Why Should The NBA Be Scared of the Lakers

[Ainosterhaspie]

A Lebron-AD pick and roll isn't as scary if you can send Rondo's man or Dwight's man to play help defense. Instead of Rondo and Dwight they should have tried to get players like Brook Lopez and Seth Curry. Green is a nice addition but they need more.

Draymond Green only played center for the Warriors for short spurts, but the Warriors were lethal during those spurts. Expect something similar with the Lakers and Davis at the five with three shooters and LeBron.

Thats probably how they close, not with McGee and Davis.

[nikster]

A Lebron-AD pick and roll isn't as scary if you can send Rondo's man or Dwight's man to play help defense. Instead of Rondo and Dwight they should have tried to get players like Brook Lopez and Seth Curry. Green is a nice addition but they need more.

Draymond Green only played center for the Warriors for short spurts, but the Warriors were lethal during those spurts. Expect something similar with the Lakers and Davis at the five with three shooters and LeBron.

Thats probably how they close, not with McGee and Davis.

That’s what I think there most effective lineup is too, The other 3 players would likely be Bradley, Green, and KCP. Might struggle with some bigger teams on the defensive end, like Philly.

[markjay]

(1) two of the top 5 to 7 players in the NBA, including arguably the best playoff player
(2) five other players on their roster with career 3-point percentages of 39% or more (Bradley, Green, Cook, Daniels, and Dudley)
(3) decent defensive players in Caruso, Bradley, Green, Davis, and Howard
(4) other solid contributors or role players like McGee, Kuz, and KCP

If both Davis and LeBron are healthy come playoff time, I would consider them the team to beat in a 7-game series

[Ainosterhaspie]

A Lebron-AD pick and roll isn't as scary if you can send Rondo's man or Dwight's man to play help defense. Instead of Rondo and Dwight they should have tried to get players like Brook Lopez and Seth Curry. Green is a nice addition but they need more.

Draymond Green only played center for the Warriors for short spurts, but the Warriors were lethal during those spurts. Expect something similar with the Lakers and Davis at the five with three shooters and LeBron.

Thats probably how they close, not with McGee and Davis.

That’s what I think there most effective lineup is too, The other 3 players would likely be Bradley, Green, and KCP. Might struggle with some bigger teams on the defensive end, like Philly.

Philly's not going small on them though so they can use Howard/McGee if needed. They have intriguing flexibility. Embiid has had conditioning issues. I could see the Lakers exploitng that going small late or in key moments when he's been in a while to force him off the floor.

They have several options in small lineups next to James and Davis depending on who's hot or matchups. Again there is a lot of flexibility on the roster that should make up for not having great talent outside the top two.

Great players plus diverse role players can make things happen. James worked wonders with far less in 2018.

[Joey Wheeler]

Because come playoff time Lebron James and Anthony Davis are the two best basketball players in the world and they fit well together. Lakers will have the two best players in any series they play healthy.

[NPZ]

They are my pick to be the most disappointing team in the league this year. Injury risk + thin roster.

And no J'rue Holliday...

[nikster]

Draymond Green only played center for the Warriors for short spurts, but the Warriors were lethal during those spurts. Expect something similar with the Lakers and Davis at the five with three shooters and LeBron.

Thats probably how they close, not with McGee and Davis.

That’s what I think there most effective lineup is too, The other 3 players would likely be Bradley, Green, and KCP. Might struggle with some bigger teams on the defensive end, like Philly.

Philly's not going small on them though so they can use Howard/McGee if needed. They have intriguing flexibility. Embiid has had conditioning issues. I could see the Lakers exploitng that going small late or in key moments when he's been in a while to force him off the floor.

They have several options in small lineups next to James and Davis depending on who's hot or matchups. Again there is a lot of flexibility on the roster that should make up for not having great talent outside the top two.

Great players plus diverse role players can make things happen. James worked wonders with far less in 2018.

I don’t see anyway Lakers are able to force Embiid off the floor. There will always be a C/PF you can put him on.

And Lakers have some versatility with Lebron at either forward and Davis at PF/C but otherwise are not that flexible. Who can play multiple positions outside of those 2? Howard/McGee are strict Cs, I doubt Kuzma can handle the 3 defensively, Green is the only wing with the size of a true small forward, Rondo and Bradley are gonna see majority of their time at PG.

[nikster]

(1) two of the top 5 to 7 players in the NBA, including arguably the best playoff player
(2) five other players on their roster with career 3-point percentages of 39% or more (Bradley, Green, Cook, Daniels, and Dudley)
(3) decent defensive players in Caruso, Bradley, Green, Davis, and Howard
(4) other solid contributors or role players like McGee, Kuz, and KCP

If both Davis and LeBron are healthy come playoff time, I would consider them the team to beat in a 7-game series

Number 2 sounds nice, but Lakers have some serious concerns if Cook, Daniels or Dudley are getting significant run. Green was down to 36% For 3 years before a career year in Toronto, but then his shot just tanked in the playoffs (and he’s been bad from range 3 postseasons in a row). And Bradley’s not a 39% shooter

I think they’re a bottom 10 3 point shooting team.

[Tracymcgoaty]

Instead of lowering this thread's value by not contributing how about you prove me wrong? Don't just say, well "it's LeBron". That's lazy and not insightful at all. My argument is that Jrue Holiday's overall impact is greater currently, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Explain to me why, don't be a child about it.

People are missing my overall point with this thread and future ones. I'm trying to start rationale and good spirited debate. We've had an influx of people stating their opinions without any concrete answer or proof to back it up. When someone doesn't agree with them they've resorted to name calling like it's grade school. So once again, prove why I'm wrong.

The thread's value was immediately lowered by your initial post. Don't talk about wanting "rationale and good spirited debate" when your first post makes it incredibly clear that you're not actually looking for that. Jrue Holiday over LeBron James... Lmfao. That doesnt even warrant a response. You can troll better than that.

You're further proving my point by not even responding to my question. Prove it to me. I'm not trolling. I'm trying to bring actual debate into these forums. The last few months have been nothing but people yelling at people with no substance. Have substance. Have evidence. Simply saying something doesn't prove anything. You can't keep relying on the "well it's LeBron" argument. If that argument still held true the Lakers would have made the playoffs last year even when the team was battling injuries.

How can we prove anything? Why dont you wait and judge the team based on half a season instead of trying to get people to prove you that Lakers are scary? Truth is majority of how good the lakers are will be based off Lebron/AD performance during the season. If Lebron plays like he did pre-injury it's between Lakers/Clippers in the western conference. AD plays to his potential him and Lebron are going to gel real fast.

I'd never take Jrue over Lebron like it's never going to happen and you probably wouldn't either. Jrue cant carry the load Lebron does and never has.

[markjay]

(1) two of the top 5 to 7 players in the NBA, including arguably the best playoff player
(2) five other players on their roster with career 3-point percentages of 39% or more (Bradley, Green, Cook, Daniels, and Dudley)
(3) decent defensive players in Caruso, Bradley, Green, Davis, and Howard
(4) other solid contributors or role players like McGee, Kuz, and KCP

If both Davis and LeBron are healthy come playoff time, I would consider them the team to beat in a 7-game series

Number 2 sounds nice, but Lakers have some serious concerns if Cook, Daniels or Dudley are getting significant run. Green was down to 36% For 3 years before a career year in Toronto, but then his shot just tanked in the playoffs (and he’s been bad from range 3 postseasons in a row). And Bradley’s not a 39% shooter

I think they’re a bottom 10 3 point shooting team.

Whoops. I meant Caruso, not Bradley

[knuckles862]

The Lakers will be a good team but they are vastly overrated. Ad is not a top 5 player like people keep claiming he is not better than curry if I hear one more person say that I'm gonna lose it. Outside of LeBron and ad, the rest of the roster is underwhelming none of them can really go off for a big night every now and then except kuzma if he is healthy. So that means LeBron and ad will have to carry a heavy load and with durability issues for both that could be concerning. Outside of ad and green they don't have any respectable defenders and green can't really guard fast guards so alot of the pgs out west are going to eat them alive

[chefy]

Jrue freaking Holiday

[Myth]

I hate the Lakers. Hate them. But I just couldn't take this thread seriously once I saw the Jrue Holiday comparison.

[Pattycakes]

This team will be lucky to go .500

[JN61]

They are certainly among 6-8 teams that have chance to win it all, but there are several teams I would give better chance. But as said they are up there and Howard's signing was huge deal for them who might take them over the edge.

But if they don't start out strong they have as big chance to get pounced off first round by team like Jazz.

[TheGOATWill]

A Lebron-AD pick and roll isn't as scary if you can send Rondo's man or Dwight's man to play help defense. Instead of Rondo and Dwight they should have tried to get players like Brook Lopez and Seth Curry. Green is a nice addition but they need more.

You don’t make a career sending double teams at Lebron. If you blitz with Rondo’s man that becomes Green Daniels Cook...etc man at the next dead ball. If you blitz off Dwight or McGee they’re catching a lob 2 seconds later. If you scramble you defense and cover those options who’s on Lebron. Is it Dwight’s man. That’s no good. Who’s on AD. Hopefully not Rondo’s man. The point being you have to be very careful handling a Lebron AD p/r.

[LoveTheNBA23]

1. The Lakers will always have 2/3 top players on the court in a game and most of the time the top 2.
2. Lakers have 3 paint protecting bigs that all have a 7’5”-7’6” wingspan and shot blocking ability.
3. They have the best big man in the game and the perfect fit for a death lineup without going small
4. They’ve improved their three point shooting immensely with new additions
5. Danny Green is a very high impact role player who led the entire NBA in on/off net rating
6. Kuzma looks to have improved immensely from his offseason training with Lethal Shooter and Team USA
7. Lebron revenge season plus him and AD have had a ton of rest
8. One of the top players in the buyout market

Some reasons to be weary
1. Injuries
2. Coaching staff. Which Vogel are we getting?
3. Rondo
4. Which version of the comeback players do we get (ie Bradley, Dwight, KCP)
5. One more top notch wing defender

[JellosJigglin]

Why should anyone care if the NBA is scared of the Lakers or not? Please convince me.

[life_saver]

AD is overrated if you consider him as top5 player...he isn't even the best bigman in the league...a healthy Embiid is a better and more impactful player than AD.

[red96]

I like the premise of this thread. Please do the Clipper or Rockets next.