The Lebron '20 Thread (Pt. 7)

[zimpy27]

Go to 8:30 of that interview. He talks about Spo's preparation and how he feels good about it.

He gives a smile at the end. Very intriguing.

Probably because preparation is more predictable for him.

[nzahir]

Any good deep dives on these finals from a Lakers perspective?

Looking at 538's RAPTOR in the playoffs, seems like Miami overall kind of beats us out, but our top 2 are much better.

But Miami has been playing out of their minds too. Closer when looking at regular season 538 RAPTOR.

[MyUniBroDavis]

Any good deep dives on these finals from a Lakers perspective?

Looking at 538's RAPTOR in the playoffs, seems like Miami overall kind of beats us out, but our top 2 are much better.

But Miami has been playing out of their minds too. Closer when looking at regular season 538 RAPTOR.

538 was like 0 iq for us tho lol

[RoundMoundOfReb]

Any good deep dives on these finals from a Lakers perspective?

Looking at 538's RAPTOR in the playoffs, seems like Miami overall kind of beats us out, but our top 2 are much better.

But Miami has been playing out of their minds too. Closer when looking at regular season 538 RAPTOR.

538 raptor has been extremely stupid and wrong all playoffs. I believe it had the Rockets over the Lakers too. In 2017 they had the Celtics beating the Cavs in the ECF (pretty certain). 538 should "stick to politics".

[GSP]

538 is completely stupid lol

Cranjis thinks the series will be perfect for Ad to win Fmvp. Interesting

Read on Twitter

[limbo]

LeBron is going to come out guns blazing, imo. I remember the last couple of Finals Game 1's he was in he always looked ultra engaged from the start... He knows he's at the finish line, and this time, there's not a GOAT level team in front of the last hurdle, and he doesn't have JR Smith by his side... Well, kind of... At least not on the court.

I think the result will largely depend on what Miami will do defensively... If they set up to limit LeBron and make him a passer/shooter as much as possible, i can see AD being having an easier time to put up big numbers, which would increase his chances of getting FMVP.

[Mos_Heat]

Last time Lebron won game 1 of the Finals in 2012

[limbo]

Last time Lebron won game 1 of the Finals in 2012

And last time LeBron played a game 1 of the Finals he finished the game with 51/8/8

[NbaAllDay]

This is actually the first time since 2014 that I'm nervous going into the Finals. Nervous because in 2014 I thought Miami was going to win, boy was I wrong. After the Love and Irving injury in 2015 I was very pessimistic of victory, even after the 2-1 lead.
2016 I didnt think they had a chance.
17 and 18 even less of a chance.

It's the first time since then that Lebron is going in being favored (overwhelmingly) to the point where Miami is being very underrated and who knows if the pull a 2014 Spurs.

[xb3at band1tx]

Do you guys think Bron starts aggressive right out the gate or continues to feel out the opposition and feed AD?

[Dupp]

Think bron averages a triple double as well...


Pretty nervous about this still

[Ursusamericanus]

Cranjis predicts Lakers in 5, which is my pick as well. He goes through the matchups and Xs and Os in great detail here.

Read on Twitter

?s=20

[MisterHibachi]

Cranjis predicts Lakers in 5, which is my pick as well. He goes through the matchups and Xs and Os in great detail here.

Read on Twitter

?s=20

This was a great pod.

[Heej]

I think winning finals MVP is important to Lebron and unlike every other finals he has ever played in (save for 2011) it’s not a forgone conclusion that simply winning the series would go hand in hand with winning finals MVP. He’d have to somewhat chase it because Anthony Davis exists, and they are roughly even odds to have it happen organically.

I think Spo knows him well enough to know all this. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him deploy a strategy where they load up on Lebron and even concede some to Anthony Davis in an effort to make Lebron force the issue against a defense loaded up to limit him. Psychological warfare. They would easily change course if it backfires and things get out of hand with Lebron consistently making the right basketball play as he virtually always does, but it would make sense on some level to entertain the strategy and see it if sticks. We saw Detroit do this in 2004, virtually never doubling Shaq as we watched Kobe gun for a finals MVP to get out of Shaq’s shadow and run right into their hands. Of course Lebron isn’t like Kobe in a lot of ways, but I think this matters to him. Probably less than it did to Kobe though

Thats exactly the route I would take if I were Spo lmao. I think LeBron cares about it but as we saw with Wade in 2011, if they're loading up on him he'll give it up to the open guy

[Greyhound]

I think winning finals MVP is important to Lebron and unlike every other finals he has ever played in (save for 2011) it’s not a forgone conclusion that simply winning the series would go hand in hand with winning finals MVP. He’d have to somewhat chase it because Anthony Davis exists, and they are roughly even odds to have it happen organically.

I think Spo knows him well enough to know all this. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him deploy a strategy where they load up on Lebron and even concede some to Anthony Davis in an effort to make Lebron force the issue against a defense loaded up to limit him. Psychological warfare. They would easily change course if it backfires and things get out of hand with Lebron consistently making the right basketball play as he virtually always does, but it would make sense on some level to entertain the strategy and see it if sticks. We saw Detroit do this in 2004, virtually never doubling Shaq as we watched Kobe gun for a finals MVP to get out of Shaq’s shadow and run right into their hands. Of course Lebron isn’t like Kobe in a lot of ways, but I think this matters to him. Probably less than it did to Kobe though

Forget that noise.

He just needs to win his 4th title. Be it by hook, or by crook. If he can elevate Davis to a point where he is clear Finals MVP, that will be a feather in LeBron’s cap as well.

It will vaporize the LeBron suppresses other star players narrative forever. It will also symbolize a passing of the torch that could keep LeBron in championship positioning for the next 2-3 seasons.

If he has to be a decoy to draw all the defensive attention in order to put his teammates in position to win...

So be it.

Win, win, win, win, screw everything else, just win, win, win win...

[Mazter]

I'm seeing everywhere that no one believes in LA's supporting cast, like they think Jared Dudley and old JR Smith are playing 30+ minutes. I never see anyone bring up that they are actually top 5 in bench points and defensive efficiency.

Everyone keeps asking, "who is the third guy?", yet the Heat have the benefit of the doubt of any one of them can be the guy.

Yeah. It's hilarious to me that people continue to underestimate playoff Rondo, redeemed Dwight, KCP, Caruso, and the others. They actually have a very solid supporting cast. People get locked on one idea even if it's wrong and then cognitive dissonance just takes over. But this only helps the Lakers I think.

Well, let's just start to say that them being top 5 in bench points is because they lead by far in bench minutes. Happens when you have your starting center playing less than 10 minutes. And this was also due to no other starter averaging double figures in points.

And to make a very long story short, the cast is filled with veteran has been's who are on their last hurray and young players whose career highlight will probably be playing in the Finals with LeBron and AD. Somehow it worked (like always when you have LeBron around), but that doesn't make the cast any better.

[Ursusamericanus]

Well, let's just start to say that them being top 5 in bench points is because they lead by far in bench minutes. Happens when you have your starting center playing less than 10 minutes. And this was also due to no other starter averaging double figures in points.

And to make a very long story short, the cast is filled with veteran has been's who are on their last hurray and young players whose career highlight will probably be playing in the Finals with LeBron and AD. Somehow it worked (like always when you have LeBron around), but that doesn't make the cast any better.

The cast is just fine. Whether they are mostly veterans in the twilight of their careers or young guys doesn't matter. The point is that he has enough help and they produce. Should the Lakers FO re-tool in the offseason, absolutely. But all through the season and playoffs, people have underrated the bench/role players who have proven to be versatile and dangerous. And yes - it does at least partly speak to LeBron's legendary floor-raising.

[MisterHibachi]

I think winning finals MVP is important to Lebron and unlike every other finals he has ever played in (save for 2011) it’s not a forgone conclusion that simply winning the series would go hand in hand with winning finals MVP. He’d have to somewhat chase it because Anthony Davis exists, and they are roughly even odds to have it happen organically.

I think Spo knows him well enough to know all this. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him deploy a strategy where they load up on Lebron and even concede some to Anthony Davis in an effort to make Lebron force the issue against a defense loaded up to limit him. Psychological warfare. They would easily change course if it backfires and things get out of hand with Lebron consistently making the right basketball play as he virtually always does, but it would make sense on some level to entertain the strategy and see it if sticks. We saw Detroit do this in 2004, virtually never doubling Shaq as we watched Kobe gun for a finals MVP to get out of Shaq’s shadow and run right into their hands. Of course Lebron isn’t like Kobe in a lot of ways, but I think this matters to him. Probably less than it did to Kobe though

Thats exactly the route I would take if I were Spo lmao. I think LeBron cares about it but as we saw with Wade in 2011, if they're loading up on him he'll give it up to the open guy

It's also possible that the media votes for LeBron anyways if they see him get so much defensive attention, contrary to what happened with Steph in 2015. And maybe they feel guilty about not voting him for MVP this year, although I don't think there's much guilt in the media about that unfortunately.

[JLei]

Listening to a lot of podcasts on the Finals.

The skepticism around the Lakers and how much some of these nerds that want to see this team fail is palpable.

I get it to a certain extent. They aren't that good, kind of a flawedish roster with not even 1 bonafide starter outside of the top 2, they aren't a world beating Thor's hammer like the Warriors/ Cavs/ Heat of the past few years.

And yet they are overthinking it. They have Lebron and AD (transcendent all-time greats) and the teams they have face are even more flawed/ plain just not as talented.

It's like they are shaking their fist that you can basically win by just ISOing and having a really good/ great defense. NOOOOO you are rolling back years of the nerd world (3 point shooting, ball movement, depth) SHAKE FIST...PLZ LOSE!.

[homecourtloss]

Listening to a lot of podcasts on the Finals.


The skepticism around the Lakers and how much some of these nerds that want to see this team fail is palpable.

I get it to a certain extent. They aren't that good, kind of a flawedish roster with not even 1 bonafide starter outside of the top 2, they aren't a world beating Thor's hammer like the Warriors/ Cavs/ Heat of the past few years.

And yet they are overthinking it. They have Lebron and AD (transcendent all-time greats) and the teams they have face are even more flawed/ plain just not as talented.

It's like they are shaking their fist that you can basically win by just ISOing and having a really good/ great defense. NOOOOO you are rolling back years of the nerd world (3 point shooting, ball movement, depth) SHAKE FIST...PLZ LOSE!.

In a way, how the Lakers are winning makes it even more impressive and a bigger feather in LeBron’s cap because playing the way they do and winning in the hyper three-ball space and pace era is rather remarkable. The math doesn’t seem to add up, yet they’ve dropped only 3 games en route to the Finals. LeBron has already destroyed the myth of “suppressing other stars,” “can’t play with bigs,” “needs shooters,” etc. He’s already shown these things, but people forget/choose not to listen.

Also, Lakers arent that ISO heavy. They’re 8th in the playoffs in ISO frequency and lead the playoffs in cuts made frequency.