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

[zimpy27]

I would have each of SAC, LAC, MIN, HOU, MEM, MIN, and DAL as relatively competitive (40-60% win percentage) series depending on health also. West is very even.

To me it’s OKC and Denver way ahead of the pack.

Everyone else fighting for a WCF bid. I don’t see any way it’s not one of those two teams in the Finals.

I think we have to see the Lakers before commenting.

But I think I imagine them being similar to the Knicks in terms of having a top tier offensive rating and middling defensive rating.

I think they would beat Nuggets. Jokic being the worst possible match up for Davis is what killed the Lakers in those series. Lakers don't have Davis now.

[EmpireFalls]

I would have each of SAC, LAC, MIN, HOU, MEM, MIN, and DAL as relatively competitive (40-60% win percentage) series depending on health also. West is very even.

To me it’s OKC and Denver way ahead of the pack.

Everyone else fighting for a WCF bid. I don’t see any way it’s not one of those two teams in the Finals.

I think we have to see the Lakers before commenting.

But I think I imagine them being similar to the Cavs in terms of having a top tier offensive rating and middling defensive rating.

I think they would beat Nuggets. Jokic being the worst possible match up for Davis is what killed the Lakers in those series. Lakers don't have Davis now.

You are out of your mind. I just watched Jokic son Mark Williams even worse than he does AD this past Saturday. The Nuggets own the Lakers in every way possible.

[tsherkin]

But I think I imagine them being similar to the Cavs in terms of having a top tier offensive rating and middling defensive rating.

Which Cavs?

Cleveland is the 8th-best D in the league this season.

[xb3at band1tx]

But I think I imagine them being similar to the Cavs in terms of having a top tier offensive rating and middling defensive rating.

Which Cavs?

Cleveland is the 8th-best D in the league this season.

2nd stint bron cavs (2016-2017)

[tsherkin]

But I think I imagine them being similar to the Cavs in terms of having a top tier offensive rating and middling defensive rating.

Which Cavs?

Cleveland is the 8th-best D in the league this season.

2nd stint bron cavs (2016-2017)

Oh that makes so much more sense. Must have missed the context zipping through, whoops!

[xb3at band1tx]

Read on Twitter

[zimpy27]

But I think I imagine them being similar to the Cavs in terms of having a top tier offensive rating and middling defensive rating.

Which Cavs?

Cleveland is the 8th-best D in the league this season.

Oops I meant Knicks

[nzahir]

I suspect Mark Williams will sort of disrupt this defensive run they’re on in the short term as will integrating Luka. I don’t see them winning 3 playoff series in a row. Mark needs a full off season.

Well we still have Hayes and ability to play small with Vando at the 5 surrounded by DFS, Bron

Unsure how this looks with Luka, but hoping he gives effort on D

Lebron has no excuse to not lock in defensively either with Luka handling a lot of the offense

The one worry about this deal is it’s such a big change mid season and we were rolling defensively with Max and AD

Luka in certain matchups can play fine D and a smart defender and actually a solid playmaker when it comes to passing lanes

I can see us closing at times with

Gabe Luka DFS Bron Vando

Maybe AR if he can get his defensive intensity back from before the big shift in his role the last 1.5 years

I like how we have the ability to play big or small now, unlike before

We don’t have the 2020 option of 2 bigs really, but I think Mark, Bron, DFS, Luka, and Vando/AR/Gabe/Rui?? Could be that big option if we wanted

This versatility imo is why we’re a legit threat

I think we can legit win it all, but let’s see how we look and mesh soon

[tsherkin]

But I think I imagine them being similar to the Cavs in terms of having a top tier offensive rating and middling defensive rating.

Which Cavs?

Cleveland is the 8th-best D in the league this season.

Oops I meant Knicks

My brain is now broken, and I concede defeat in my attempt to comprehend. xD

[zimpy27]

Which Cavs?

Cleveland is the 8th-best D in the league this season.

Oops I meant Knicks

My brain is now broken, and I concede defeat in my attempt to comprehend. xD

I mean I meant that I think Lakers will be like Knicks in terms of having top tier offense and middling defense. Knicks are 2nd in o rating and 14th in d rating. Talking these year.


But yes they are similarly built to 2016-2017 Cavs

[tsherkin]

I mean I meant that I think Lakers will be like Knicks in terms of having top tier offense and middling defense. Knicks are 2nd in o rating and 14th in d rating. Talking these year.

Ah, yes. Yeah, I suppose that's quite possible. We'll see what having both Lebron and Luka on the floor means for their D. Lebron can dial it up some, but I wonder how consistently he'll be able to do that during the seasonal schedule remaining.

[Homer38]

A team like 2016 and 2017 Cavs is also possible!

[Djoker]

I honestly can see the Lakers beating the Nuggets if they meet again. Nuggets have as much if not more defensive issues and Lakers are just more talented with Luka joining now.

Then again, that was arguably true that last two years too and the Nuggets won!

[jalengreen]

I honestly can see the Lakers beating the Nuggets if they meet again. Nuggets have as much if not more defensive issues and Lakers are just more talented with Luka joining now.

Then again, that was arguably true that last two years too and the Nuggets won!

Was it?

[trickshot]

Every bball fan should be stoked to see the Luka-Lebron high pick n roll. If it touches that Curry/Dray PnR that shut down the league for a solid era. You can't go under a Luka screen, no drop, and can't hedge or blitz without risking a Lebron 4v3. You probably have to concede the switch but if the personnel isn't there it's problems for days. Unless it's a rival team I don't get how people are determined to be so negative about this pairing. Sit back, shut the f up and enjoy.

[dcstanley]

I would have each of SAC, LAC, MIN, HOU, MEM, MIN, and DAL as relatively competitive (40-60% win percentage) series depending on health also. West is very even.

To me it’s OKC and Denver way ahead of the pack.

Everyone else fighting for a WCF bid. I don’t see any way it’s not one of those two teams in the Finals.

I think we have to see the Lakers before commenting.

But I think I imagine them being similar to the Cavs in terms of having a top tier offensive rating and middling defensive rating.

I think they would beat Nuggets. Jokic being the worst possible match up for Davis is what killed the Lakers in those series. Lakers don't have Davis now.

You are out of your mind. I just watched Jokic son Mark Williams even worse than he does AD this past Saturday. The Nuggets own the Lakers in every way possible.

Mark is likely a 20-25 MPG player in the playoffs. I think the Lakers will go small a lot with either Lebron, Rui, or DFS on Jokic with lots of doubling and Vando and the other wings as the backline of defense. I could see Luka/Gabe/LBJ/DFS/Vando being an effective closing lineup against the Nuggets if DFS and Gabe can knock down shots reliably.

The biggest problem for the Lakers in their series against the Nuggets were the prolonged cold spells when the offense couldn't generate quality looks. The Lakers built and lost 20 point leads in almost every game of the series. That is no longer an issue, in fact I'm very curious to see how the Nuggets guard this Lakers offense. Jokic always matched up well with AD, guarding Luka PNRs is a whole different ball game.

This is also a worse iteration of the Nuggets with more weaknesses to exploit- how good will guys like Braun, Westbrook, Watson, Strawther be in the playoffs? How much juice does Jamal Murray have left? Will Gordon be healthy?

I just don't think we can begin to project that series. For god's sakes, the Lakers were starting D'angelo freaking Russell in two playoff series against them with Darvin Ham at the helm

[zimpy27]

I would have each of SAC, LAC, MIN, HOU, MEM, MIN, and DAL as relatively competitive (40-60% win percentage) series depending on health also. West is very even.

To me it’s OKC and Denver way ahead of the pack.

Everyone else fighting for a WCF bid. I don’t see any way it’s not one of those two teams in the Finals.

I think we have to see the Lakers before commenting.

But I think I imagine them being similar to the Cavs in terms of having a top tier offensive rating and middling defensive rating.

I think they would beat Nuggets. Jokic being the worst possible match up for Davis is what killed the Lakers in those series. Lakers don't have Davis now.

You are out of your mind. I just watched Jokic son Mark Williams even worse than he does AD this past Saturday. The Nuggets own the Lakers in every way possible.

Nah, Nuggets best Lakers because Lakers equal best player was unable to guard Jokic and worst of all Jokic was able to guard him.

Now the Lakers have their talent stacked in a very different way. I think Nuggets will be beaten by Lakers.

[rk2023]

I’ll let the three Denver games play out before having any particular opinion, let alone for a team we haven’t seen play at all yet.

Playing them in seasons’ past has been a never ending loop of torture, with one of three inevitable game scripts playing out.

Focusing on the playoffs though, the first series was like a 124-119 net (Murray super-saiyan). LAL’s duo got severely outclassed, much more than the gap in Rui / Reaves and Denver’s other guys.

Second series , the one that was a lot more infuriating , was around a 114-112 net where LAL was oh-so hot and cold. Jokic was clearly the best on the floor, with AD and Bron 2/3 - and Porter 4th. The Lakers didn’t (still don’t) have an answer for his movement shooting. Like kind of was/is the issue, Bron & AD couldn’t both put it together
when push came to shove (G3 Bron, G2/5 AD being neutered in the second half).

Thinking on paper, Luka may change the offensive complexion of a Denver series - and Denver only has one AG on defense. Just depends if Bron and Reaves can completely out-shine a Murray & MPJ duo - and if the same damage Denver would likely inflict on a Lakers defense this year can be applied to Jokic’s rim defense.

[trickshot]

The Denver matchup is so confusing because they are one of the few with 3 big wings (MPJ, Gordon and Braun) to put on Lebron and Luka but their best player is the kind of slow footed 5 Luka thrives on cooking. On the other other hand Lakers now have even less big bodies to throw on Jokic. I can't imagine how that matchup plays out. Still think Lakers need a more disciplined big than Hayes for the postseason. That dude aint it when the tallies matter.

[zimpy27]

Playoff rotation..

PG: Reaves (28) | Vincent (20)
SG: Luka (40) | Reaves (8)
SF: DFS (36) | Vando (12)
PF: LeBron (38) | Vando (10)
C : William (26) | Rui (22)

18 mins: Reaves, Luka, DFS, LeBron, Williams
12 mins: Vincent, Luka, Vando, LeBron, Rui
10 mins: Reaves, Luka, DFS, Vando, Rui
8 mins: Vincent, Reaves, DFS, LeBron, Williams