(LOCK THREAD) The LeBron James- 23-24 NBA Thread - 40K POINTS+(Part 1)(NO INSULTING)

[Heej]

Can someone put into words why this team is so unfathomably bad from 3?

Before the season I figured they'd be a solid shooting team. Cranjis said that bball index rates this as LeBron's best shooting team since 2017 and the best shooting team of AD's career. But at this point it's starting to feel like, sustainably bad.

I haven't looked at the shot quality stats but if I had to guess I'd say the issue is that Reaves and DLo are the team's two best shooters but since they're being used a lot as on-ball creators the Lakers aren't getting them many easy looks. Add to that the fact that neither can consistently collapse the defense and a lack of off-ball movement and it's resulting in a lot of tough looks for everyone else as well.

The kickout guys aren't making extra swings or turn into record scratches so people are getting inconsistent shots from bad process. One pass away 3s can be deadly but if your whole offense subsists on that I think it's prone to underperforming. Also the Lakers are just cold right now in general

[PistolPeteJR]

Lakers got a 37 to 9 free-throw attempts advantage against a G-league stocked tanking team and had to gut out a victory. Not sure what to think

The energy and the defense are major problems right now. I think bringing Reaves off the bench has helped the energy some, and Vando and Vincent's returns in a week or two or so should help too.

But the defense is a big problem right now. Again, Vando and Vincent should help on that front, but it's more than that. They need a big a la 2020 McGee/Howard to help cover for when opponents are pulling AD out of the paint, which is more frequent today than it was 3-4 years ago. Hayes just won't cut it, and Wood's frame and game are too similar to AD's to be that guy.

I think the Lakers need to call Atlanta and try and trade for Capela, no joke. Send them JHS or something. He's only playing 24.8mpg anyway because Okongwu's the future there. Realistically though, salary is a problem there, so that's a no-go.

The Lakers know this is a problem though, I think. That's why they swung for a low-risk, high-reward move in Mo Bamba last year, and Hayes this year, and both have failed (no, calling the Hayes experiment a failure is not premature). I just don't know who they get to help them mitigate teams pulling AD out while still getting a decent, economical rebounder and rim protector. It's why Kevon Looney is such an asset to the Warriors.

[RRR3]

Can someone put into words why this team is so unfathomably bad from 3?

Before the season I figured they'd be a solid shooting team. Cranjis said that bball index rates this as LeBron's best shooting team since 2017 and the best shooting team of AD's career. But at this point it's starting to feel like, sustainably bad.

I haven't looked at the shot quality stats but if I had to guess I'd say the issue is that Reaves and DLo are the team's two best shooters but since they're being used a lot as on-ball creators the Lakers aren't getting them many easy looks. Add to that the fact that neither can consistently collapse the defense and a lack of off-ball movement and it's resulting in a lot of tough looks for everyone else as well.

Nah we’re getting good shots up lol

Reaves/Dlo/Prince should be our highest percentage 3 point shooters, maybe in that order, the fact that the 3 of them are shooting so poorly early is kind of the issue, and it’ll work itself out, Dlo is shooting the shots he normally shoots, prince has gotten good shots too. Reaves maybe a bit tougher but I’m not worried about his shot either

Outside of that it’s just Gabe/Christie/reddish shooting unreasonably bad early on. (Jesus Gabe lol) but it’ll come back up

The shooters will eventually start making shots, but the worrying thing is how you can play 5 out and everyone who plays can theoretically shoot threes INCLUDING your bigs (i.e., AD and Wood) other than Hayes, but you wind up only taking 19 threes in a game.

For the season after last night:

—Lakers are dead last in the league in three-point attempts and makes per 100 possessions
—Lakers take the third highest % of their shots from 16ft—3pt in the league AND shoot the 5th worst % from there

^This is a coaching and scheme problem right here. We saw a different approach in preseason in which this team was actively hunting for threes.

I mean we know. Everyone has started to see the coaching issue this year. Last year I guess Ham was getting more of a pass as a rookie which is fair enough, but he doesn't seem to have improved at all.

[MyUniBroDavis]

Cranjis said our scheme is fine therefore our scheme is fine lmao

[Cavsfansince84]

I mean we know. Everyone has started to see the coaching issue this year. Last year I guess Ham was getting more of a pass as a rookie which is fair enough, but he doesn't seem to have improved at all.

I think Ham is probably gone by the asb. Maybe by game 30. No reason to hang onto a coach who can't coach.

[MyUniBroDavis]

Y’all so negative I was at the game today I come back here after a thirty point win to check and not a single post smh

[MyUniBroDavis]

I mean we know. Everyone has started to see the coaching issue this year. Last year I guess Ham was getting more of a pass as a rookie which is fair enough, but he doesn't seem to have improved at all.

I think Ham is probably gone by the asb. Maybe by game 30. No reason to hang onto a coach who can't coach.

Y’all acting like he put in stinker after stinker when last year he only got outcoached by Malone whose probably a top 3 coach in the league lol

[nzahir]

I mean we know. Everyone has started to see the coaching issue this year. Last year I guess Ham was getting more of a pass as a rookie which is fair enough, but he doesn't seem to have improved at all.

I think Ham is probably gone by the asb. Maybe by game 30. No reason to hang onto a coach who can't coach.

Y’all acting like he put in stinker after stinker when last year he only got outcoached by Malone whose probably a top 3 coach in the league lol

I thought Ham was mostly fine in the playoffs

What pisses me off is some of the weird or dumb rotations in the lineups in the reg season

We looked good tonight, but remember we are playing a super depleted Grizzlies team, we better have demolished them

Imagine if we could shoot above avg from 3....

Read on Twitter

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[zimpy27]

Y’all so negative I was at the game today I come back here after a thirty point win to check and not a single post smh

You're so negative about the negativity

[zimpy27]

Rui is quietly had an amazing start to the season..

[LikeABosh]

Rui is quietly had an amazing start to the season..

Yes, he is. All for keeping him, but he also could get them something juicy at the deadline if they wanna go that route. Dlo is a problem against quality playoff teams

[zimpy27]

Rui is quietly had an amazing start to the season..

Yes, he is. All for keeping him, but he also could get them something juicy at the deadline if they wanna go that route. Dlo is a problem against quality playoff teams

He's a problem against Jamal..

Otherwise he was fine.

[LikeABosh]

Rui is quietly had an amazing start to the season..

Yes, he is. All for keeping him, but he also could get them something juicy at the deadline if they wanna go that route. Dlo is a problem against quality playoff teams

He's a problem against Jamal..

Otherwise he was fine.

He can't get his shot off in the playoffs. A playoff career of .485 TS / .329 3P is not fine when he's out there for his offense. And that's ignoring his defensive shortcomings (which I would be fine with if he could shoot)

[zimpy27]

Yes, he is. All for keeping him, but he also could get them something juicy at the deadline if they wanna go that route. Dlo is a problem against quality playoff teams

He's a problem against Jamal..

Otherwise he was fine.

He can't get his shot off in the playoffs. A playoff career of .485 TS / .329 3P is not fine when he's out there for his offense. And that's ignoring his defensive shortcomings (which I would be fine with if he could shoot)

54% TS in playoffs prior to Nuggets series..

But ok. I agree moving DLo is the play if Lakers have a good target.

[MyUniBroDavis]

He's a problem against Jamal..

Otherwise he was fine.

He can't get his shot off in the playoffs. A playoff career of .485 TS / .329 3P is not fine when he's out there for his offense. And that's ignoring his defensive shortcomings (which I would be fine with if he could shoot)

54% TS in playoffs prior to Nuggets series..

But ok. I agree moving DLo is the play if Lakers have a good target.

Dlo is inconsistent at times and it’s unfortunate how he’s shot in the playoffs, at the same time offensice he’s genuinely really good. Like at the end of the day he only played in like 10 games prior to that

He’s a fantastic passer though

[PistolPeteJR]

He can't get his shot off in the playoffs. A playoff career of .485 TS / .329 3P is not fine when he's out there for his offense. And that's ignoring his defensive shortcomings (which I would be fine with if he could shoot)

54% TS in playoffs prior to Nuggets series..

But ok. I agree moving DLo is the play if Lakers have a good target.

Dlo is inconsistent at times and it’s unfortunate how he’s shot in the playoffs, at the same time offensice he’s genuinely really good. Like at the end of the day he only played in like 10 games prior to that

He’s a fantastic passer though

He's played pretty well to start the year tbh. Has been flying under the radar while doing so. He's even played very well quarters 1 through 3 and then gets benched the whole 4th and it doesn't seem to bug him, which is really great. Super refreshing given this time last year, it was Russ in his position and that was a nightmare on and off the court.

[Homer38]

Only 22 minutes yesterday for LBJ...This rarely happens in his career!

[Heej]

54% TS in playoffs prior to Nuggets series..

But ok. I agree moving DLo is the play if Lakers have a good target.

Dlo is inconsistent at times and it’s unfortunate how he’s shot in the playoffs, at the same time offensice he’s genuinely really good. Like at the end of the day he only played in like 10 games prior to that

He’s a fantastic passer though

He's played pretty well to start the year tbh. Has been flying under the radar while doing so. He's even played very well quarters 1 through 3 and then gets benched the whole 4th and it doesn't seem to bug him, which is really great. Super refreshing given this time last year, it was Russ in his position and that was a nightmare on and off the court.

The more I watch him the more I think he's one of those smart guys who does well because they're studious. The offense is becoming a bit smoother as far as knowing what sets to run vs what coverages and DLo is very good at knowing what his reads are within that. Freelance offense and fast breaks where he has to read openings on the fly I think he's absolutely dreadful. But hey if the team is just gonna call plays more and he's good within structure, then that's cool with me

[PistolPeteJR]

Dlo is inconsistent at times and it’s unfortunate how he’s shot in the playoffs, at the same time offensice he’s genuinely really good. Like at the end of the day he only played in like 10 games prior to that

He’s a fantastic passer though

He's played pretty well to start the year tbh. Has been flying under the radar while doing so. He's even played very well quarters 1 through 3 and then gets benched the whole 4th and it doesn't seem to bug him, which is really great. Super refreshing given this time last year, it was Russ in his position and that was a nightmare on and off the court.

The more I watch him the more I think he's one of those smart guys who does well because they're studious. The offense is becoming a bit smoother as far as knowing what sets to run vs what coverages and DLo is very good at knowing what his reads are within that. Freelance offense and fast breaks where he has to read openings on the fly I think he's absolutely dreadful. But hey if the team is just gonna call plays more and he's good within structure, then that's cool with me

And at that contract, I'm fine keeping him unless a no-brainer comes up and we include him in the deal.

He's putting up good numbers and is being very efficient from the field, his 3PT% should keep increasing as it's below his career average right now, which means he'll be even more efficient. And he's passing really well. Defensively he's no Jrue, but he's no Trey either. He's putting in effort and isn't being lethargic, and when Ham benches him in the 4th he's accepting his role. I'm fine with this.

[MyUniBroDavis]

Dlo is inconsistent at times and it’s unfortunate how he’s shot in the playoffs, at the same time offensice he’s genuinely really good. Like at the end of the day he only played in like 10 games prior to that

He’s a fantastic passer though

He's played pretty well to start the year tbh. Has been flying under the radar while doing so. He's even played very well quarters 1 through 3 and then gets benched the whole 4th and it doesn't seem to bug him, which is really great. Super refreshing given this time last year, it was Russ in his position and that was a nightmare on and off the court.

The more I watch him the more I think he's one of those smart guys who does well because they're studious. The offense is becoming a bit smoother as far as knowing what sets to run vs what coverages and DLo is very good at knowing what his reads are within that. Freelance offense and fast breaks where he has to read openings on the fly I think he's absolutely dreadful. But hey if the team is just gonna call plays more and he's good within structure, then that's cool with me

Dlo is pretty clearly a good player he just has some brain farts

On ball defensively he’s got issues, he’s generally solid off ball, but that inconsistent shooting man