la86
::| Loyal Member |::
Posts: 312
|
Post by la86 on Apr 16, 2024 18:10:44 GMT -8
Bring on the Nuggets.... Lakers in 6!
|
|
|
Post by shaolinfighter on Apr 16, 2024 18:11:02 GMT -8
AD clutch.
That's game. Denver next.
|
|
|
Post by chiefsdodgerslakers24 on Apr 16, 2024 18:11:36 GMT -8
Yeah I don't think we win that if zion doesn't mysteriously go out. they also sat BI down the stretch. almost like they didn't want Denver
|
|
|
Post by shaolinfighter on Apr 16, 2024 18:13:50 GMT -8
Yeah I don't think we win that if zion doesn't mysteriously go out. they also sat BI down the stretch. almost like they didn't want Denver Nah we had it in the bag all along
|
|
|
Post by history2b on Apr 16, 2024 18:23:33 GMT -8
Yeah I don't think we win that if zion doesn't mysteriously go out. they also sat BI down the stretch. almost like they didn't want Denver No
|
|
|
Post by shaolinfighter on Apr 16, 2024 18:29:07 GMT -8
Pelicans played their asses off like their season was on the line. They definitely did not tank to avoid Denver. They left it all on their home floor and they'll get one more shot on it vs Warriors or Queens.
|
|
hackashaq
::| Basketball Guru |::
Posts: 3,206
|
Post by hackashaq on Apr 16, 2024 19:06:00 GMT -8
[Deep breath].....now onto Denver.
|
|
|
Post by history2b on Apr 16, 2024 20:20:36 GMT -8
Warriors playing their worst game in over a month tonight in a must win game.
Team blew their wad vs us a week ago.
|
|
|
Post by chiefsdodgerslakers24 on Apr 16, 2024 20:28:19 GMT -8
Warriors getting their asses kicked and it doesn't surprise me.
|
|
la86
::| Loyal Member |::
Posts: 312
|
Post by la86 on Apr 16, 2024 20:32:19 GMT -8
Warriors are done. They had a great run.
|
|
|
Post by chiefsdodgerslakers24 on Apr 16, 2024 20:33:47 GMT -8
Warriors are done. They had a great run. Klay gonna leave, they'll waive CP3 although he isn't much. they should probably blow it up but will still build around Steph and Draymond
|
|
|
Post by shaolinfighter on Apr 17, 2024 8:33:33 GMT -8
Ice. Cold. Now do this against Denver please
|
|
|
Post by history2b on Apr 17, 2024 8:50:57 GMT -8
Ice. Cold. Now do this against Denver please He cannot let Denver’s physical defense intimidate him into a shell. We have to change our schemes against them too or else he’ll be iso’d and cross screened to death.
|
|
|
Post by shaolinfighter on Apr 17, 2024 16:52:13 GMT -8
Yeah and he needs to hit shots at the end of the day. Pels played him physical, tried to get him off his game in every way, and he found a way to contribute and then even bury them in the end. Lakers need a DLo redemption arc to occur. And he should keep his mouth shut to the media until the job is finished.
I think our stars will mostly show up this time around as they're both healthy and will be more fresh compared to last year. The key will be the others. If DLo, Rui, and Reaves can show up I think Lakers win the series. If Lakers can have one of Prince, Gabe, Dinwiddie, or Hayes have moments here and there that will really put the Lakers over the top.
Malone is just straight up better than Ham imo so we can only hope Ham is learning and the players themselves perform. The aim of course is to win every game but realistic goal should be to win one of these first 2 games in Denver to steal home court advantage and put some doubt in their heads coming back to LA for games 3 and 4.
|
|
la86
::| Loyal Member |::
Posts: 312
|
Post by la86 on Apr 17, 2024 19:44:10 GMT -8
Yeah and he needs to hit shots at the end of the day. Pels played him physical, tried to get him off his game in every way, and he found a way to contribute and then even bury them in the end. Lakers need a DLo redemption arc to occur. And he should keep his mouth shut to the media until the job is finished. I think our stars will mostly show up this time around as they're both healthy and will be more fresh compared to last year. The key will be the others. If DLo, Rui, and Reaves can show up I think Lakers win the series. If Lakers can have one of Prince, Gabe, Dinwiddie, or Hayes have moments here and there that will really put the Lakers over the top. Malone is just straight up better than Ham imo so we can only hope Ham is learning and the players themselves perform. The aim of course is to win every game but realistic goal should be to win one of these first 2 games in Denver to steal home court advantage and put some doubt in their heads coming back to LA for games 3 and 4. The difference this year v. last year imo is Vincent and Dinwiddie for defense on Murray. Lakers need to stop Murray from going off on his crazy scoring streaks. May be asking too much for 1 guy that played a few games and the other guy acquired off the waiver wire that has been inconsistent to say the least.
|
|
|
Post by history2b on Apr 17, 2024 23:47:37 GMT -8
Yeah and he needs to hit shots at the end of the day. Pels played him physical, tried to get him off his game in every way, and he found a way to contribute and then even bury them in the end. Lakers need a DLo redemption arc to occur. And he should keep his mouth shut to the media until the job is finished. I think our stars will mostly show up this time around as they're both healthy and will be more fresh compared to last year. The key will be the others. If DLo, Rui, and Reaves can show up I think Lakers win the series. If Lakers can have one of Prince, Gabe, Dinwiddie, or Hayes have moments here and there that will really put the Lakers over the top. Malone is just straight up better than Ham imo so we can only hope Ham is learning and the players themselves perform. The aim of course is to win every game but realistic goal should be to win one of these first 2 games in Denver to steal home court advantage and put some doubt in their heads coming back to LA for games 3 and 4. The difference this year v. last year imo is Vincent and Dinwiddie for defense on Murray. Lakers need to stop Murray from going off on his crazy scoring streaks. May be asking too much for 1 guy that played a few games and the other guy acquired off the waiver wire that has been inconsistent to say the least. The problem is that Spencer and Gabe do not shoot like DLo. So you put one in to try and slow Murray and you get a weaker offensive player whom the Denver defense will simply stick. This is the conundrum we are in by lacking 2 way players. 2 way players are THE most valuable players in the league outside true superstars imo. The 5 players who will be on the floor in the clutch will be our 5 starters. We may see situational scenarios at the very end of games where free throws and timeouts allow for offensive / defensive subbing in which case you might see Gabe or Spencer sub in for DLo but largely it’s going to come down to our 2 starting guards. The real problem for us defending Denver is Michael Porter Jr whom is constantly defended by Austin 5 inches shorter. MPJ roughly the same height / reach as Kevin Durant with a similarly high release point stroke, Austin has no shot at adequately defending. Rui makes the most sense but he’s not a smart defender and we seem to like to use him on Jokic occasionally too. Jokic’ brilliance as a player is his ability to survey the floor and find the mismatch. Without Vando and I suppose to Christian Wood, we are not a big team. We’re not small but we’re not the big long team that gives other teams fits. Jamal is going to score his points and Jokic always gets his. But where they kill teams is when MPJ and KCP hit loads of open 3p shots. That must be cut off if we are going to beat them.
|
|
|
Post by odogg on Apr 18, 2024 12:57:05 GMT -8
Warriors fan at the office is telling me with CP off the books next season, they can offer Klay a decent salary and still be under the luxury tax next season.
We will see. I would be tempted to let Klay walk at his age, or maybe a sign/trade if they can find a sucker.
|
|
|
Post by history2b on Apr 18, 2024 15:41:41 GMT -8
Warriors fan at the office is telling me with CP off the books next season, they can offer Klay a decent salary and still be under the luxury tax next season. We will see. I would be tempted to let Klay walk at his age, or maybe a sign/trade if they can find a sucker. Getting under the luxury tax means nothing except to the owners bottom line. Doesn’t mean jackshit when it comes to building or rebuilding a competitive team. But it doesn’t matter because Chris Paul is on a guaranteed contract for $30M next year regardless of what fanboy thinks. They can buy him out which typically is around 75% of rhe guarantee but it does not magically become off the books either. It counts towards team salary but would save the owner that 25-30%. That’s it. Klay very very likely re-signs possibly bitterly because he won’t get many offers beyond the mid level on the open market. If GS offers 15 for a couple more years he’s probably ok with that. Of course he’d want 20-25 but he’s not getting that from anyone anymore. Especially after this season. But throw that modest 15 for Klay and 20 for CP3 and they are in fact over the luxury tax, would have no money to add anyone else meaningful and really don’t have any trade assets. Klay could be used as one but it would be of utmost importance to keep the deal short and sweet. Make it a Klay friendly deal and he becomes immovable. Warriors are done.
|
|
|
Post by shaolinfighter on Apr 18, 2024 17:13:35 GMT -8
Lakers ended the Warriors repeat attempt last season and hopefully can do the same to the Nuggets this time.
I think Bob Myers saw the writing on the wall and walked away.
|
|
|
Post by history2b on Apr 18, 2024 17:43:35 GMT -8
Lakers ended the Warriors repeat attempt last season and hopefully can do the same to the Nuggets this time. I think Bob Myers saw the writing on the wall and walked away. He seemed to know that the end was near but seemingly doesn’t want another job in a FO. Regarding beating Denver I would love to have optimism but I see too many holes in our team starting with the man on the bench. No Vando is a major blow for the prospect. Had he come back at the tail end of the season I’d feel much better. Still, it’s a new series and we have figured out some things offensively that were missing last season and 1st half of this season. I also saw a better defensive connectivity in those 2 NO games but NO is not Denver. There is only one Jokic and he is an all time great still in his prime. He gives AD fits and if we matched up with their other 4 guys better I’d feel good about the 5 matchup. But Nikola is too smart, too tough and too good. AD has all time great defense but it’s not effective against a guy bigger, stronger and smarter. I’ve thought he needed to adapt his approach since last postseason but AD seems content to stay true to who he is. There is no easy answer on how to defend Nikola but I did see Wembanyama have enormous success in 2 games in the last few weeks of the season. Of course you can’t teach 7’4” 8” reach but for a rookie giving up 50lbs he did exceptionally well. Part of it was just inherent instinctive brilliance but the other part of confident grit. That’s the part AD needs to assert. And for Goddamn sake DO NOT fall down when taking shot attempts. Take shots that you remain balanced every time.
|
|