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

tone wone · Post #781 » by **tone wone** » Sat Nov 13, 2021 1:33 am

They really went 12-15 without him last year?

How the hell did they end up in the play-in?

trickshot · Post #782 » by **trickshot** » Sat Nov 13, 2021 3:07 am

Fadeaway_J wrote:
donnieme wrote:Tbf the Westbrook trade is kinda paying dividends. They could go 3 of their last 3 after tonight. Main thing is it's not an automatic loss. It may not be better than Lowry and Derozan (if that was ever even possible) but it's better than nothing.

The only issue is bringing little ceiling raising value when playing with Rondo or Lebron. Actually wish more opponents would ignore Westbrook in the regular season so we could catch a glimpse whether the playoff offense is going to be as ugly and congested as we tend to imagine. I just don't know if a title team can ever overcome having one guy being totally ignored. With AD's jumpshot disappearing since the bubble and Lebron being a streaky shooter it's easy to project some really ugly performances.

I mean, it wasn't an automatic loss last season. They went 12-15 without LeBron and a lot of those games also included AD's absence. Doesn't feel much different to this season once you factor in the softness of the schedule.

Perhaps, anyway they were severely lacking in offensive production. Remember going 0-4 with AD and Schroder injured. Right now Lebron and Rondo are injured and there's still the expectation they can beat certain teams. Having Schroder as the second best and only ballhandler on a title team was so risky, Watching him on the Celtics and it still feels so wrong that he was ever allowed to run offense on a title favourite. It must feel like a nightmare to remember for Laker fans, although Westbrook sometimes also goes through stretches himself where he's a nightmare of his own.

MisterHibachi · Post #783 » by **MisterHibachi** » Sat Nov 13, 2021 3:59 am

The team defense improving has really tracked well with AD improving on that end. He's been 2020 regular season level for a few games now on that end.

Post #784 » by **Fadeaway_J** » Sat Nov 13, 2021 4:06 am

What in God's name was Melo doing there?

homecourtloss · Post #785 » by **homecourtloss** » Sat Nov 13, 2021 4:09 am

The last two games, Rondo has played like bubble playoffs Rondo.

Fadeaway_J wrote:What in God's name was Melo doing there?

Low bball IQ.

Greatness · Post #786 » by **Greatness** » Sat Nov 13, 2021 4:15 am

I like Monk

Post #787 » by **Fadeaway_J** » Sat Nov 13, 2021 4:16 am

Bazemore is just miscast as a guy chasing around smaller guards. Gets beaten off the dribble with ease.

Greatness · Post #788 » by **Greatness** » Sat Nov 13, 2021 4:19 am

Right as I say that he shoots an air ball

trickshot · Post #789 » by **trickshot** » Sat Nov 13, 2021 4:22 am

God carmelo is dumb as sh*t as a defender. If Lebron can win with this all star cast of career losers he's GOATed. Can't believe the combined dumb sh*t melo, dj and westbrook do every quarter. No wonder their teams always fell short.

MisterHibachi · Post #790 » by **MisterHibachi** » Sat Nov 13, 2021 4:25 am

AD's been insane defensively today

Post #791 » by **Fadeaway_J** » Sat Nov 13, 2021 4:28 am

Removing DAJ from the equation already doing wonders for AD's plus-minus :lol:

Greatness · Post #792 » by **Greatness** » Sat Nov 13, 2021 4:30 am

Russ is getting good at throwing AD lobs off the pnr, and AD is always at his best when he's getting to the line early and often.

trickshot · Post #793 » by **trickshot** » Sat Nov 13, 2021 4:35 am

Is actually starting to dawn on me how good Lakers will be when healthy, but also when AD is engaged.

Still not sure it's title winning good but it'll be pretty decent.

Post #794 » by **Fadeaway_J** » Sat Nov 13, 2021 4:39 am

I'm seriously surprised whenever Ellington misses.

MisterHibachi · Post #795 » by **MisterHibachi** » Sat Nov 13, 2021 5:12 am

What a turn-around. Lakers don't know to play in third quarters

Post #796 » by **Fadeaway_J** » Sat Nov 13, 2021 5:14 am

Imagine going small and then doing nothing to feature AD on the interior.

MisterHibachi · Post #797 » by **MisterHibachi** » Sat Nov 13, 2021 5:17 am

Frank is pretty bottom tier with managing his timeouts. 2 timeouts left half way through the third quarter

trickshot · Post #798 » by **trickshot** » Sat Nov 13, 2021 5:18 am

you can't say anything positive about this year's Lakers without them doing their best to immediately invalidate it. Absolute yoyo team. Title teams don't fluctuate in quality every other quarter.

Post #799 » by **Fadeaway_J** » Sat Nov 13, 2021 5:19 am

Man, I was already skeptical about this so-called improvement but they could have maintained the facade a bit longer than this. :noway:

MisterHibachi · Post #800 » by **MisterHibachi** » Sat Nov 13, 2021 5:21 am

These guys forgot how to play basketball coming out of half time wtf