LeBron James 2021-22 Regular Season Thread - Part ?

[zimpy27]

The sure sign of a team with low BBall IQ is consistently finishing quarters poorly.

1st quarter: -4 in the last 50 seconds
2nd quarter: -8 in the last 1:42
3rd quarter: -5 last 30 seconds

And that was the game. They have to change the rotations so that James is closing out quarters and not Westbrook though James was poor at the end of the second quarter.

Russ can't have the ball in crunch time. Unacceptable, and now game over

Don't know why they keep letting him do that, he should not be allowed to shoot down the stretch. He can take a layup/dunk at the most.

Tried that, too, and got blocked by the rim.

I'm cool with Westbrook being blocked by the rim though. Like that's all he should be doing.

He's been ice cold since he stopped giving turnovers. It's quite funny really. Why can't he just be low turnover and hit shots like he normally does.. It's kind of odd.

He's 15/59 FG in last 4 games. 0/7 from 3 and 15/52 from 2 (29%). He has 3 total turnovers in those 4 games.

However, 3 of the past 4 games he has had the best +/- of all starters. He has best +/- tonight of the starters.

[Greyhound]

Everyone will be a trade asset in the coming days. The 2018 Cavs prediction turned out to be so on point.

People scoffed when I made it at the beginning of the season.

[zimpy27]

I honestly think Westbrook just needs to adapt. He surely can't be shooting this cold for the rest of the season.

Once the shooting slump resolves and he's still keeping a lid on TOs then he's going to be helpful. For now it sucks.

Problem is bigger than Russ though. Lakers lack size. Vogels lineups need a shake up. Bradley has to be used as a backup to Russ IMO, not to share the court with him.

[zimpy27]

Westbrook, Monk, Reaves, Johnson, LeBron -- Bradley, THT, Ariza, Melo, Howard

I'm swapping Johnson for Howard against bigger starting lineups and choosing when to unleash LeBron small ball.

[nzahir]

I honestly think Westbrook just needs to adapt. He surely can't be shooting this cold for the rest of the season.

Once the shooting slump resolves and he's still keeping a lid on TOs then he's going to be helpful. For now it sucks.

Problem is bigger than Russ though. Lakers lack size. Vogels lineups need a shake up. Bradley has to be used as a backup to Russ IMO, not to share the court with him.

But he can shoot this bad during a series and kill us

Don't see a savior coming

This team is way too up and down

I guess we have to pray we can find a Russ move

Regardless, who will beat a healthy Nets team if Kyrie is playing

Just too much firepower for us

[zimpy27]

I honestly think Westbrook just needs to adapt. He surely can't be shooting this cold for the rest of the season.

Once the shooting slump resolves and he's still keeping a lid on TOs then he's going to be helpful. For now it sucks.

Problem is bigger than Russ though. Lakers lack size. Vogels lineups need a shake up. Bradley has to be used as a backup to Russ IMO, not to share the court with him.

But he can shoot this bad during a series and kill us

Don't see a savior coming

This team is way too up and down

I guess we have to pray we can find a Russ move

Regardless, who will beat a healthy Nets team if Kyrie is playing

Just too much firepower for us

I mean Lakers need to work with him to help him pick his spots better. He seems adaptable. More than people give him credit.
But yeah, he could kill a series if he gets in his head like this. Lakers are a good matchup for Nets. More concerned about West teams.

Don't see a Westbrook trade tbh. Horford+Smart is the very best they can get and I think that's worth doing, anything less and it's probably not worth doing. I also don't think he's the main problem (my analysis suggests Lakers small size and rebounding as biggest problems).

As I said, he's had the best +/- of the starters in 3 of the last 4 games since he stopped making TOs. His effort on disrupting rebounds and defense have picked up. I think he's more valuable to Lakers than other teams. Unless you can get a good haul it's best to keep him.

[Greyhound]

This LeBron at center gimmick needs to end.

He is putting up pretty numbers but he is providing none of the little things teams need out of their starting center (for the first three quarters of ballgames).

…

Coaching is letting this team down (big time):

- One of the bigs needs to start (preferably Howard).

- Westbrook needs to sit at the end of ballgames.

Obvious, but…

None of these things will be done because Vogel is a spineless, gutless man who lacks the balls to make the tough call.

Spoelstra and Lou were both able to make tough decisions in both the regular season and the playoffs. Decisions that went against popular convention at the time they made them.

Vogel cannot do it (he made some obvious changes in the playoffs because Davis allowed it), but in the regular season he’s nothing but a moist mouthpiece/sock puppet for Pelinka.

Rob says jump and Vogel starts scouting bridges and ledges.

[Slava]

Westbrook has taken the joy out of rooting for my team. He’s a soul sucking pest. I can’t imagine being a teammate.

[IG2]

Yeah, Westbrook sucked again but he was far from LA's biggest problem tonight (or the previous night). Continuing to start a 6'8, 37 year old at center with massive offensive responsibility who doesn't play defense until the 4th qtr is the dumbest thing I've seen a coach do in a long time. It's basically a layup line out there.

Howard and Stanley Johnson are both positive contributors on the court. Either of 'em in 15-20 mpg would be a massive improvement defensively at C. WTF is wrong with Vogel???

[Greyhound]

The Lakers need to give Westbrook the ball and allow him to play his game in the first three quarters. Implore him to keep the turnovers under 5, but understand that he is going to turn it over.

That is not ideal, but a cautious Westbrook is a worthless Westbrook (and you are not winning games with overly cautious Westbrook).

…

Let Westbrook play free, but have him focus on keeping the turnovers under 5. Maybe even fine him for each turnover over 5 (or just bench him if he crosses 6). Sit him in the last five minutes of close games.

Sounds easy enough.

[IG2]

Westbrook has taken the joy out of rooting for my team. He’s a soul sucking pest. I can’t imagine being a teammate.

LeBron's body language in general sucks on the court but it's at an all-time low when Westbrook is doing Westbrook things on the court. He clearly hates playing with the guy.

[LukaTheGOAT]

I'm convinced that Russ drinks some of his child's baby formula before games.

[nzahir]

Westbrook has taken the joy out of rooting for my team. He’s a soul sucking pest. I can’t imagine being a teammate.

LeBron's body language in general sucks on the court but it's at an all-time low when Westbrook is doing Westbrook things on the court. He clearly hates playing with the guy.

Sadly he signed up for this

Having an uninspired AD also doesn't help

I have no clue wtf Bron was thinking, yet I feel like a lot of this was also AD hating Dennis

[Freighttrain]

For all the crap we've been through this season, a lineup of Monk - Reaves - Johnson - LeBron - AD might actually be a good line-up once AD is healthy. Westbrook just has to go to the bench if we want to have any kind of success, it's that simple. If Frank has the balls he'll make that adjustment because it's so glaring that he and LeBron are a terrible fit. AD should cover up on our defensive issues and rebounding by quite a bit and he'll just have to suck it up playing the 5. Honestly, if he comes back and says one more time he can't play the 5 whilst a 37-year-old LeBron has been playing it for over a month I might just want to ship them both out.

[nzahir]

I honestly think Westbrook just needs to adapt. He surely can't be shooting this cold for the rest of the season.

Once the shooting slump resolves and he's still keeping a lid on TOs then he's going to be helpful. For now it sucks.

Problem is bigger than Russ though. Lakers lack size. Vogels lineups need a shake up. Bradley has to be used as a backup to Russ IMO, not to share the court with him.

But he can shoot this bad during a series and kill us

Don't see a savior coming

This team is way too up and down

I guess we have to pray we can find a Russ move

Regardless, who will beat a healthy Nets team if Kyrie is playing

Just too much firepower for us

I mean Lakers need to work with him to help him pick his spots better. He seems adaptable. More than people give him credit.
But yeah, he could kill a series if he gets in his head like this. Lakers are a good matchup for Nets. More concerned about West teams.

Don't see a Westbrook trade tbh. Horford+Smart is the very best they can get and I think that's worth doing, anything less and it's probably not worth doing. I also don't think he's the main problem (my analysis suggests Lakers small size and rebounding as biggest problems).

As I said, he's had the best +/- of the starters in 3 of the last 4 games since he stopped making TOs. His effort on disrupting rebounds and defense have picked up. I think he's more valuable to Lakers than other teams. Unless you can get a good haul it's best to keep him.

Horford and Smart would likely be too good for us, would throw in a 1st with protections as well

I wonder if we cut his min hard when Nunn is back

You are right that a lot of the issues come from us being too small

Avery can't start at the 2, too short and he gets burnt a lot now and we have no rim protectors like 2020

When healthy:

Russ, Monk?, Ariza/Johnson, Lebron, AD
Nunn, Reaves, Ariza/Johnson, Melo, Dwight
Avery, THT

[zimpy27]

But he can shoot this bad during a series and kill us

Don't see a savior coming

This team is way too up and down

I guess we have to pray we can find a Russ move

Regardless, who will beat a healthy Nets team if Kyrie is playing

Just too much firepower for us

I mean Lakers need to work with him to help him pick his spots better. He seems adaptable. More than people give him credit.
But yeah, he could kill a series if he gets in his head like this. Lakers are a good matchup for Nets. More concerned about West teams.

Don't see a Westbrook trade tbh. Horford+Smart is the very best they can get and I think that's worth doing, anything less and it's probably not worth doing. I also don't think he's the main problem (my analysis suggests Lakers small size and rebounding as biggest problems).

As I said, he's had the best +/- of the starters in 3 of the last 4 games since he stopped making TOs. His effort on disrupting rebounds and defense have picked up. I think he's more valuable to Lakers than other teams. Unless you can get a good haul it's best to keep him.

Horford and Smart would likely be too good for us, would throw in a 1st with protections as well

I wonder if we cut his min hard when Nunn is back

You are right that a lot of the issues come from us being too small

Avery can't start at the 2, too short and he gets burnt a lot now and we have no rim protectors like 2020

When healthy:

Russ, Monk?, Ariza/Johnson, Lebron, AD
Nunn, Reaves, Ariza/Johnson, Melo, Dwight
Avery, THT

Russ, Monk, LeBron, Davis are certain starters.
Reaves, Melo, Howard are certain rotation guys.

Nunn, THT, Stanley, Ariza, Bradley are the ones that need to prove themselves. Need 2 guys from here for playoff rotation. I think trades could help condense the talent.

Ellington, Bazemore, Jordan are out IMO. Could be kept as third tier or trade collateral.

[McBubbles]

I honestly think Westbrook just needs to adapt. He surely can't be shooting this cold for the rest of the season.

Once the shooting slump resolves and he's still keeping a lid on TOs then he's going to be helpful. For now it sucks.

Problem is bigger than Russ though. Lakers lack size. Vogels lineups need a shake up. Bradley has to be used as a backup to Russ IMO, not to share the court with him.

But he can shoot this bad during a series and kill us

Don't see a savior coming

This team is way too up and down

I guess we have to pray we can find a Russ move

Regardless, who will beat a healthy Nets team if Kyrie is playing

Just too much firepower for us

I mean Lakers need to work with him to help him pick his spots better. He seems adaptable. More than people give him credit.
But yeah, he could kill a series if he gets in his head like this. Lakers are a good matchup for Nets. More concerned about West teams.

Don't see a Westbrook trade tbh. Horford+Smart is the very best they can get and I think that's worth doing, anything less and it's probably not worth doing. I also don't think he's the main problem (my analysis suggests Lakers small size and rebounding as biggest problems).

As I said, he's had the best +/- of the starters in 3 of the last 4 games since he stopped making TOs. His effort on disrupting rebounds and defense have picked up. I think he's more valuable to Lakers than other teams. Unless you can get a good haul it's best to keep him.

? Where is this coming from? No he doesn't literally seems to be the least adaptable star of all time.

[McBubbles]

I don't want Vogel to get fired. I (usually) appreciate his defensive chops and I have no clue who they'd get to replace him besides JKidd which would be horrible, but **** my life. He's just not a championship caliber coach, in either the regular season or post season. Takes a billion **** years to adjust / has a fetish for not making the obvious decisions until the last possible moment and a penchant for losing a few more regular season games than he should by playing nonsensically **** line-ups.

A la, "I'm not going to stop playing the 37 year old 6'8 man with a historically unprecedented offensive responsibility at this point in his career at the 5 until he learns to put in effort". **** what? That's so obtuse and hard headed. That's some **** Thibbs would say before his ass gets fired.

[feyki]

I'm convinced that Russ drinks some of his child's baby formula before games.

Westbrook has not changed any from the previous year, but yet he gets all the criticize not written the last year.

What people were expecting by Westbrook?

[GSP]

Russ isn't the biggest problem IMO but......

Watch on YouTube

These types of momentum breaking, piss poor decision making and horrible management have defined his career specially in playoffs. It's plays stretches like these that you always remembered even if he had a good game. 2 possession game with 35 secs left in quarter and he singlehandedly causes a Kings 5-0 run to blow the lead to 11.