The LeBron James All-NBA (2nd) and Luka Doncic - 24-25 Thread

[Mos_Heat]

Pelinka built a play-in dynasty.

LAL missed their window to do something special. They had easily the best duo in the league (and wouldve been on the short list for best duo of all time if Lebron were a little younger) but untimely injuries and the worst transaction in franchise history ended the possibility.

As much Pelinka is to blame for that trade if AD and Lebron just decided to shut the **** up and let the GM be the GM who knows that trade might never have happened.

Because that trade was 100% influenced by Lebron and AD wanting another ballhandler to take pressure of off Lebron. So all three of them each get a chunk of the blame.

All that told me though is that Pelinka is an idiot. I understand players being idiots in how to construct a roster because they think it's 2K but how can a GM not see the fit not working? Either he knew and didn't have the balls to tell them to back off or he's just as stupid.

Either way it's an indictment on Pelinka.

I still want to sock someone in the mouth for that Westbrook trade because every fan let out a collective gasp the minute they read it was going down. To make matters worse Rondo became available on the last few days of free agency and still proved to fit better than Westbrook when he was signed. Just a little patience and direction would have saved the timeline. Instead Rondo ended up being moved to the Cavs because there was no way to have two non-shooting PGs feature heavy in the rotation and Caruso was allowed to walk for the same reason. A third of the title winning team was traded for him, the other third was let go trying to make it work and the rest was moved getting rid of him.

Everyone crapped the bed. Front office hasn't exactly been much innocent either because all the signings since then have fallen out of the league. Same will go for Hayes, Wood and Gabe. Player options for what? Who were you bidding against? Ownership? This season anyone with common sense could have told you having four injury prone guys in the frontcourt was dangerous. Some of these guys were injured 6 months ago and are still injured now. Of course you can't forget a lot of this happened because only wanting to commit 2 year deals to roleplayers in free agency guarantees the team is only in the market for scrubs.

Maybe it's a hot take but losing Caruso was/is a much bigger sin than trading for Westbrook.

[zimpy27]

As much Pelinka is to blame for that trade if AD and Lebron just decided to shut the **** up and let the GM be the GM who knows that trade might never have happened.

Because that trade was 100% influenced by Lebron and AD wanting another ballhandler to take pressure of off Lebron. So all three of them each get a chunk of the blame.

All that told me though is that Pelinka is an idiot. I understand players being idiots in how to construct a roster because they think it's 2K but how can a GM not see the fit not working? Either he knew and didn't have the balls to tell them to back off or he's just as stupid.

Either way it's an indictment on Pelinka.

I still want to sock someone in the mouth for that Westbrook trade because every fan let out a collective gasp the minute they read it was going down. To make matters worse Rondo became available on the last few days of free agency and still proved to fit better than Westbrook when he was signed. Just a little patience and direction would have saved the timeline. Instead Rondo ended up being moved to the Cavs because there was no way to have two non-shooting PGs feature heavy in the rotation and Caruso was allowed to walk for the same reason. A third of the title winning team was traded for him, the other third was let go trying to make it work and the rest was moved getting rid of him.

Everyone crapped the bed. Front office hasn't exactly been much innocent either because all the signings since then have fallen out of the league. Same will go for Hayes, Wood and Gabe. Player options for what? Who were you bidding against? Ownership? This season anyone with common sense could have told you having four injury prone guys in the frontcourt was dangerous. Some of these guys were injured 6 months ago and are still injured now. Of course you can't forget a lot of this happened because only wanting to commit 2 year deals to roleplayers in free agency guarantees the team is only in the market for scrubs.

Maybe it's a hot take but losing Caruso was/is a much bigger sin than trading for Westbrook.

Absolutely.

[trickshot]

As much Pelinka is to blame for that trade if AD and Lebron just decided to shut the **** up and let the GM be the GM who knows that trade might never have happened.

Because that trade was 100% influenced by Lebron and AD wanting another ballhandler to take pressure of off Lebron. So all three of them each get a chunk of the blame.

All that told me though is that Pelinka is an idiot. I understand players being idiots in how to construct a roster because they think it's 2K but how can a GM not see the fit not working? Either he knew and didn't have the balls to tell them to back off or he's just as stupid.

Either way it's an indictment on Pelinka.

I still want to sock someone in the mouth for that Westbrook trade because every fan let out a collective gasp the minute they read it was going down. To make matters worse Rondo became available on the last few days of free agency and still proved to fit better than Westbrook when he was signed. Just a little patience and direction would have saved the timeline. Instead Rondo ended up being moved to the Cavs because there was no way to have two non-shooting PGs feature heavy in the rotation and Caruso was allowed to walk for the same reason. A third of the title winning team was traded for him, the other third was let go trying to make it work and the rest was moved getting rid of him.

Everyone crapped the bed. Front office hasn't exactly been much innocent either because all the signings since then have fallen out of the league. Same will go for Hayes, Wood and Gabe. Player options for what? Who were you bidding against? Ownership? This season anyone with common sense could have told you having four injury prone guys in the frontcourt was dangerous. Some of these guys were injured 6 months ago and are still injured now. Of course you can't forget a lot of this happened because only wanting to commit 2 year deals to roleplayers in free agency guarantees the team is only in the market for scrubs.

Maybe it's a hot take but losing Caruso was/is a much bigger sin than trading for Westbrook.

To go assemble a cast of Carmelo, Deandre Jordan, Westbrook. BBIQ Avengers and meme team dynasty.

[zimpy27]

What if Lakers just dropped off Vincent with draft capital to Pistons or Wizards?

They'd have space to sign 2 of the large salary buyout candidates - Simmons, Bojan, Brogdon, Brown

Brogdon, Reaves, DFS, LeBron, Davis -- Simmons, Christie, Knecht, Vando, Rui

[Tracymcgoaty]

What if Lakers just dropped off Vincent with draft capital to Pistons or Wizards?

They'd have space to sign 2 of the large salary buyout candidates - Simmons, Bojan, Brogdon, Brown

Brogdon, Reaves, DFS, LeBron, Davis -- Simmons, Christie, Knecht, Vando, Rui

Brogdon would be dope on this team but that man cant stay healthy.

Rather go for Lonzo then with him being 5 years younger and much more of an impact if healthy imo.

[zimpy27]

What if Lakers just dropped off Vincent with draft capital to Pistons or Wizards?

They'd have space to sign 2 of the large salary buyout candidates - Simmons, Bojan, Brogdon, Brown

Brogdon, Reaves, DFS, LeBron, Davis -- Simmons, Christie, Knecht, Vando, Rui

Brogdon would be dope on this team but that man cant stay healthy.

Rather go for Lonzo then with him being 5 years younger and much more of an impact if healthy imo.

Well this strategy is just getting Lakers under the first apron so they can sign the buyout players that had a salary over $13m.

If Lonzo was bought out then that would be amazing. I doubt it though. Bulls will try compete. Wiz, Nets, Raps are lottery bound.

[ShaqAttac]

we need to get some dubs now

[Tracymcgoaty]

Good game from Lebron but he needs to cut it out with those turnovers man. I count 4 unforced turnovers. We play like this against the clippers and we'll lose by 40. Clippers are always locked in and we aren't. For one damn game can we be locked in from the start? Is that too much to ask lol.

[AmIWrongDude]

Good game from Lebron but he needs to cut it out with those turnovers man. I count 4 unforced turnovers. We play like this against the clippers and we'll lose by 40. Clippers are always locked in and we aren't. For one damn game can we be locked in from the start? Is that too much to ask lol.

At least 2 or 3 weren’t even close to being his fault though. Didn’t think he was too bad in that area at least not like that terrible stretch he had earlier in the season.

[IG2]

Garbage ass team makes 9 tough 3's in the 4th to almost win a game they had no business winning . God there's just no such thing as an easy W in today's NBA is there.

Austin Reaves with a career high. As bad as he is defensively, he's been the opposite of that offensively since the DLo trade. Just a straight up baller.

Jaxaon Hayes shouldn't be in the NBA. This team needs another big so damn bad.

[TroubleS0me]

Read on Twitter

[trickshot]

If AR wasn't on the Lakers he would be a most coveted trade piece to every contender. Not too many better third options on great contracts. Teams asking to include him to aggregate salaries for lesser players never sat right. Dude isn't sweetner, he should be worth his deal and 2 picks.

Also the bench needs Rui's scoring, has too many unskilled types. Call it a promotion and tell him he's the sixth man. Robs inexperience shows sometimes having all the established heads be injured guys when the backend of the roster is crying for one or two rotation level players and vets. DFS is a step in the right direction but identity is still mostly AD/lebron and a development project team. If I'm him I'd ship out Wood and Hayes just for making FO look stupid.

[Ian Scuffling]

Didn't catch the game but it looks like this was one of those "+/- doesn't tell a good story" games? His numbers across the board, save the to's looked great, but he was -11? The only other - was the Jemison dude. Seems he's taking this not shooting too much to a new level, too. 17 FGA, without AD? But, damn he was efficient.

[homecourtloss]

26 ppg on56/48/77 splits over the past 15 games, 66% TS

26 ppg on 59/49/78 splits over the last 11 games, 68 TS, 66 eFG, only takin 4 FTs a game,

[trickshot]

Didn't catch the game but it looks like this was one of those "+/- doesn't tell a good story" games? His numbers across the board, save the to's looked great, but he was -11? The only other - was the Jemison dude. Seems he's taking this not shooting too much to a new level, too. 17 FGA, without AD? But, damn he was efficient.

Think it's mostly the combination of 2 factors. Second units and his playing at the 4. Being honest, until he's ready to lock in he's going to be unimpactful guarding the interior for heavy minutes (reduced lift and motor don't help). Playing with Jaxon Hayes and Rui just make it double negative interior defense. Very dysfunctional and unbalanced units thanks to the injuries. The whole thing is rigged to fail when AD sits. Find a neutral impact 5 or stash Lebron in the corner instead of having him in the interior for every opponent to run layup lines on the 40 year old. Often times it's straight elder abuse out there. His critics sure seem to be having the time off their lives seeing it unfold. I just can't get behind the idea that exposing him on D this brutally is helping him.

[TroubleS0me]

Read on Twitter

[tone wone]

26 ppg on56/48/77 splits over the past 15 games, 66% TS

26 ppg on 59/49/78 splits over the last 11 games, 68 TS, 66 eFG, only takin 4 FTs a game,

First 15gms:
24/8/9 on 51/45/73 splits

Next 6gms:
17/7/9 (5tos) on 40/10/89 splits

Outside the washed stretch his 3ball has been on fire. The numbers are similar but this last 15gm stretch is much cleaner and closer to last season than the first 15.

[trickshot]

Not seeing enough movement from Rob to fix his mistake putting together that trash@ss frontcourt. At least upgrade Koloko to a standard deal. No way you should be this close to the 2nd apron and have no frontcourt. Literally have to trade Rui or Gabe but can't get anyone to take on their contracts without including the picks. I still say go for Kessler if you can get a reasonable deal. It's cheap and you can re-sign him cheap like Reaves, especially now that the new CBA is should bring sanity back to contract renewals starting next offseason.

It will never be the best shooting team or a great perimeter defensive team or an athletic one (reaves, rui, knecht and unmotivated bron guarantee at least 2-3 unathletic guys in every lineup you can throw out), but it can be the only team with 2 DPOY level bigs turning every opponent into a jumpshooting team.

[Tracymcgoaty]

You know i was optimistic about JJ and im gonna give him time. But if it was up to me i'd put his ass on the hot seat right now. Clear to me this man doesn't value defense. His rotations are weird and his refusal to plug DFS into the starting lineup tells me eveyrthing i need to know. Rui gets a pass for his horrid defense but he benches Max for 2 straight quarters.

Again if our offense looks bad we cant have an equally bad defense. Play your **** best defenders. Ar is probably out with an injury now.

Gabe
Christie
DFS
Lebron
AD

Just try that **** lineup it's defensively sound. What the hell does he even have to lose? Lebron has to create regardless if Rui is out there or not. Rui cant even create for himself or others so i might as well have the much better defender starting.

Nah this dude does the weirdest rotations and lineups. Im convinced his whole thing is to outscore teams instead of getting stops.

[zimpy27]

You know i was optimistic about JJ and im gonna give him time. But if it was up to me i'd put his ass on the hot seat right now. Clear to me this man doesn't value defense. His rotations are weird and his refusal to plug DFS into the starting lineup tells me eveyrthing i need to know. Rui gets a pass for his horrid defense but he benches Max for 2 straight quarters.

Again if our offense looks bad we cant have an equally bad defense. Play your **** best defenders. Ar is probably out with an injury now.

Gabe
Christie
DFS
Lebron
AD

Just try that **** lineup it's defensively sound. What the hell does he even have to lose? Lebron has to create regardless if Rui is out there or not. Rui cant even create for himself or others so i might as well have the much better defender starting.

Nah this dude does the weirdest rotations and lineups. Im convinced his whole thing is to outscore teams instead of getting stops.

I believe Rui is being shopped, putting him to bench before deadline hurts his value. After deadline I bet that DFS starts.