Official 2020-2021 Lakers Thread (Defending Champs)
 

Wow, what a wild and short offseason. I hate to see rondo, McGhee, Howard, green, and Bradley gone but do like the pick ups of gasol, harrell, matthews, and schroder. Does kuzma take the leap this year we’ve been expecting? Can Lebron sustain greatness? Does AD continue his progression? It’s gonna be a fun season, let’s make it back to back!!!

looks like they are picking up quinn cook again. i dont hate it. he can score when he gets hot and not bad to fill in here and there.

possible starting lineup and back ups.
PG: Dennis Schroder, Alex Caruso.
SG: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Wesley Matthews.
SF: LeBron James, Talen Horton-Tucker.
PF: Anthony Davis*, Kyle Kuzma.
C: Marc Gasol, Montrezl Harrell

According to Rondo he may do some coaching for the Hawks. He apparently was in coaches meetings while he was with the Lakers.

I think the Lakers did really well this offseason, it was one of the best offseasons for a champion in a long time.
God if Kuzma could have a breakout year in a contract year and they could move him for a 3rd piece - Bron could be looking at a 6th ring next year.

[QUOTE=brothertona;16712846]According to Rondo he may do some coaching for the Hawks. He apparently was in coaches meetings while he was with the Lakers.

I think the Lakers did really well this offseason, it was one of the best offseasons for a champion in a long time.
God if Kuzma could have a breakout year in a contract year and they could move him for a 3rd piece - Bron could be looking at a 6th ring next year.[/QUOTE]

they did well, i agree. lebron tweeted that he thinks kuzma is going to improve this year so he still has confidence in him. i think kuzma had a better second half of the season. he assumed his role (got rid of the eminem hairdo) and became a better defender. i just want to see him be a consistent scoring threat. 18-20 a night would be perfect.

AD going for the MVP. Only thing that will really hold him back is his health.

This might be the deepest Laker team since 2012, except this has great chemistry.

B2B for sure. MVP/FMVP season for AD. Let’s get it.

[QUOTE=Dame;16713197]AD going for the MVP. Only thing that will really hold him back is his health.

This might be the deepest Laker team since 2012, except this has great chemistry.

B2B for sure. MVP/FMVP season for AD. Let’s get it.[/QUOTE]

i can easily see AD taking another leap, being the clear best player on the lakers this season, and going for mvp/fmvp. lebron i think steps way off the gas this year in the regular season. winning a title with the lakers and fmvp at this stage/age, i dont know if he can keep his motor going for to much longer.

I hope Schroeder comes off the bench. Sometimes too much firepower is redundant in a lineup. Fine with him finishing games though.

Interested to see what Horton Tucker can do. Looked good in small glimpses last year

No chance imo that Lebron takes his foot off. I don't think he really knows how, going full speed ahead until his body just quits.

If anything I think getting this title motivates him more. You know he wants to get back to 6-6 before he retires.

Lakers staff need to be very careful with Bron and AD - can't get injured in this short turn around

[QUOTE=pingbling23;16713248]i can easily see AD taking another leap, being the clear best player on the lakers this season, and going for mvp/fmvp. lebron i think steps way off the gas this year in the regular season. winning a title with the lakers and fmvp at this stage/age, i dont know if he can keep his motor going for to much longer.[/QUOTE]

I actually think lebron can keep going till he is 40 at this level or close to it. I mean, karl malone did, and I am pretty sure bron is better conditioned and takes care of his body better than malone? yes?

I've already been betting the Lakers hard to repeat.

I just don't see another proven team that's legit. GS would have given them problems but ultimately AD would be too good for Draymond and Co defending him.

BKN have a good chance, but Kyrie and KD need to be better than AD and Bron. I'd be shocked.

I think AD is the Finals MVP this season, maybe even League MVP.

[QUOTE=baller232019;16713353]I actually think lebron can keep going till he is 40 at this level or close to it. I mean, karl malone did, and I am pretty sure bron is better conditioned and takes care of his body better than malone? yes?[/QUOTE]

you bring up a good point.

[QUOTE=drobfan8;16713362]I've already been betting the Lakers hard to repeat.

I just don't see another proven team that's legit. GS would have given them problems but ultimately AD would be too good for Draymond and Co defending him.

BKN have a good chance, but Kyrie and KD need to be better than AD and Bron. I'd be shocked.

I think AD is the Finals MVP this season, maybe even League MVP.[/QUOTE]

kyrie and kd coming off of injuries dont really scare me. now if they add harden and can somehow have pieces around them then that would be tough. warriors time has passed. even with klay, he was coming off a serious injury and obviously ended up hindering him further.

[QUOTE=pingbling23;16713377]kyrie and kd coming off of injuries dont really scare me. now if they add harden and can somehow have pieces around them then that would be tough. warriors time has passed. even with klay, he was coming off a serious injury and obviously ended up hindering him further.[/QUOTE]


Yup. With Klsy, his shot will still be great, but I would bet heavily he’s never going to be the same defender he was, and that is crucial for the Warriors just as much as his offensive game. So even with him, I agree they’re done.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[QUOTE=pingbling23;16711027]Wow, what a wild and short offseason. I hate to see rondo, McGhee, Howard, green, and Bradley gone but do like the pick ups of gasol, harrell, matthews, and schroder. Does kuzma take the leap this year we’ve been expecting? Can Lebron sustain greatness? Does AD continue his progression? It’s gonna be a fun season, let’s make it back to back!!![/QUOTE]



Lebron can take any scrubs they throw on a team to the promised land.....

i hope AC gets a Prizm Base card this year!!!!

[url=https://postimg.cc/njrnKXCN][img]https://i.postimg.cc/NM7LcTYG/8001-AB7-C-9106-47-FA-8879-64-D0-EE7-AA6-C9.jpg[/img][/url]

Pau gonna come back and get to retire a laker? i doubt he has anything left for the court but should be a good locker room presence and good for marc.

[QUOTE=bberns;16713258]I hope Schroeder comes off the bench. Sometimes too much firepower is redundant in a lineup. Fine with him finishing games though.[/QUOTE]

I agree, I think Schroeder coming off the bench is more valuable to the team than as a starter. I think Caruso is a great complement to LeBron/AD in the starting lineup. Very underrated role player.

[QUOTE=volblorx8634;16736088]I agree, I think Schroeder coming off the bench is more valuable to the team than as a starter. I think Caruso is a great complement to LeBron/AD in the starting lineup. Very underrated role player.[/QUOTE]

Lakers had a ton of success with Caruso coming off the bench and playing with Lebron and the second unit. I don’t know if the lakers will try to change that up.

[QUOTE=pingbling23;16738284]Lakers had a ton of success with Caruso coming off the bench and playing with Lebron and the second unit. I don’t know if the lakers will try to change that up.[/QUOTE]You may not be wrong. Like the Warriors when they ran out their big 4 and staggered them. The Lakers stagger LeBron and AD anyway, so who that balance of firepower isn't really as important as it is on other teams anyway. I just think Schroder's value increases slightly off the bench because there's literally no playmaker off the Lakers bench

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[QUOTE=volblorx8634;16738345]You may not be wrong. Like the Warriors when they ran out their big 4 and staggered them. The Lakers stagger LeBron and AD anyway, so who that balance of firepower isn't really as important as it is on other teams anyway. I just think Schroder's value increases slightly off the bench because there's literally no playmaker off the Lakers bench

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk[/QUOTE]

Lebron is the playmaker for the bench. After ad and Schroeder take their first break, Lebron goes to the bench and Schroeder becomes the primary playmaker. It will be fun to see it play out. If Schroeder comes off the bench it will still be solid.

[QUOTE=pingbling23;16738454]Lebron is the playmaker for the bench. After ad and Schroeder take their first break, Lebron goes to the bench and Schroeder becomes the primary playmaker. It will be fun to see it play out. If Schroeder comes off the bench it will still be solid.[/QUOTE]Right, that's something like what I figure they would run if Schroder starts. All I know is I'm excited to finally watch some basketball today!

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

Well, as we can see in multiple threads, THT is looking great early on.

Can’t believe the season starts tonight. Good game tonight against the clippers. Here’s to the start of another championship season. LETS GO LAKERS!!!