AROUND the NBA:

[meistermatze]

Crazy, I thought all the Lakers fans loved Luka. Apparently, he has not just changed everyting about himself.

With that being said: I would give everything to be able to complain about him on my team again.

[Mavs2021]

Crazy, I thought all the Lakers fans loved Luka. Apparently, he has not just changed everyting about himself.

With that being said: I would give everything to be able to complain about him on my team again.

This whole thing about Luka complaining is the dumbest thing ever. Yes he complained a lot. You also know why the Thunder defense is so much better than the rest of the league. Cause they foul all the fucking time. Lu Dort should not have seen halftime in ANY play-off game against the Mavs. He literally fouled Luka on every possession. There are no legal means he can defend Luka. Nobody can. And they do the same to Jokic. At the same time SGA gets all the calls. It´s just dumb. That´s why the NBA superstars lost to Germany and Canada in FIBA basketball. That would never ever happen in the NBA. The refs would not allow it.
Cuban put the Mavs on the refs shitlist and it probably cost Dirk and Luka 1000 career points.

[omahen]

https://www.reddit.com/r/lakers/comments...arnes_and/

It's happening...

I think someone should not make judgements based on one possession  Luka has actually been very solid on defense this season. This play shows a lot more than just Luka complaining. Rui didn't even bother to get back on defense and Hayes was jogging back while two SA players overtook him despite not being in full sprint. A team with Luka needs high energy guys fighting in these kind of plays. Lakers don't have them, other than perhaps Smart. 

As a person that watched all Lakers games, I can tell you that team severly lacks athleticism, which shows especially against more athletic teams. While Luka will never be a plus defender, opposing teams don't even need to bother and attack him. Players like Fox and Castle can literally get by any of Lakers players at will. Put Lakers defense into scrambling mode always a step to slow to recover. Lay-ups or open threes all the time. Lakers are terrible in transition defense and don't force TO.  Lakers are third worst team in offensive rebounding in the league. The only really athletic guy they have is Vando, who has unfortunatelly become (or always was) beyond bad on offense. 

So far basically all my fears about integrating LeBron have been confirmed. Not because he is a bad player, but he simply doesn't fit next to Luka and Reaves and the other pieces Lakers have. Starting unit (Luka-Reaves-Rui-Hachimura-Ayton) doesn't work as there is no plus defender in it. Reaves looks much worse with him than without him. LeBron and Hachimura play same position. Their starting unit has a -13 net rating so far. A unit where you replace LeBron with Smart has a +13 net rating. Besides all of that, their bench has been a complete no-show lately. 

Lakers made one mistake in the offseason, which was cutting Goodwin instead of creating space to keep him. He would have been huge for this team. However, I can understand it to some extent, as creating space another way would most likely cost assets. Lakers are rightly saving those assets and will spend them only for the right long-term solution, imho. While Goodwin is a really nice player, his ceiling is a bench rotation player. Lakers will need to bring in at least one starter level player after LeBron. 

I always looked at this season as a transition season from LeBron to Luka. As such, it creates a bunch of issues. Most of their team is expiring. You can't bench Reaves (nor should you based on how he is playing), because he will walk in the summer if you do. His market value is low, as his possible extension is much lower than what he will get in the summer. You can't really bench Rui,  because he is also in his contract year. Rui can be a great PF once LeBron retires, if Lakers find an athletic point of attack defender to replace LeBron, so you don't want to ruin this relationship either. 

I assume this is LeBrons last season as a Lakers and they have plenty of flexibility on how to replace him until next season start.

[Chicagojk]

Atlanta gives up 142 in a blowout loss to Detroit.   Some called this the Anthony Davis bowl

Utah beat Memphis.  Edey being out for a bit for Memphis really hurts.   He was looking excellent in his return.

Chicago beats Charlotte to finally get a win.  Kon drops a 33, 9 assist, 5 rebound game though.

Timberwolves beat the Warriors.  Warriors are now .500 and need to be asking themselves.....what now? Oh and Kuminga is a DNP-CD? Man, that is like looking at a doomed relationship but they have stayed together for the kids. They just need to both move on. GS isn't going to get a premium asset for him...maybe not even a good one.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Detroit doesn't need to break up their team for Davis. They're doing pretty good without him. Utah is perplexing. Some nights they look very good, other nights they're meh. Kon and Cooper will probably battle all year for ROY. T-Wolves are a good team. Don't know if they make the WCF again though. GS needs to solve their Kuminga problem, soon...

[Smitty]

Shams: Cavaliers star Evan Mobley is expected to miss 2 to 4 weeks with a left calf strain.

[omahen]

Put it in the wrong thread at first. Crazy, crazy, crazy game between Phoenix and Lakers. Lakers were up by 20 in the fourth, squandered the lead and Brooks hit a three for a one point lead with 12 seconds remaining. Than he "smartly" procceeds to make a totally unnecessary unsportsmanlike foul on LeBron before Lakers inbouded it. Technical FT and Lakers ball. LeBron missed the free throw but got fouled on a 3 point attempt with 3 seconds to go. Made 2 which was in the end enough for the win.

Lakers played approximately one half of great defense, but couldn't score whole game (just 18 % from three).

[meistermatze]

This whole thing about Luka complaining is the dumbest thing ever. Yes he complained a lot. You also know why the Thunder defense is so much better than the rest of the league. Cause they foul all the fucking time. Lu Dort should not have seen halftime in ANY play-off game against the Mavs. He literally fouled Luka on every possession. There are no legal means he can defend Luka. Nobody can. And they do the same to Jokic. At the same time SGA gets all the calls. It´s just dumb. That´s why the NBA superstars lost to Germany and Canada in FIBA basketball. That would never ever happen in the NBA. The refs would not allow it.
Cuban put the Mavs on the refs shitlist and it probably cost Dirk and Luka 1000 career points.

I tend to agree with this. I really don't understand the SGA special treatment though. Where ist it coming from? Why does he get all the calls James-Harden-style?

[Chicagojk]

Put it in the wrong thread at first. Crazy, crazy, crazy game between Phoenix and Lakers. Lakers were up by 20 in the fourth, squandered the lead and Brooks hit a three for a one point lead with 12 seconds remaining. Than he "smartly" procceeds to make a totally unnecessary unsportsmanlike foul on LeBron before Lakers inbouded it. Technical FT and Lakers ball. LeBron missed the free throw but got fouled on a 3 point attempt with 3 seconds to go. Made 2 which was in the end enough for the win.

Lakers played approximately one half of great defense, but couldn't score whole game (just 18 % from three).

Brooks was fouled on that three.  After the play was amateur hour by Brooks.  What a loser.  For such a good player, he is sure an idiot.

Couldn’t see from the replay if that Lebron three deserved a foul on his shot. The angle I saw was hard to see.

Lebron got a technical earlier by another stupid play by brroks, but his hands were all over the ref and in his face.  Any other player does that and he is kicked out immediately.

[Chicagojk]

Nets blow out the Bucks yesterday.   Nets have been playing better recently.  Not a good sign for the Bucks.  Giannis didn't play, but still it appears a divorce is when not if.  I believe I read OKC, Houston and SA will not look for a Giannis trade during the season.  Maybe that is false, but we will see.    

Hornets beat the Cavs in overtime.  Cavs score 0 points in overtime.   Cavs without Mobley but Hornets without Ball. It is becoming clear though that Ball may not be in their future.  His health and salary may not be worth what he brings to the table.   Kon is so good too.  I really liked him in college, but I did not think he would be this good, this fast.  

Hawks beat the sixers.  Jalen Johnson with another triple double.  Trae Young and Maxey did not play.   Wonder if ATL is exploring going really big....especially with a draft pick coming up and letting Trae go?   The KP news is tough for this year as they have a pretty big hole at center now.  

Pelicans beat the Bulls.  Boy did the Bulls season go down the toilet fast.   Coby White shooting 29% from three so far.  

Trailblazers beat the Warrirors despite 12 threes and 48 points from Curry.   What is the plan for GS?  Kuminga with another DNP.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6891129...de-season/


NBA power rankings for the week of 12-15-25

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6865580...eams-2025/

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4728...l-30-teams


Trade deadline tiers for all 30 teams.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4731...eonard-era


I didn't realize that, as great of a player as CP3 was, he's a divisive person.

[Mavs2021]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4731...eonard-era


I didn't realize that, as great of a player as CP3 was, he's a divisive person.

Really? Been pretty obvious to me that he is a negative locker room presence. Same with KD. KD only works as the beta in the room. Thunder to Westbrook, Golden State to Steph and now Houston to Sengun/Adams. If you let KD run the locker room, you get Phoenix and Brooklyn.

[omahen]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4731...eonard-era


I didn't realize that, as great of a player as CP3 was, he's a divisive person.

Seems to me his persona worked well on a young OKC team (lots of OKC players saying nice things about CP3 lately). He was treated with respect there - he was still good and of course one of most decorated players, teaching young guys. They listended to him and respected his authority.

I can imagine that same ways don't work with a veteran squad such as Clippers. Those guys consider themselves same level as CP3 as to what they have achieved and don't appreciate some "chiwawa" being the smartest person in the room the whole time. 

I don't understand why they brought him in in the first place. Whatever he is, he is a team legend. Certainly a bad look for Clippers to end it this way.

[Chicagojk]

I only saw a little bit of the game last night, but I did see most of the fourth and some of the late third.    When I turned it on Wemby was in a groove and put SA up.   

Knicks played great in the 4th.  Kolek did exactly what a backup point guard should do.  He played so well that he was finishing the game with Brunson.   He is a nice player (second round pick in the previous draft).

While Wemby was electric, I really think Mitchell Robinson was a big factor in the win.  He was dominating the boards and created more baskets.   Clarkston got a few threes off rebounds.   

Did anyone see that Dirk said OG game to him about improving his shot.   He is shooting better this year.   Maybe he should talk to Caleb???

The teams both seemed to want to really win and the celebration was sort of cool.   It sounds like the cup will continue but it may be moved from Vegas.  I really hope they don't move it to one of those saudi countries in a cash grab, but that seems what everyone is doing.  I hope not though.

[Nowitzki Way]

I only saw a little bit of the game last night, but I did see most of the fourth and some of the late third.    When I turned it on Wemby was in a groove and put SA up.   

Knicks played great in the 4th.  Kolek did exactly what a backup point guard should do.  He played so well that he was finishing the game with Brunson.   He is a nice player (second round pick in the previous draft).

While Wemby was electric, I really think Mitchell Robinson was a big factor in the win.  He was dominating the boards and created more baskets.   Clarkston got a few threes off rebounds.   

Did anyone see that Dirk said OG game to him about improving his shot.   He is shooting better this year.   Maybe he should talk to Caleb???

The teams both seemed to want to really win and the celebration was sort of cool.   It sounds like the cup will continue but it may be moved from Vegas.  I really hope they don't move it to one of those saudi countries in a cash grab, but that seems what everyone is doing.  I hope not though.

I saw Dirk's comment. I love that for OG and for Dirk. They kept mentioning on the broadcast how everyone says OG is a such a tireless worker. He never stops working on his game. I love that. 

Side note. San Antonio is going to be a problem (again). I was just getting over the decades with Robinson, Duncan, Parker, Ginobili, Kawhi, Bowen, etc.  Now they are building another roster that could be special for a decade.  They have the last two rookies of the year with Wemby and Castle.  Now they have Harper who is a stud too. Carter Bryant was the 14 pick this last year and no telling what he could be.   All four under 21 years old.  De'Aron Fox is really good when healthy and only 27.  Devin Vassell is a really solid player and only 25. 

They have all their picks and ammunition to add significantly to that roster without touching the core. They are where OKC was a few years back before their young guns grew up and they added veterans like Caruso and Hartenstein.   Houston is on a similar trajectory. 

If San Antonio makes a few smart trades and adds a few glue pieces around their stars the West is going to brutal for awhile. We have to get some superstars on the same timeline as Flagg.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://basketnews.com/news-236985-luka-...gifts.html


Luka spends a significant amount of money on Christmas gifts for the Lakers.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://x.com/NYBobbyDon/status/2001270820035805282

https://x.com/keerthikau/status/2001144785776615476




Jalen Brunson won the NBA Cup MVP. But here is the real MVP.

[Chicagojk]

I saw Dirk's comment. I love that for OG and for Dirk. They kept mentioning on the broadcast how everyone says OG is a such a tireless worker. He never stops working on his game. I love that. 

Side note. San Antonio is going to be a problem (again). I was just getting over the decades with Robinson, Duncan, Parker, Ginobili, Kawhi, Bowen, etc.  Now they are building another roster that could be special for a decade.  They have the last two rookies of the year with Wemby and Castle.  Now they have Harper who is a stud too. Carter Bryant was the 14 pick this last year and no telling what he could be.   All four under 21 years old.  De'Aron Fox is really good when healthy and only 27.  Devin Vassell is a really solid player and only 25. 

They have all their picks and ammunition to add significantly to that roster without touching the core. They are where OKC was a few years back before their young guns grew up and they added veterans like Caruso and Hartenstein.   Houston is on a similar trajectory. 

If San Antonio makes a few smart trades and adds a few glue pieces around their stars the West is going to brutal for awhile. We have to get some superstars on the same timeline as Flagg.

Yes, SA has a scary future if Wemby stays healthy.

Houston is really good and have the ammo to make some big trades in the future, but I am less high on them.   Maybe KD plays at this level for the next 3-4 years, but we will see.   I also wonder how long that coach stays there.  He has been great but he is balls to the wall 100% of the time.   That may be draining.   This year, I think they are good but they feel like they are missing something.    They would be the team I would want to play between OKC, Denver and SA.    They are a pain to play against though.