The Athletic: NBA execs around the league expect the gap between Clippers and Lakers to be significant

djsunyc · Post #101 » by **djsunyc** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 6:02 pm

i hope they both fail to live up to their expectations. teams that irresponsibly trade all those first rounders unprotected shouldn't be rewarded with success.

mademan · Post #102 » by **mademan** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 6:09 pm

ClipsFanSince98 wrote:
NoDopeOnSundays wrote:
ClipsFanSince98 wrote:Yep, the same exact Clippers team. Btw he shot 36% on 77 possessions against Harrell and sub 50% vs Zubac who had a career game matched up with AD a lot of the time.

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I thought you said Kawhi was going to guard him, or that he'd get hurt?

2-1 vs the Clippers last season with a much worse roster around him, your team got better, but expecting Zubac and Harrell to guard him in a series is wild. I even see you said Joakim Noah????? lol
Kawhi won't guard him often but when he does I'm not expecting a big problem. I was more saying physical strength wise he will break AD.

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Kawhi wont guard him for a single possession, and if he does, it will be because of a rotation/switch, and the help will be there immediately. Kawhi is a great defender, but he's not capable of guarding an offensively skilled 7 footer who outweighs him significantly.

Forte IV · Post #103 » by **Forte IV** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 6:11 pm

Don Ford wrote:
RipPizzaGuy wrote:
Forte IV wrote:
You do realize Paul George played SG for the Pacers with Danny Granger in Indiana and will do the same with the Clippers right?

I don't think this guys payed attention to the league. The 3 spot is the most desirable position in the league. **** I think teams would take 3 of them if they could. Put a Paul George at the 2, Kawhi at the 3, and have another athletic big wing at the 4. Watch teams get blown by on offense. Look at the Warriors. They ran 1-2-3-3-4 with Dray and Iggy. One of the most successful teams ever.

Ill take PG/Kawhi over Lebron/AD Any day of the week, and thats even with Lebron still being the best player of that bunch.

Crazy to me how many people, like yourself, are so significantly underrating AD.

I don't think people are underrating AD, at least I'm not. I just think there's a reason basketball is a TEAM sport. Sure, I'll admit the Clippers don't really have anyone to guard AD. Maybe there's a couple guys that can bother him a bit, but no shut down guy. But that doesn't matter. Because the Clippers have way more talent across the roster. AD can literally score 50, LeBron can score 27 and the Clippers would still win because I don't trust a single other guy on that roster to be a consistent threat on offense.

levon · Post #104 » by **levon** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 6:16 pm

djsunyc wrote:i hope they both fail to live up to their expectations. teams that irresponsibly trade all those first rounders unprotected shouldn't be rewarded with success.

You're right--teams should hang banners for first round picks and pick swaps.

The4thHorseman · Post #105 » by **The4thHorseman** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 6:18 pm

Forte IV wrote:People forget LeBron struggled to win 50 games in the east a few years ago even with two all star players. AD is better than both, but the point still stands. This is the West. No days off.

Besides K. Love, who was the other All-Star teammate James had in 2018?

Danny1616 · Post #106 » by **Danny1616** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 6:20 pm

The path to the title rests with whichever team is healthy.

The West is going to be a bloodbath. 7-8 teams will likely have 50+ wins.

I believe that the Clippers, Lakers, Warriors and Rockets all have a good shot to make the finals IF HEALTHY.

Kawhi has had injury issues, George has had injury issues, Westbrook has had injury issues, AD has had injury issues, Curry has had injury issues, how close to 100% will Klay be when he returns, and Lebron is now 35.

There are a lot of question marks.

I think the Clippers are the most talented, but if a major piece goes down I could see them losing to the Lakers, Rockets, Warriors or even the Jazz in the playoffs.

Obviously the Lakers can't afford Lebron or AD to go down or their season is over.

Bigfactsstackz · Post #107 » by **Bigfactsstackz** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 6:25 pm

This thread should have been locked once someone said Kawhi could probably shut down AD :lol:

Forte IV · Post #108 » by **Forte IV** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 6:30 pm

The4thHorseman wrote:
Forte IV wrote:People forget LeBron struggled to win 50 games in the east a few years ago even with two all star players. AD is better than both, but the point still stands. This is the West. No days off.

Besides K. Love, who was the other All-Star teammate James had in 2018?

Reason why I said a few years ago. 2017 LeBron still had Kyrie avg 25 ppg and only won 51.

OkcSinceSGA · Post #109 » by **OkcSinceSGA** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 7:02 pm

mademan wrote:
ClipsFanSince98 wrote:
NoDopeOnSundays wrote:

I thought you said Kawhi was going to guard him, or that he'd get hurt?

2-1 vs the Clippers last season with a much worse roster around him, your team got better, but expecting Zubac and Harrell to guard him in a series is wild. I even see you said Joakim Noah????? lol
Kawhi won't guard him often but when he does I'm not expecting a big problem. I was more saying physical strength wise he will break AD.

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Kawhi wont guard him for a single possession, and if he does, it will be because of a rotation/switch, and the help will be there immediately. Kawhi is a great defender, but he's not capable of guarding an offensively skilled 7 footer who outweighs him significantly.

Kawhi outweighs AD, nice try. He's 250+. He's also about twice as strong

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NoDopeOnSundays · Post #110 » by **NoDopeOnSundays** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 7:07 pm

ClipsFanSince98 wrote:
mademan wrote:
ClipsFanSince98 wrote:Kawhi won't guard him often but when he does I'm not expecting a big problem. I was more saying physical strength wise he will break AD.

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Kawhi wont guard him for a single possession, and if he does, it will be because of a rotation/switch, and the help will be there immediately. Kawhi is a great defender, but he's not capable of guarding an offensively skilled 7 footer who outweighs him significantly.
Kawhi outweighs AD, nice try. He's 250+. He's also about twice as strong

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Kawhi outweighs AD? What?

Hold up, you think Kawhi is 250+lbs?

Oh man :lol:

iamworthy · Post #111 » by **iamworthy** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 7:08 pm

ClipsFanSince98 wrote:
mademan wrote:
ClipsFanSince98 wrote:Kawhi won't guard him often but when he does I'm not expecting a big problem. I was more saying physical strength wise he will break AD.

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Kawhi wont guard him for a single possession, and if he does, it will be because of a rotation/switch, and the help will be there immediately. Kawhi is a great defender, but he's not capable of guarding an offensively skilled 7 footer who outweighs him significantly.
Kawhi outweighs AD, nice try. He's 250+. He's also about twice as strong

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Where did you get kwahi's weight from?

mademan · Post #112 » by **mademan** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 7:12 pm

ClipsFanSince98 wrote:
mademan wrote:
ClipsFanSince98 wrote:Kawhi won't guard him often but when he does I'm not expecting a big problem. I was more saying physical strength wise he will break AD.

Sent from my LM-Q710(FGN) using RealGM mobile app

Kawhi wont guard him for a single possession, and if he does, it will be because of a rotation/switch, and the help will be there immediately. Kawhi is a great defender, but he's not capable of guarding an offensively skilled 7 footer who outweighs him significantly.
Kawhi outweighs AD, nice try. He's 250+. He's also about twice as strong

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You really think Kawhi is 250+? lmao. Theres no point in discussing anything

OkcSinceSGA · Post #113 » by **OkcSinceSGA** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 7:16 pm

NoDopeOnSundays wrote:
ClipsFanSince98 wrote:
mademan wrote:
Kawhi wont guard him for a single possession, and if he does, it will be because of a rotation/switch, and the help will be there immediately. Kawhi is a great defender, but he's not capable of guarding an offensively skilled 7 footer who outweighs him significantly.
Kawhi outweighs AD, nice try. He's 250+. He's also about twice as strong

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Kawhi outweighs AD? What?

Hold up, you think Kawhi is 250+lbs?

Oh man

Then, there was the “Yo-Yo machine” story, via NBC Sports’ Tom Haberstroh, about when Leonard broke an infamously brutal piece of workout equipment with the San Antonio Spurs.

For most pro athletes, this is a grueling exercise, like a super squat. But after several repetitions on “The Yo-Yo,” it was clear that this wasn’t a challenge for Leonard. Under close observation of strength coaches and teammates, Leonard took it to another level. The trainers added a steel plate that would create a downward force of two times Leonard’s body weight, which at the time was around 250 pounds.

Leonard kept going, with relative ease. Then suddenly, Leonard stopped. The room turned silent as Leonard looked down at his feet. He cracked the metal platform. He literally broke the machine. Said one Spurs staffer who witnessed it that day: “Too strong for it.”

Have you seen how big he is the last couple years? He's **** jacked and 100% nowhere near his listed 230. AD has trouble even maintaining much over 225.

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OkcSinceSGA · Post #114 » by **OkcSinceSGA** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 7:17 pm

iamworthy wrote:
ClipsFanSince98 wrote:
mademan wrote:
Kawhi wont guard him for a single possession, and if he does, it will be because of a rotation/switch, and the help will be there immediately. Kawhi is a great defender, but he's not capable of guarding an offensively skilled 7 footer who outweighs him significantly.
Kawhi outweighs AD, nice try. He's 250+. He's also about twice as strong

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Where did you get kwahi's weight from?

Not from the same sources that list him at a ridiculous 228. You guys who buy into this stuff are silly. I saw him stand next to Harrell and make Harrell look small in terms of muscle mass, shoulder width, legs. Kawhi is 250 for sure.

BoogieTime · Post #115 » by **BoogieTime** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 7:19 pm

Tor_Raps wrote:I actually think the Lakers are the better team but that will depend on whether Lebron regains his status as the League's best player. Will be a fun season regardless.

Players don’t regress in age

NoDopeOnSundays · Post #116 » by **NoDopeOnSundays** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 7:19 pm

So, you think Kawhi is effectively 30 pounds heavier than AD?

:lol:

OkcSinceSGA · Post #117 » by **OkcSinceSGA** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 7:23 pm

NoDopeOnSundays wrote:So, you think Kawhi is effectively 30 pounds heavier than AD?

No. I think AD is probably 235 ish. So he's realistically 15 lbs heavier but on a WAY stronger frame.

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Tor_Raps · Post #118 » by **Tor_Raps** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 7:25 pm

BoogieTime wrote:
Tor_Raps wrote:I actually think the Lakers are the better team but that will depend on whether Lebron regains his status as the League's best player. Will be a fun season regardless.

Players don’t regress in age

Lebron was still the best player in the NBA before that injury. When he came back, seemed like all the off course drama affected the team on the court. I will assume that the team will move past this since most of the roster has changed dramatically.

Production wise, I still consider Lebron the best player in the world and expect him to reclaim that title.

NoDopeOnSundays · Post #119 » by **NoDopeOnSundays** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 7:39 pm

ClipsFanSince98 wrote:
NoDopeOnSundays wrote:So, you think Kawhi is effectively 30 pounds heavier than AD?

No. I think AD is probably 235 ish. So he's realistically 15 lbs heavier but on a WAY stronger frame.

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AD is 254lbs, and even in the article you posted it is just a ball park guesstimate of Kawhi's weight, his teams have listed him at 230lbs at most, he and Jimmy Butler are roughly the same size and Butler is 232.

Also, if you think Kawhi is 250lbs, then LeBron must be 285lbs, and Zion must be 315lbs.

Pennebaker · Post #120 » by **Pennebaker** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 8:08 pm

ClipsFanSince98 wrote:How much of a gap is there between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers when it comes to winning a title this season?

According to NBA executives polled by Ethan Strauss of The Athletic, a significant one in favor of the Clippers:

"In league circles, Lakers skepticism has burbled about for some time, before and after Anthony Davis awkwardly made his way to Los Angeles. Questions of fit and chemistry persist, and many are noting just how many games LeBron James has played up to this point. Like the Golden State Warriors, the Lakers are also lacking in perimeter defense, in a league where it seems to matter more than ever. Much as you would expect some 'It's LeBron' faith, that faith appears to be wavering after the last disastrous season. Even flanked with Davis, no one I spoke with believes LeBron and the Lakers are better than the upstart Clips."

One executive added of the gap between the teams: "There is a big gap in likelihood of winning the title. Not sure about regular season wins."

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That's so bizarre because in reality the gap is enormous in the other direction.

LeBron and AD as a duo is so historically great that - literally - the league has never seen the likes of it before.

LeBron and AD rank #2 and #3 in history in career PER.

Mindblown.gif

Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are a nice duo - they're nice pieces - but it's a bit like if prime Dwyane Wade teamed up with prime Blake Griffin. A duo like that can do some things, but they can't hold a candle to James and Davis.