AROUND the NBA:

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/no-leb...07743.html


No LeBron, no problem.

[omahen]

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/no-leb...07743.html


No LeBron, no problem.

NO is bad even with everyone available, but they were missing basically all of their main guys in this one (no Zion, Herb, Murphy besides the injured Murray and Poole). Lakers built a 20 point lead already around first half of the first quarter and just cruised from there on. Game was decided in the first half when Lakers scored almost 80 points. They more or less just ruined their stats in the second half  . 62 % shooting in the first half and miserable 36 % shooting in the second one. Not because NO started to play much better defense.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

NO is bad even with everyone available, but they were missing basically all of their main guys in this one (no Zion, Herb, Murphy besides the injured Murray and Poole). Lakers built a 20 point lead already around first half of the first quarter and just cruised from there on. Game was decided in the first half when Lakers scored almost 80 points. They more or less just ruined their stats in the second half  . 62 % shooting in the first half and miserable 36 % shooting in the second one. Not because NO started to play much better defense.

I understand that N.O. is injured and is a generally bad team. I was pointing out that this Laker team can still win without major contributions from LBJ, as long as Luka and Reaves continue to play at a high level. I never saw them going 15-4 at the start of the season, with LeBron missing a huge chunk of games to injury. However, I still think they'll have trouble beating OKC, Denver, and Houston in a playoff series if it comes down to that.

[omahen]

I understand that N.O. is injured and is a generally bad team. I was pointing out that this Laker team can still win without major contributions from LBJ, as long as Luka and Reaves continue to play at a high level. I never saw them going 15-4 at the start of the season, with LeBron missing a huge chunk of games to injury.  However, I still think they'll have trouble beating OKC, Denver, and Houston in a playoff series if it comes down to that.

While Lakers schedule at the start of the season looked difficult at the beginning, several teams they played are actually much worse than expected (LAC, Minny, Milwaukee,...). Their November has mostly been very easy, actually. OKC looks like a team from another planet so far. I also think this athletic version of Houston with Durant is probably too good for Lakers, although it will come down a lot on how Houston centers will be able to guard Luka and Reaves and if their threes will be falling. I think Lakers are better than Denver, as they will have a really hard time defending Lakers. They will attack Jokic on every single posession. 

I think this season will be very important to finish second in the regular season (OKC will be first for sure). This likely gives you a tier worse opponent in the first round and you avoid OKC until the conference finals. With a bit of luck, you can get a more favorable match-up in the second round. Lakers are now entering a stretch of more difficult games with back to back back to backs. Phoenix first (second game of the first B2B after a light workout against NO), followed by B2B against Toronto and Boston on the road. After that Philly and SA before next easier game against Utah. They also have Houston and Detroit before end of the year. December will tell a lot how strong this team really is. 

It is a bit surprising that so many teams imploded in the West so soon. Sacramento, NO, Memphis, Mavs, LAC were all hoping to be much better.

Edit: as for LeBron, he has voluntarily "degraded" himself into a third option, imho. Lakers are obviously extremely protecting him with the only goal to bring him into the playoffs very fresh. There everyone hopes he will raise his defensive play a lot (I think he does have reserves). I don't think he will reach the 65 games treshold to compete for any awards and I think this is intentional with both sides agreeing to the plan. I really respect him to take such a role on this team, enabling Luka and AR to shine in full. AR will be long-term star next to Luka and his play this season will earn him a very big contract (assuming he continues the way he started) that Lakers are able to pay (and they will pay).

[Chicagojk]

Good times!  Also Grimes had a double double last night with 28 points.  


Marc Stein
@TheSteinLine
·
19m

The Lakers' Luka Dončić and New York's Jalen Brunson were just named Western and Eastern Conference Player of the Week by the NBA.



******************
BTW, Mavs related but I have been thinking of the Banned McMahon article about a week or two ago about the mavs.  Of course, Nico was horrible, but I keep coming back to the Christian Wood part.  Of course, Cuban was pushing that.   I am surprised we did not sniff that out sooner.   It makes total sense for Cuban to have no idea what he had in Brunson until it was way too late only to be suckered into Christian Wood.   Just makes total sense.  For a guy who is really smart and has been around the NBA for a long time and sits courtside, he sure doesn't appear to be very good at talent evaluation.

[F Gump]

BTW, Mavs related but I have been thinking of the Banned McMahon article about a week or two ago about the mavs.  Of course, Nico was horrible, but I keep coming back to the Christian Wood part.  Of course, Cuban was pushing that.   I am surprised we did not sniff that out sooner.   It makes total sense for Cuban to have no idea what he had in Brunson until it was way too late only to be suckered into Christian Wood.   Just makes total sense.  For a guy who is really smart and has been around the NBA for a long time and sits courtside, he sure doesn't appear to be very good at talent evaluation.

We do not want Cuban being the decision maker. He should not be crafting trades and evaluating talent and setting the direction of the franchise in general. I do like him in an oversight role of sorts, to stop the absurd stuff, in the short term until we get an expert filling the GM seat.

[Mavs2021]

There were some who doubted if Edey could be an NBA player.  I think we can put that away and begin asking how good of an NBA player can he become?


Zach Edey becomes the youngest player since Shaq to have a game with:
30+ PTS
15+ REB
5+ BLK
80%+ FG

Guess he is no Thabeet. I was wrong in that regard. That being said: INJURIES. The fact that the NBA has become even faster with a tighter schedule should shorten the NBA life expectancy of Cs above 7´1 even further.

Wemby is at 70% games played with no play-offs and little French national team. People always say Wemby without hesitation, when it comes to the "who you build around" question, but the guy is a huge injury risk.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Fakers are overrated. I told you guys.

They don't scare me at all, even with this dysfunctional roster.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Fakers are overrated. I told you guys.

They don't scare me at all, even with this dysfunctional roster.

I wouldn't say they're overrated. All teams drop games they're suppose to win. And the West is down this year. It's a long season and they were coming off a B2B. However, I can't see them making the conference finals, and they are only going as far as Luka and AR will take them, with a little LBJ sprinkled in.

[Chicagojk]

I love success stories like Collin Gillespie.   Followed Brunson at Villanova.   Had a good college career but I believe tore an ACL.    Undrafted in the NBA.   Worked away from the spotlight for a few years.  Had a two way and now is getting his chance with the suns and making the most of it.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1p...or_lebron/

[Chicagojk]

Bucks lost to the Wizards last night to fall to 9-13 and appears to have no where to go.  At this point, it is probably a matter of when not if Giannis asks for a trade.   Next thing we just have to hope Giannis has a strange fascination with Dallas

[Smitty]

Bucks lost to the Wizards last night to fall to 9-13 and appears to have no where to go.  At this point, it is probably a matter of when not if Giannis asks for a trade.   Next thing we just have to hope Giannis has a strange fascination with Dallas

We know he loves Kidd.. 

Davis + '29/'31 FRP for Giannis. Who says no? 

[Chicagojk]

We know he loves Kidd.. 

Davis + '29/'31 FRP for Giannis. Who says no? 

Ha ha.  Not going to happen but how about a three team.  Atlanta gets Davis and Mil gets a bunch of picks.   Maybe Dallas throws in Gafford who could be used to get another pick.

[Tyler]

My 3-team Giannis deal is AD + Spurs picks to Milwaukee, Giannis to San Antonio, and Harper + expiring contracts to Dallas.

[KillerLeft]

My 3-team Giannis deal is AD + Spurs picks to Milwaukee, Giannis to San Antonio, and Harper + expiring contracts to Dallas.

I don't think Milwaukee and AD would want any part of each other, but if this were possible, SIGN ME UP.

I have basically no interest in bringing Giannis to Dallas. The point of moving AD in the first place would be to get more 100% on the Flagg timeline, and Giannis wouldn't help with that.

[Tyler]

Flagg is our Giannis. It's just a matter of time. So my priority with an AD trade would be to get a young guard foundation piece to grow alongside him.

[Smitty]

Flagg is our Giannis. It's just a matter of time. So my priority with an AD trade would be to get a young guard foundation piece to grow alongside him.

Nemby hate detected.

[Tyler]

I said "a" foundation piece at guard, not "the". Nemby is clearly awesome. He really does feel like Brunson 2.0.

[F Gump]

1 If Giannis is in the trade, with AD outgoing, the Mavs need to be getting Giannis. That's the whole point. We are not the team that tries to make sure everyone else gets superstars and all they need while we get screwed, no matter what Nico thought.
2 As AD plays and looks good, and other teams start to have issues, ideas like these will emerge. Just be patient. Jumping on the pile of scraps mentioned with CHI, in a rush to "get something" and acting in a panic we won't get anything, is not wise. AD should bring a TOP player and perhaps even more - only about 9 months ago he landed Luka (and a pick!), remember?