(Lock Thread)The LeBron James- 23-24 NBA Playoffs & Off-Season Thread -(NO PERSONAL ATTACKS & BAITING)

[TheGOATRises007]

AD's been better than Embiid in the friendly games thus far.

And LeBron's been really good too.

Also, Derrick White is an amazing player. Celtics are lucky to have him.

[Slava]

Davis’ impact on defense, even at this standard of talent is a level higher than any of the other DPOY contenders.

[zimpy27]

LeBron, Davis and Reaves are all I trust in the playoffs.

Lakers seem to have faith in Christie and Knecht having some impact this season but I can't trust guys that young right now.

So Lakers really need 3 more players that are reliable in the playoffs that cover these needs:
- a playmaker
- a rim protector
- a point of attack defender

[1993Playoffs]

I can be completely wrong, but I just feel like calling this guy “only” the 10th best player in the league when healthy is massively underrating him

Even in year 22

[thebigbird]

I can be completely wrong, but I just feel like calling this guy “only” the 10th best player in the league when healthy is massively underrating him

Even in year 22

If folks want to argue over the course of a season because of stamina, etc., then fine, but one game for my life with everything else equal, I don’t think I’m taking anyone in the world other than Jokic over him. He’s far and away the best player on Team USA. And to think there was general board discourse a couple weeks ago that “Jayson Tatum” should be starting over Bron.

[TroubleS0me]

Read on Twitter

Watch on YouTube

[jalengreen]

Man it’s been awesome how hard a 39.5 yr old LeBron has carried this team of Hall of Famers the last two exhibition games. Hopefully he keeps it up in the competition itself.

[nzahir]

LeBron, Davis and Reaves are all I trust in the playoffs.

Lakers seem to have faith in Christie and Knecht having some impact this season but I can't trust guys that young right now.

So Lakers really need 3 more players that are reliable in the playoffs that cover these needs:
- a playmaker
- a rim protector
- a point of attack defender

Basically same for me, but I think we need more of a 3+D guy than a playmaker

Rui was solid in the 23 playoffs, but with him being a meh fit next to Bron and AD, would try and flip him for a better fit

Just dumbfounded how we haven't made any moves yet

[zimpy27]

LeBron, Davis and Reaves are all I trust in the playoffs.

Lakers seem to have faith in Christie and Knecht having some impact this season but I can't trust guys that young right now.

So Lakers really need 3 more players that are reliable in the playoffs that cover these needs:
- a playmaker
- a rim protector
- a point of attack defender

Basically same for me, but I think we need more of a 3+D guy than a playmaker

Rui was solid in the 23 playoffs, but with him being a meh fit next to Bron and AD, would try and flip him for a better fit

Just dumbfounded how we haven't made any moves yet

I think Valanciunas trade with Wiz will happen in September..
I think they may target Brogdon too hence why waiting until September.

[dcstanley]

LeBron, Davis and Reaves are all I trust in the playoffs.

Lakers seem to have faith in Christie and Knecht having some impact this season but I can't trust guys that young right now.

So Lakers really need 3 more players that are reliable in the playoffs that cover these needs:
- a playmaker
- a rim protector
- a point of attack defender

Basically same for me, but I think we need more of a 3+D guy than a playmaker

Rui was solid in the 23 playoffs, but with him being a meh fit next to Bron and AD, would try and flip him for a better fit

Just dumbfounded how we haven't made any moves yet

I think Valanciunas trade with Wiz will happen in September..
I think they may target Brogdon too hence why waiting until September.

Hope not. Valanciunas is not very good. OKC targeted him relentlessly in the playoffs, he only played 20 MPG in the series despite the Pels having insufficient depth at center.

The centers I would target:
WCJ, Kessler, Poeltl, Sharpe, Richards, Reath

WCJ is ideal in terms of fit but I like Reath as a low cost option.

[nzahir]

Basically same for me, but I think we need more of a 3+D guy than a playmaker

Rui was solid in the 23 playoffs, but with him being a meh fit next to Bron and AD, would try and flip him for a better fit

Just dumbfounded how we haven't made any moves yet

I think Valanciunas trade with Wiz will happen in September..
I think they may target Brogdon too hence why waiting until September.

Hope not. Valanciunas is not very good. OKC targeted him relentlessly in the playoffs, he only played 20 MPG in the series despite the Pels having insufficient depth at center.

The centers I would target:
WCJ, Kessler, Poeltl, Sharpe, Richards, Reath

WCJ is ideal in terms of fit but I like Reath as a low cost option.

Ya I dont see how Val would fit here

We need a C that can play defense when AD sits. All those guys work. Ideally the big can also play well next to AD, but theres only a few guys who can shoot a bit and may be available (WCJ, Brook Lopez, Reath)

Rob is braindead if he is watching AD play next to Bam and not seeing he should have a guy that can at least play a bit next to AD

Getting bored of no trades, but theres still over a couple of months before training camp. We just need to make sure we have some new guys in for that

[trickshot]

Critics clutching for straws still peddling myths. Implying he's just dominating with strength. Rather get some specs and take a look at how skilled of a finisher he is with little vertical. He finishes contested layups like Curry does contested threes. His finishing package is unmatched. That's the real reason his inside scoring hasnt fallen off a cliff like literally every othe hall of famer at his age. He's literally proving it wasn't just his vertical and muscle that made him dominant inside.

[Ian Scuffling]

Critics clutching for straws still peddling myths. Implying he's just dominating with strength. Rather get some specs and take a look at how skilled of a finisher he is with little vertical. He finishes contested layups like Curry does contested threes. His finishing package is unmatched. That's the real reason his inside scoring hasnt fallen off a cliff like literally every othe hall of famer at his age. He's literally proving it wasn't just his vertical and muscle that made him dominant inside.

Some of those idiots have invested their whole lives into it. They're not going to admit they were wrong the whole time. But, watching him dominate with these other HOF'ers and great players is crazy at almost age 40. He's just built differently.

[homecourtloss]

Critics clutching for straws still peddling myths. Implying he's just dominating with strength. Rather get some specs and take a look at how skilled of a finisher he is with little vertical. He finishes contested layups like Curry does contested threes. His finishing package is unmatched. That's the real reason his inside scoring hasnt fallen off a cliff like literally every othe hall of famer at his age. He's literally proving it wasn't just his vertical and muscle that made him dominant inside.

Some of those idiots have invested their whole lives into it. They're not going to admit they were wrong the whole time. But, watching him dominate with these other HOF'ers and great players is crazy at almost age 40. He's just built differently.

You can see the subtle changes and additions to James’s game starting in 2015 when he really began losing burst and athleticism though this began in earnest since he was at his athletic peak in 2009. In 2016, you can see the addition of more eurostep finishes, something he uses all the time now.

Interesting that the “only scores due to athleticism and strength and has no bag/skill/footwork” crowd doesn’t apply that to another certain player who added nothing to his game in his late years and became an inefficient chucker. You would think that this player with all the skill and footwork would find a way to score when he was really old, especially since he was a “psycho about winning, would beat up a grandma before losing to her in checkers, etc.”

[B-Mitch 30]

Interesting that the “only scores due to athleticism and strength and has no bag/skill/footwork” crowd doesn’t apply that to another certain player who added nothing to his game in his late years and became an inefficient chucker. You would think that this player with all the skill and footwork would find a way to score when he was really old, especially since he was a “psycho about winning, would beat up a grandma before losing to her in checkers, etc.”

Is this referring to MJ or Kobe? Outside of his two shortened seasons in his prime and maybe 1998, MJ was extremely efficient and became arguably the best fadeaway shooter ever during his second tenure with the Bulls. Kobe's efficiency did drop off after his fourth championship, outside of a resurgence in 2013, but his fingers were extremely messed up, and his knee had so little cartilage in it he could barely practice.

[zimpy27]

Basically same for me, but I think we need more of a 3+D guy than a playmaker

Rui was solid in the 23 playoffs, but with him being a meh fit next to Bron and AD, would try and flip him for a better fit

Just dumbfounded how we haven't made any moves yet

I think Valanciunas trade with Wiz will happen in September..
I think they may target Brogdon too hence why waiting until September.

Hope not. Valanciunas is not very good. OKC targeted him relentlessly in the playoffs, he only played 20 MPG in the series despite the Pels having insufficient depth at center.

The centers I would target:
WCJ, Kessler, Poeltl, Sharpe, Richards, Reath

WCJ is ideal in terms of fit but I like Reath as a low cost option.

LeBron likes Val and more reports have come up recently.

The trade could be easy done with a Vando trade or Vincent+SRPs

[tsherkin]

I'm bored and feel like tossing crap together. This doesn't really feel like it deserves its own thread, so here we go.

Basic Stats

71 GP, 35.3 mpg, 25.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 8.3 apg, 1.3 spg, 0.5 bpg, 3.5 tpg, 1.1 fpg

54.0% FG on 17.9 FGA/g, 41.0% on 5.1 3PA/g, 59.2% on 12.8 2FGA/g, 75.0% on 5.7 FTA/g

63.0% TS, +5% rTS, .318 FTr (highest since 2019). 143.8 TS Add.

All-Star, All-NBA 3rd Team.

27 double-doubles, 5 triple-doubles.

Shooting Proportions

0-3: 34.5%
3-10: 21.7%
10-16: 7.8%
16-23: 7.3%
3pt: 28.6%

Shooting Percentages

0-3: 77.2%
3-10: 48.2% (highest since 2014)
10-16: 31.3%
16-23: 36.6%
3pt: 41.0%

43.5% of his 2s assisted, 68.5% of his 3s. 9.6% of his 3s from the corner, shot at 45.7%. 84 dunks. 47.1% on 2.6 3PA/g from catch-and-shoots. 33.6% on 2.2 pull-up 3s per game. 41.7% on 4.0 above-break 3s per game, which ranked 20th in the league. Reasonably close home/road split too, at 39.6% at home and 41.7% on the road.

He shot 59.8% FG on 10.3 drives per game in the RS, which is nutty. It was, as it happens, third in the league among guys who played 50+ games and posted 10+ drives per game, behind only Luka and Giannis.

More Stats

28.5% USG, 35.8% AST, 2.4 AST:TOV. 5.1 fast break points per game, 13.6 points in the paint, 3.7 points per off turnovers.

4th-worst ORB% of his career. Still above his career average in DRB% and barely above his career average in TRB%.

9th in the league in potential assists per game at 13.5.

1.8 deflections per game in the RS; 3.6 deflections per game in the playoffs, which was 3rd overall in the postseason.

Other Notes

Lowest PTS100 since his rookie season (0.3 worse than 2020). First season since 2014 with 120+ DRG. BPM-type stats were pretty low for him relative to his prime. +5.5 OBPM (same as last season), +0.9 DBPM (highest since 2021), +6.5 BPM, +5.4 VORP.

.164 WS/48. Better than last year, but still his third-lowest season to date.

10th in the league in O-EPM at +4.8, between Booker at 9th and Kyrie at 11th. 7th in the league in overall EPM at +5.9, about the same as Jalen Brunson. There are 6 guys hovering between 5.5 and 5.9. Next highest would be Jokic at +7.0, then Giannis at +7.5, Luka at +7.6, Shai at +8.8 and Embiid at +10.5 (albeit in 39 games).

===

Random food for thought in the Lebron thread, I guess. He isn't what he used to be, but he's still pretty good. He's bloody phenomenal for a 39 year-old, too.

[homecourtloss]

I'm bored and feel like tossing crap together. This doesn't really feel like it deserves its own thread, so here we go.

Basic Stats

71 GP, 35.3 mpg, 25.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 8.3 apg, 1.3 spg, 0.5 bpg, 3.5 tpg, 1.1 fpg

54.0% FG on 17.9 FGA/g, 41.0% on 5.1 3PA/g, 59.2% on 12.8 2FGA/g, 75.0% on 5.7 FTA/g

63.0% TS, +5% rTS, .318 FTr (highest since 2019). 143.8 TS Add.

All-Star, All-NBA 3rd Team.

27 double-doubles, 5 triple-doubles.

Shooting Proportions

0-3: 34.5%
3-10: 21.7%
10-16: 7.8%
16-23: 7.3%
3pt: 28.6%

Shooting Percentages

0-3: 77.2%
3-10: 48.2% (highest since 2014)
10-16: 31.3%
16-23: 36.6%
3pt: 41.0%

43.5% of his 2s assisted, 68.5% of his 3s. 9.6% of his 3s from the corner, shot at 45.7%. 84 dunks. 47.1% on 2.6 3PA/g from catch-and-shoots. 33.6% on 2.2 pull-up 3s per game. 41.7% on 4.0 above-break 3s per game, which ranked 20th in the league. Reasonably close home/road split too, at 39.6% at home and 41.7% on the road.

He shot 59.8% FG on 10.3 drives per game in the RS, which is nutty. It was, as it happens, third in the league among guys who played 50+ games and posted 10+ drives per game, behind only Luka and Giannis.

More Stats

28.5% USG, 35.8% AST, 2.4 AST:TOV. 5.1 fast break points per game, 13.6 points in the paint, 3.7 points per off turnovers.

4th-worst ORB% of his career. Still above his career average in DRB% and barely above his career average in TRB%.

9th in the league in potential assists per game at 13.5.

1.8 deflections per game in the RS; 3.6 deflections per game in the playoffs, which was 3rd overall in the postseason.

Other Notes

Lowest PTS100 since his rookie season (0.3 worse than 2020). First season since 2014 with 120+ DRG. BPM-type stats were pretty low for him relative to his prime. +5.5 OBPM (same as last season), +0.9 DBPM (highest since 2021), +6.5 BPM, +5.4 VORP.

.164 WS/48. Better than last year, but still his third-lowest season to date.

10th in the league in O-EPM at +4.8, between Booker at 9th and Kyrie at 11th. 7th in the league in overall EPM at +5.9, about the same as Jalen Brunson. There are 6 guys hovering between 5.5 and 5.9. Next highest would be Jokic at +7.0, then Giannis at +7.5, Luka at +7.6, Shai at +8.8 and Embiid at +10.5 (albeit in 39 games).

===

Random food for thought in the Lebron thread, I guess. He isn't what he used to be, but he's still pretty good. He's bloody phenomenal for a 39 year-old, too.

Probably the craziest thing was that he was 13th in NPI RAPM at this age is insane. As a comparison, Anthony Davis was at 75; Stephen Curry was at 87.

4th in 5 year RAPM (2020-2024) at the ages 35-39 is beyond absurd. Curry at 8 in this interval.

https://psteve.shinyapps.io/RAPM/

[tsherkin]

Probably the craziest thing was that he was 13th in NPI RAPM at this age is insane. As a comparison, Anthony Davis was at 75; Stephen Curry was at 87.

4th in 5 year RAPM (2020-2024) at the ages 35-39 is beyond absurd. Curry at 8 in this interval.

https://psteve.shinyapps.io/RAPM/

Yeah, I mean that lines up well enough with what EPM was saying. Not the same, but still showing that he's one of the best guys in the league even now. Which, needless to say, is utterly insane.

[nzahir]

Anyone watching Rui in the olympics (exhibitions ofc)? Looking good

I still have no clue how to fix this team

Rui is a fine rotation guy, but sending him and a 1st out for a slight upgrade (if any) for a guy like Cam Johnson/Grant is probably not it, but also need more salary. Rui should get value back in a deal

We also cant move Dlo imo without getting enough firepower back in the backcourt

Do you guys think we have any shot at Lamelo Ball or Lauri?

I feel like the ship has passed on Trae Young and ATL will retool around him

I dont see a Lavine deal unless we are getting some sort of compensation since we will be moving out decent guys in Dlo and Rui