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

[dcstanley]

Wish they signed Divincenzo for the MLE. Vincent being a complete dud is an underrated subplot for this disastrous season.

[Colbinii]

Wish they signed Divincenzo for the MLE. Vincent being a complete dud is an underrated subplot for this disastrous season.

Yup--even bringing back Schroeder would have helped.

But I liked the Vincent signing at the time, but they should have known he had health issues.

[dcstanley]

Wish they signed Divincenzo for the MLE. Vincent being a complete dud is an underrated subplot for this disastrous season.

Yup--even bringing back Schroeder would have helped.

But I liked the Vincent signing at the time, but they should have known he had health issues.

Same. I was really optimistic about his fit next to Bron/AD. Really needed to hit on the MLE this year after not getting much out of it since 2020 (Harrell, Nunn, Walker and now Vincent).

[nzahir]

Anyway, Pelinka has fumbled a lot of opportunities.. the Lakers current team isn't awful, it's just poorly structured in rotation.

A few rules:
- Reaves should always play with Davis on court
- Wood can only play with LeBron on court
- Reddish need to play SG to be impactful
- Vando and DLo are a good combo, they've played a lot together.
- each lineup needs a guard and wing defender.
- each lineup needs 2 of DLo, Reaves, LeBron

It gives you a few choices for rotations, nothing too hard about them


Davis and Reaves are paired.
LeBron plays with Wood while Davis and Reaves rest.


Here is a simple representation of two lineups that fit the rules
24 mins: Reaves, Reddish, Prince, LeBron, Davis
24 mins: DLo, LeBron/Reaves, Vando, Rui, Wood/Davis

Bron also benefits from playing with Reaves though

If we are moving on from Dlo and not getting Lavine back, probably should be starting Reaves

Untouchables:
Bron, AD, Vando (due to rules with extension, cant be moved) and Reaves (unless a guy like Mitchell, Trae, or maybe Kyrie is available, but would depend on the package with Kyrie), and

Everyone else can go if needed, so build around that

[RRR3]

Wish they signed Divincenzo for the MLE. Vincent being a complete dud is an underrated subplot for this disastrous season.

Pelinkduh is imply not smart enough to target a legitimate two guy like Divincenzo. The last time the Lakers got legit two way guys Magic was the GM lol. Pelinkduh is a sports agent who got lucky and clearly doesn't understand basketball.

[Heej]

Wish they signed Divincenzo for the MLE. Vincent being a complete dud is an underrated subplot for this disastrous season.

Pelinkduh is imply not smart enough to target a legitimate two guy like Divincenzo. The last time the Lakers got legit two way guys Magic was the GM lol. Pelinkduh is a sports agent who got lucky and clearly doesn't understand basketball.

I had high hopes because he was Kobe's agent, but should've known that he would be overrated just like Kobe was.

[PistolPeteJR]

Wish they signed Divincenzo for the MLE. Vincent being a complete dud is an underrated subplot for this disastrous season.

Yup--even bringing back Schroeder would have helped.

But I liked the Vincent signing at the time, but they should have known he had health issues.

I literally entered the thread to gauge interest in trading for Dennis?

[trickshot]

That Westbrook trade was a disaster. KCP is one of the best role players in the league and has blossomed even more in Denver.

Still think they're dangerous in the playoffs because of LeBron + AD, but they need to consolidate the roster somehow.

That trade was so bad it's still the gift that keeps on giving. They wanted a point guuard but if they had been a little more patient Rondo was free at the very end of FA. They eventually signed him but had to trade him to make the spacing work when he was clearly better at linking up with AD. It also lead to Ham. Even after the trade they continued to sacrifice so much of the title winning team making it work. Dont think I'll ever stop getting pissed thinking about it. One bad series against Phx and you lose faith in Caruso and KCP. Fkin hell. Like Westbrook would have won the series after AD was injured. AD was also injured all regular season they wouldnt even make the playoffs.

[zimpy27]

After the 19-20 championship the Lakers trades have amounted to this:

Lakers get DLo, Rui, Vando
Lakers give KCP, Kuzma, pick 29 in '20 (Jaden McDaniels), pick 22 in '21(Isaiah Jackson), LAL27FRP(5-30), 5 SRPs


They've also had to let these guys walk:
Caruso, Monk, Lonnie

[Ian Scuffling]

Watching LeBron play for this Lakers franchise is the equivalent of basketball purgatory. Maybe Kobe is the GOAT for winning 5 rings with these incompetent nincompoops

Kobe had great coaching and general managers for all his rings

Most importantly, he had great big men. Shaq was the undisputed number one for those first 3. That's not say that AD isn't a great big. But, obviously he's not Shaq.

[MacGill]

Watching LeBron play for this Lakers franchise is the equivalent of basketball purgatory. Maybe Kobe is the GOAT for winning 5 rings with these incompetent nincompoops

Kobe had great coaching and general managers for all his rings

Most importantly, he had great big men. Shaq was the undisputed number one for those first 3. That's not say that AD isn't a great big. But, obviously he's not Shaq.

While Shaq certainly was the 1A to Kobe's 1B, let's not act like the two of them didn't need each other, and this is coming from someone who holds Shaq as my GOAT center! Kobe was needed in other series, same as what Shaq did with Wade prior to the finals.

Shaq/Kobe the greatest duo ever but they needed each other to make it work!

Also, to the other above quote, let's not act like Kobe was listening to all that great coaching, lol. Kobe's game changed once Pau arrived after going through the grind. He bought into the system but also fought the exact same system prior.

[Ian Scuffling]

Not sure what you mean by " let's not act like the two of them didn't need each other"? All great players need each other, so nothing unique there. Magic needed Kareem. Jordan needed Pippen. Bird Needed McHale and so on. The list goes on and on. But, the fact, and it is reflected in the numbers, is that during their 3peat, Shaq was most definitely 1. Kobe was a great 2, though. No shame in that.

[khaltheball]

The only person worth replacing him with is Stotts. I'm close to mentally checked out on this season and hoping h comes to his senses and goes somewhere intelligent in FA

Same here most mentally checked out I’ve been. They don’t have a rich owner either the clippers n others will get that benefit . They have nothing going for them but history . Not like Brad stevens is some unique genius everyone says I wanted porzingis as a stretch big with AD and ofc jrue ; which had he kept sakary n not been obsessed with being able to let go of sakary they’d have sakary to trade fir jrue. Derrick white I give them credit for cos his damn how did he know he’d be this good. They also do a great job of trading away good players just before they decline and somehow fleecing the league . Getting kyrie for the corpse of IT who Cavs could’ve asked for way more for after medicals. Or moving smart as he declined .

It’s sad because I’m not delusional but I’m 100% convinced I would’ve made far less awful moves as gm then Pelinka and I’m fully aware of how that sounds absurd to type out but I’ve been right about so many of his failures at this point . He values names over numbers n fit , last in 3ot attemots on a Bron team lmao with Bron as the best shooter embarrassing man. His best teams were barely competent and had poor shooting and no one to run offence when Bron sat. AD injury over shadowed that suns dared shooters that series n they shot 20% on wide open threes outsude lebron. Good chance that they don’t shoot well enough without the bubble to stop teams packing the paint on Bron n AD. I can’t even stand waiting till January 15th. They had so many decent opportunities to get good players from the Westbrook mistake n failed on all accounts it’s just awful to see.

Derrick White was easy. Anyone following rapm based stats would know that he was good. I swear Brad just goes for decent RAPM/LEBRON/EPM guys and it works.

Yeah that’s true . I mostly use epm so he looked like a good role player but not what he is now. I swear he’s like the perfect player for any team now ( especially us) . Probably on me not looking into him n the spurs. It’s funny cos I can’t help but think the reason I love the Celtics moves n secretly infuriate me is cos they’re the type of moves I’d love to have had around Bron n Ad. Brads Probably does actually deep dive into nunbers so he finds the actual value players . Plus making sure they can both shoot n defend helps ; and often do more. If Boston had Bron n AD instead of the jays I seriously think that’s a dynasty : theur star duo is their weakest link as crazy as that Is to say.

It’s funny cos jhs had abysmal advanced stats n so did Christie. I used to atleast think the scouting department was good but it’s clear they love long wingspan guys over anything ; grizzlies , pelicans , Miami , etc even gsw this year all make better picks . God I wanted cason Wallace so badly on draft night but him going at 10 n lively at 12 killed my excitement ( plus Haskins at 14). Jhs was mocked 13-17 and those guys were mocked just before( cason) or after him. Even by Sam vec. Crazy to think podz or keyonte could’ve been s big get alone .

[khaltheball]

That Westbrook trade was a disaster. KCP is one of the best role players in the league and has blossomed even more in Denver.

Still think they're dangerous in the playoffs because of LeBron + AD, but they need to consolidate the roster somehow.

That trade was so bad it's still the gift that keeps on giving. They wanted a point guuard but if they had been a little more patient Rondo was free at the very end of FA. They eventually signed him but had to trade him to make the spacing work when he was clearly better at linking up with AD. It also lead to Ham. Even after the trade they continued to sacrifice so much of the title winning team making it work. Dont think I'll ever stop getting pissed thinking about it. One bad series against Phx and you lose faith in Caruso and KCP. Fkin hell. Like Westbrook would have won the series after AD was injured. AD was also injured all regular season they wouldnt even make the playoffs.

Yeah Caruso n kcp we’re passing out of wide open looks n shooting awfully but they’re not snipers just average ti maybe beloe shooters . They should’ve just upgraded the Schroeder ( non shooter ) kuz ( awfuk shooter ) spots n got rid of trez who never made any sense as a pickup . On top of trading away green n a pick fir Schroeder who they lost on contract ****: cost them everything . Not keeping Caruso n kcp after a bad series made no sense especially as they could’ve had Caruso for cheap. Paying tht who never did jack **** n can’t shoot instead mad.

[Run DLC]

So you’re telling me, Donte DiVincenzo and Alex Caruso aren’t the same person. Mind blown…

[nzahir]

Anyone here have the EPM data on Lavine from the last couple of seasons?

Also such a limited amount of forwards that are positives that we can even try and target

[zimpy27]

Anyone here have the EPM data on Lavine from the last couple of seasons?

Also such a limited amount of forwards that are positives that we can even try and target

No but PIPM paints a decent picture.

LaVine would be 4th most impactful Lakers have had after LeBron, Davis and Caruso.


I think there is untapped potential with LaVine, his best LEBRON came in the season before DeMar arrived (1.4 or something).

In the last 4 seasons with DeMar:
35.2mpg, 23.9ppg @ 60.5% TS and 37.7% for 3, 4.5rpg, 4.2apg, 2.4 topg

In the last 4 seasons without DeMar:
35.5mpg, 27.9ppg @ 62.2% TS and 41.1% for 3, 5.1rpg, 4.9apg, 3.4 topg



So he is definitely better without DeMar..

[zimpy27]

Reaves, DLo, Rui

For

LaVine, Caruso



I'm definitely doing this deal I think

[Ian Scuffling]

Hey zimpy, or anyone else for that matter. Where do you find pipm and epm data? Also, general question to the group, what are the better metrics to measure defensive impact? Is there a gold standard? Or are there a few pretty good metrics that paint a truthful picture. Been seeing a few people dogging James' defense lately on other sites. I don't get to see as many games as I'd like, but I would assume, due to mileage and age, that he could be slipping defensively. But, hearing "eye test" from the people questiong his defensive effort, I tend to not believe. LOL...Thank you in advance.

[Colbinii]

Hey zimpy, or anyone else for that matter. Where do you find pipm and epm data? Also, general question to the group, what are the better metrics to measure defensive impact? Is there a gold standard? Or are there a few pretty good metrics that paint a truthful picture. Been seeing a few people dogging James' defense lately on other sites. I don't get to see as many games as I'd like, but I would assume, due to mileage and age, that he could be slipping defensively. But, hearing "eye test" from the people questiong his defensive effort, I tend to not believe. LOL...Thank you in advance.

EPM just google EPM Basketball and it should be the first link.