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

[falcolombardi]

i know twitter is gonna twitter but people were making a big deal of curry getting mvp chants from "lebron team fans" (aka cleveland fans) and what that says about lebron legacy and all that usual stuff

i dont know whether to be more impressed that people dont stop looking for literally anythingh to attack lebron on to that extent (shows the insane standards he is held to), or annoyed as a fan that i know people will cling to all these random thinghs to diminish his career when he retires

is both impressive and annoying

[Heej]

Let's be honest. The most loved player of their generation is probably Steph. LeBron is more beloved imo due to his generational greatness but Steph connects with people in a way that LeBron never could so I'm not surprised at him getting MVP chants or people making it a big deal

[falcolombardi]

that is a good way to summarize it

lebron is the duncan to curry kobe, the better player but less beloved by the media and fans

[nzahir]

that is a good way to summarize it

lebron is the duncan to curry kobe, the better player but less beloved by the media and fans

Lebron is more polarizing

More off court things (politics, Nike, the decision, etc)

But Lebron is very popular and more well known, unlike the Duncan and Kobe arguement

Look at Lebron's followers vs Curry's on IG, its 3x the amount

Are those extra followers all haters?

Curry is easier to connect to because he is not a physical beast like Lebron

People (wrongfully) think that they can be somewhat like Steph because he isn't insanely big or tall

[Outside]

I dunno, I think you're reading too much into it. Steph went nuclear, and chanting "MVP" is just a thing fans have been doing for him when he shoots like that. The Warriors became a trendy team to hate at the end of their finals run, but after having been bad for a couple of years, they're the plucky, fun underdog again, and Steph is that pre-Durant level of likeable again. I don't live in Cleveland so I don't know for sure, but I don't think it has anything to do with LeBron.

[falcolombardi]

ohh, i didnt mean the fans at the Stadium

i meant the people in social media (and actual media) who make huge deals of stuff like this when saying who is greater or better player

you are right that i probably made it into a bigger deal than it was lol, anyway is gonna be interesting when all these players retire how are they going to be remembered down thw Road

[Mos_Heat]

It's accepted they aren't winning the title this season right? LeBron isnt carrying anyone to a title and these guys do need to be carried.

I still think that with a couple of trades they'll be in the mix, in the second tier of contenders

[zimpy27]

I think this team comes together by season send and look like a championship team if healthy.

PG: Westbrook | Rondo
SG: Nunn | Monk
SF: THT | Ariza
PF: LeBron | Melo
C : Davis | Dwight

[McBubbles]

It's accepted they aren't winning the title this season right? LeBron isnt carrying anyone to a title and these guys do need to be carried.

Is anyone still on the championship bandwagon at this point? I hopped off when it was clear that nobody in the Lakers organisation gives a single **** about building a well fitting roster. Signing Drummond (who left for nothing), DJ, Westbrook, Melo, not signing Hield, not resigning AC, etc.

Maybe I'm just an optimist but I wouldn't count out a team with a healthy Lebron and AD quite yet... Especially with the field we have now. The worse things are now, the more likely they are to correct course by the deadline. I can't imagine they go into the playoffs with this wing rotation.

People keep saying this and I honestly think it's a bit of a meme at this point. LeBron and AD aren't unstoppable. A LeBron that was 2 years and 2 injuries younger + the best AD we ever saw + excellent defence + weak competition = championship, (with a Finals that almost went 7 games).

LeBron is now slightly worse (age) AD is WAY **** worse (no idea why lol ), their defence is horse doo doo, and their offence while good is no where near enough to compensate for their no longer league best defence.

In simpler terms, the two best players on the team aren't good enough to carry the meh they're surrounded with to a championship. So I'm not sure why people keep saying they are.

[Mos_Heat]

PG: Westbrook | Rondo
SG: Nunn | Monk
SF: THT | Ariza
PF: LeBron | Melo
C : Davis | Dwight

My version is:

PG: Westbrook | Rondo
SG: Holiday| Ellington
SF: Lebron| THT
PF: House| Ariza
C : Davis | Dwight

Not trusting Pelinka to do the right moves, but there's a hope

[Slava]

Is anyone still on the championship bandwagon at this point? I hopped off when it was clear that nobody in the Lakers organisation gives a single **** about building a well fitting roster. Signing Drummond (who left for nothing), DJ, Westbrook, Melo, not signing Hield, not resigning AC, etc.

Maybe I'm just an optimist but I wouldn't count out a team with a healthy Lebron and AD quite yet... Especially with the field we have now. The worse things are now, the more likely they are to correct course by the deadline. I can't imagine they go into the playoffs with this wing rotation.

People keep saying this and I honestly think it's a bit of a meme at this point. LeBron and AD aren't unstoppable. A LeBron that was 2 years and 2 injuries younger + the best AD we ever saw + excellent defence + weak competition = championship, (with a Finals that almost went 7 games).

LeBron is now slightly worse (age) AD is WAY **** worse (no idea why lol ), their defence is horse doo doo, and their offence while good is no where near enough to compensate for their no longer league best defence.

In simpler terms, the two best players on the team aren't good enough to carry the meh they're surrounded with to a championship. So I'm not sure why people keep saying they are.

Come on man, game 5 required an all time Jimmy Butler performance and a Danny Green missed open 3 to stave off elimination and then game 6 was a bloodbath.

[Greyhound]

I think this team comes together by season send and look like a championship team if healthy.

PG: Westbrook | Rondo
SG: Nunn | Monk
SF: THT | Ariza
PF: LeBron | Melo
C : Davis | Dwight

That team is going nowhere with 6’2” and 6’4” starting wings. Nowhere at all.

Ultimately I think it will be this:

Westbrook 6’3” (6’8”)
THT 6’4” (7’1”)
Ariza 6’8” (7’2”)
James 6’8 (7’)
Davis 6’10” (7’6”)

Nunn 6’2” (6’7”)
Ellington 6’4” (6’9”)
Bazemore 6’4” (7’)
Anthony 6’8” (7’)
Howard 6’10” (7’5”)

Monk (guard)
HBK (wing)
Jordan (big)

Rondo/ Bradley (IR)

[dcstanley]

Is anyone still on the championship bandwagon at this point? I hopped off when it was clear that nobody in the Lakers organisation gives a single **** about building a well fitting roster. Signing Drummond (who left for nothing), DJ, Westbrook, Melo, not signing Hield, not resigning AC, etc.

Maybe I'm just an optimist but I wouldn't count out a team with a healthy Lebron and AD quite yet... Especially with the field we have now. The worse things are now, the more likely they are to correct course by the deadline. I can't imagine they go into the playoffs with this wing rotation.

People keep saying this and I honestly think it's a bit of a meme at this point. LeBron and AD aren't unstoppable. A LeBron that was 2 years and 2 injuries younger + the best AD we ever saw + excellent defence + weak competition = championship, (with a Finals that almost went 7 games).

LeBron is now slightly worse (age) AD is WAY **** worse (no idea why lol ), their defence is horse doo doo, and their offence while good is no where near enough to compensate for their no longer league best defence.

In simpler terms, the two best players on the team aren't good enough to carry the meh they're surrounded with to a championship. So I'm not sure why people keep saying they are.

Fair points. It all comes down to whether they can perform at a top 10 level. If they're both top 10-12 players then history says they should at least be 2nd tier contenders. AD and LBJ both performed below their standards last postseason on a team that was not optimized for either of them (with poor role player performances to boot) and they still took a series lead against one of the best teams in the league. They're going to have to recalibrate, to be sure, but I would have to see the best version of this team before I count them out.

Also, let's put some respect on the 2020 Lakers. The Heat had no shot in that series . While the competition wasn't the best, you could make an argument that the 2020 Nuggets would be a legitimate contender today. They had a lot going for them during that run.. Murray was +6.16 rts% and only behind LBJ and AD in overall RAPTOR for the playoffs. Both Murray and Jokic were top 5 in VORP, top 10 in BPM, and Jokic was second only to Lebron in box creation and passer rating. They had an MVP, a an elite guard, and strong role players (Grant, Porter, Morris, Harris, Millsap). Even if you factor in non-bubble regression, that core is as good as any in the West.

[JLei]

I think this team comes together by season send and look like a championship team if healthy.

PG: Westbrook | Rondo
SG: Nunn | Monk
SF: THT | Ariza
PF: LeBron | Melo
C : Davis | Dwight

That team is going nowhere with 6’2” and 6’4” starting wings. Nowhere at all.

Ultimately I think it will be this:

Westbrook 6’3” (6’8”)
THT 6’4” (7’1”)
Ariza 6’8” (7’2”)
James 6’8 (7’)
Davis 6’10” (7’6”)

Nunn 6’2” (6’7”)
Ellington 6’4” (6’9”)
Bazemore 6’4” (7’)
Anthony 6’8” (7’)
Howard 6’10” (7’5”)

Monk (guard)
HBK (wing)
Jordan (big)

Rondo/ Bradley (IR)

Tbh. I'm pretty sure DeAndre is going back in the starting lineup when Bron comes back to get the Bogans/ Javale 10 minutes a game. He's actually valuable for the jump ball and that stupid lob play that everyone falls off the tip/ early in the game.

Assuming Ariza isn't washed, Bazemore will join Rondo/ Reeves in the guys that don't play, Baze and Ariza function in the same role and one of them we know can't shoot/ adds no spacing (even if he gets his jumper kind of back). Teams still close out to Ariza (ala Green).

Monk will play. And probably over Ellington.

Jordan/ Howard
Davis/ Anthony
Lebron/ Ariza
THT/ Monk
Westbrook/ Nunn

9.25 man rotation (DeAndre doesn't really count). Depending on if more shooting or more defense is needed Ellington or Bradley will sneak in there for extended minutes and if the team is lacking effort Reeves will probably get chucked out there.

Closing lineup will be
Davis
Lebron
Melo/ Ariza
THT
Westbrook/ Nunn/ Monk/ Bradley

Melo/ Ariza is offense defense. If Westbrook is having a particularly awful game and come back was done around the Lebron/ Davis pick and roll Vogel might keep him on the bench and have a shooter on the court instead to keep the momentum. But I don't think you should get your hopes up that Westbrook won't be out there at crunch time. He will be.

[thebigbird]

Is LeBron playing tonight? Haven’t watched any nba since he went out and would like to go out tonight for the game if he’s actually playing.

[Greyhound]

I think this team comes together by season send and look like a championship team if healthy.

PG: Westbrook | Rondo
SG: Nunn | Monk
SF: THT | Ariza
PF: LeBron | Melo
C : Davis | Dwight

That team is going nowhere with 6’2” and 6’4” starting wings. Nowhere at all.

Ultimately I think it will be this:

Westbrook 6’3” (6’8”)
THT 6’4” (7’1”)
Ariza 6’8” (7’2”)
James 6’8 (7’)
Davis 6’10” (7’6”)

Nunn 6’2” (6’7”)
Ellington 6’4” (6’9”)
Bazemore 6’4” (7’)
Anthony 6’8” (7’)
Howard 6’10” (7’5”)

Monk (guard)
HBK (wing)
Jordan (big)

Rondo/ Bradley (IR)

Tbh. I'm pretty sure DeAndre is going back in the starting lineup when Bron comes back to get the Bogans/ Javale 10 minutes a game. He's actually valuable for the jump ball and that stupid lob play that everyone falls off the tip/ early in the game.

Assuming Ariza isn't washed, Bazemore will join Rondo/ Reeves in the guys that don't play, Baze and Ariza function in the same role and one of them we know can't shoot/ adds no spacing (even if he gets his jumper kind of back). Teams still close out to Ariza (ala Green).

Monk will play. And probably over Ellington.

Jordan/ Howard
Davis/ Anthony
Lebron/ Ariza
THT/ Monk
Westbrook/ Nunn

9.25 man rotation (DeAndre doesn't really count). Depending on if more shooting or more defense is needed Ellington or Bradley will sneak in there for extended minutes and if the team is lacking effort Reeves will probably get chucked out there.

Closing lineup will be
Davis
Lebron
Melo/ Ariza
THT
Westbrook/ Nunn/ Monk/ Bradley

Melo/ Ariza is offense defense. If Westbrook is having a particularly awful game and come back was done around the Lebron/ Davis pick and roll Vogel might keep him on the bench and have a shooter on the court instead to keep the momentum. But I don't think you should get your hopes up that Westbrook won't be out there at crunch time. He will be.

Well that could work also.

I may be in the minority, but I still hold out hope of a good 12-14 token minutes out of DJ.

[McBubbles]

Maybe I'm just an optimist but I wouldn't count out a team with a healthy Lebron and AD quite yet... Especially with the field we have now. The worse things are now, the more likely they are to correct course by the deadline. I can't imagine they go into the playoffs with this wing rotation.

People keep saying this and I honestly think it's a bit of a meme at this point. LeBron and AD aren't unstoppable. A LeBron that was 2 years and 2 injuries younger + the best AD we ever saw + excellent defence + weak competition = championship, (with a Finals that almost went 7 games).

LeBron is now slightly worse (age) AD is WAY **** worse (no idea why lol ), their defence is horse doo doo, and their offence while good is no where near enough to compensate for their no longer league best defence.

In simpler terms, the two best players on the team aren't good enough to carry the meh they're surrounded with to a championship. So I'm not sure why people keep saying they are.

Come on man, game 5 required an all time Jimmy Butler performance and a Danny Green missed open 3 to stave off elimination and then game 6 was a bloodbath.

Wtf. I've watched that game 3 times and I misremembered the score. I thought they were up by 7, then Dwight took and made a dumbass 3, and then the Heat made a 3, but they were up by 13.

In my head I thought "If Dwight missed that they'd be down 4 with 15 seconds left, and this team isn't clutch"

Nvm, they clearly won in 6 lol.

[Baski]

Appreciate the answers. So basically hopes aren't too high but don't count em out completely.

But then I'm seeing a lot of you guys' PO lineups having Westbrook in them, and that reads to me as an automatic non-title. Am I being too hard on the guy?

[trickshot]

i know twitter is gonna twitter but people were making a big deal of curry getting mvp chants from "lebron team fans" (aka cleveland fans) and what that says about lebron legacy and all that usual stuff

i dont know whether to be more impressed that people dont stop looking for literally anythingh to attack lebron on to that extent (shows the insane standards he is held to), or annoyed as a fan that i know people will cling to all these random thinghs to diminish his career when he retires

is both impressive and annoying

Curry is from Akron, ohio, the city has a right to claim either and/or both. Instead of celebrating the coincidence of having the two greatest of a generation coming from the same area they're making First take debates. Goodness gracious.

[zimpy27]

Appreciate the answers. So basically hopes aren't too high but don't count em out completely.

But then I'm seeing a lot of you guys' PO lineups having Westbrook in them, and that reads to me as an automatic non-title. Am I being too hard on the guy?

I think Westbrook has shown signs of deferring. I think if he can play less on ball offensively and save his elite motor for defense then he will slot in.

Everyone needs to remember that on Houston and Washington it took Westbrook half a season to click with the team.