Lets talk Zach Lavine

Don’t know if it was mentioned but Bill Simmons was on Zach Lowe’s podcast this week. He said it took a long time to come around on Zach but he puts him in an elite class of anyone who he would give the ball to on a last shot in the NBA today even saying as much as Tatum from his beloved Celtics. It’s true, Zach is as gifted offensively as anyone on any single possession. That comment is a long way from saying he is the best NBA player, but still it does show he has an elite skill.

Post #1267 » by **Michael Jackson** » Thu Mar 11, 2021 9:30 pm

Stratmaster wrote:Can Lavine be the best player on a championship team? Absolutely. Just depends on how good the other 7 main rotation players are.

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Chauncey Billups was the best player on a championship team so yeah Zach can be that guy. It’s not a likely path, but surely it is possible (I mean Utah is making a case for it this year).

Jcool0 · Post #1268 » by **Jcool0** » Thu Mar 11, 2021 10:06 pm

Michael Jackson wrote:
Stratmaster wrote:Can Lavine be the best player on a championship team? Absolutely. Just depends on how good the other 7 main rotation players are.

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Chauncey Billups was the best player on a championship team so yeah Zach can be that guy. It’s not a likely path, but surely it is possible (I mean Utah is making a case for it this year).

The 2004 Pistons won as a team. They had no traditional "best player". Odds of that ever happening again are slim to none. The player with the most talent on that team was Rasheed Wallace.

Chi town · Post #1269 » by **Chi town** » Thu Mar 11, 2021 10:28 pm

Zach is an elite shooter. He will make the team.

kodo · Post #1270 » by **kodo** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 1:06 am

As of 3/11, Lavine & Durant are throwing up identical stats other than boards.

Code: Select all

29.0 ppg  5.3 apg  7.3 rpg    FG: 52.4%   3P: 43.4% 3P   TS: 65.2%
28.7 ppg  5.1 apg  5.2 rpg    FG: 52.5%   3P: 43.5% 3P   TS: 65.3%

CaPiTanAK · Post #1271 » by **CaPiTanAK** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 3:42 am

A real star doesn't let a bunch of nobodies beat him after the All Star Game.

I would sell high on Lavine right now. Call up the Warriors for Minnesota pick, plus 3-4 future Warriors first rounders. The Warriors want to compete while Curry is still in his championship contending windows.

Jcool0 · Post #1272 » by **Jcool0** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 3:50 am

CaPiTanAK wrote:A real star doesn't let a bunch of nobodies beat him after the All Star Game.

I would sell high on Lavine right now. Call up the Warriors for Minnesota pick, plus 3-4 future Warriors first rounders. The Warriors want to compete while Curry is still in his championship contending windows.

That is just the worst trade idea ever. Do better.

Chicago-Bull-E · Post #1273 » by **Chicago-Bull-E** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 3:54 am

CaPiTanAK wrote:A real star doesn't let a bunch of nobodies beat him after the All Star Game.

I would sell high on Lavine right now. Call up the Warriors for Minnesota pick, plus 3-4 future Warriors first rounders. The Warriors want to compete while Curry is still in his championship contending windows.

Warriors wouldn’t give up an elite pick and 4 additional picks for Lavine. If you posted that on the trade board your thread would get locked for being a homer.

Jcool0 · Post #1274 » by **Jcool0** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 3:56 am

Chicago-Bull-E wrote:
CaPiTanAK wrote:A real star doesn't let a bunch of nobodies beat him after the All Star Game.

I would sell high on Lavine right now. Call up the Warriors for Minnesota pick, plus 3-4 future Warriors first rounders. The Warriors want to compete while Curry is still in his championship contending windows.

Warriors wouldn’t give up an elite pick and 4 additional picks for Lavine. If you posted that on the trade board your thread would get locked for being a homer.

FWIW the Bulls would hang up on that offer.

Chicago-Bull-E · Post #1275 » by **Chicago-Bull-E** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 4:00 am

Jcool0 wrote:
Chicago-Bull-E wrote:
CaPiTanAK wrote:A real star doesn't let a bunch of nobodies beat him after the All Star Game.

I would sell high on Lavine right now. Call up the Warriors for Minnesota pick, plus 3-4 future Warriors first rounders. The Warriors want to compete while Curry is still in his championship contending windows.

Warriors wouldn’t give up an elite pick and 4 additional picks for Lavine. If you posted that on the trade board your thread would get locked for being a homer.

FWIW the Bulls would hang up on that offer.

That would be dumb of them. I don’t think they’re dumb, but the jury is still out.

Bulls should be listening to all offers.

Stratmaster · Post #1276 » by **Stratmaster** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 4:50 pm

CaPiTanAK wrote:A real star doesn't let a bunch of nobodies beat him after the All Star Game.

I would sell high on Lavine right now. Call up the Warriors for Minnesota pick, plus 3-4 future Warriors first rounders. The Warriors want to compete while Curry is still in his championship contending windows.

You mean the guy who went for a 19/7/4 in 32 minutes and who, when he sat for 4 minutes q3/q4, watched the team go from down 10 to down 21?

That all-star?

It shows you that when Lavine only plays "decent" this team doesn't have a chance.

And THAT is the guy you want to get rid of.

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Post #1277 » by **Ice Man** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 5:00 pm

Stratmaster wrote:It shows you that when Lavine only plays "decent" this team doesn't have a chance.

And THAT is the guy you want to get rid of.

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There will always be fans on losing teams who think the organization should trade its best player.

PaKii94 · Post #1278 » by **PaKii94** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 5:07 pm

Stratmaster wrote:
CaPiTanAK wrote:A real star doesn't let a bunch of nobodies beat him after the All Star Game.

I would sell high on Lavine right now. Call up the Warriors for Minnesota pick, plus 3-4 future Warriors first rounders. The Warriors want to compete while Curry is still in his championship contending windows.
You mean the guy who went for a 19/7/4 in 32 minutes and who, when he sat for 4 minutes q3/q4, watched the team go from down 10 to down 21?

That all-star?

It shows you that when Lavine only plays "decent" this team doesn't have a chance.

And THAT is the guy you want to get rid of.

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I agree with you that his hot take after one bad game is ridiculous, but Lavine was a decent contributor to last night's loss. He didn't play nearly to this year's standards (and not just shots weren't falling)

Stratmaster · Post #1279 » by **Stratmaster** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 5:45 pm

PaKii94 wrote:
Stratmaster wrote:
CaPiTanAK wrote:A real star doesn't let a bunch of nobodies beat him after the All Star Game.

I would sell high on Lavine right now. Call up the Warriors for Minnesota pick, plus 3-4 future Warriors first rounders. The Warriors want to compete while Curry is still in his championship contending windows.
You mean the guy who went for a 19/7/4 in 32 minutes and who, when he sat for 4 minutes q3/q4, watched the team go from down 10 to down 21?

That all-star?

It shows you that when Lavine only plays "decent" this team doesn't have a chance.

And THAT is the guy you want to get rid of.

Sent from my SM-G965U using RealGM mobile app

I agree with you that his hot take after one bad game is ridiculous, but Lavine was a decent contributor to last night's loss. He didn't play nearly to this year's standards (and not just shots weren't falling)

I agree. He was completely passive most of his time on the court. I have had enough of the "get others involved early" approach. I am not saying Zach should immediately take over to start the game either. But this idea of having him stand in the corner or stroll around the 3 point line making passes for the first 4 minutes of every game isn't good. How about we let Zach get a feel and score some early buckets before the defense settles in? THAT will allow others to get involved when the defense has to react.

PaKii94 · Post #1280 » by **PaKii94** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 5:50 pm

Stratmaster wrote:
PaKii94 wrote:
Stratmaster wrote:You mean the guy who went for a 19/7/4 in 32 minutes and who, when he sat for 4 minutes q3/q4, watched the team go from down 10 to down 21?

That all-star?

It shows you that when Lavine only plays "decent" this team doesn't have a chance.

And THAT is the guy you want to get rid of.

Sent from my SM-G965U using RealGM mobile app

I agree with you that his hot take after one bad game is ridiculous, but Lavine was a decent contributor to last night's loss. He didn't play nearly to this year's standards (and not just shots weren't falling)

I agree. He was completely passive most of his time on the court. I have had enough of the "get others involved early" approach. I am not saying Zach should immediately take over to start the game either. But this idea of having him stand in the corner or stroll around the 3 point line making passes for the first 4 minutes of every game isn't good. How about we let Zach get a feel and score some early buckets before the defense settles in? THAT will allow others to get involved when the defense has to react.

I don't think it's zach being passive but coby and WCJ playing hot potato with 80% of the possessions to begin the game for the sake of their "development". The ball barely reaches him and the few times it does he's forced to be himself going and ends up taking forced/dumb/frustrated shots. He's an elite shot maker so he usually makes those but last night they weren't falling.

And it's the same with Lauri but since he's not a guard his attempts are even more limited to catch and shoot 3s (and limited self created drives)

Ideally our offense should begin continually with a Lavine/Lauri action and the rest of the team should be playing off of them. This isn't the case until thad comes in and Lavine starts playing on ball with him.

What to do with Zach Lavine?