The LeBron James - 21-22 Regular Season Thread - New Thread Soon Part 2

homecourtloss · Post #281 » by **homecourtloss** » Wed Oct 27, 2021 3:05 am

AD has not been a defensive factor at all for most of his time with the Lakers. Good thing he was in the bubble.

MisterHibachi · Post #282 » by **MisterHibachi** » Wed Oct 27, 2021 3:08 am

Great games from AD and Russ. Fun game overall

nzahir · Post #283 » by **nzahir** » Wed Oct 27, 2021 3:12 am

So Russ and AD were great tonight (except Russ' defense at times can be really bad)

But this shows that Russ needs the ball in his hands and we need a spread floor

We have never seen Russ ball ever really be successful in the playoffs

Can Russ, Bron, and AD make it work?

Monk is a lazy defender, doesn't close out, which is a shame b/c he is talented on offense

Hopefully Nunn gives us what Monk an give but with some more focus and care on D

GSP · Post #284 » by **GSP** » Wed Oct 27, 2021 3:13 am

Ad, Bazemore and 37yo Bron in his 19th season are really the only positive defenders on this team. And we already know Ad can't anchor a regular season defense like the all-time great defensive bigs. Would be a miracle of they're a top 10 defense

IG2 · Post #285 » by **IG2** » Wed Oct 27, 2021 3:21 am

Westbrook is still a beast athletically. With no LeBron to share the ball he got free reign to play his game tonight. Him coming off the bench would honestly be ideal.

MisterHibachi · Post #286 » by **MisterHibachi** » Wed Oct 27, 2021 3:34 am

Monk or Reaves should start over DJ until Ariza gets healthy.

LikeABosh · Post #287 » by **LikeABosh** » Wed Oct 27, 2021 4:07 am

It was Bestbrook tonight. I guess that's why they got him...when LeBron sits you need someone to lead

Ballerhogger · Post #288 » by **Ballerhogger** » Wed Oct 27, 2021 4:38 am

Ad got killed in the pic and roll . He needs back down defenders more . Rondo + Westbrook = L

Post #289 » by **zimpy27** » Wed Oct 27, 2021 4:56 am

Russ doing what he was meant to do. They need to sort out how to work LeBron and Russ together well.

I liked the LeBron-Russ PnR game. I think LeBron probably has to move off-ball early and perhaps close on-ball

nzahir · Post #290 » by **nzahir** » Wed Oct 27, 2021 5:45 am

Ballerhogger wrote:Ad got killed in the pic and roll . He needs back down defenders more . Rondo + Westbrook = L

“Back down defenders”?

Rondo, monk and Russ were all doing horrible jobs on those screens

Post #291 » by **Slava** » Wed Oct 27, 2021 8:15 am

Few observations:

1. Devin Vassell is solid, I'm a little jealous of the wings Spurs are accumulating.
2. Lakers could really use someone like McDermott, Rudy Gay or even Uncle Jeff Green. A bigger wing that isn't Melo would do the AD at center line ups a world of good.
3. This game immediately shows the logic behind and the value of the Westbrook acquisition as we get into LeBron's latter career years, where his game to game health isn't a given.
4. The Rondo - Westbrook minutes will soon turn into Nunn - Westbrook minutes and not be a drag.
5. If Reaves is serviceable, that makes Ellington expendable and a roster spot that could go towards a defender, who might not be as consistent from 3, like Kriss Dunn, GP III or the like.

Colbinii · Post #292 » by **Colbinii** » Wed Oct 27, 2021 2:10 pm

IG2 wrote:Westbrook is still a beast athletically. With no LeBron to share the ball he got free reign to play his game tonight. Him coming off the bench would honestly be ideal.

I dont agree with this for a few different reasons.

1) The teams ceiling is with Westbrook/LeBron/AD sharing the floor. They need to spend 15-20 minutes every night together working on this.

2) LeBron's IQ allows him to be. a factor off-ball with his ability to cut off screens and move to open areas on the court. Russ on the other hand doesn't have that feel to move after setting a screen or cut to the open space on the floor.

3) LeBron is better with bench units than Westbrook, especially after seeing how well Westbrook and AD can mesh. The minutes need to be all 3 together, Westbrook/AD and then LeBron/Bench. No player in NBA history is as good with bench units as LeBron James is. I'm exciting to see something like LeBron/Monk/Bradley/Melo/Dwight.

homecourtloss · Post #293 » by **homecourtloss** » Wed Oct 27, 2021 2:24 pm

Colbinii wrote:
IG2 wrote:Westbrook is still a beast athletically. With no LeBron to share the ball he got free reign to play his game tonight. Him coming off the bench would honestly be ideal.

I dont agree with this for a few different reasons.

1) The teams ceiling is with Westbrook/LeBron/AD sharing the floor.They need to spend 15-20 minutes every night together working on this.

2) LeBron's IQ allows him to be. a factor off-ball with his ability to cut off screens and move to open areas on the court. Russ on the other hand doesn't have that feel to move after setting a screen or cut to the open space on the floor.

3) LeBron is better with bench units than Westbrook, especially after seeing how well Westbrook and AD can mesh. The minutes need to be all 3 together, Westbrook/AD and then LeBron/Bench. No player in NBA history is as good with bench units as LeBron James is. I'm exciting to see something like LeBron/Monk/Bradley/Melo/Dwight.

The first bolded I agree with conceptually, but I doubt that they ever reach anywhere near this ceiling though. I suppose it comes down to whether or not they believe James+AD plus role players + Westbrook off the bench can win a title or not. I think if the Lakers had better three and D players it could. I’m sure they also think maximizing LBJ/AD/Westbrook is the way to the title, but it may be that Westbrook off the bench maximizes them.

On the second bolded, I have actually been putting together a possible thread about this and James really is the best ever with bench units as he can create his own offense, create offense for others, and quarterback back a defense based on rotations.

homecourtloss · Post #294 » by **homecourtloss** » Wed Oct 27, 2021 2:27 pm

Both AD and Westbrook’s on-ball contest defense has been poor and the rotations not inspiring either. The pick and roll defense last night was ugly.

Davis: https://www.nba.com/stats/player/203076/defense-dash/?sort=DEFENSE_CATEGORY&dir=1

Westbrook: https://www.nba.com/stats/player/201566/defense-dash/

dcstanley · Post #295 » by **dcstanley** » Wed Oct 27, 2021 6:13 pm

Colbinii wrote:
IG2 wrote:Westbrook is still a beast athletically. With no LeBron to share the ball he got free reign to play his game tonight. Him coming off the bench would honestly be ideal.

I dont agree with this for a few different reasons.

1) The teams ceiling is with Westbrook/LeBron/AD sharing the floor. They need to spend 15-20 minutes every night together working on this.

2) LeBron's IQ allows him to be. a factor off-ball with his ability to cut off screens and move to open areas on the court. Russ on the other hand doesn't have that feel to move after setting a screen or cut to the open space on the floor.

3) LeBron is better with bench units than Westbrook, especially after seeing how well Westbrook and AD can mesh. The minutes need to be all 3 together, Westbrook/AD and then LeBron/Bench. No player in NBA history is as good with bench units as LeBron James is. I'm exciting to see something like LeBron/Monk/Bradley/Melo/Dwight.

I agree with your last point but it's a shame that Lebron and AD + shooters/defenders is likely going to be used sparingly to accommodate Westbrook.

Post #296 » by **Slava** » Wed Oct 27, 2021 6:42 pm

When push comes to shove, they’ll sit everyone that’s not boosting Lebron at 4 and AD at 5 lineups.

PistolPeteJR · Post #297 » by **PistolPeteJR** » Wed Oct 27, 2021 7:25 pm

Slava wrote:When push comes to shove, they’ll sit everyone that’s not boosting Lebron at 4 and AD at 5 lineups.

I only saw the highlights from last night's game. That said, did my eyes deceive me, or did Vogel sub Westbrook out in the clutch on defense? At least there's that to start this early in the season.

Post #298 » by **Slava** » Wed Oct 27, 2021 7:47 pm

PistolPeteJR wrote:
Slava wrote:When push comes to shove, they’ll sit everyone that’s not boosting Lebron at 4 and AD at 5 lineups.

I only saw the highlights from last night's game. That said, did my eyes deceive me, or did Vogel sub Westbrook out in the clutch on defense? At least there's that to start this early in the season.

I don't know how much to read of rotations now, he also left Melo in for a late game defensive possession against Memphis. He's at least got Westbrook to run inverted pick and rolls with LeBron, so that is nice.

MisterHibachi · Post #299 » by **MisterHibachi** » Wed Oct 27, 2021 8:09 pm

PistolPeteJR wrote:
Slava wrote:When push comes to shove, they’ll sit everyone that’s not boosting Lebron at 4 and AD at 5 lineups.

I only saw the highlights from last night's game. That said, did my eyes deceive me, or did Vogel sub Westbrook out in the clutch on defense? At least there's that to start this early in the season.

No, he sat Westbrook once he got his 5th foul, tried to bring him back with like 2 minutes left but there wasn't a break in play until less than a minute left.

falcolombardi · Post #300 » by **falcolombardi** » Wed Oct 27, 2021 8:36 pm

dcstanley wrote:
Colbinii wrote:
IG2 wrote:Westbrook is still a beast athletically. With no LeBron to share the ball he got free reign to play his game tonight. Him coming off the bench would honestly be ideal.

I dont agree with this for a few different reasons.

1) The teams ceiling is with Westbrook/LeBron/AD sharing the floor. They need to spend 15-20 minutes every night together working on this.

2) LeBron's IQ allows him to be. a factor off-ball with his ability to cut off screens and move to open areas on the court. Russ on the other hand doesn't have that feel to move after setting a screen or cut to the open space on the floor.

3) LeBron is better with bench units than Westbrook, especially after seeing how well Westbrook and AD can mesh. The minutes need to be all 3 together, Westbrook/AD and then LeBron/Bench. No player in NBA history is as good with bench units as LeBron James is. I'm exciting to see something like LeBron/Monk/Bradley/Melo/Dwight.

I agree with your last point but it's a shame that Lebron and AD + shooters/defenders is likely going to be used sparingly to accommodate Westbrook.

if westbrook magically became 2016 westbrook again the talent would trump the fit issues

as it is now, it is a big ceiling limiter on lakers