Stakes were so much higher and I think he hated that team a lot more than GSW.

Yes he hated that team immensely lol. The reason he left Cleveland was them.

[nzahir]

Read on Twitter

Took the haymakers and still standing. Tough ass team. The Celtics folded against Steph playing like this last year

He couldn't make a shot and is a shell in general but I thought LeBron's determination was huge in LA's multiple comebacks in this game. He poured his heart out on the floor today. Probably the most determined I've ever seen him, honestly.

Agree with the general point, but nothing will ever match his determination in that 2012 G6 in Boston. Stakes were so much higher and I think he hated that team a lot more than GSW.

This

I think people forget because its been 11 years now, but Lebron's legacy was truly on the line

45 points with that pace and spacing feels like 55 points or so at least in today's age

Man Lebron smells some blood....

Lets take care of business this week

[The Master]

What defensive adjusments should we make?

Lakers played well defensively since like the middle of a 3rd quarter actually, Warriors scored 28 points in 18 minutes. Offense was the main problem today and I think Vando should be benched in G5, first and foremost.

[TheGOATRises007]

Lakers will win this series. There's no chance a LeBron/AD led team is being beat 3 times in a row.

I actually think the Nuggets are the easier match-up(despite Jokic's brilliance) for the Lakers. Murray blows too hot and cold and Denver's bench is worse. They can't really stick Jokic on AD. They can give a lot of different looks to Jokic with their frontcourt length.

Phoenix is the more dangerous team.

[Heej]

AD is the best defensive player I have seen live. His versatility is absolutely insane.

Best in the world rn and its not close

The bill Russell comparisons got blown up by his pnr defense in space though. Just let curry split effortless every time

[TheGOATRises007]

AD is the best defensive player I have seen live. His versatility is absolutely insane.

Best in the world rn and its not close

The bill Russell comparisons got blown up by his pnr defense in space though. Just let curry split effortless every time

To be fair, it's hard to envision how Russell would defend it too. It's not an easy play to defend.

It's completely different to what Russell defended in his heyday.

[The Master]

Lakers will win this series. There's no chance a LeBron/AD led team is being beat 3 times in a row.

I actually think the Nuggets are the easier match-up(despite Jokic's brilliance) for the Lakers. Murray blows too hot and cold and Denver's bench is worse. They can't really stick Jokic on AD. They can give a lot of different looks to Jokic with their frontcourt length.

Phoenix is the more dangerous team.

I don't think so: Suns are barely at 2-2 after some very competitive game 4 with Booker at 36-5-9 on 73 TS% - as soon as Booker is back to his normal self, Suns are done with their questionable defense and lack of depth. Clippers without George and Kawhi for majority of the series were at 118 ORTG.

Ideal scenario in my eyes is Suns advancing and Booker finishing his hot streak. Booker is now at 13 BPM, this is unsustainable. Nuggets should turn out as a better team in long run, they just have a better depth, so I'm much more afraid of them at this point.

Lakers can win games with AD/LeBron being cold offensively - Suns barely win games with Booker playing like a Jordan reminiscence.

[zimpy27]

Lakers will win this series. There's no chance a LeBron/AD led team is being beat 3 times in a row.

I actually think the Nuggets are the easier match-up(despite Jokic's brilliance) for the Lakers. Murray blows too hot and cold and Denver's bench is worse. They can't really stick Jokic on AD. They can give a lot of different looks to Jokic with their frontcourt length.

Phoenix is the more dangerous team.

Again I disagree. Lakers matchup very well on Suns defensively. I think you'll see some dud shooting games from Booker/Durant and they don't have much else outside those guys. Meanwhile, LeBron will get to the rim a lot.