(LOCK THREAD) The LeBron James- 23-24 NBA Thread - 40K POINTS+(Part 1)(NO INSULTING)

[khaltheball]

i actually do think this team could win some **** but can they get enough competent pieces? this team is utterly AWFUL as i outlined in my previous posting of impact metrics.Im really confused because how much of it is poor players and how much is down to situation? a mix i guess but guys like cam n vando are unfortunate evils the lakers have to play.

However i dont really think any one team is completely unstoppable in todays league. Even Denver last year; if the lakers had paid the tax for caruso maybe murray doesn't go off for 35 ppg on 65 ts and a 130 off rating (better then jokic): actually its very funny to me the media unanimously gave wcf mvp to jokic because numbers wise it was murray who was playing at a higher lvl if not the same lvl and it was in part no doubt due to outlier shooting variance but id of given him the magic johnson mvp. Nvm if we saw the version of lebron we saw this year or pre bone spur AD. This year jokic been hunted quite a few times : i seen the magic relentlessly cook that man, and his impact metrics n shooting from 3 have regressed a fair bit making me think last year maybe the nuggets peak. They could repeat or more likely never win again unless they repeat that lvl.

the celtics have what i consider a perfectly built team but the jays are so mid as a core duo that i think they leave a lot on the table vs other stars. The way AD had been shooting lately n Bron earlier this year made me think they can be the best duo. The team failing has a lot to do with basically every player but prince under performing their expectations massively. I wonder what the price for Dejounte murray is ? And if the price remains very low on lavine it does open up a lot of potential. But they need moves and moves fast , cos this team just aint it. AS much as i want to blame them for the last loss smart hitting 9 threes n JJJ hitting 5 with ja hitting 3-4 is just nonsense **** modern nba stuff that i dislike. But they now are in real danger of missing playoffs and outside ADs hip have had ok star luck. The biggest issue is the volume of threes, he amount generated, amount taken and ofc the %, combined with the perimeter defence of the more offensive leaning guys. Lakers are weirdly near top of league last i looked in 2pt % and attempts there.

if they could swing a move for both 'klutch' clients in murray n lavine i think that top 4 even with murray n lavines flaws enough to compete. More realistically one of lavine or murray and a defensive stud big guard/wing (caruso lvl) might be enough but bulls want to hold on to him. This team is bad... but i cant help but feel the tiny glimmer of hope is both lebron n AD are better then they were last playoffs if the playoffs were to begin: is any duo really better then them in two way impact? Certainly not by much, and can lavine/murray/ actual top 100 3nD player make it interesting, But even in the best case itll be down to luck unless we get 2021 version of lavine n murray lol, and i dont know if we can get one. Murray might be a bit over rated but he maybe cheaper as a result of his flame out n not taking the leap in atlanta though he appears to finally expanded his midrange to the 3. I think the best you can do is get this team a chance to do something i hope: o dont think anyone has a surefire way to a ring the tleague is too stacked n the lakers are too quality player poor.

for nzahir lavines EPM:

23: +2.8 epm
22: +3.3 epm
21:+4.2 epm

defensive epm ( you can work out his offense only im lazy) :
23: 0.2
22: -0.8
21: -0.5
Ranging from 41st to 68th percentile in defensive epm, offensive ranges from 92nd to 97th percentile. His on ball defence vs fast guards is decent enough his off ball maybe helped by lebron n co, his passing weakness on offence can be offset by change of role and mostly having him make passes to feed AD , where hes been decent at feeding vuc. Hes a much more lethal scorer off the catch or in an advantage, hes very good off ball. Lebron has been on ball as pg a lot more since Dlo flopping. Also Cp3 is out 4-6weeks which adds an interesting wrinkle as klay is playing better , if warriors move cp3 maybe lakers get him on buyout. even now a washed cp3 to share pg duties will help.

It also interests me how different the suns have looked with beal alone and i think lavine could possibly be a turbo charged version of that addition to Lebron n AD. However id want lavine +( caruso/murray/ smart?) or a 3nd wing who is an upgrade on prince but i think thats less worthwhile as the guard spot has the most talent.unfortunately i believe the bulls are stupid enough to not want to part with a 30 year old defence only guard whos injured a fair bit n cant start. Lavine alone isnt enough but i think if hes healthy it at least will not be a slog watching this team. also theyll have up to three picks this summer so they should spend Jhs, christie , 29 , swaps whoever. I think the gap of replacing two of Las worst impact guys with +3 ish in lavine and +1-2 in someone else is probably rather signficant. But who knows maybe i''m crazy, hover between pessisim n hope. But if you cant build a contender around 2 top 10 guys by every metric that you know raise their lvl in crucial game; then you cant build around anyone. especially as that star guard creator spot is the most stacked one n the one this team lacks.

apologies for all the spelling errors im too lazy to correct. ive lowered my expectations a bit and will try not to be too salty but i do hope a move is coming and one that can atleast make this team competitive, failing to do that with two top ten guys is an impressive feat.

[khaltheball]

The 48 win projections probably had AD and Lebron missing their usual 15-25 games built in. The fact that they've been so available and they're still losing is disastrous.

this is true but admiteddly ADs hip issue n missed couple games probably cost them 3-5 being conservative based off when he had near zero impact for couple weeks or left miami game etc.Bron missed a couple. still 20-16 or whatever is still kinda meh considering the guys out dont have much impact mostly other then gabe. Rui n dlo are injury prone

[PistolPeteJR]

I don’t think Ham’s been tremendous but Pelinka needs to be the first to go, not Ham. He’s been absolutely atrocious. How many good things has he done, really? I don’t attribute the very good late-round drafting to him given that’s been happening since before him. It’s been dud decision after dud decision with him.

Ham was very good in the playoffs, not to mention it was his first playoffs as a HC. I’m okay with that. In any case, losing that continuity while still having a subpar supporting cast won’t solve anything mid-season. The only reason it may is if the players, especially with the stars, have checked out on him.

But Pelinka needs to go. ASAP. Either that or LeBron needs to go.

Oh, and btw, they need to trade Hood-Schifino ASAP before he tanks his value even more.

[Fadeaway_J]

Man, if Reddish had even one decent offensive skill...

And of course he immediately hits back-to-back threes.

[IG2]

Man, if Reddish had even one decent offensive skill...

Makes B2B 3pters

Once every 10 games or so he does resemble an NBA player on offense.

[Fadeaway_J]

Man, if Reddish had even one decent offensive skill...

Makes B2B 3pters

Once every 10 games or so he does resemble an NBA player on offense.

A welcome respite from the kamikaze drives and bricked jumpers.

Even 35-36% shooting would be huge given how capable he is defensively.

[nzahir]

Man, if Reddish had even one decent offensive skill...

Makes B2B 3pters

Once every 10 games or so he does resemble an NBA player on offense.

A welcome respite from the kamikaze drives and bricked jumpers.

Even 35-36% shooting would be huge given how capable he is defensively.

Just not many guys who can do this that are available for cheap

We need to buy low on someone who is out of favor, only hope for this team and with the assets we have

Not sure who are some available names besides Lavine and Bridges though

[Fadeaway_J]

I swear Vando's finishing seems to get worse every year. You would think a 6'8" athletic wing could actually do some damage in those situations, but he has neither touch nor strength.

[nzahir]

Ham needs to be emabrrassed for ever even playing Hayes over Wood

[Fadeaway_J]

We done with this Jaxson Hayes nonsense I assume?

[IG2]

WB giving us the usual classics tonight. Ill advised 3's and layups galore. Never change, Russ.

As far as the other Russ is concerned, I'm a renowned DLo hater but this team is so inept offensively that his spot-up shooting ends up being quite valuable on nights he's hitting them.

[zimpy27]

Lakers just always have possession deficits (OREB+OpponentTO deficit)

[Fadeaway_J]

Despite the obvious offensive drawbacks, it's so weird to see a Laker team that matches up fairly well defensively with the Clippers.

[nzahir]

Ham needs to be fired right now

He cost us last year with this same crap when he didnt want us to foul up 3 vs Dallas and they won it

I also think there was another game as well

Trade:
Rui, Dlo, JHS, Hayes, 2 2nds, for Lavine and Drummond?

Vincent, Lewis, 2 2nds, and a swap for Bridges?

Lavine, Prince, Bridges, Bron, AD
Reaves, Christie, Vando, Wood, Drummond

[tone wone]

Lord they needed this one. Really, a complete effort against a red-hot team

It is odd to see them matchup well with the Clippers. Even in 2020 that was a tricky matchup for them. Kwahi losing just enough quickness/agility allows Lebron old ass to guard him again.

[RRR3]

Of course they win the one game they needed to lose (to get a new coach)

This **** team man.

[rk2023]

Lord they needed this one. Really, a complete effort against a red-hot team

It is odd to see them matchup well with the Clippers. Even in 2020 that was a tricky matchup for them. Kwahi losing just enough quickness/agility allows Lebron old ass to guard him again.

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=_HOjrsiLtTYaVpOZxyl7Iw

[MyUniBroDavis]

Lord they needed this one. Really, a complete effort against a red-hot team

It is odd to see them matchup well with the Clippers. Even in 2020 that was a tricky matchup for them. Kwahi losing just enough quickness/agility allows Lebron old ass to guard him again.

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=_HOjrsiLtTYaVpOZxyl7Iw

Excited to see this happen again next month lol

In all honesty Clippers are one of the last teams I’d want a series against though

[Heej]

Lord they needed this one. Really, a complete effort against a red-hot team

It is odd to see them matchup well with the Clippers. Even in 2020 that was a tricky matchup for them. Kwahi losing just enough quickness/agility allows Lebron old ass to guard him again.

LeBrons always locked up Kawhi for years. I've made the same exact observation for years too if you search it. Bron guards him the right way. Kawhi prefers to pull up going right, and for the past near-decade LeBron has always sent him left and contested the stepback.

Kawhi's handles aren't good enough to get to the rack when LeBron forces him left, and he can't create enough separation with a shoulder bump for the stepback. LeBron's always gonna bottle him up on drives going left, and as often as possible LeBron will always send him left.

Nice to be reminded of it again

[PistolPeteJR]

Lue seriously benched Kawhi with 2:47 left down 1 and then put him back in with 33 seconds left?