Lakers offense since Bron's return

[John Murdoch]

OKC punked us tho, not convinced until we get a big defensive wing that can atleast be a 3pt threat like an OG Ananoby type

[audiosway]

Luka was fat last year and they didn’t have Ayton and Smart. They shouldn’t have trouble with the Wolves this year.

But they do need to get another wing defender that’s playable but don’t know if Knect and first rounder is enough to get someone decent.

Yeah if I were them I'd look for a wing defender and I'd probably try to move Hayes for a better backup big.

I want them to go after Gafford. He is huge when playing with Luka. Great backup big and very good rim protector. Herb Jones would be another nice pickup as well. A 3&D wing would be great to get.

[Optms]

OKC punked us tho, not convinced until we get a big defensive wing that can atleast be a 3pt threat like an OG Ananoby type

Yep.

Shai is virtually unguardable but letting JDub and other guys go off is what I'm worried about. And contrary to the rumblings on here, this is not "The most stacked team of all time", this isn't the Heatles, Dynasty Warriors or even Lebron's Cavs.

OKC was taken to game 7 twice last year and it is a very real possibility they don't even win the chip if Haliburton doesn't go down in game 7. Interesting no one is giving them an asterisk for that though. They are very much beatable. Not easy but I think they are.

[HotRocks34]

Luka was fat last year and they didn’t have Ayton and Smart. They shouldn’t have trouble with the Wolves this year.

But they do need to get another wing defender that’s playable but don’t know if Knect and first rounder is enough to get someone decent.

Yeah if I were them I'd look for a wing defender and I'd probably try to move Hayes for a better backup big.

I want them to go after Gafford. He is huge when playing with Luka. Great backup big and very good rim protector. Herb Jones would be another nice pickup as well. A 3&D wing would be great to get.

I agree. I think Gafford would fit well. Same with Jones.

[CobraCommander]

They should trade LeBron for Anthony Davis. That would be a legit championship roster. Dallas can say they got LeBron, Christie and a first round pick for Luka.

Lakers can probably get Thompson or Marshall back too in the trade

This season:

Ayton
Davis
Thompson
Reaves
Doncic


Next season

Lively
Flagg
James
Christie
Kyrie

I would do it in NBA 2k and set no injuries in settings

So essentially trade LeBron for a player that never plays?

Are you saying the lakers better without LeBron? Well based on ADs injury history that is what you are saying

Lebron also said he's still in preseason mode, so he's basically just slowly ramping up. But Lebron as a pure playmaker on Mavs would be insanely better for them as AD. That team is so desperate for a great playmaker to lead their offense.

But lakers would be worse…
Hate to tell you my friend, but AD is a worthless player because availability is the best ability In sports

[ScrantonBulls]

Read on Twitter

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Are we seeing what might be a legendary offense? Luka, Reaves and LeBron is a historically good offensive big 3. Ayton and Rui have looked good as well. They've been scoring stupidly with LeBron back.

LeBron looks better than anybody could have imagined playing offball and taking the back seat. Kudos to him for doing that. This Lakers team might be scary good offensively when they gel. I'd imagine they'll try to add some 3 point shooting via trades as well.

[MrBigShot]

Gotta dominate in the playoffs to be a legendary anything.

But they are a very different team from last year. Luka is having an MVP caliber season (even if he wont win it because of how absurd Jokic & SGA are playing) and Reaves has taken a HUGE leap forward. They even have Ayton playing some decent basketball.

[Blame Rasho]

I have an excuse to put this.now

Watch on YouTube

[Bornstellar]

Offense was never going to be an issue for them. It's the other side of the ball

[lambchop]

I have an excuse to put this.now

Watch on YouTube

Great breakdown

[HotRocks34]

I have an excuse to put this.now

Watch on YouTube

I love this guy's videos.

[JellosJigglin]

Gotta dominate in the playoffs to be a legendary anything.

But they are a very different team from last year. Luka is having an MVP caliber season (even if he wont win it because of how absurd Jokic & SGA are playing) and Reaves has taken a HUGE leap forward. They even have Ayton playing some decent basketball.

Is Luka not playing absurd basketball? OKC can win even without SGA. They were 5-1 without him last season. The Lakers need Luka more than OKC needs SGA. To me its between Jokic and Luka. Lakers went 3-1 this season without Luka but it took Reaves going beast mode averaging 40ppg in those 4 games. No one had the Lakers as the 2nd seed, but I know there's still a lot of season left. To me he's playing the best basketball of his career.

[lethalizer]

OKC can win even without SGA. They were 5-1 without him last season.

Context, context. Three of those teams were flat out tanking, (Utah, New Orleans, Philadelphia)

There is one good win there, and even that's debatable, Phoenix was trying to make the play in but basically had no choice during the last week.

It's interesting to say "Reaves had to go otherworldly to win without Luka" then ignore all the context behind those games Shai missed last season. Consistency is important.

[Homer38]

OKC can win even without SGA. They were 5-1 without him last season.

Context, context. Three of those teams were flat out tanking, (Utah, New Orleans, Philadelphia)

There is one good win there, and even that's debatable, Phoenix was trying to make the play in but basically had no choice during the last week.

It's interesting to say "Reaves had to go otherworldly to win without Luka" then ignore all the context behind those games Shai missed last season. Consistency is important.

True but context matter too in the 3-1 record of the lakers without Luka...It was against the Kings,Wolves without Edwards and the blazers which were flat because Reaves was also out

[UcanUwill]

Yep offense is never the problem, its whether Doncic/Reaves can defend in the playoffs, or whether its another 1st Round exit should the run into someone athletic... Twolves, Spurs, Thunder, Rockets etc.

This is a half a new team since last year + MVP Luka incoming. I just hope everyone is healthy in the playoffs, not just Lakers but all teams.

Doncic and Reaves are the biggest problems defensively, facing an athletic backcourt in a 7 game series... plus LeBron's limits should he find himself having to defend a star.

Luka can play defense, maybe not for 4 rounds straight, but he levels up defensively in the play offs. They lost last year because they had no size, JJ got so desperate he played Kleber, who at that point haven't suit up for the team once. They need defenders at bigmen positions, they wont lose cause of Luka and Reaves.

[Liam_Gallagher]

15-4 while playing more road games than home.

I expect them to win 60 games but OKC will win around 75. Don't see anyone beating them unless the Lakers can an all-star wing defender.

[Archx]

This is a half a new team since last year + MVP Luka incoming. I just hope everyone is healthy in the playoffs, not just Lakers but all teams.

Doncic and Reaves are the biggest problems defensively, facing an athletic backcourt in a 7 game series... plus LeBron's limits should he find himself having to defend a star.

Luka can play defense, maybe not for 4 rounds straight, but he levels up defensively in the play offs. They lost last year because they had no size, JJ got so desperate he played Kleber, who at that point haven't suit up for the team once. They need defenders at bigmen positions, they wont lose cause of Luka and Reaves.

No point discussing these points to that guy. No matter how many people tell him THE SAME thing, he'll just go on and on with his agenda. He simply doesn't understand the difference between last and this season. It's actually mind boggling.

[HotRocks34]

LA has the second best ORTG in the league since LeBron came off the injured list (last 5 games, although LeBron didn't play last night vs NOP).
.
.


In this stretch they have had the 5th-best NTRG in the league at +10.8, compared with their season NRTG of +4.3.

They're on a hot streak (W7) that won't last forever, but the offense overall seems to be on the rise.

LA is 4-0 so far this year when Luka, LeBron and Reaves all play.

[TheGeneral99]

Lakers fans need to be thanking Nico everyday for the next decade.

[JellosJigglin]

Lakers fans need to be thanking Nico everyday for the next decade.

I personally think he needs a statue next to Jerry West as the 2nd best GM in Laker history.