Is our age really that BIG of a concern?

[RxOne]

Everyone is predicting the downfall of this Laker team and attributing its inevitability to our age, you've seen the GB and the memes.

But is it really that BIG of a deal?

In the '00s our main core was on the wrong side of 30: Fox, Horry, Rice. Every FA we brought is was damn near 35 or older: Green, Harper, Shaw, Grant. Even our benchwarmers were old: Salley, Foster, Murray, Hunter, Russel, etc. And we all know about Payton and Malone.

Those teams went to 4 out of 5 ships and won 3. They were built for short-term success and we got it. I don't see any problem using vets to squeeze the most out of LBJ's remaining years.

And as far as young cores go, I'll take THT, Monk, and Nunn over Fish, Lue, and Devean George. But maybe that's just me.

[TJM217]

I think it depends on how minutes are distributed during the season. If all the OGs play heavy minutes during the regular season I can see them being too tired to go through the playoffs

[danfantastk32]

I think it totally matters. As a guy in his 40's who recently had a (stupid) rock-climbing accident, and slightly tore my knee....I can look forward to this damn thing haunting me at least through new-years. At least.

Weren't Lebron and AD supposed to be 100% after like 6 to 8 weeks last season....only to see them both visibly not 100% like 3 1/2 months later?

Take away the increased likelihood of an accident. The real danger is that anyone who gets hurt after January can basically be written off. They don't heal no more. Not like they used to.

We have a good team, and it is what it is. I like our chances going into it. But the truth is....any one of these old guys who gets hurt in any semi-significant way, will prob be done for the season. That's how it goes. So yeah, it's a real concern.

[MAMBAEMD]

Our team is loaded, has depth, and is talented.
I don't think age is a concern.

The biggest factor will be injuries. Barring injuries, we will be in the WCF, and likely the Finals against either the Nets or the Bucks.

[ROballer]

It's not.

Westbrook is 32 and still has it going, hasn't slowed down. Lebron is 37 and was an MVP caliber player before the injury.
There are the only two older guys on the team who will see starter minutes.


Every single one of the other ones will see 20 mpg tops if that. That's not much at all.

[SlimShady83]

As long as we can have least 2 out of 3 stars playing at all times should be fine

If not let's hope others step, Howard etc

[BEazy]

This was the same exact narrative going into the 2020 season. We were called old and injury prone. No age is not a concern because when it's time to win the vets will shine and the young teams will fold under pressure.

[zuju]

This was the same exact narrative going into the 2020 season. We were called old and injury prone. No age is not a concern because when it's time to win the vets will shine and the young teams will fold under pressure.

I actually think the stoppage of NBA action at the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic gave some time for the vets to heal their minor injuries and rest. The 10 games helped them warm up and get into playing shape / condition wheras younger players may need more time to adjust from not playing to playing intensive playoff games.

[RxOne]

I think it totally matters. As a guy in his 40's who recently had a (stupid) rock-climbing accident, and slightly tore my knee....I can look forward to this damn thing haunting me at least through new-years. At least.

Weren't Lebron and AD supposed to be 100% after like 6 to 8 weeks last season....only to see them both visibly not 100% like 3 1/2 months later?

Take away the increased likelihood of an accident. The real danger is that anyone who gets hurt after January can basically be written off. They don't heal no more. Not like they used to.

We have a good team, and it is what it is. I like our chances going into it. But the truth is....any one of these old guys who gets hurt in any semi-significant way, will prob be done for the season. That's how it goes. So yeah, it's a real concern.

Weren't AD and Brons injuries freak on-court accidents as opposed to injuries of wear-and-tear? I also think fatigue played into our sporadic performances last year with the wonky schedule. But injuries are a part of the game, they can get anyone. If and older Ho Grant or B Shaw goes down during the 3-peat era maybe we don't get 3.

I think we are constructed like our past team's that were built for the short term and had great success. A prime AD is comparable to Shaq in '00. And an older LeBron is like a young Kobe in a sense that ones best days are behind him and the other is ahead, but still MVP caliber at this moment. The biggest difference to me is that the Old Heads we do have on the squad are way more serviceable than some of the guys we had on the '00 teams.

*Im not comparing Shaq and AD talent wise, just point in career and importance to the team.

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[zimpy27]

Pace is a concern

[dAdo dA dEvil]

Somehow it is a concern especially when it comes to their durability. If they can remain healthy, the talents we have has a good chance of winning it all.

[Kilroy]

Not really... Our biggest concern is AD's health, and he's not that old...
Sure, we're worried about LeBron and Westbrook, but AD is the biggest concern... So Age isn't the issue, it's durability.

We're old as hell but most of our old guys have been incredibly durable, so it's a risk for sure, but it's no different than any other team. Durability is the primary concern for all of them regardless of age... Injuries happen to all ages, if Doncic, Jokic, Embiid, Murray, Booker, Ayton... Any of them... If they go down, their team's are essentially done, as a legit champion threat...

[Michael Lucky]

Considering our injuries last year, yes this is a big deal.

[iamworthy]

It kinda has to be our main concern because it sure isnt talent. Last year I said the only thing that could derail us was injuries, well! Like Kilroy said though, AD needs to be on the floor when it counts. He's in his prime and he'll be called upon to make some defensive stops when it counts. AD's defense is what separates us from other offense first teams. Lakers made a decision to sign players that can get a bucket first, and play defense second. Lakers will be relying heavy on D12 and AD this year.

[danfantastk32]

And an older LeBron is like a young Kobe in a sense that ones best days are behind him and the other is ahead, but still MVP caliber at this moment.

I can't take that trip with you. Your trying to sell it, but there's no way a 37 year old Lebron is like a 22-23 year old Kobe.

The biggest difference to me is that the Old Heads we do have on the squad are way more serviceable than some of the guys we had on the '00 teams.

This season's squad with their years of exp:
Wayne Ellington 12
Carmelo Anthony 18
Russell Westbrook 13
Dwight Howard 17
Kent Bazemore 9
Marc Gasol 13
Talen Horton-Tucker 2
LeBron James 18
Malik Monk 4
Anthony Davis 9
Kendrick Nunn 2
Joel Ayayi R
Trevor Ariza 17
Austin Reaves R
136 + Rondo = 152

2001 Lakers with their exp:
Kobe Bryant 4
2 Derek Fisher 4
40 Greg Foster 10
17 Rick Fox 9
3 Devean George 1
54 Horace Grant 13
4 Ron Harper 14
5 Robert Horry 8
10 Tyronn Lue 2
35 Mark Madsen R
14 Stanislav Medvedenk R
34 Shaquille O'Neal 8
12 Mike Penberthy PG R
7 Isaiah Rider 7
20 Brian Shaw 11
98
2002's total experience equaled 85

I think this years team is vastly older than the 00's Lakers. It's not close. Especially when it comes to players your counting on. This team is fine as far as talent goes. But injuries.....and especially their age-lengthened recover time, will be our downfall.

[RxOne]

And an older LeBron is like a young Kobe in a sense that ones best days are behind him and the other is ahead, but still MVP caliber at this moment.

I can't take that trip with you. Your trying to sell it, but there's no way a 37 year old Lebron is like a 22-23 year old Kobe.

The biggest difference to me is that the Old Heads we do have on the squad are way more serviceable than some of the guys we had on the '00 teams.

This season's squad with their years of exp:
Wayne Ellington 12
Carmelo Anthony 18
Russell Westbrook 13
Dwight Howard 17
Kent Bazemore 9
Marc Gasol 13
Talen Horton-Tucker 2
LeBron James 18
Malik Monk 4
Anthony Davis 9
Kendrick Nunn 2
Joel Ayayi R
Trevor Ariza 17
Austin Reaves R
136 + Rondo = 152

2001 Lakers with their exp:
Kobe Bryant 4
2 Derek Fisher 4
40 Greg Foster 10
17 Rick Fox 9
3 Devean George 1
54 Horace Grant 13
4 Ron Harper 14
5 Robert Horry 8
10 Tyronn Lue 2
35 Mark Madsen R
14 Stanislav Medvedenk R
34 Shaquille O'Neal 8
12 Mike Penberthy PG R
7 Isaiah Rider 7
20 Brian Shaw 11
98
2002's total experience equaled 85

I think this years team is vastly older than the 00's Lakers. It's not close. Especially when it comes to players your counting on. This team is fine as far as talent goes. But injuries.....and especially their age-lengthened recover time, will be our downfall.

If by downfall you mean compete for a WCF or Finals spot, sure. This team is built for 1 year, 2 years max. Like others have said before, our age is a concern in a sense that it's one of our only weaknesses, but as far as it guaranteeing our demise, I think that's greatly exaggerated.

Player for player, compared to the '00 teams, we're basically exchanging Madsen (R) for Ariza, Penberthy (R) for Rondo, Slava (R) for Melo, Lue (2y) for Westbrook, and say Devean George (1y) for D12. That right there is your age difference, and would you really take any of those rookies/1st or 2nd year players over our current old heads?

Plus, we're crazy deep with actual NBA caliber players that can share the load over the season and switch lineups based on matchups. No one is playing 40 minutes like in the '00s.

As far as Kobe vs. Lebron, Lebron has had 2 MVP caliber seasons with us (before injury). Of course, attribute for attribute Kobe might have a higher 2k rating, but both are capable of being the 1B on a championship squad.

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[xinxin]

It is a big concern. As somebody here posted , any injury will take a longer time to heal for older guys. So that can be an issue as the season plods forward.

So that the guys are healthy for the majority of the season , all the way to the playoffs .


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[RxOne]

It is a big concern. As somebody here posted , any injury will take a longer time to heal for older guys. So that can be an issue as the season plods forward.

So that the guys are healthy for the majority of the season , all the way to the playoffs .


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I get you, but we also have a pretty favorable schedule as far as B2B, 5in7's, and road trips don't we? Plus Lebron and AD have a full offseason.

I don't see any of our old heads (over 35 yo) playing more than 20mpg outside of Lebron. While Phil Jax used to squeeze heavy minutes (25-30) out of guys like Shaw, Harper, and Grant who at that point in their careers didn't have as much game left as Melo or D12.

If there's a freak injury, that could happen to young guys too, so that's up to the basketball gods. But, as far as injuries due to grinding and wear and tear, I think Vogel and the coaching staff can mitigate that because we have so much depth.

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[RxOne]

Our Playoff rotation will probably be:

Westbrook, Monk, Lebron, AD, D12, Nunn, THT, Baze, and Melo.

Outside of Lebron and D12 who are freaks of nature, and Melo who is having a career renaissance as a role player, are we really that old? Who cares if the end of the bench is old, they're getting spot minutes anyways.

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[Beethoven]

It is only the addition of melo and ariza that is stirring up this narrative of age w our team this year. They won't be getting heavy minutes trust me.

Our core: Westbrook - athletically has not lost a step yet
Ad: recovering from injury. But is still young and will be effective this year.
Lebron: he was steamrolling along until Solomon Hill attacked him. He recovers slower due to age but im sure he'll be right back into proving "not washed king" mode.

Dwight is athletically where we need him.
Rondo will be released to play spot mins in playoffs. During reg season he will be coaching.

We're fine. We're winning the championship.