Road to a Championship start here, 2022 Draft.

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It would be extremely disappointing to see Charlotte jump on this team out the gate.

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People still with CJ should be starting because NO's are playing 4 on 5 on offense with Daniels for his defense.

I'm going to let the numbers speak for themselves. Show the team starts minus the bench impact on the game.

CJ starting with Herb, BI, Zion, Jonas

Oct 25 Memphis - Pels (14 - 15) start, first sub 5:40, -1
Oct 28 NY - Pels (14 - 6) start, first sub 5:44, + 8
Oct 30 GS - Pels (13 - 16) start, first sub 6:09, +3
Nov 1 OKC - Pels (9 - 20) start, first sub 5:46, -11
Nov 4 Hawks -Pels (19 - 18) start, first sub 5:12, -1
Nov 29 Philly - Pels (27 - 13) start, first sub 4:23, +14
Dec 1 Spurs - Pels (18 - 14) start, first sub 6:31, -4
Dec 4 Kings - Pels (26 - 14) start, first sub 5:08, -12
Dec 7 Lakers - Pels (17 - 15) start, first sub 5:03, +2
Dec 11 Minnesota - Pels (16 - 17) start, first sub 4:13, -1

Of the 10 games started with this rotation, they handed a lead to the bench 4 times in 10 games in the easier portion of the schedule. Best start vs Philly without Embiid. where 2 of the 5 teams above 500 were missing their stars.

Daniels starting with Herb, BI, ZIon, Jonas

Nov 14 Mavs - Pels (14 - 11) start, first sub 5:32, +3
Nov 17 Denver - Pels (27 - 19) start, first sub 4:09, +8
Nov 18 Wolves - Pels (16 - 10) start, first sub 5:44, +6
Nov 20 Kings - Pels (19 - 15) start, first sub 5:55, +4
Nov 22 Kings - Pels (11 - 13) start, first sub 7:03, -2
Nov 24 Clippers - Pels (23 -12) start, first sub 5:30, +11
Nov 27 Utah - Pels (12 - 13) start, first sub 6:34, -1
Dec 2 Bulls - Pels (18 - 12) start, first sub 5:14, +6

All the talk of CJ's spacing, to show how bad his defense is paired with Jonas & Zion. NO's playing 4 on 5 with Daniels where he's left wide open, in his 8 games started with this lineup, they gave a lead to the bench 6 times in 8 games & in the 2 games they didn't it was no more than a 1 possession deficit. Of these 8 games, 6 were against contenders, big reason Pels lead the league in wins vs teams over 500 & 3, were B2B, short handed 4 rotational players for a fatigue/depth factor. Despite Deniel's poor shooting vs Utah, it was only a 1pt deficit when the game was turned over to the bench. The only other negative start was the 2pt lead for the Kings in a game they were looking for revenge & came out swinging. No big deficits because there's consistency in defense & effort.

This not factoring the benefit of Daniels getting these reps in early in a game for his offensive development. The pressure of being left open, there will be no greater learning curve for him. Green can easily adjust to any struggles with the rest of the game to compensate. What's funny, is the team is actually getting off to better starts with Daniels & against a much stronger, grueling schedule.

Tell me more about CJ's spacing & why he should start, lol. I know he's starting for no other reason than the name on the back of the jersey because if defense & spacing were an issue, Murphy is the better option to CJ. He also has great chemistry with ZIon, more lengthy defender/rebounder as most here know I was calling to start since last yr. What these numbers are showing. While there's a need for spacing with Daniels, there's a greater need for his defensive compensation over CJ's spacing. If Daniels was even average on offense, how much better would these starts be ? I continue to stress, taking these lumps now is for later benefit. This team is going nowhere with the combined defense of Jonas, Zion & CJ, Herb can only do so much. Daniels development is a must.

Look no further than the Lakers game. They, Lebron exposed Zion & CJ's combined defense all 4 times Green tried to match them up to the tune of -38 in 25 mins. Next game vs Wolves, Green paired ZIon more with Murphy & Daniels, Zion puts up 36 on 17 FGA's, not 8 in CJ's efficiency. As I said after trade, if CJ dominates the ball the team will play down to his efficiency & not up to ZIon's while exposing the defense.

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As I said to start the year, Jonas is reliable consistency for a team that has an issue with staying healthy, especially it's big man rotation. I'd look at a 2yr extension & team option in developing a drafted rookie replacement/depth option in the upcoming draft.

What I would also do, if possible.

Trade CJ to Magic who are reported to need spacing & are supposedly interested in Lavine for Isaac's 17m & an expiring contract.

NO's trade - (CJ 35m, pick/s) for (Isaac 17m 2y, Harris 13exp, 5m trade exception)

Team would get under the tax this season, shed 13m for Murphy's extension & net a 7'1" 1-5 defensive backup who can hit the occasional 3.

If Hawks look to blow it up, target Murray as a replacement option

NO's trade - (Nance, Kira, pick/s) for (Murray) Keep Daniels out of the deal if you can get Hawks to take a filler, pick based package.

Jonas - Isaac
Zion - Murphy
BI - Naji
Herb - Hawkins
Murray - Daniels/Jose

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Daniels 15 mins, 0 points, 1 steal, team high +7

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I would go into how with Jonas putting up 29 on 16 FGA''s this was still a close game but there's about 5 pages on it.

If Daniels would have started out 0-5. MF's would have been calling for spacing. Slow start to the game & 3rd Q, it's mystifying, lol.

CJ had a good 4th Q.

BI 7asts, 9 TO's

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Talking about this Cats team performances of late, that's nice, they were missing their starting PG & Centre.

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I always say If I can criticize, which I do, I should also be capable of praise, which I am. Not too long ago there was criticism of Green rotations, subs & matchups particularly, letting Colby go off late in the Bulls loss, In a game Murphy was off from range, Daniels shut down & got a key steal late in containing Rozier, prevented him from going off, as Colby did. IMO, the true medal of a man is not what he does when things are good but how well he responds to adversity. mistakes, leads to growth if a man is willing to learn from them... Not that we as fans are always right but what Green has shown is that he's willing to take criticism, admit to his mistakes & grow. Which is big because I have followed teams with ignorant coaches before, Kudos. Same with Zion, lots of criticism from his weight, defense, rebounding to the diversity in his game.

Zion put effort in defensively, grabbed 11 rebounds & had a pull up jumper to seal this game late 4th. Like Green he's responding well to his criticism.

Which brings me to, if Zion can pull up for a jumper in crunch time with the game on the line. You just watched Jonas dismantle Charlotte inside out because of the diversity in his game. They can't stop him in the post so they load up, he steps out & goes 2-4 from 3 & there's no answer only frustration. Jonas doesn't have your talent level but you are lacking the diversity in your game to make things easier for yourself & your teammates.

I'd like to see when the team gets a bit of a lead Zion take a 3 here or there just for the rep & to put a little doubt as to what he's going to do when holding the ball on the perimeter. They continue to give you that shot, continue to take it. Let Jonse set up for the offensive board if necessary.

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Back to the issue of slow starts, slow 3rd Q starts.

Last night Daniels in his 15 mins was a team high +7 with zero's across the board. Simply because Jonas & Zion the team 2 most efficient scorers, "need" defensive compensation. CJ had a good 4th Q but the fact is, he started the game 0-5,, 0-3 from 3 & was off along with BI for 3 full Q's, without the defensive compliment that Daniels brings to the table. In off nights like this for CJ, there's more consistency for the lineup in Daniels defense & effort. CJ & BI being cold, the reason Charlotte was able to hang around despite Jonas & Zion going off for 50, 24, 8 on good efficiency. That efficiency was offset by CJ & BI struggling offensively, without the defensive compensation, BI having more TO's than points or assists, never really finding his game. Hence Dyson defense being +7 to close the game against Charlotte's microwave player, Rozier. His lone steal, was potentially game altering, saving.

Daniels starts you get his consistent defense & effort, setting a tone, which is why if you look at the starting stats I posted, Pels either gave a lead to the bench 7x or were never blown out on his cold shooting nights, where in his 2 bad offensive games in 9 starts, they were never down more than one possession, first sub & against a strong schedule.

Jonas & Zion's volume efficiency can compensate for Daniels offense, what they can't compensate for, is another weak defender leaving Herb on an island in poor shooting nights. Daniels has it going, ride him, he doesn't, his defense will keep the game in range & you can adjust accordingly first sub. There's no better place for Daniels to get his feet wet than at the start of the game. This team will need his defense come PO's, so give him that learning curve & let the vet cover for him as insurance. Show some trust in him to help build his confidence. Notice since the Utah game how much his offense has regressed.. to that point Daniels was shooting 33% from 3 & was good for hitting at least one open look. He has since fallen off from that Utah game. It's a confidence issue & he need's to know, it's ok.

Basketball is a game of confidence. When a shooter double clutches, they usually miss. It's why shooters have short memories, they feel the next one is going in etc.. If open, don't over think the shot, take it. Decisive & confident. It was the right play. Look at Herb, more than his improved 3pt percentage, there's no hesitation in taking the right shot.

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I was watching Stephen A & Sharpe talking on ZIon's bounce back game & they angered me. They still crapped on ZIon for responding well to his criticism, warranted or unwarranted & pulled themselves out of any accountability for making fun of him, which Smith did. There's a difference between criticism & ridicule Mr Smith. Making fun of him in an outlandish manner, is ridicule, not constructive criticism, which you did. You may want him to succeed somewhere underneath it all but you were outlandish for views at his expense, own it. Unless of course your job is to be a comedian because you got jokes.

I'm going to share a bit of personal information because I think it's somewhat relevant. I'm a direct blood line to King Solomon & the Queen of Sheeba. A mix breed, olive skin & blue green eyes. Captain cook in circumnavigating the world had an affair with the Queen, Their daughter is my dad's family tree before he was beheaded in Hawaii for sleeping with the Kings daughter. (Gift of wisdom, curse of lust).

Sharpe's talk of wisdom, basically calling Zion a fool from learning from his mistake.

Mr. Sharpe, you couldn't be more wrong. true wisdom comes from admitting you don't know everything, not an ignorance in thinking you do. It's a willingness to learn & grow no matter how. True intelligence is simplifying the difficult, not complicating the easy. The greatest lessons in life come from personal mistakes, it's how we all mature. It's why we are given a chance for redemption, we are all sinners & make mistakes. None of us are perfect but we strive to be by choosing to learn & grow. It's what life is about, perfecting your soul. God's truth, is a self realization of what's true, no one else can give you that truth, they can tell you & even show you but there's no truth like knowing for yourself. I can tell & show you not to touch fire & you can learn from that but a curiosity will remain. Make the mistake & touch the fire you will know the full truth as to why not to touch, the greatest lesson learned. That which does not kill you, only makes you stronger & wiser. There's no greater lesson, than first hand experience.

You basically called Zion a fool for responding well to a mistake & criticism, scolding him over a public channel like he was your child. Over the last couple games since the Lakers match, Zion has been more focused & engaged, He's putting in a defensive effort, he's even rebounding & has been making the necessary adjustment. I don't know what you are seeing to call him a fool but I see growth in his response & actions.

I see ignorance & foolishness but it's not Zion. Some constructive criticism for ya.

Ya dig.

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Hopefully people can see the effort & improvements in Zion's game. If it's your job to criticize, it should also be your job to give credit where it's due.

Zion besides being his efficient self in a night the team was hot from 3 - ( 8 rebs, 2 stl's, 1 blk ).

He's clearly responding well to his poor showing in the IST.

Reminder that Jonas is great value @ 15m - Another 15 / 15 / 3 / 1 / 1 +25, 23 minute performance.

Nice game from CJ but another slow start. Still don't agree with him starting. That said, I think the rotations have been much better mixed & balanced. I realize in part due to availability now that the team is healthy but also in part to finding the right mix of offense & defense.

Naji putting up another +35 off the bench in a contract yr. The cap situation is going to get tricky.

BI 5-7 from 3 all shot with a purpose & confidence.

All in all Pels are doing what they are supposed to. Starting the season with 10 of their 13 wins against teams over 500 you knew it was only a matter of time before they would dominate an easy portion of their schedule. I personally can't wait for the Utah game to see where this team is at. I believe if Pels had Murphy available alone they would have 4 extra wins, in winnable games, lost & a record of 20-7 good enough for 3rd overall seed by a game differential while being top 5 in SOS. Outside of health for NO's, basically only Boston have been better considering SOS's.

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Posted on the main board will repost here.

Apparently Utah might be making Markkanen available for around 5 draft picks. NO's can structure a trade for some added financial benefit, like dumping Kira's contract.

NO's trade (Nance 17m, Kira 5m, Picks) 22m for (Markkanen 17m)

This dumps Kira's contract to get under the tax & Markkanen 17m expires in 2yrs in correspondence with BI's contract extension for some flexibility in choice.

NO's picks offered -
NO's 24 - RTS the 2nd least of Pels, Lakers, Bucks. (NO's are left with the more favorable pick(
Bucks 25 - (NO's retain their pick 25)
NO's 25 - RTS the least favorable of Pels, Lakers pick if Lakers pick is not used in 24, (NO's are left with the more favorable pick)
NO's/Bucks 26 - Least favorable pick to Utah (NO's retain the better pick 26)
NO's/Bucks 27 - Least favorable pick to Utah (NO's retain the better pick 27)

So over the 5 drafts & picks offered, NO's keep the best of them all facing cap issues where picks = added money.

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Analyzing the potential of the Lakers 24 pick.

Lakers through 27 games have had a relatively average SOS. They're ranked 23rd in offense, 7th in defense with a .3 net rating.

Lakers are currently 15-12 with both Lebron & Davis healthy.

Look closer at their win loss record -

0-1 vs Denver
3-0 vs Suns
0-2 vs Kings
1-1 vs Magic
0-1 vs Heat
1-1 vs Houston
2-0 vs Portland
1-0 vs Memphis
1-0 vs Jazz
0-2 vs Dallas
1-0 vs Pistons
0-1 vs OKC
1-0 vs Cavs
1-1 vs Spurs
0-1 vs Knicks
1-0 vs Pels
0-1 vs Philly
1-0 vs Clippers

If not for going 3-0 vs the Suns. Lakers would be 3-13 vs teams over 500 having faced 10 teams over 500. One of 10 teams making up 50% of their wins in this category. 6 wins out of 16 games vs teams over 500.

1-1 vs Houston

8-1 vs teams with less than 5 wins or considerably injured - Detroit, Portland 2x, Memphis, Spurs, Utah, Cavs.

In short 8 of the Lakers 15 wins have come against teams with no more than 5 wins & the now injured Cavs. We're not even talking about average or slightly below average teams, we're talking bottom feeders. Against an average team like Houton, they're 1-1.

This with all the favorable calls they get. One injury to Davis or Lebron ...

In their next 8. Not in order, Lakers face the Wolves 2x, OKC, Boston, Pels, Heat, Bulls, Charlotte. 6 games vs 2 against teams over 500, with no Sun on the horizon for gifted wins. Wouldn't surprise me to see them come out of this 8 game stretch under 500.

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Houston, Suns a half game back of Lakers 8th seed.. Lakers stumble over their next 4 (Bulls, Wolves, OKC & Boston) ... 1 if not both teams could surpass them.

Bulls have been playing better than their record as of late, go Bulls.

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In relation to Lakers having 8 games vs bottom feeders & a 7-1 record vs teams with 5 or less wins.

Pels have had 4 games & are 4 - 0 vs the bottom feeders, Memphis, Detroit, Spurs.
 
I excluded the Jazz from both because they now have 10 wins.

Pels 1 game out of 4th seed, half game out of 5th, 6th seed, with 4 favorable games in line.

A win tonight puts them in a 3 way tie for 5th seed, half game back of Kings 4th seed.

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Clear travel by Bizz. The way this game is being officiated looks like somebody got money on the underdog. Can't breath on 3J right now & Memphis getting away with a lot of contact on Jonas.

9 FT's for Memphis already.

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Jonas hottest offensive player right now open being ignored for contested jumpers ..

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BI 1-7 ignoring open players for contest shots is why Memphis is currently up 20-16. That & the poor rebounding

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That was needed by CJ. Memphis was getting into a rhythm.

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Daniels, 4 mins, 1 reb, 2 asts +12 lol. His defense big reason Pels now up 9.

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6 min scoring drought for Memphis since Daniels came in. Pels now up 20.