[QUOTE=daeve;17547375]what? why? Nunn is not a plus defender... nothing he does is even close to being as good as what Caruso can provide as a defender.

He is a good 3pt shooter, so that'll help the 2nd unit offense with schroeder gone, but he's not a needle-mover.[/QUOTE]

I don't think they need a needle mover. Honestly, all they really need is OK players that fit their Big 3.

Obviously Caruso was one. But Dunn fits that too. And for a team with hard cap concerns, 4M makes a difference.

[QUOTE=dunkindutchmen;17547404]only if you're high. I'm sure many people on this board picked the Wiz to make noise last year and what happened? What always happens with Westbrook? He underachieves and loses...... a lot.

I will concede that Westbrook has never had a coach as good as Vogel. If Vogel holds him accountable and makes him a better defender, they will have interesting defensive and transition potential. But that is a huge question mark.[/QUOTE]

Lol.

Nobody was high on the Wiz last year. They were pegged as an 8th seed at best.

It's also cute you think coaches play such a large role.

I'm not a huge Westy guy but to say he always underachieves might be the dumbest take I've ever heard on here.

Wow.

The Lakers lost

Trez
KCP
Kuz
Caruso
Drum

And got
Westbrook
Melo
Dwight
Nunn
Ellington
Ariza

I think they hit a home run with what flexibility they had. Incredible. They added elite 3 pt shooting which was a huge need and got smaller which they desperately needed.

Crazy

[QUOTE=drobfan8;17547442]The Lakers lost

Trez
KCP
Kuz
Caruso
Drum

And got
Westbrook
Melo
Dwight
Nunn
Ellington
Ariza

I think they hit a home run with what flexibility they had. Incredible. They added elite 3 pt shooting which was a huge need and got smaller which they desperately needed.

Crazy[/QUOTE]

Props to pelinka, he’s done some great things.

I'll say it again on this page because we continue to over analyze it...

If the Lakers are healthy they are one of the elite teams in the NBA.

If they get plagued by injuries, they will faulter.

But at this point, injuries kind of need to be looked at as part of the game. Here are some star players who's injuries have helped shape the outcomes of the last few championships:

-Lebron
-Durant
-Curry
-Thompson
-Kyrie
-Harden
-AD
-Kawhi


It's practically a who's who of the NBA, and seemly the only guys not on this list are young (Giannis, Jokic, Luka) or simply not quite good enough to be the main guy on a title team (Lillard, Beal, Tatum, Embiid).

[QUOTE=drobfan8;17547442]The Lakers lost

Trez
KCP
Kuz
Caruso
Drum

And got
Westbrook
Melo
Dwight
Nunn
Ellington
Ariza

I think they hit a home run with what flexibility they had. Incredible. They added elite 3 pt shooting which was a huge need and got smaller which they desperately needed.

Crazy[/QUOTE]

Elite? Save for Ellington, who's a better shooter than Caruso or KCP? I think it's the opposite, they got more superstar power and depth without losing much in shooting and defense.

[QUOTE=tjforce;17547518]I'll say it again on this page because we continue to over analyze it...

If the Lakers are healthy they are one of the elite teams in the NBA.

If they get plagued by injuries, they will faulter.

But at this point, injuries kind of need to be looked at as part of the game. Here are some star players who's injuries have helped shape the outcomes of the last few championships:

-Lebron
-Durant
-Curry
-Thompson
-Kyrie
-Harden
-AD
-Kawhi


It's practically a who's who of the NBA, and seemly the only guys not on this list are young (Giannis, Jokic, Luka) or simply not quite good enough to be the main guy on a title team (Lillard, Beal, Tatum, Embiid).[/QUOTE]

Am I missing something or are you mentioning Steph because of 19-20? I don't think a healthy Steph had any impact on the Lakers winning.

[QUOTE=yiguiri2002;17547534]Elite? Save for Ellington, who's a better shooter than Caruso or KCP? I think it's the opposite, they got more superstar power and depth without losing much in shooting and defense.[/QUOTE]

Have you looked at Melo's and Nunn's shooting percentages?

They saved massive amounts of money here also.

The Lakers got smaller also which was important. Far too many 4s and 5s last season.

I'm baffled why the Spurs didn't tank last season. They would have gotten something for DDR.

Philly have done nothing. Gulp.

Yet they kinda need to move Tobias and Simmons for something very good to improve.

GS have done nothing. Gulp. Unless they can get Philly desperate and take Simmons for a decent price. But a 3rd team needs to get involved as PHI don't need Wiseman.

Shattered Patty chose BKN. I guess he'll have fun there.

[QUOTE=yiguiri2002;17547541]Am I missing something or are you mentioning Steph because of 19-20? I don't think a healthy Steph had any impact on the Lakers winning.[/QUOTE]

I'm talking about the last few years....

If you wanted to you could make the case every season that "If so and so were healthy, this team could have won the title instead"...

So if Curry and Klay had both been healthy... who knows how things could have turned out.

And my point is that it doesn't really matter. Injuries happen and are a part of the game.

[QUOTE=tjforce;17547559]I'm talking about the last few years....

If you wanted to you could make the case every season that "If so and so were healthy, this team could have won the title instead"...

So if Curry and Klay had both been healthy... who knows how things could have turned out.

And my point is that it doesn't really matter. Injuries happen and are a part of the game.[/QUOTE]

If Kelly Olynk hadn’t been a jerk the Warriors aren’t even a thing

I know how this works

[QUOTE=yiguiri2002;17547541]Am I missing something or are you mentioning Steph because of 19-20? I don't think a healthy Steph had any impact on the Lakers winning.[/QUOTE]

You don't think Steph and Klay being out had an impact on the Lakers title :doh:

Yeah they were only 5 times in the Finals in a row.

[QUOTE=drobfan8;17547568]You don't think Steph and Klay being out had an impact on the Lakers title :doh:

Yeah they were only 5 times in the Finals in a row.[/QUOTE]

Together? Sure.

But when Steph got injured, Klay was already out for the season. They weren't contenders. I think Klay has case for 2019 and 2021 but not 2020.

[QUOTE=yiguiri2002;17547584]Together? Sure.

But when Steph got injured, Klay was already out for the season. They weren't contenders. I think Klay has case for 2019 and 2021 but not 2020.[/QUOTE]

But if they were both there they had already made the Finals the season before, without KD in the West Finals.

They would have been contenders.

If Lebron and AD now get injured that doesn't mean they weren't contenders.

Really like what the TWolves are doing.....

[QUOTE=drobfan8;17547546][B]Have you looked at Melo's and Nunn's shooting percentages? [/B]

They saved massive amounts of money here also.

The Lakers got smaller also which was important. Far too many 4s and 5s last season.[/QUOTE]

Miami had a ton of shooters, so did Portland, so the difference is all the spacing they got thanks to their teammates...

Nobody is going to be running RW/Lebron/Davis off the 3pt line... They're going to pack the paint and dare them to shoot... and if they get beat by Monk/THT/Nunn, then hats off.


again, unless at least two of the role players hit at 40% on catch-and-shoot 3's consistently, this team will be an anomaly - a poor shooting team in the modern game to win it all. I just don't see it yet on paper...and yeah, they'll probably do very well in the regular season regardless, but like I've always said about simmons - the playoffs are a whole different beast. The holes in any team, especially as they relate to shooting/spacing, will be exploited by good playoff teams.

and before we crown the Nets in the East too, the Bucks will be running it back, Hawks will be better/hungrier and running it back, Heat will be improved, Morey will make some sort of trade/splash... and the Bulls are even spooky now

[QUOTE=Bronconation24;17546945]Lakers have 4 hofer’s on their team. No excuses to not win this year.[/QUOTE]

We've seen this before with the Lakers and a "real" team beat them in the Finals.

[QUOTE=daeve;17547744]Miami had a ton of shooters, so did Portland, so the difference is all the spacing they got thanks to their teammates...

Nobody is going to be running RW/Lebron/Davis off the 3pt line... They're going to pack the paint and dare them to shoot... and if they get beat by Monk/THT/Nunn, then hats off.


again, unless at least two of the role players hit at 40% on catch-and-shoot 3's consistently, this team will be an anomaly - a poor shooting team in the modern game to win it all. I just don't see it yet on paper...and yeah, they'll probably do very well in the regular season regardless, but like I've always said about simmons - the playoffs are a whole different beast. The holes in any team, especially as they relate to shooting/spacing, will be exploited by good playoff teams.

and before we crown the Nets in the East too, the Bucks will be running it back, Hawks will be better/hungrier and running it back, Heat will be improved, Morey will make some sort of trade/splash... and the Bulls are even spooky now[/QUOTE]

Again, another horrendous take.

LeBron and AD are pretty capable 3 point shooters.

They'll also stagger Westbrook and LeBron and have shooters all around them to work.

So what's your tip? Lakers will lose in the 2nd round? Let's hear your prediction.

If you think Miami are some stacked shooting team with Jimmy and Bam then I don't know what to tell ya. AD and Bron are better than those 2 by far.

As long as Westbrook cools it to only a few 3 pt attempts per game I think this team will be just fine.

It's like people forget just how good on both ends AD is.

[QUOTE=jazz1232dc;17547951]We've seen this before with the Lakers and a "real" team beat them in the Finals.[/QUOTE]

Exactly. Still need to gel and also be healthy.

But to the people saying that they haven't even improved with the moves they made? Laughably horrendous takes.

LeBron and AD would have gotten their team to the Finals if they had of been healthy vs PHO.

Now they add a lot of depth and got Westbrook for trash. Gonna be a hard team to beat in a series.

I think we'll see a lot more rest from these guys also

Oladipo to the Bucks. I'm calling it.

Maybe he can play the PJ Tucker role.

[QUOTE=daeve;17547744]Miami had a ton of shooters, so did Portland, so the difference is all the spacing they got thanks to their teammates...

Nobody is going to be running RW/Lebron/Davis off the 3pt line... They're going to pack the paint and dare them to shoot... and if they get beat by Monk/THT/Nunn, then hats off.


again, unless at least two of the role players hit at 40% on catch-and-shoot 3's consistently, this team will be an anomaly - a poor shooting team in the modern game to win it all. I just don't see it yet on paper...and yeah, they'll probably do very well in the regular season regardless, but like I've always said about simmons - the playoffs are a whole different beast. The holes in any team, especially as they relate to shooting/spacing, will be exploited by good playoff teams.

and before we crown the Nets in the East too, the Bucks will be running it back, Hawks will be better/hungrier and running it back, Heat will be improved, Morey will make some sort of trade/splash... and the Bulls are even spooky now[/QUOTE]
I agree. 2021 Lakers look far worse to me than healthy 2020 Lakers.

[QUOTE=oshmeehan;17548011]Oladipo to the Bucks. I'm calling it.

Maybe he can play the PJ Tucker role.[/QUOTE]

The role of PF?

I like Victor, hope he has some success, though I can't see him as a direct replacement for Tucker - who to be honest I'm surprised/disappointed bolted after one successful year.

Running the second unit? Heck yes.

Fyi you know I'll be a happy man to see LeBron lose in the first round again. But I just don't see it happening.

Way too much talent, depth, shooting and enough defense there.

I have no idea how they shed the trash that they did and got back what they got.

[QUOTE=drobfan8;17548036]Fyi you know I'll be a happy man to see LeBron lose in the first round again. But I just don't see it happening.

Way too much talent, depth, shooting and enough defense there.

I have no idea how they shed the trash that they did and got back what they got.[/QUOTE]

It must be really nice to have your front office go all out to make sure you're 100% happy year in and year out. Has there ever been another superstar that has had as many roster overhauls as lebron in his career? Still is crazy that he's only got 4 with all of the stars he has played with and how much he has been catered to. I'm not saying he isn't one of the all-time greats, but he has definitely been treated well over the past decade with who he has played with. Bought championship after bought championship. Only year I don't remember him having hand-picked teammates was his first year in LA... We all know how that turned out.

[QUOTE=oshmeehan;17548011]Oladipo to the Bucks. I'm calling it.

Maybe he can play the PJ Tucker role.[/QUOTE]

Vic thinks he is an entertainer now, so he wants a market that is going to give him camera time off the court.