(10-19-2021, 11:52 PM)Jommybone Wrote: Wow, these guys look thin. Big off-season acquisitions all look like busts. Especially Westbrook, who goes for a triple single and game-low -23 +/- tonight. Hafta think they blow it all up this summer.
But who were they ever kidding? DeAndre Jordan and Kent Bazemore in the starting lineup? Carmelo Anthony and Rajon Rondo leading the bench? These are terrific talents—all stars even—whose previous teams didn’t want them. Why wouldn’t their previous teams want them? Cause they’re too damn old!
Not sure this team makes the play in this year.
I think the presence of LBJ all by himself makes them a likely playoff team, as long as he stays healthy. Assuming he's healthy. And having another 2-way all-star in AD raises the bar a bit more.
To me, LBJ health is their biggest factor.
But assuming they make the playoffs, I certainly agree they do have HUGE issues that are quite likely to hod them back. I think the biggest is the fact that it's basically a brand-new team. Of last night's players, only LBJ and AD were on the team last year. Yes, THT will be back at some point, and they have returned a couple of players from a prior year with Howard and Rondo, but that's not much familiarity.
That's a lot of minutes alongside players whose games you don't know, which forces LA into even less of a team game. And that was probably going to be their biggest challenge already, with all 3 of LBJ, AD, and RW wanting to be fed and pulling at getting theirs.
In theory, they could somehow find chemistry during the year. And they do have some talent. But I do agree they aren't the top dog, and I think the ceiling is far lower than it usually is for a LBJ team.