The Lebron '20 Thread (Pt. 6)

KTM_2813 · Post #1381 » by **KTM_2813** » Sun Sep 13, 2020 2:38 pm

My heart tells me that Clippers-Lakers will be a tough matchup. LAC have Kawhi, who is quite possibly the best player in the game, along with George, who can be the best player on any given night. Together, they form a defensive tandem that will give LeBron fits, and their role players feel like a sleeping giant. The Lakers could definitely lose.

However, my head is telling me more and more that the Lakers will simply be too much. The AD/LBJ combination has been significantly better than KL/PG because George has been wildly inconsistent. And while the Clippers' role players are hypothetically good, Lou and Trez have been playing like ass. Finally, the Lakers' defense is insane. There is a chance that they are an all-time unit.

I think the series - assuming it happens - will come down to shooting. If the Lakers avoid performances like early in the bubble, I'd give them a 70% chance of winning. If they go on a cold streak, then the Clippers perhaps even become the favorites, IMO.

SideshowBob · Post #1382 » by **SideshowBob** » Sun Sep 13, 2020 2:58 pm

Lakers through 10 PS games.

+9.6 SRS, +3.5 Offense, -6.4 Defense

Heej · Post #1383 » by **Heej** » Sun Sep 13, 2020 3:05 pm

xb3at band1tx wrote:Still weird to see Bron play only 31-32 min in a close-out game. Still used to that last Cav year where they needed every minute from him lol

So this is what it's like when LeBron plays with a real 2-way superstar that has top 3-5 in the league impact. Insane to see him sit and the team still chug along. Can't believe people were mad about getting rid of the young guys for this

MisterHibachi · Post #1384 » by **MisterHibachi** » Sun Sep 13, 2020 3:39 pm

SideshowBob wrote:Lakers through 10 PS games.

+9.6 SRS, +3.5 Offense, -6.4 Defense

-6.4 Defense without their best guard defender in Bradley. This is definitely shaping up to be an ATG defense.

Homer38 · Post #1385 » by **Homer38** » Sun Sep 13, 2020 3:42 pm

What will be the starting lineup for the next serie?

Morris or McGee?

Homer38 · Post #1386 » by **Homer38** » Sun Sep 13, 2020 3:47 pm

Read on Twitter

RCM88x · Post #1387 » by **RCM88x** » Sun Sep 13, 2020 3:57 pm

SideshowBob wrote:Lakers through 10 PS games.

+9.6 SRS, +3.5 Offense, -6.4 Defense

How does this compare to the Heat and Cavs through the first 2 round in past years?

MyUniBroDavis · Post #1388 » by **MyUniBroDavis** » Sun Sep 13, 2020 4:06 pm

MisterHibachi wrote:
SideshowBob wrote:Lakers through 10 PS games.

+9.6 SRS, +3.5 Offense, -6.4 Defense

-6.4 Defense without their best guard defender in Bradley. This is definitely shaping up to be an ATG defense.

Tbf portland didnt have anyway to counter blitzing and houstan didnt know how to fight a zone

Post #1389 » by **zimpy27** » Sun Sep 13, 2020 4:07 pm

donnieme wrote:Are the Lakers a better team with Morris and Davis at the 5? Seeing actual frontcourt production these last 2 games really made it clearer how much dead weight Mcgee is in the starting lineup. It's just really unfortunate AD's aversion to playing the 5 will always keep the team from reaching it's offensive ceiling.

The best thing Spoelstra ever did for the Heat was convincing Bosh to play 5 and Lebron to play 4 but in this day and age you can't piss off a star unless ownership is behind it.

AD can cover the 4 and Lakers can get a guy like Morris to cover the 5. The 5 in today's game can be a 6'8 guy with strong legs.

But actually, I like that they play different in RS to playoffs. Doesn't give opponents as much footage to work with.

SideshowBob · Post #1390 » by **SideshowBob** » Sun Sep 13, 2020 4:18 pm

RCM88x wrote:
SideshowBob wrote:Lakers through 10 PS games.

+9.6 SRS, +3.5 Offense, -6.4 Defense

How does this compare to the Heat and Cavs through the first 2 round in past years?

2013 - 2020 Lebron Teams through 2 Rounds

Code: Select all

Year    Team      SRS     Off     Def

2013    MIA      12.7     8.6    -6.7
2014    MIA       7.5    13.8     4.0
2015    CLE       8.4     7.6    -2.3
2016    CLE      12.5    18.2     4.2
2017    CLE      11.1    11.8    -0.3
2018    CLE       4.6     6.2     0.9
2020    LAL       9.6     3.5    -6.4

Note - 2020 is a career low MPG for Lebron.

homecourtloss · Post #1391 » by **homecourtloss** » Sun Sep 13, 2020 5:06 pm

Homer38 wrote:

Read on Twitter

He’s right though not sure if it’s really small ball with AD in there and James being 6’9. But since the Lakers have always started the game played two big bigs, I guess playing Morris would be considered “small ball.”

—In the 138 minutes Morris wasn’t on court, the Lakers were -3.7 points per 100 possessions

—In the 102 minutes Morris was on court, the Lakers were +21.7 points per 100 possessions

homecourtloss · Post #1392 » by **homecourtloss** » Sun Sep 13, 2020 5:10 pm

SideshowBob wrote:Lakers through 10 PS games.

+9.6 SRS, +3.5 Offense, -6.4 Defense

Thank you, Sideshow. Do you have the numbers for the Clippers, Heat, and Celtics?

SideshowBob · Post #1393 » by **SideshowBob** » Sun Sep 13, 2020 5:11 pm

homecourtloss wrote:
SideshowBob wrote:Lakers through 10 PS games.

+9.6 SRS, +3.5 Offense, -6.4 Defense

Thank you, Sideshow. Do you have the numbers for the Clippers, Heat, and Celtics?

Waiting on DEN/LAC series to conclude, but I'll be posting Final Four numbers in the 2020 POTY/NBA Discussion threads.

eminence · Post #1394 » by **eminence** » Sun Sep 13, 2020 5:22 pm

I don't think I'd classify the Lakers lineups as 'small-ball'. AD is unequivocally a big, LBJ/Morris are decent sized forwards and Kuzma isn't tiny by any means.

homecourtloss · Post #1395 » by **homecourtloss** » Sun Sep 13, 2020 5:41 pm

With 164 playoff wins, only the Lakers, Celtics, Sixers, Spurs, Warriors, Bulls, and Knicks as franchises have more playoff wins than James does.

According to @EliasSports

LeBron James is now making his 11th career Conference Finals appearance.
That is more appearances in the round before the Finals than 21 current franchises.

MisterHibachi · Post #1396 » by **MisterHibachi** » Sun Sep 13, 2020 6:23 pm

Read on Twitter

?s=19

RCM88x · Post #1397 » by **RCM88x** » Sun Sep 13, 2020 6:23 pm

SideshowBob wrote:
RCM88x wrote:
SideshowBob wrote:Lakers through 10 PS games.

+9.6 SRS, +3.5 Offense, -6.4 Defense

How does this compare to the Heat and Cavs through the first 2 round in past years?

2013 - 2020 Lebron Teams through 2 Rounds

Code: Select all
Year Team SRS Off Def 2013 MIA 12.7 8.6 -6.7 2014 MIA 7.5 13.8 4.0 2015 CLE 8.4 7.6 -2.3 2016 CLE 12.5 18.2 4.2 2017 CLE 11.1 11.8 -0.3 2018 CLE 4.6 6.2 0.9 2020 LAL 9.6 3.5 -6.4

Note - 2020 is a career low MPG for Lebron.

Difference between the 2017 and 2016 team is interested with the 2016 having a weaker defense but stronger O.

Good stuff.

Baski · Post #1398 » by **Baski** » Sun Sep 13, 2020 6:28 pm

Can the Nuggets really pull this off? And just for speculation how good would Jokic look against the Lakers bigs?

RCM88x · Post #1399 » by **RCM88x** » Sun Sep 13, 2020 7:02 pm

Baski wrote:Can the Nuggets really pull this off? And just for speculation how good would Jokic look against the Lakers bigs?

Probably not lol.

But Zubac has owned them so I'm sure the Lakers would be fine.

Joey Wheeler · Post #1400 » by **Joey Wheeler** » Sun Sep 13, 2020 7:08 pm

Baski wrote:Can the Nuggets really pull this off? And just for speculation how good would Jokic look against the Lakers bigs?

Of course they can. Nuggets and Clippers are two teams of very similar level, no idea why people have been pretending otherwise. Nuggets would probably be the slightly tougher opponent for the Lakers actually, though neither team should have much of a chance.

Jokic would look great and dominate against any team, he's unstoppable offensively. Defensively he offers no rim protection against Lebron and AD, but neither do the Clippers.