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

[Colbinii]

If Jokic is out, the defense doesn’t suffer. The offense will, but not to the same degree the Lakers’ defense will fall apart if AD is out given their backup big on D is horrid. In other words, if Denver loses one of their top-2 guys, the team will absolutely suffer, but not to the degree the Lakers would. That’s the point.

But the degree shouldn't matter because if either jokic or AD gets hurt, neither team is getting close to winning the NBA finals.

Of course it should matter. In the RS, AD is hurt, Lakers probably aren’t making the playoffs. If Jokic is hurt, Denver still stands a good chance of making the playoffs.
In the same light, if the Lakers have a half-decent backup big, that helps in the immediate and long-term by not seeing their performance COMPLETELY crumble in non-AD minutes as well helps not milk AD pre-playoffs.

What? There is no chance Denver makes the playoffs without Jokic.

[Fadeaway_J]

But the degree shouldn't matter because if either jokic or AD gets hurt, neither team is getting close to winning the NBA finals.

Of course it should matter. In the RS, AD is hurt, Lakers probably aren’t making the playoffs. If Jokic is hurt, Denver still stands a good chance of making the playoffs.
In the same light, if the Lakers have a half-decent backup big, that helps in the immediate and long-term by not seeing their performance COMPLETELY crumble in non-AD minutes as well helps not milk AD pre-playoffs.

What? There is no chance Denver makes the playoffs without Jokic.

Yeah, they routinely fall off a cliff without Jokic. His on/off differential is just comical.

[McBubbles]

As great as LeBron had been (definitely relatively to his age), I feel like AD is more important to the team

Does anyone doubt that tho......Its been obvious Ads been teams most valuable for a couple seasons now

specially w/ Reaves and Dlo now Ad has ballhandlers and playmakers when Bron is out so offense can still be good enough

But when Ad is out the defense is cooked Bbq chicken

Was it? Wasn't obvious to me when AD was routinely missing 15 more games than the person he's a decade younger than, or when he was limping and getting outplayed by opposing bigs on a regular basis whilst Lebron was leading the league in scoring and singlehandedly keeping the offence afloat.

[Colbinii]

Gabe Vincent for P.J. Tucker

Lakers get a certified veteran who can still play and defend at a high level

Clippers get a POA defender for the post-season

[The High Cyde]

Gabe Vincent for P.J. Tucker

Lakers get a certified veteran who can still play and defend at a high level

Clippers get a POA defender for the post-season

Tucker is donezo my man. But sure we’d take Gabe for him

[Colbinii]

Gabe Vincent for P.J. Tucker

Lakers get a certified veteran who can still play and defend at a high level

Clippers get a POA defender for the post-season

Tucker is donezo my man. But sure we’d take Gabe for him

Vincent has terrible knees and is out 6-8 weeks as he gets his knee cleaned out. I would be surprised if he plays > 50% of games on his contract (3 years).

[The High Cyde]

Gabe Vincent for P.J. Tucker

Lakers get a certified veteran who can still play and defend at a high level

Clippers get a POA defender for the post-season

Tucker is donezo my man. But sure we’d take Gabe for him

Vincent has terrible knees and is out 6-8 weeks as he gets his knee cleaned out. I would be surprised if he plays > 50% of games on his contract (3 years).

Oh didn’t know it was that bad with Gabe. You could probably still find someone better than Tucker though, who when I saw him play on the Clips this year was a step or two too slow on D and on O his shot has left him completely. But maybe Bron could get him to contribute decent minutes.

[PistolPeteJR]

Of course it should matter. In the RS, AD is hurt, Lakers probably aren’t making the playoffs. If Jokic is hurt, Denver still stands a good chance of making the playoffs.
In the same light, if the Lakers have a half-decent backup big, that helps in the immediate and long-term by not seeing their performance COMPLETELY crumble in non-AD minutes as well helps not milk AD pre-playoffs.

What? There is no chance Denver makes the playoffs without Jokic.

Yeah, they routinely fall off a cliff without Jokic. His on/off differential is just comical.

I still think they have a chance to make the playoffs/play-in without him tbh.

[MyUniBroDavis]

The Nuggets wouldn’t be a playoff team without Jokic lol

They wouldn’t be this like bottom of the league lottery level team or anything but they would definately not be a playoff team lmao

[Colbinii]

What? There is no chance Denver makes the playoffs without Jokic.

Yeah, they routinely fall off a cliff without Jokic. His on/off differential is just comical.

I still think they have a chance to make the playoffs/play-in without him tbh.

How?

The team would be clearly worse than Clippers/Wolves/Thunder/Mavericks/Kings/Pelicans/Rockets/Lakers/Warriors/Suns/Memphis

I would put them worse than Utah as well.

[PistolPeteJR]

Yeah, they routinely fall off a cliff without Jokic. His on/off differential is just comical.

I still think they have a chance to make the playoffs/play-in without him tbh.

How?

The team would be clearly worse than Clippers/Wolves/Thunder/Mavericks/Kings/Pelicans/Rockets/Lakers/Warriors/Suns/Memphis

I would put them worse than Utah as well.

If Jokic is out indefinitely, I fully expect them to change their scheme to be built around Murray instead, and I expect him to show out like he usually does in the PS. I think they make the play-in and go from there.

[Colbinii]

I still think they have a chance to make the playoffs/play-in without him tbh.

How?

The team would be clearly worse than Clippers/Wolves/Thunder/Mavericks/Kings/Pelicans/Rockets/Lakers/Warriors/Suns/Memphis

I would put them worse than Utah as well.

If Jokic is out indefinitely, I fully expect them to change their scheme to be built around Murray instead, and I expect him to show out like he usually does in the PS. I think they make the play-in and go from there.

Yeah, they would be fighting for the #10 seed, 50/50 of making it and then they would need to win two road games where they don't have the best player in either matchup.

[homecourtloss]

Gabe Vincent for P.J. Tucker

Lakers get a certified veteran who can still play and defend at a high level

Clippers get a POA defender for the post-season

Tucker is donezo my man. But sure we’d take Gabe for him

Vincent has terrible knees and is out 6-8 weeks as he gets his knee cleaned out. I would be surprised if he plays > 50% of games on his contract (3 years).

Vincent would go to the clips and shoot 40% from three and play good defense.

Clippers have had either the best roster or close to it for five consecutive years (see conversations about the massive gap in talent between the 2020 Clippers and 2020 Lakers), primarily by not having to trade any of their players and get players in return, e.g., Harden for nothing, never gave up Zubac, haven’t had to give up Powell, etc. They’ve had to use their picks, sure, but I haven’t seen a team able to build a roster like this while not having to give up their players.

[PistolPeteJR]

How?

The team would be clearly worse than Clippers/Wolves/Thunder/Mavericks/Kings/Pelicans/Rockets/Lakers/Warriors/Suns/Memphis

I would put them worse than Utah as well.

If Jokic is out indefinitely, I fully expect them to change their scheme to be built around Murray instead, and I expect him to show out like he usually does in the PS. I think they make the play-in and go from there.

Yeah, they would be fighting for the #10 seed, 50/50 of making it and then they would need to win two road games where they don't have the best player in either matchup.

I mean it’s significantly hypotheticals here. You say fighting for 10th, I say 8-10. Regardless, all I’m saying is I think they have a better chance of making the playoffs than the Lakers would sans AD.

[nzahir]

Tucker is donezo my man. But sure we’d take Gabe for him

Vincent has terrible knees and is out 6-8 weeks as he gets his knee cleaned out. I would be surprised if he plays > 50% of games on his contract (3 years).

Oh didn’t know it was that bad with Gabe. You could probably still find someone better than Tucker though, who when I saw him play on the Clips this year was a step or two too slow on D and on O his shot has left him completely. But maybe Bron could get him to contribute decent minutes.

Tucker is washed up, also another year on the deal

Pass

I am 100% not on board with moving Reaves for Murray

Reaves and Bron pick and roll is one of our best and few offensive options

If we can move DLO, JHS, a first, a swap and some 2nds/and or Christie/Maxwell, sign me up, but I doubt that’s doable

Hawks got him for 3 1sts, swap and Gallo, but he had some more potential then and it hasn’t panned out as hoped. Also going to get paid more now, so I think his value should be worth less

Vs smaller teams close with Murray, Reaves, Prince, Bron, AD?

Vs larger teams though going to need Rui instead of Prince or sit down one of the guards and add Rui/Vando/Cam to Prince AD and Bron

[Mos_Heat]

Tucker is donezo my man. But sure we’d take Gabe for him

Vincent has terrible knees and is out 6-8 weeks as he gets his knee cleaned out. I would be surprised if he plays > 50% of games on his contract (3 years).

Vincent would go to the clips and shoot 40% from three and play good defense.

Clippers have had either the best roster or close to it for five consecutive years (see conversations about the massive gap in talent between the 2020 Clippers and 2020 Lakers), primarily by not having to trade any of their players and get players in return, e.g., Harden for nothing, never gave up Zubac, haven’t had to give up Powell, etc. They’ve had to use their picks, sure, but I haven’t seen a team able to build a roster like this while not having to give up their players.

Boston does something similar

[Mos_Heat]

What about good old Bogdan Bogdanovic? Not ideal on defense but can really boost their 3pt shooting

[The High Cyde]

Vincent has terrible knees and is out 6-8 weeks as he gets his knee cleaned out. I would be surprised if he plays > 50% of games on his contract (3 years).

Vincent would go to the clips and shoot 40% from three and play good defense.

Clippers have had either the best roster or close to it for five consecutive years (see conversations about the massive gap in talent between the 2020 Clippers and 2020 Lakers), primarily by not having to trade any of their players and get players in return, e.g., Harden for nothing, never gave up Zubac, haven’t had to give up Powell, etc. They’ve had to use their picks, sure, but I haven’t seen a team able to build a roster like this while not having to give up their players.

Boston does something similar

I thought my Clips were looking good but Boston came in kicked our teeth in, albeit without Kawhi, but damn is Boston scary to go up against. Elite O and D.

[RIPCITY1977]

celtics are the deepest and most overall talented. tatum is the weakness, excellent as he is he doesn’t know how or is to stuck in himself to pass.. it infects the team, brings them down, and imo joe doesn’t know how to put it in order.
clips could be trouble for everyone if they stay healthy, same goes for every team, it one of your top 3 guys is gimpy come playoffs that teams in trouble.. which leads me to the bucks, besides the obvious meshing problems, middleton is a showdown of himself, reminds me of how clay is now days.. as for the topic at hand Bron is a beast, pacing himself as usual, pains me to say, cause I really don’t like him. He’s Fn incredible true savant.. makes everyone better, love watching him, hope he stays healthy so we can watch him do his thing in the playoffs, his shooters need to be more consistent.

[RRR3]

If they can't beat the Hornets...