It's time to be honest - the Lakers look great and are bonafide contenders

[vxmike]

They'll be fantastic in regular season while healthy if LeBron returns in last year's shape, we've already seen LeBron playing comfortably in more off-ball oriented role couple of times in the past 2-3 seasons - in the playoffs, tough to say, they found size (Ayton) and defense (Smart), but I don't think this is a top5-top8 defense material regardless.

So yeah, they look like a 2nd tier contender now, they fixed couple of things that killed them against the Wolves last year.

Exactly. The two real contenders out West are Denver and OKC.

Lakers, Wolves, Rockets, Warriors, Clippers are probably all the 2nd tier contenders.

I would put the Rockets above those other teams. They have the best point differential in the league, and they’ve been shockingly good on offense.

I think they might get there but too early to say for sure. I think the lack of a PG may hurt them eventually. Basically it’s too early to say if they’re in that 1st tier IMO.

[Dr Aki]

[davidv2001]

Not sure anyone but the spurs will really be able to push OKC out west. I still think Minny has the ability when clicking to do it, but I’m not sure I believe in them to get it done over a 7 game series without shooting themselves in the foot.

Lakers defense leaves a lot to be desired in a potential OKC-threat.

The Rockets have the wing defenders to bother Oklahoma City, and the Nuggets took the Thunder to seven games with a six-man rotation last year. Those two teams can challenge the Thunder.

[tamaraw08]

Side note I don't understand why people think the Spurs are good or will even make top of conference. They look like a play-in team to me, maybe 6 seed.

Because most fans love to hop into the Wemby Bandwagon. I mean the kid is really good but he will not be truly be unstoppable if he doesn't know how to impose his attacking mode AND learn how to read defenses and make the right passes.

Weird take on a 3rd year player. Of course he has learning to do, but the improvements he has made after each season so far have been significant. We're talking about a high-end shotblocker who is leading the league in defensive rebounding and scoring almost 26 ppg. AND his 3 hasn't been falling this year. Like, he's fine. They need to put some real offensive talent around him, but they're young and they've got good control over Wemby's contract for a long while now. It isn't sky-is-falling time for them at all.

That said, speaking to the Spurs as a team, they're a +2.6 offense and a -5.7 defense right now, 4th in the league in Net Rating. They don't look like a play-in team if that keeps up at all. That's one of the best teams in the league, again assuming that they maintain at that level of course.

Now... they've beaten Dallas, the Pelicans, the Nets, the Raptors and the Heat. That isn't exactly a murderer's row of competition, so we'll probably see that defensive ranking slide a little as they face stiffer competition, and then we'll likely have a different conversation about their placement. But they look like a possible 4th or 5th seed to me more than a play-in team.

We aren't 10 games into the season, so we'll see a lot of changes and cooling off and improvement all over the place before we really know what's going on.

Wait, is he unstoppable on offense now or not?
I did say he is REALLY GOOD.
The kid is a very mobile 7-4 with decent handles and he is shooting less than 44% from the field the last 3 games.
I know it's early but he is averaging 3.7 assists to 3.5 turnovers per game.
What exactly did I say that made my opinion about his game weird?

[davidv2001]

Exactly. The two real contenders out West are Denver and OKC.

Lakers, Wolves, Rockets, Warriors, Clippers are probably all the 2nd tier contenders.

I would put the Rockets above those other teams. They have the best point differential in the league, and they’ve been shockingly good on offense.

I think they might get there but too early to say for sure. I think the lack of a PG may hurt them eventually. Basically it’s too early to say if they’re in that 1st tier IMO.

I think you are selling the Rockets short. They can play defense and rebound with anyone and are deep, even without VanVleet. Plus, they have plenty of picks to upgrade the point guard spot after December 15. Dorian Finney-Smith, a good wing defender, hasn’t even played this season, but they have been using Josh Okogie in his place.

Durant gives them the late-game closer they lacked last year, and Sengun has elevated his game this year (he’s the team’s real point guard and has been taking and making threes). They finally put Amen Thompson back at the dunker spot on offense the last two games, and he’s been much better offensively.

[tsherkin]

The kid is a very mobile 7-4 with decent handles and he is shooting less than 44% from the field the last 3 games.

Oh no. The sky is falling.

You know in his MVP season, Shaq had a 3-game stretch over which he shot 42.6% from the field, right? Then he had another over which he shot 35.3% in the first game and 40.9% in the third game (but had a monster game in the middle). Then he had a 4-game stretch where he shot 45.6%. And this is from a guy who basically never shot beyond 8 feet.

Small sample sizes aren't useful. And pointing out 3 games at the start of a season is especially pointless.

I know it's early but he is averaging 3.7 assists to 3.5 turnovers per game.

And?

He's an excellent passer. That's been apparent since his rookie year. But he's also a big man and a slasher, and his turnover average is inflated by two games where he had 6 turnovers. Making any kind of analysis on the basis of that average 8 games into the season is exceptionally short-sighted.

[-Spyda-]

100% Lakers will do some trade this season to bring more defensive players (for Gabe & Knecht , picks)

[SlimShady83]

100% Lakers will do some trade this season to bring more defensive players (for Gabe & Knecht , picks)

Wiggins was the most likely trade, but they weren't keen on trading the picks apparently?

Herb Jones would be nice since Pel are tanking.

[brackdan70]

They do look good but let’s give it 20 games before we crown them Champs.

[cgf]

Not sure anyone but the spurs will really be able to push OKC out west. I still think Minny has the ability when clicking to do it, but I’m not sure I believe in them to get it done over a 7 game series without shooting themselves in the foot.

Lakers defense leaves a lot to be desired in a potential OKC-threat.

The Rockets have the wing defenders to bother Oklahoma City, and the Nuggets took the Thunder to seven games with a six-man rotation last year. Those two teams can challenge the Thunder.

I’m not as high on Denver as the general consensus seems to be and am an outright Houston skeptic. I didn’t think the rockets had anyone who could run their offense late in games at a high enough level to be a major threat even before their PG went down for the season. KD improved their shot making, not their shot creation, and that was the bigger problem, ya know?

Depends on how hungry OKC will be but, but they gave away that first game against Denver in a way I wouldn’t expect them to with another year under their belts even before we get into any further development from their youth / filling out from Chet.

I’ll give you Denver though, I forget about them as top contenders just because my Knicks have matched up so well against them in recent years, but styles make fights and I do agree they have a style that could push OKC.

[tsherkin]

I’m not as high on Denver as the general consensus seems to be and am an outright Houston skeptic. I didn’t think the rockets had anyone who could run their offense late in games at a high enough level to be a major threat even before their PG went down for the season. KD improved their shot making, not their shot creation, and that was the bigger problem, ya know?

I'd argue against that, if only because KD can create for himself whenever he wants to, so that remains an option for them at any time. Not having FVV will be an issue for them, though, no doubt.

Denver will definitely push them again. Last year, MPJ was injured and everyone around Joker was pretty much floundering and they still took OKC to 7. They'll be a difficult out at worst. They're no guarantee themselves, naturally, but that won't be an easy fight if the Nuggets are healthy.

[durden_tyler]

Good take now that we're halfway into the season. LOL

[Anderson Hunt]

100% Lakers will do some trade this season to bring more defensive players (for Gabe & Knecht , picks)

The Lakers don't have any room in their rotation for a defensive wing.

Doncic, LeBron, LaRavia, and Hachimura have all earned the right to play substantial minutes at defensive wing.

Even if they trade Vanderbilt and Knecht, they don't have any real minutes at defensive wing unless LeBron and/or Hachimura get all the backup center minutes. Even still, with Ayton's good play, that only opens up another 15-18 minutes.

Their biggest need is a small, athletic point of attack defensive guard who can shoot and score. This is the archetype they should be pursuing, not an oversized defensive wing.

They need a DeAnthony Melton-type more than they need a Herb Jones-type. There just aren't any minutes for a guy like Herb Jones.

Nick Smith could fill that role, but he isn't nearly good enough defensively to give their rotation what it needs. Gabe Vincent is sufficient defensively, but he lacks the offensive spark. Bronny James is still a deer in head lights.

If I were them, I'd take a chance on Malik Monk. He's not what you think of when you think of defense, but I think when given a consistent role, with proper coaching, and vocal defensive leaders on the team (Marcus Smart), he can be impactful guarding most point guards.

Malik Monk is the guy they should go after:

Vanderbilt, Vincent, and Knecht
for
Monk, Carter, and Nique Clifford

Benefits SAC because they get off from Monk's 3 years, 60 million remaining on his contract in favor of Vincent's expiring and one more year of Vanderbilt at 11 mill. They also get to take a look at Knecht who could potentially replace Monk's firepower off the bench and, in getting Vanderbilt, they get to test a legit defensive PF out, something they severely lack on their roster.

Benefits LAL because they get scoring and athleticism (and hopefully some positive POA defense) off the bench from Monk. For taking on Monk's longer more expensive deal, they also get to try out two young defensive prospects in Carter and Clifford.

PG - Doncic - Reaves - Carter
SG - Smart - Monk - James
C -- Ayton - Hayes - Kleber
PF - James - LaRavia - Thiero
SF - Hachimura - Clifford

[davidv2001]

Not sure anyone but the spurs will really be able to push OKC out west. I still think Minny has the ability when clicking to do it, but I’m not sure I believe in them to get it done over a 7 game series without shooting themselves in the foot.

Lakers defense leaves a lot to be desired in a potential OKC-threat.

The Rockets have the wing defenders to bother Oklahoma City, and the Nuggets took the Thunder to seven games with a six-man rotation last year. Those two teams can challenge the Thunder.

I’m not as high on Denver as the general consensus seems to be and am an outright Houston skeptic. I didn’t think the rockets had anyone who could run their offense late in games at a high enough level to be a major threat even before their PG went down for the season. KD improved their shot making, not their shot creation, and that was the bigger problem, ya know?

Depends on how hungry OKC will be but, but they gave away that first game against Denver in a way I wouldn’t expect them to with another year under their belts even before we get into any further development from their youth / filling out from Chet.

I’ll give you Denver though, I forget about them as top contenders just because my Knicks have matched up so well against them in recent years, but styles make fights and I do agree they have a style that could push OKC.

I still think you are selling Houston short. As a fan of the team who watched them extensively last year, their shot making was a bigger problem than shot creation. No rotation player on that roster could shoot to save their lives last year. Fred VanVleet and Jabari Smith Jr. led the team in three-point percentage at 35%. That’s why bully ball aka the “double big” lineup with Adams and Sengun became a thing.

So far, Sengun is shooting over 40% from three, and Durant is one of the best shooters of all time. Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason and Reed Sheppard have also taken steps forward in perimeter shooting, and even Josh Okogie is making open shots.

As for Denver, they pushed Oklahoma City to seven games with no bench, MPJ injured and Murray playing like crap. Now, they can at least go eight deep, have a reliable backup center in Valanciunas and while Cameron Johnson is off to a rough shooting start, he should provide the Nuggets with similar perimeter shooting to what a healthy MPJ gave them. I think they will be a problem for the Thunder.

[ScrantonBulls]

It's always funny when select "Lakers" fans constantly hate and whine about LeBron James because they still can't get over the fact that he so definitively surpassed Kobe over a decade ago. Would rather the team do it without him and suffer than playing better and contending with him in the limeup. True team fandom right there.

impressive how you post so much on realgm with only one hand.

I mean, he’s definitely right. There are a lot of insecure Kobe kids that absolutely hate that LeBron brought a championship to LA. It burns them up that LeBron is a much better basketball player than Kobe. And this is evidenced very frequently by posters like slimlady83.

Edit.

[SlimShady83]

Edit, thanks op.

[One Last Shot]

I mean, he’s definitely right. There are a lot of insecure Kobe kids that absolutely hate that LeBron brought a championship to LA. It burns them up that LeBron is a much better basketball player than Kobe. And this is evidenced very frequently by posters like slimlady83.

It's just crazy to me. The guy you replied to is a Lakers fan who completely stopped watching the Lakers since LeBron joined and doesn't acknowledge the recent championship. I'm not joking. He hates LeBron that much. I just can't fathom hating a player so much (aside from a murderer or something) that I'd stop watching my team. Especially a guy with such a clean record. There's no player I hate more than I love my team.

I'm here bud, what you got saying now?, like i said above, I've been here well b4 Bron became a Laker, I'm here while Bron is here, I'll be here well after Bron is Is a Laker... And I've kept my mouth shut since then and Ignored the bs coming from you since post this.

To the MODS.
***This thread thread should be locked for this reason alone, you don't know squat about me, I'm on Lakerboard daily doing game threads non stop, posting non stop about Lakers, I'm still here bud...

Clueless, Bron fan, but you do you bud, what ever floats your boat and keeps you happy.


I should report this nonsense to the mods, but I won't, I will let them decide what to do with this thread and your BS.

But you do you ScrantonBulls, troll away.

dude he's not even talking about you, calm down.

Started watching the Lakers in 1984. Lebron James is the first player that ever got me to stop watching the Lakers. Not even those horrendous rebuilds with Tierre Brown and Smush Parker compelled me to quit watching. And since 99% of my NBA consumption was Laker games, I've pretty much stopped watching all NBA content the last few years.

It was weird at first, to not have the Lakers as a regular part of my life, but slowly got used to it. I'll probably start watching again when he retires, but I'm not in any hurry.

[SlimShady83]

Eidt thanks op.

[One Last Shot]

I'm here bud, what you got saying now?, like i said above, I've been here well b4 Bron became a Laker, I'm here while Bron is here, I'll be here well after Bron is Is a Laker... And I've kept my mouth shut since then and Ignored the bs coming from you since post this.

To the MODS.
***This thread thread should be locked for this reason alone, you don't know squat about me, I'm on Lakerboard daily doing game threads non stop, posting non stop about Lakers, I'm still here bud...

Clueless, Bron fan, but you do you bud, what ever floats your boat and keeps you happy.


I should report this nonsense to the mods, but I won't, I will let them decide what to do with this thread and your BS.

But you do you ScrantonBulls, troll away.

dude he's not even talking about you, calm down.

Started watching the Lakers in 1984. Lebron James is the first player that ever got me to stop watching the Lakers. Not even those horrendous rebuilds with Tierre Brown and Smush Parker compelled me to quit watching. And since 99% of my NBA consumption was Laker games, I've pretty much stopped watching all NBA content the last few years.

It was weird at first, to not have the Lakers as a regular part of my life, but slowly got used to it. I'll probably start watching again when he retires, but I'm not in any hurry.

He needs to go, bud we all done with him. This ish should be blocked.

don't you find it amusing that he quit watching the Lakers because LeBron sign with them? You also don't like Bron but you're always here rooting for Lakers because it's your team. Anyway, I think bonafide Lakers fans should give credit to LeBron on his part to rebuild the team. They are one of the worst team in the NBA for half a decade and all they have to show for it with all that losing season are players like Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, DLo and Kyle Kuzma. There's no way Anthony Davis demand a trade to Lakers to play with those losers, it's because they have LeBron. No AD = No Luka and Doncic will win the MVP, NBA title and Finals MVP this season to be the undisputed best player in the planet while LeBron playing Draymond Green role.

[homecourtloss]

It's just crazy to me. The guy you replied to is a Lakers fan who completely stopped watching the Lakers since LeBron joined and doesn't acknowledge the recent championship. I'm not joking. He hates LeBron that much. I just can't fathom hating a player so much (aside from a murderer or something) that I'd stop watching my team. Especially a guy with such a clean record. There's no player I hate more than I love my team.

I'm here bud, what you got saying now?, like i said above, I've been here well b4 Bron became a Laker, I'm here while Bron is here, I'll be here well after Bron is Is a Laker... And I've kept my mouth shut since then and Ignored the bs coming from you since post this.

To the MODS.
***This thread thread should be locked for this reason alone, you don't know squat about me, I'm on Lakerboard daily doing game threads non stop, posting non stop about Lakers, I'm still here bud...

Clueless, Bron fan, but you do you bud, what ever floats your boat and keeps you happy.


I should report this nonsense to the mods, but I won't, I will let them decide what to do with this thread and your BS.

But you do you ScrantonBulls, troll away.

dude he's not even talking about you, calm down.

Started watching the Lakers in 1984. Lebron James is the first player that ever got me to stop watching the Lakers. Not even those horrendous rebuilds with Tierre Brown and Smush Parker compelled me to quit watching. And since 99% of my NBA consumption was Laker games, I've pretty much stopped watching all NBA content the last few years.

It was weird at first, to not have the Lakers as a regular part of my life, but slowly got used to it. I'll probably start watching again when he retires, but I'm not in any hurry.

that's what makes it funny because he's describing people like him which is why he got so mad