The Lebron '20 Thread (Pt. 7)

[trickshot]

If i recall jokic scored 10 points in those 8 minutes with javale, which means he scored 13 in the remaining 29 minutes

Javale cant guard jokic at all

Jokic only scored 6 points in Javale's minutes. I can't believe I'm the guy defending Javale here - I don't want him to play either. But he really, really isn't anything to focus on in this one.

I mean its not javales fault lol theres alot more to it than that.

Thats still 6 points in 8 minutes vs 17 in 29, and that includes some of those weird small lineups

defensively im worried that zone strat wont work twice once rhe nuggets look over it. Otoh, i think we will make adjustments offensively after this loss, they defended us similar to how houstan did game 1 in a way.

IMO Zone won't work on Jokic for long. He already does most of his passing damage from the middle where he acts as a control tower for the others. It might eliminate the occasional backdoor cut but for the most part Nuggets conventional offense already sets up like they're facing a zone. Lakers just have to do a better job guarding him man on man and I genuinely feel Den could be up 2-1 if Dwight hadn't given him a speedbump in the first 2 games. They go as far as Jokic and a turnstile like Mcgee (bad defender in space) or those small ball lineups are BBQ chciken

[letskissbro]

Is it too late to include Kuzma in the AD trade?

[Greyhound]

People are hammering McGee, but (low key) Howard minutes were bad too. All that geeked up, fouling and chest puffing around did nothing in that third quarter. The unnecessary technical foul and constantly putting Jokic at the line hurt the Lakers.

The Lakers are going to need Howard to reel it in and focus on helping the team win. He is out there trying to rough up Jokic to prove some point, but what he should be doing is focus his efforts on helping the team win.

At this point it would probably be a good idea to start Morris (to spread the floor) and bring Howard off the bench for 20-24 minutes.
Let McGee focus on his lone consistent contribution in the bubble... waving the towel and celebrating on the bench.

[Greyhound]

No single person was THE problem but Mcgee's positive plus minus is the reason that stat should never be taken seriously. It's entirely dependent on who you play with. I reckon I'd have a positive plus minus playing all my minutes with Bron and AD. Pretty sure a board or 2 might even fall my way

If i recall jokic scored 10 points in those 8 minutes with javale, which means he scored 13 in the remaining 29 minutes

Javale cant guard jokic at all

Jokic only scored 6 points in Javale's minutes. I can't believe I'm the guy defending Javale here - I don't want him to play either. But he really, really isn't anything to focus on in this one.

The thing with McGee (right now) is he just seems pointless out there. He never gets into any type of defensive stance and he never boxes out. He just looks like an idiot running around (up right) with his hands flapping around.

Late contests, poor rotations, out of position for rebounds, silly decisions with the ball etc.

Video blog McGee is utterly useless right now.

[dreamshake]

If i recall jokic scored 10 points in those 8 minutes with javale, which means he scored 13 in the remaining 29 minutes

Javale cant guard jokic at all

Jokic only scored 6 points in Javale's minutes. I can't believe I'm the guy defending Javale here - I don't want him to play either. But he really, really isn't anything to focus on in this one.

The thing with McGee (right now) is he just seems pointless out there. He never gets into any type of defensive stance and he never boxes out. He just looks like an idiot running around (up right) with his hands flapping around.

Late contests, poor rotations, out of position for rebounds, silly decisions with the ball etc.

Video blog McGee is utterly useless right now.

I agree - I'm all for gluing him to the bench. I'm just saying instead of focusing on why the first 8 minutes ended up with Lakers +2 instead of +8 or something, it's probably more important to focus on why the next 8 minutes ended up with them -16. When JaVale checked out after 8 minutes, Denver had scored 16 points - that's on pace for a 24pt quarter/96pt game - I think it's a stretch to say his defense was a meaningful factor in this loss.

[Dupp]

Lakers only had 25 rebounds tonight geez that’s rough

[trickshot]

Jokic only scored 6 points in Javale's minutes. I can't believe I'm the guy defending Javale here - I don't want him to play either. But he really, really isn't anything to focus on in this one.

The thing with McGee (right now) is he just seems pointless out there. He never gets into any type of defensive stance and he never boxes out. He just looks like an idiot running around (up right) with his hands flapping around.

Late contests, poor rotations, out of position for rebounds, silly decisions with the ball etc.

Video blog McGee is utterly useless right now.

I agree - I'm all for gluing him to the bench. I'm just saying instead of focusing on why the first 8 minutes ended up with Lakers +2 instead of +8 or something, it's probably more important to focus on why the next 8 minutes ended up with them -16. When JaVale checked out after 8 minutes, Denver had scored 16 points - that's on pace for a 24pt quarter/96pt game - I think it's a stretch to say his defense was a meaningful factor in this loss.

You're overthinking this. When anyone talks about Mcgee's minutes they are speaking general improvements not saying he cost the team a win tonight or on any given night. He barely plays 20 minutes so no loss is ever strictly on him and no one implies such. The issue here is his minutes overlapping with Jokic's needs to be controlled if he's getting abused, that's his one job. If Jokic gets comfortable early and finds his rhythm say goodbye to the W and say goodbye to the series. Once that happens he'll start draining rainbow trickshots when you need stops and it won't matter who's in front of him

Dwight also needs to stop committing low iq fouls because he needs to stay on the floor for his defensive contributions. He seems the only one of the 3 Jokic can't punk in the lowpost

[nzahir]

When are we going to unleash the pick and roll with Lebron and AD?

Are we waiting for the finals?

[MyUniBroDavis]

When are we going to unleash the pick and roll with Lebron and AD?

Are we waiting for the finals?

You know it really is funny that AD is doing as good as he is despite the literal knly thing he has going for him being sealed like a sacred ninjutsu

[dcstanley]

LeBron man. For me the question about this whole team has been about whether LeBron can still be an elite bucket getter/scorer. He's getting a lot of points on ridiculous efficiency, but they are buckets that kind of come easily or they don't come. There are times over this year where it's been like, "Ok, now LeBron needs to go off for like 20 points or something." But it seems like he simply can't do it. He's 35 now so it's whatever, the fact that he's been so good for this long is amazing. Lakers are still holding the advantage, but if LeBron can't deliver that barrage of points in pivotal moments it will be night night, because Jokic—and Murray—absolutely can. AD got the Lakers two games so far, now LeBron has to grab a couple and more.

There were times when it was stagnant but he was great in the fourth

He was good but like three of those buckets came in transition. But in halfcourt offense, geez he's got almost no answers now if he can't physically overpower guys. It's disappointing, I thought at this point he'd be rock-solid.

Jamal Murray has as much guts as I've ever seen from anyone and his talent is really looking like it could be top-10 player level. Whether he'll actualize that talent on a consistent basis after this year is something to wait and see, but what he's literally capable of at his best is amazing.

Lebron hasn't been assertive as a scorer this series. The fourth quarter was the first time I've seen him try to hunt Jokic and when he got the switch it resulted in an easy blow-by. If Lebron feels like the series is in jeopardy I can see the Lakers spamming PnR with AD and Lebron aggressively match-up hunting Jokic.

[dcstanley]

I don’t see Denver winning this series, but man I’m VERY worried about Spo or Stevens packing the paint against this Lakers team now that they have the blueprint.

That was my concern too but I'm starting to think the Bubble Nuggets are considerably better than those teams. Those other teams definitely have the coaching advantage but there isn't a player on either team as fearsome as Jokic or Murray.

[limbo]

Lakers got this in the bag.

Denver came to play with desperation because it was a must win for them and the Lakers didn't match the aggression. Especially defensively and on the glass. This allowed a lot of easy shots for Denver to get in the zone... Guys like Grant should not be having 25 points on this type of efficiency...

Supporting cast has to be better for sure, but Lakers will pull out the clamps next game.

[limbo]

Danny Green gets the award for 'most disappointing Laker' this season... The dude was supposed to be one of the most reliable players on the roster next to LeBron/AD but looks completely cooked out there... on both sides of the court.

I know Vogel will ride and die with him, hoping he has that one magic game in the Finals where he knocks 6 threes or something... but sheesh, it's looking pretty grim right now. Even more depressing is that the Lakers genuinely don't have any quality subs at that spot. I'd like to see Horton-Tucker maybe get another look if the Lakers go up 3-1.

[C0bR]

some baffling lineups from Vogel

Caruso/Rondo just kills the offense

LeBron 4/Morris 5 is also terrible. Morris isn't a 5 against anyone other than the Rockets. If you want to play him, start him with AD and bench Javale.

Hard to win a game when the refs treat Grant like Harden and LeBron like... well, Grant.

[eminence]

Surprised to see anyone complain about refs, I thought the Lakers got the better whistle last night. Straight up mauling the Nuggets during that run down the stretch. LeBron had a blatant shot on Harris late in the 4th going for a rebound.

[PistolPeteJR]

some baffling lineups from Vogel

Caruso/Rondo just kills the offense

LeBron 4/Morris 5 is also terrible. Morris isn't a 5 against anyone other than the Rockets. If you want to play him, start him with AD and bench Javale.

Hard to win a game when the refs treat Grant like Harden and LeBron like... well, Grant.

Honestly, Caruso/Rondo + zone is what miraculously allowed the Lakers back in the game in the 4th.

[yoyoboy]

Surprised to see anyone complain about refs, I thought the Lakers got the better whistle last night. Straight up mauling the Nuggets during that run down the stretch. LeBron had a blatant shot on Harris late in the 4th going for a rebound.

I thought Denver got a favorable whistle in the first half but in the 4th that LeBron body check and 1 of the Rondo strips by my count were fouls (and even after that latter one Murray got away with a hold on Rondo). I didn’t see anything else though that was even questionable. Jokic clearly fouled Kuzma and Rondo on their layups. Rondo’s other steals looked pretty clean watching it back. And the Porter goaltend was clearly a push shot attempt and not a pass. Also Jokic probably traveled on that double team by Rondo and Caruso that was called a foul on one of them despite really not much contact going on. Regardless this reffing wasn’t egregious in one direction and didn’t lose the Lakers the game. Their poor handling of Denver’s paint packing and awful scheme against the Murray-Joker PnR is.

some baffling lineups from Vogel

Caruso/Rondo just kills the offense

LeBron 4/Morris 5 is also terrible. Morris isn't a 5 against anyone other than the Rockets. If you want to play him, start him with AD and bench Javale.

Hard to win a game when the refs treat Grant like Harden and LeBron like... well, Grant.

Honestly, Caruso/Rondo + zone is what miraculously allowed the Lakers back in the game in the 4th.

Yeah but Caruso/Rondo is what got them in the hole in the first place. I don’t think that 4th quarter is at all replicable going forward. Denver isn’t going to be so shellshocked by the zone and they’re just going to have Jokic pick it apart.

[apeezus]

LeBron man. For me the question about this whole team has been about whether LeBron can still be an elite bucket getter/scorer. He's getting a lot of points on ridiculous efficiency, but they are buckets that kind of come easily or they don't come. There are times over this year where it's been like, "Ok, now LeBron needs to go off for like 20 points or something." But it seems like he simply can't do it. He's 35 now so it's whatever, the fact that he's been so good for this long is amazing.

It's funny this post could've been copy & pasted from 2016 when they let the Raptors take them to 6 in the ECF.

[Pelly24]

LeBron man. For me the question about this whole team has been about whether LeBron can still be an elite bucket getter/scorer. He's getting a lot of points on ridiculous efficiency, but they are buckets that kind of come easily or they don't come. There are times over this year where it's been like, "Ok, now LeBron needs to go off for like 20 points or something." But it seems like he simply can't do it. He's 35 now so it's whatever, the fact that he's been so good for this long is amazing.

It's funny this post could've been copy & pasted from 2016 when they let the Raptors take them to 6 in the ECF.

Lol you’re probably right. Maybe I’m just misremembering. His jumper has been known to come and go at times. But to me this is why the arguments for him being one of the five most skilled players in the league fall flat for more (post I made the other day) because scoring in the halfcourt should be much easier if so.

[Pelly24]

There were times when it was stagnant but he was great in the fourth

He was good but like three of those buckets came in transition. But in halfcourt offense, geez he's got almost no answers now if he can't physically overpower guys. It's disappointing, I thought at this point he'd be rock-solid.

Jamal Murray has as much guts as I've ever seen from anyone and his talent is really looking like it could be top-10 player level. Whether he'll actualize that talent on a consistent basis after this year is something to wait and see, but what he's literally capable of at his best is amazing.

Lebron hasn't been assertive as a scorer this series. The fourth quarter was the first time I've seen him try to hunt Jokic and when he got the switch it resulted in an easy blow-by. If Lebron feels like the series is in jeopardy I can see the Lakers spamming PnR with AD and Lebron aggressively match-up hunting Jokic.

That’s a good point.