(Lock Thread)The LeBron James- 23-24 NBA Playoffs & Off-Season Thread -(NO PERSONAL ATTACKS & BAITING)

[EmpireFalls]

This is a tough thing to say about a 39 year old but I wish LBJ would go down with the ship a bit more. Bad body language, stopped boxing out and fighting for position, just looked defeated midway through the third. Fatigue is real I’m sure but it’s his body language and mental presence as a leader that’s really concerning. If he acts like he doesn’t believe no one on the Lakers will. Not saying he has to go crazy and waste energy but I think he’s allowed the Nuggets to open an insurmountable mental edge on them.

[zimpy27]

DLo **** the bed

[RRR3]

Um what? There was no one remotely close to LeBron in 2012 or 13. Jokic isn’t that far ahead.

KD was closer to LeBron those 2 seasons than Giannis/Luka/Shai/Embiid are to Jokic

Insane, utterly delusional comment.

[TheGOATRises007]

Um what? There was no one remotely close to LeBron in 2012 or 13. Jokic isn’t that far ahead.

KD was closer to LeBron those 2 seasons than Giannis/Luka/Shai/Embiid are to Jokic

Heavily disagree with that.

Giannis/Luka/Embiid are better than KD was then and Jokic/LeBron are a wash for argument's sake.

[Mos_Heat]

Terrible 2nd half by LeBron.

We can talk about D'Lo, but obviously Lakers won't do anything with LeBron flirting with turnover-quadruple double. That would be it for today, feel bad for AD, great performance.

Nuggets are really impressive in how consistent they are in bringing up their A-offensive game despite slow start in the playoffs.

If Russell keep shooting 30% from the field, it won't matter how many TO's they have. He is the reason why their offense was so good in the 2nd half of the season

[Statlanta]

Seeing LeBron James being this tired makes me think how much revisionist history people have for Kareem because he was on a better team when he was declining.

[Slava]

You can’t bleed second chance opportunities like that and expect to win a road game against anyone, let alone a championship team. Hachimura and the guards need to rebound better.

[rk2023]

Seeing LeBron James being this tired makes me think how much revisionist history people have for Kareem because he was on a better team when he was declining.

What do you mean by revisionist history?

[Jaivl]

LeBron = Lowry and Derozan Raptors

Nuggets = LeBron

its just inevitable they lose lol

Bron has beaten them before tho

They beat "the Nuggets", not the Nuggets.

[ardee]

12 point lead in the 2nd, actually allowed myself to believe in a game 1 win and potential series win. Was brought back down to Earth fast.

The Lakers will win one game in this series max.

Hopefully he has a very restful summer and then goes to a team that he can actually win the title with next year (the Cavs!).

[OverAndOut]

It feels like LeBron’s only hope for another championship is to go to the East (CLE, PHI, NYK) and hope someone in the West knocks out DEN before the finals. I don’t think there is a single move LAL can make that lets them beat DEN in a playoff series. It truly feels like they could beat any of the other 28 teams in a playoff series, but just no shot against DEN.

I’m really hoping LeBron goes to one of those East teams, but get the sinking feeling he’s staying in LA.

[letskissbro]

Regarding the turnovers

[1/4] Turns the ball over, immediately makes up for it with a block at the rim.
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/04/20/0042300151/94/39f1b205-13e3-217c-2726-88bb23d2dbe8_1280x720.mp4

[2/4] KCP takes a dive. This one is on the refs
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/04/20/0042300151/259/960ab0af-3356-5296-7e19-c600b64d89a2_1280x720.mp4

[3/4] Pass was on target, fumbled by Rui. This shouldn't have even been charged to him
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/04/20/0042300151/427/c4c11d2a-4c07-db68-f8ba-ee06bd949b31_1280x720.mp4

[4/4] Slips on Gordon's foot with the game basically over. Not sure what the rule on this is but from my understanding it could be interpreted as a blocking foul since Gordon was retreating and not squared up
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/04/20/0042300151/589/5eaa1f11-bb1c-0507-e9f3-d8558cf894aa_1280x720.mp4

That's four of the seven. 27/6/8 on 75% TS is an elite game. His first half alongside AD's should've been enough to give them at least some room for error in the second half. They shouldn't have to play perfect for the Lakers to not go down by double digits.

[Todeasy]

Read on Twitter

This is what I meant and is the biggest reason I feel like the Laker's wont win.

[Heej]

Huge different in the second half. That was NBA Finals level intensity from how physical and how much of a chess game each possession felt like as players fought for every step's worth of advantage on offense and defense. The Lakers offense was stuck in mud because ultimately their players weren't physical enough in either screening action or establishing post position to generate advantages. When those actions on a fundamental level are stuck in the mud all that's left are isos.

Ham also clearly froze up and didn't want to potentially micromanage when the Nuggets went on their run. But clearly was too afraid to accept that's the Lakers were expending too much mental capital trying to regulate their emotions during that run and became emotionally tilted.

Shooting seemed to regress a bit from last year but that still wasn't enough. This is the first matchup since the 07 Spurs where LeBron isn't the best player in the series and it shows.

[TroubleS0me]

Read on Twitter

[IG2]

Read on Twitter

Man I loved Dwight on the 2020 Lakers, but he was a Laker again in 2022 and looked beyond done. Centers go from competent to ummm-why-isn't-he-in-hospice-care really fast.

[Ian Scuffling]

For anyone actually believing the Lakers had a chance, you must have believed in DLO. A bad belief. LOL...

[1993Playoffs]

Here come the think pieces in different places lol about LeBron is a quitter when it was obvious DEN was much better

[therealbig3]

Huge different in the second half. That was NBA Finals level intensity from how physical and how much of a chess game each possession felt like as players fought for every step's worth of advantage on offense and defense. The Lakers offense was stuck in mud because ultimately their players weren't physical enough in either screening action or establishing post position to generate advantages. When those actions on a fundamental level are stuck in the mud all that's left are isos.

Ham also clearly froze up and didn't want to potentially micromanage when the Nuggets went on their run. But clearly was too afraid to accept that's the Lakers were expending too much mental capital trying to regulate their emotions during that run and became emotionally tilted.

Shooting seemed to regress a bit from last year but that still wasn't enough. This is the first matchup since the 07 Spurs where LeBron isn't the best player in the series and it shows.

He wasn’t the best player in the series last year too.

[AEnigma]

This is the first matchup since the 07 Spurs where LeBron isn't the best player in the series and it shows.

He wasn’t the best player in the series last year too.

Same matchup.