Are the Lakers low key better without Lebron?

EmpireFalls · Post #21 » by **EmpireFalls** » Mon Nov 3, 2025 12:34 pm

No. The one game they played vs actual playoff competition (opener vs Warriors) they got smacked.

Of course there’s a very large market for “LeBron is awful at basketball actually” takes on here so I’m sure people will agree with you.

PlatinumState · Post #22 » by **PlatinumState** » Mon Nov 3, 2025 12:57 pm

High key the offense is much better when it doesnt flow through him

ball_takes23 · Post #23 » by **ball_takes23** » Mon Nov 3, 2025 1:00 pm

EmpireFalls wrote:No. The one game they played vs actual playoff competition (opener vs Warriors) they got smacked.

Of course there’s a very large market for “LeBron is awful at basketball actually” takes on here so I’m sure people will agree with you.

So the team LeBron got smoked by 4-1 in the playoffs last year doesn’t count as playoff competition?

EmpireFalls · Post #24 » by **EmpireFalls** » Mon Nov 3, 2025 1:04 pm

ball_takes23 wrote:
EmpireFalls wrote:No. The one game they played vs actual playoff competition (opener vs Warriors) they got smacked.

Of course there’s a very large market for “LeBron is awful at basketball actually” takes on here so I’m sure people will agree with you.

So the team LeBron got smoked by 4-1 in the playoffs last year doesn’t count as playoff competition?

Not without Ant, though to be fair they didn’t have Luka either that game

Post #25 » by **Mavrelous** » Mon Nov 3, 2025 1:08 pm

EmpireFalls wrote:
ball_takes23 wrote:
EmpireFalls wrote:No. The one game they played vs actual playoff competition (opener vs Warriors) they got smacked.

Of course there’s a very large market for “LeBron is awful at basketball actually” takes on here so I’m sure people will agree with you.

So the team LeBron got smoked by 4-1 in the playoffs last year doesn’t count as playoff competition?

Not without Ant, though to be fair they didn’t have Luka either that game

They played the Wolves twice, once with Ant and once w/o, beat them in both

Archx · Post #26 » by **Archx** » Mon Nov 3, 2025 1:12 pm

Ayton, Smart, LaRavia and Luka being back to 100% is probably why Lakers look better than expected.

hauntedcomputer · Post #27 » by **hauntedcomputer** » Mon Nov 3, 2025 1:24 pm

Stick him in the dunker spot and make him play center on D and watch him pout

I'd pay to see that

But really it's up to him. He' improved his shot enough to be a real 3-and-D guy or he could just be muscle inside. He is suited for a lot of roles if his ego is willing.

Post #28 » by **infinite11285** » Mon Nov 3, 2025 1:25 pm

schnakenpopanz wrote:Will the chemistry change once he comes back?

This is exactly the kind of unbaked thread that derails the possibility of a real basketball discussion. “Are the Lakers better without LeBron?” doesn't invite true analysis — it’s bait.

We’ve never seen this version of the Lakers with LeBron. They’ve completely retooled. You’ve got Luka, Ayton, Smart, and LaRavia in the mix now with Reaves seemingly taking another leap in his development. The entire system, spacing, and playmaking hierarchy are different. Comparing this squad’s short stretch without LeBron to past years is meaningless because it’s a brand new team with a completely different identity.

If you want a real conversation, talk about what the fit could look like once LeBron actually plays because we all know he isn't going anywhere. How Luka/LeBron/Reaves share creation duties, how Ayton changes the paint dynamic, and how Smart and LaRavia fit defensively. That’s the interesting discussion.

Otherwise, it’s just another bait post for recycled LeBron hate.

EmpireFalls · Post #29 » by **EmpireFalls** » Mon Nov 3, 2025 1:50 pm

Mavrelous wrote:
EmpireFalls wrote:
ball_takes23 wrote:
So the team LeBron got smoked by 4-1 in the playoffs last year doesn’t count as playoff competition?

Not without Ant, though to be fair they didn’t have Luka either that game

They played the Wolves twice, once with Ant and once w/o, beat them in both

I didn’t even realize that game happened, my apologies @ball_takes

Still, the game I did watch on opening night they looked miles off from competing.

SkyHook · Post #30 » by **SkyHook** » Mon Nov 3, 2025 2:00 pm

It's a valid question. Over 70 games in which he played last season, in raw numbers the Lakers were -0.3 pts per100 when Lebron was on the court and +4.9 pts per100 when he was off. In the playoffs it was even worse; -11.1 on, +10.9 off. He can (at times) excel on offense, but his defense has absolutely fallen off a cliff—evident in the numbers and via the eye test. In a more limited role he can probably still be of some use.

Wile E. Coyote · Post #31 » by **Wile E. Coyote** » Mon Nov 3, 2025 2:13 pm

Is it bad that as a Lakers fan I don’t miss him or even think about him while watching the last few games?

druggas · Post #32 » by **druggas** » Mon Nov 3, 2025 2:15 pm

Wile E. Coyote wrote:Is it bad that as a Lakers fan I don’t miss him or even think about him while watching the last few games?

Some of us never wanted him in the first place.

liquidswords · Post #33 » by **liquidswords** » Mon Nov 3, 2025 3:48 pm

high key - yes. LBJ hasn't made his teammates better in a realllllllly long time. When he comes back, he should take backseat to Luka and possibly even AR (on a heater right now) but we all know that's not going to happen.

TheGeneral99 · Post #34 » by **TheGeneral99** » Mon Nov 3, 2025 3:51 pm

I don't think people appreciate how **** insane Luka is...this is a guy that took mediocore Mavs rosters deep in the playoffs year after year.

He's only averaging 41, 12 and 8 this season.

Lebron will help because Luka will have another top tier athlete in transition to throw deep passes and lobs to.

NyKnicks1714 · Post #35 » by **NyKnicks1714** » Mon Nov 3, 2025 4:06 pm

EmpireFalls wrote:No. The one game they played vs actual playoff competition (opener vs Warriors) they got smacked.

Of course there’s a very large market for “LeBron is awful at basketball actually” takes on here so I’m sure people will agree with you.

You know how when a sitcom drags on, characters become over-the-top caricatures of themselves? This is what's happening with LeBron criticism on this board. He's somewhere in the top 20 but it seems like almost half of people here think he's a net negative and not even top 100. Some people literally make up their own fan fiction in order to criticize LeBron, i.e. he's pretending to be injured to teach the Lakers a lesson. We just had a thread about how Shohei Otani's success and stardom reflects poorly on LeBron. It's gotten weird.

Post #36 » by **jbk1234** » Mon Nov 3, 2025 5:32 pm

Dr Aki wrote:No, he's a 2nd team all NBA player still until proven otherwise

Don't over think it.

Legacy vote.

SlimShady83 · Post #37 » by **SlimShady83** » Mon Nov 3, 2025 5:48 pm

druggas wrote:
Wile E. Coyote wrote:Is it bad that as a Lakers fan I don’t miss him or even think about him while watching the last few games?

Some of us never wanted him in the first place.

Liam_Gallagher · Post #38 » by **Liam_Gallagher** » Mon Nov 3, 2025 5:48 pm

I don't know, but they're pretty darn good. I know people will focus on their Big3 getting attacked defensively, but do we ever talk about the other team having trouble guarding three guys who can give you 25 and 10 in their sleep? One of LeBron, Luka, and Reaves is going to have an average to very weak defender on them the entire game. Good luck.

The4thHorseman · Post #39 » by **The4thHorseman** » Mon Nov 3, 2025 5:52 pm

liquidswords wrote:high key - yes. LBJ hasn't made his teammates better in a realllllllly long time. When he comes back, he should take backseat to Luka and possibly even AR (on a heater right now) but we all know that's not going to happen.

Safe to say Reaves has come a long way since LeBron took him under his wing.

LockoutSeason · Post #40 » by **LockoutSeason** » Mon Nov 3, 2025 5:56 pm

No. They are high key better without Lebron.