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

[trickshot]

Think might lose because of the holes, unfamiliarity and sheer enormity of the occasion but watching still feels like Christmas eve

scratch that, this offense is really good. Absolutely no problems scoring from day 1. Even the rebounding looks better with Luka and Goodwin

Well this didn’t age well

said it to manage expectations anyway. basically a Laker bandwagoner at this point so couldn't be happier to be wrong. True bball fans are excited about this team

[JLei]

Excited to see how the Reaves, DFS, Rui, Luka, Lebron lineup plays.

These are their 5 best players and if they can hold up defensively they can absolutely destroy any lineup offensively. Liking Rui's energy on the glass on these lineups.

I forgot how much of a mismatch Lebron at Center with shooters is. He did almost win the scoring title a couple of years ago when they had to play him at a lot at center.

The lineup is a bit too much Lebron centric for my liking but it is Luka's first game so he might be just chilling and Lebron has the obvious mismatch in these lineups. Will be interesting to see how it evolves.

[xb3at band1tx]

[Fadeaway_J]

You can tell LeBron knows this isn't a serious game with some of these passes

[trickshot]

100 points in three quarters. Sheesh

[trickshot]

40 point blowout. Go for it.

[TroubleS0me]

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[xb3at band1tx]

luka's shot wasn't really falling and it didn't matter

the offense looks polished as hell in the half court

[nzahir]

Gona take a few games it seems like to get Luka going and warmed up off the injury

Just realized we play Utah again next lol

I am really hoping our defense can hold up, we were playing great D with Max and AD

Rui+Luka+AR+Lebron feels a bit too slow out there for me

Im starting Luka, Gabe, DFS/Rui, Bron, Hayes
or
Luka, AR, DFS, Bron, Hayes

If I'm starting Gabe, you can argue we need a bit more offense, so Rui is fine there. But can get in DFS and go way more defense.

If Gabe can shoot like 37-38% from 3 for the rest of the year, thats a solid guy out there

If we dont go after Springer or nobody else gets bought out, I think we should cut Cam for Goodwin

Then cut Kieff/Wood (if hes out the year) for a C

I feel like we will end up with Alex Len honestly

If we sign Len and then Boucher becomes available, I would then cut Wood if hes not coming back (plus Kieff and Cam)

[1993Playoffs]

Random observation : Even after a 15 year difference and all the mileage. LeBron still looks like a better, bigger, more athletic, better defensively version of Luka

(I mean CURRENTLY not all time)

[thebigbird]

Random observation : Even after a 15 year difference and all the mileage. LeBron still looks like a better, bigger, more athletic, better defensively version of Luka

(I mean CURRENTLY not all time)

I’m very biased, but I agree. LeBron doesn’t have the motor/stamina to do it on a nightly basis because he’s 40 years old, but everything equal I think he’s still the better player now.

[Homer38]

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[CKRT]

Considering the Lakers putrid options available to them...not bad I guess? He's got stone hands but maybe the Lakers can get him as close to the rim as possible to maximize his offense? The center market is not good so they weren't going to get anyone good, but now they've got a body.

[nzahir]

We’re lucky to even have Len honestly

Better than Bamba. Theis too short for my liking

Now cut Cam/Kieff for Goodwin

If Boucher becomes available, waive the other

Surprised we cut Wood, unless we don’t see him coming back

[TroubleS0me]

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[PistolPeteJR]

Lucky with Len, considering who’s available

[xb3at band1tx]

Im interested to see more Jordan Goodwin minutes

he gives me Josh Hart vibes lol

[letskissbro]

It's funny to me how quickly everyone has seemingly moved on from AD lol. Is it time to address the elephant in the room yet? Lakers straight up look better without him—offensively and defensively. They were 9-2 without his replacement, and it doesn’t even feel like a fluke. They were supposed to collapse on D without him but that hasn’t happened. Their DRtg without him is actually better over this stretch and it feels sustainable. Having Vando back helps for sure, but their scrambling scheme just suits them better. Plus, transition defense improves when you’re not waiting on your rim protector to pick himself up off the floor every other play.

It’s just easier to play faster, modern basketball when you don’t have to worry about force-feeding your big man "offensive centerpiece" in the post and design your entire scheme and roster around him just for him to clog the lane so he can take a bunch of ****, contested middys from 10 feet and trip over his own feet every time he does a dribble move. "Small sample size!" Yeah but this really is just the story of AD's career. A 25/12 switchable rim protector looks good on paper but his impact doesn’t match.

The more I watch the more I'm glad they moved on from him. 2021 and 2022 were disaster seasons from him even before the injuries and I will never stop being bitter about it. Those seasons got completely tanked by his lethargic play, but somehow people were still pushing the whole "passing the torch" thing with LeBron at the next opportunity when LeBron got hurt after the trade deadline in 2023. Please.

[Mos_Heat]

I agree about the offense looking more fluid, but the defense is clearly just a shooting luck