They are missing Curry and Green. And Durant is off tonight too. Finally, for some strange reason, they tend to play poorly whenever they visit Los Angeles. I cannot imagine why that might be the case.Dubs have come out playing suuuuper-lazy basketball in the 2nd half. Trying to coast to a win.
And then injures his knee. Ingram is one of those guys who will look like a future superstar one night and JAG the very next game.Ingram just had 3 consecutive shots blocked, each more embarrassingly than the last.
Kuzma and Hart are for real. Kuzma is going to be a monster for them.Lonzo is the 3rd best rookie on the Lakers. Which is to say that he is the worst rookie on the Lakers.
It's amazing how promising their future is given that they may have utterly whiffed on 2/3 #2 picks.Kuzma and Hart are for real. Kuzma is going to be a monster for them.
At least one of them. But they got Kuzma because of the Russell trade so they actually hit on all of them.It's amazing how promising their future is given that they may have utterly whiffed on 2/3 #2 picks.
Hadn't thought about (A); I like it.That was all worth it to A) make the Lakers work that much harder, if only for five minutes, B) watch Durant undress Lonzo for the go-ahead bucket, and C) watch Lonzo got rejected on the final play.
I still have Toney and Ivaroni on the mind, apologies but I'll always cheer for 76er misfortune. Deep down I fear these guys peaking over the next 2-5 seasons, just when the Celtics will be hitting their stride. Preparing myself for the Philly hate.who cares about that? more important is that the Bulls are only 2.5 games behind LAL.
Lakers have more wins than 5 teams and less wins than every other team in the league. Next up, on the road at Houston followed by a visit to GSW. Bulls are rolling, Conley isn't on the court yet with his strained Achilles. Hurry back Mike.who cares about that? more important is that the Bulls are only 2.5 games behind LAL.
It's unclear to me how promising the Lakers' future is. They're 10-18. I love Lonzo still, but it's tough to say he's an A+ prospect. Ingram shows flashes. Kuzma is nifty, but he's 22. I don't mean to nitpick, but this isn't a young team that's doing surprisingly well or anything. They have seem...fine. But there's probably 15 teams in the league with a brighter future still, right?It's amazing how promising their future is given that they may have utterly whiffed on 2/3 #2 picks.
Yeah, I'm not all that high on the Lakers youth. Ingram is making a nice leap that I expected as he gained strength/experience however the higher his usage the greater his flaws are exposed. I don't feel like he's a great creator while his handle is somewhat slow and clunky......but he uses his tremendous length once he gets an angle. I'm not convinced that he can consistently achieve that angle against the elite defensive wings he'll be facing. I still like him.....just not as an elite #1 guy.It's unclear to me how primising the Lakers' future is. They're 10-18. I love Lonzo still, but it's tough to say he's an A+ prospect. Ingram shows flashes. Kuzma is nifty, but he's 22. I don't mean to nitpick, but this isn't a young team that's doing surprisingly well or anything. They have seem...fine. But there's probably 15 teams in the league with a brighter future still, right?
I mean, I guess LeBron cures all ills?
Which also means that if Kuzma becomes a star and Russell doesn't, since Kuzma was picked with the Cs pick from the Garnett / Pierce trade, BRK has blown that trade even further.At least one of them. But they got Kuzma because of the Russell trade so they actually hit on all of them.
I guess I rate Ingram higher than most, but it's fair to think that just might be me being paranoid regarding the Lakers' odds of success.It's unclear to me how promising the Lakers' future is. They're 10-18. I love Lonzo still, but it's tough to say he's an A+ prospect. Ingram shows flashes. Kuzma is nifty, but he's 22. I don't mean to nitpick, but this isn't a young team that's doing surprisingly well or anything. They have seem...fine. But there's probably 15 teams in the league with a brighter future still, right?
I mean, I guess LeBron cures all ills?
Agree with you and bowiac---absent a grade-A free agent signing this is looking like a team that peaks at 50ish wins and out in second round of the playoffs, with upside of the odd 'hey, Jason Kidd Nets made the finals' kind of situation.Yeah, I'm not all that high on the Lakers youth. Ingram is making a nice leap that I expected as he gained strength/experience however the higher his usage the greater his flaws are exposed. I don't feel like he's a great creator while his handle is somewhat slow and clunky......but he uses his tremendous length once he gets an angle. I'm not convinced that he can consistently achieve that angle against the elite defensive wings he'll be facing. I still like him.....just not as an elite #1 guy.
Ball is the same. He's good, he's going to get better.....but he has limitations to his game that have nothing to do with his 3-point shooting which like Ingram's coming out of college I feel will be fine. Kuzma is your prototypical active role player.....he can be good but certainly not a great player. Is his ceiling that Covington/Crowder type of wing? Clarkson is a second unit scorer. These guys aren't difference makers.
As you say.....LeBron changes everyones role on the team. If you want to use "numbers" a guy like Ingram would be much more effective as a #2 or 3 option than a 1. Kuzma better as a 4 than a 2-3......Ball's game by definition of what he does is as a complimentary player. The Lakers need star power to allow these young players to fit into the role they are best suited for........
.....but as a young core rating I don't have them as anything special on their own.
You are not the only oneAlso, am I the only one who's vaguely distracted by both Kuzma and Ingram's cherry-red mouths/lips/gums? They always look like they've just been slurping cherry slush or blood — like part-vampire, part-John Elway.
How could he resist following in the footsteps of Karl Malone, Gary Payton, Dwight Howard, and Steve Nash?playing for one of the league's legacy franchises and leading it back to glory will have appeal. It is true that he seems to be more aware of that sort of legacy stuff than most players.
Yeah, I'd definitely take an even money bet that he doesn't go to LA. It doesn't fit his m.o. at all: LeBron goes where he has championship level supporting talent, and LA isn't close to having that.I'm not buying it. Cleveland, Houston and Philly all make way more sense for a variety of reasons. I think Kevin O'Connor overstated Lebron's interest in LA with some very iffy sources and now everyone has run with it. Not saying I'd be shocked if he went but it's not consistent with the way he thinks. I still remember when him signing with New York in 2010 was a foregone conclusion.
Pelinka would have to be damn creative to pull that off. Even if they renounce Randle, Lopez and KCP they won't have enough money for two superstars. They'll have to trade Clarkson and/or stretch-waive Deng. At that point, it's Lebron/George/Ball/Kuzma/Ingram and some minimum salary guys filling out the bench with Hart, Nance and Zubac. That's an okay top 8 but it'd be hard to come up with the salary ballast to swing that next deal for the third guy even if Ball and Ingram would be coveted on the trade market.I always thought part of the allure of LA was that one other star would come with him (probably George) and they could use all the young assets to flip for another top star and he’d have his west coast super team. I also don’t think it’s a slam dunk, he’ll go wherever he has the best chance to get a ring.
I think that's the idea. He and George go to the Lakers and then they flip some package of their young talent for another star player (hello Klutch Sports Group client John Wall!) while signing a few veteran ring chasers to round out their bench. Or maybe they sign Paul instead. I wouldn't be shocked if there have already been high-level discussions between Rich Paul and Magic/Pelinka on how a LeBron-led Lakers *might* look in 2018. And per our posts upthread, I doubt that there are any players on the current Lakers roster who are untouchable if the Lakers can sign a James, a George/Paul and then need to add a third star via trade.I always thought part of the allure of LA was that one other star would come with him (probably George) and they could use all the young assets to flip for another top star and he’d have his west coast super team. I also don’t think it’s a slam dunk, he’ll go wherever he has the best chance to get a ring.
They are in a better position to add payroll than the Rockets in 2018 and beyond.Pelinka would have to be damn creative to pull that off. Even if they renounce Randle, Lopez and KCP they won't have enough money for two superstars. They'll have to trade Clarkson and/or stretch-waive Deng. At that point, it's Lebron/George/Ball/Kuzma/Ingram and some minimum salary guys filling out the bench with Hart, Nance and Zubac. That's an okay top 8 but it'd be hard to come up with the salary ballast to swing that next deal for the third guy even if Ball and Ingram would be coveted on the trade market.
The Rockets won't need to add payroll. They'd have 3 top 10 players plus Clint Capela. (I assume that Lebron to Houston involves a trade for Anderson, Gordon, and Picks.)They are in a better position to add payroll than the Rockets in 2018 and beyond.
They need to resign Paul and Capela and then add LeBron. I have them at ~$80mm before any of that happens.The Rockets won't need to add payroll. They'd have 3 top 10 players plus Clint Capela. (I assume that Lebron to Houston involves a trade for Anderson, Gordon, and Picks.)
Unless I'm missing something, if Cleveland plays ball on a sign-and-trade (as they did with Miami), then Houston can re-sign Paul and Capela, and then trade Anderson/Gordon/picks for LeBron.They need to resign Paul and Capela and then add LeBron. I have them at ~$80mm before any of that happens.
Outscored 30-17 in the 4th quarter. Back to back losses, to the Bulls and the Kings.Kings taking down the Embid-less 76ers
Covington 1-11 on 3PA, mean reversion kicking in.
Fair enough. The Lakers could offer the Cavs more in a S&T deal, right?Unless I'm missing something, if Cleveland plays ball on a sign-and-trade (as they did with Miami), then Houston can re-sign Paul and Capela, and then trade Anderson/Gordon/picks for LeBron.
Ha like it. Kick 'em when they're down.Outscored 30-17 in the 4th quarter. Back to back losses, to the Bulls and the Kings.
Don't we get their pick if it's in the 2-5 range?