The Lebron Thread | 2021 & Offseason

[nzahir]

Didn’t know Harrell could hit baseline jumpers like that. Thought he was just a paint guy.

I dont think he actually is good at it

His mid range was bad last year looking at %s

But very good in the paint, even non restricted area

But anyone else got more info? I may be wrong.

[Dupp]

How’s everyone look, especially Schroder?

[BladeDaywalker]

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[LikeABosh]

How’s everyone look, especially Schroder?

Schroder was amazing. Any pick n roll with him and AD or Harrell is gonna be a real problem. The Schroder/AD/Harrell line up without LeBron closed the last 7 minutes out

Harrell hit 3 jumpers because why not

Gasol is really the only concern. They need another center

[Homer38]

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[Homer38]

Crazy the lakers had 17 offensive rebounds despite shooting for 56% on the field!

[Freighttrain]

Our offense looked great, but that Dallas team with Luka as the only guy being able to create and pass looks really flawed. I'd like to see them play some other great teams such as the Bucks, Sixers, Nets or Nuggets to see how our defense holds up.

[MyUniBroDavis]

Don't think this team will be out of the top 10 offenses this year.

They actually entered the bubble as a top 5 offense last season. But they couldn't hit a shot for most of those 8 regular season games and dropped down to #11, which I would consider very misleading. Once they found their rhythm they were fine. They finished the playoffs with the 2nd best ORTG (#4 when adjusted for opponents' defensive strength).

And this year's roster is notably more talented offensively than last year's. No chance they finish outside the top 5.

Using playoff rankings is pretty hard too since some teams absolutely went off round one and still got eliminated this year, and we were historically bad during garbage time (whereas we were fine during non garbage time fourth quarters).

Our offensive rtg in the first 3 quarters was 119.9, im pretty sure they were a net positive outside of garbage time fourth quarters in fourth quarters too, so lets assume their offense in those games was league avg (im pretty sure it was a bit higher though).

That mark becomes 117.4 (which is a conservative estimate), rhe 2017 warriors were at 118.2 for comparison

[Homer38]

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[trickshot]

How’s everyone look, especially Schroder?

For the first time a Lebron team may actually look just as good or better when he sits. Lakers and Nets finals could be another classic finals matchup. Two deep teams whose two best players aren't guardable

[KTM_2813]

I'm embarrassed to say that I didn't watch a ton of Raptor games last year, despite them being my favorite team (I'm from Canada), but from what I recall and what I've seen of Gasol thus far, his defensive value at this point is primarily against guys like Embiid and Jokic. If the Lakers can acquire an additional big man via the buyout market or trade who is more mobile, then it will create a nice ying and yang with Gasol for the playoffs. Part of me wonders if they should have just ponied up for Howard instead of Harrell, but we'll just have to see. Harrell has been really good for them though, so this is very much a first-world problem to have.

[Heej]

I think the key to Nets Lakers matchups will be whether KD can effectively guard Bron or AD. If he can't then they have too big a weak point that will be exposed

[dcstanley]

I think Gasol/Harrell/Morris is a fine center rotation for the regular season. Rim protection might be an issue but with AD on the floor it shouldn't be too difficult to overcome. Harrell's scoring and offensive rebounding is worth sacrificing some interior defense.

[trickshot]

I'm embarrassed to say that I didn't watch a ton of Raptor games last year, despite them being my favorite team (I'm from Canada), but from what I recall and what I've seen of Gasol thus far, his defensive value at this point is primarily against guys like Embiid and Jokic. If the Lakers can acquire an additional big man via the buyout market or trade who is more mobile, then it will create a nice ying and yang with Gasol for the playoffs. Part of me wonders if they should have just ponied up for Howard instead of Harrell, but we'll just have to see. Harrell has been really good for them though, so this is very much a first-world problem to have.

Defensively Gasol has been so disappointing. Can't defend further than 5 feet from the basket at all. With playing bigs you have to pick your poison but Gasol has so many physical weaknesses you're having to pick things that shouldn't be poison to your average starting center. Could have sworn he was directly or indirectly responsible for Lakers first 5 buckets yesterday.

It seems he isn't even nimble enough to contest even immobile spot up shooters. Definitely a guy teams might try to exploit in the playoffs. Hope Gasol can get in better shape because Lakers fans can be brutal on players who become liabilities to their team

[xb3at band1tx]

Gasol is just as situational as Dwight and Javale were, so it's weird to me some Lakers fans have been harping on him.

He's always been there just for the Jokic and Embiid's of the world.

That all being said, when he's out there on the floor the offense looks 10x crisper than it did with Howard and Javale

[Statlanta]

I think the key to Nets Lakers matchups will be whether KD can effectively guard Bron or AD. If he can't then they have too big a weak point that will be exposed

KD is washed mobility wise. The Lakers are repeating.

[yoyoboy]

THT deserves Wesley's minutes. He's just a better player at this point.

[homecourtloss]

How’s everyone look, especially Schroder?

For the first time a Lebron team may actually look just as good or better when he sits. Lakers and Nets finals could be another classic finals matchup. Two deep teams whose two best players aren't guardable

And if that happens and James is even 90%+ of what he was last year, they will be extremely difficult to defeat in a best of 7 series provided that same type of level can be somewhat sustained in the playoffs. As it is, having this type of team outside of James will allow him to exert himself much less in the regular season. So far, he’s put in very little effort in the first two games and seems to be cruising.

In 2011, the Heat was -.5 per 100 possessions (104.0 ORTG [-7.5 with LBJ off], 104.5 DRtg [-3.1 with James off]) with James off court.

In 2014, the Heat was -.5 per 100 possessions (101.2 ORtg [-12.1 with LBJ off], 101.7 DRtg [+3.4 DRtg with James off] with James off court.

Hope this team can be a + team with him off court; if it is, expect some real nasty blowouts

THT deserves Wesley's minutes. He's just a better player at this point.

Low key this teams path to a dominant repeat vs a chippy one seems like it's gonna rest on Caruso and THT imo. If AC can shoot at 36%+ that's pushing him into elite 2 way role player territory imo, and THT same thing plus potentially stepping into the wing stopper role. How do you guys feel about Kuz? Wonder if his development has hit a sticking point.

He probably is—there’s an energy when Caruso and THT enter the game that’s palpable, but Wes looks to be someone who needs to be trusted in the playoffs, so Vogel has to woek with that. It’s not easy when you have a rotation of 11 NBA caliber rotation players, and so far, he’s tinkered with the lineups well to see what works.

James, as per usual, plays well off of their energy

LBJ+Caruso, +39.9 [on strength of offense and defense]

You hear here and there [semi-casuals mostly] whose minutes THT is going to take and often Caruso’s name comes up for whatever reason, but he’s just too good paired with James going back to when they first played.

2019, 147 minutes, +9.1, 102.6 DRtg
2020, 560 minutes, +18.6, 95.1 DRtg [in the 2020 world of offense at that]
2020 playoffs, 355 minutes [7th highest minutes pairing], +13.8, 98.8 DRtg [in the 2020 bubble vs. POR, HOU, DEN, MIA]
2021, 13 minutes, +39.9, 78.6 DRtg [vs. Clippers and Mavs]

LBJ+AD, +18.9
LBJ+DS, +15.3
LBJ+Morris, +15.1 [Mostly on strength of defense]
LBJ+Kuz, +14.7 [mostly on strength of defense]
LBJ+Trez, +12.4 [mostly on strength of defense]
LBJ+Gasol, +12.4 [almost completely on strength of offense]
LBJ+KCP, +7.2

LBJ+THT, +160 [only played a minute and a half]
LBJ+Matthews, -16.0 [mostly bad offense, some wonky lineups, Wes not being good. I think this will change.]

[Heej]

I think the key to Nets Lakers matchups will be whether KD can effectively guard Bron or AD. If he can't then they have too big a weak point that will be exposed

KD is washed mobility wise. The Lakers are repeating.

You think so laterally? Cuz straight line speed that dude still got it imo. Remains to be seen how it looks with wear and tear cuz this is peak health KD but that Nets team is looking ELITE. They're basically the Eastern Clippers to me.

Low key this teams path to a dominant repeat vs a chippy one seems like it's gonna rest on Caruso and THT imo. If AC can shoot at 36%+ that's pushing him into elite 2 way role player territory imo, and THT same thing plus potentially stepping into the wing stopper role. How do you guys feel about Kuz? Wonder if his development has hit a sticking point.

[fanofthegreats]

I think the key to Nets Lakers matchups will be whether KD can effectively guard Bron or AD. If he can't then they have too big a weak point that will be exposed

KD is washed mobility wise. The Lakers are repeating.

You think so laterally? Cuz straight line speed that dude still got it imo. Remains to be seen how it looks with wear and tear cuz this is peak health KD but that Nets team is looking ELITE. They're basically the Eastern Clippers to me.

Low key this teams path to a dominant repeat vs a chippy one seems like it's gonna rest on Caruso and THT imo. If AC can shoot at 36%+ that's pushing him into elite 2 way role player territory imo, and THT same thing plus potentially stepping into the wing stopper role. How do you guys feel about Kuz? Wonder if his development has hit a sticking point.

The Durant hype will die down as the season goes on. He’s not the same and even if he was he doesn’t have Golden State backing him up. Never feared KD on his own.