LABron James Discussion: The Final Year?

oh, and i read the russ article, and...meh. i've always known lebron was full of s***. and i've known that westbrook's been done since he got here (probably before--the washington season was a mirage).

curious as to the timing of the release of the article, though. why do this now? russ is on his third vet min since; lebron is sitting out the start of the season in a way that feels like he's already out the door, tbh (so much so that i saw a write up today talking about how the lakers finally had their full complement in the last preseason game and didn't mention they were missing 1/3 of their payroll, lol).

so yeah, i believe the article, but what does it really help me understand? it was obvious they hated each other after that first season. i didn't need the will smith story to verify.

 

Im actually still optimistic we will land in the top 6 and miss the play in. I’m not sold on several teams including the Clippers and Warriors (though I think they will probably win tomorrow).

 

yeah, i agree that those two teams in particular have SERIOUS injury concerns and will require a miracle to perform at their ceiling.

i just have to admit that lebron not even making it to training camp pretty much ended my hopes for this season. just poured water all over the fire. i'm still bullish on our future with luka as the centerpiece and clean books. but lebron already being out for a chunk of the year is PRECISELY why we didn't give up assets for andrew wiggins. we're not at the top level this year, and no, that's not rob's fault, nor is it luka's. it's dealing with 50 million dollars being paid to a 40 year old. is what it is. i'll follow the team and try to enjoy and hope for the best anyway. my buzz is definitely muted, though.

 

So my pure tinfoil hat speculation is that LeBron is fine other than being old and mainly wants to see the team spin its wheels a bit so he can swoop in and save us. Yes, that’s a whole thread of reasons to rip him and I have no proof of it at all which is why I haven’t really thrown that out there much (also just been busy with work and fall activities with the kids so haven’t been keeping up with much thus far in the preseason).

I could definitely be off on this, but I expect him back sooner than later. If we start losing then I think he wants to play hero. If we start winning he will want to share in the limelight and not lose even more ground to Luka. I think he legitimately is irked at how quickly the town embraced Luka as opposed to its reaction to him and legit can’t see his own role in that.

We will see but I definitely won’t be surprised if he plays sooner than they are projecting.

 

Man...AD is top 5 caliber, when he's healthy. Dallas is going to miss Kyrie, but probably not as much, as we would miss James. The Mavs are going to be good this season IMO, I don't know what folks are talking about. They have a better team, than we have right now.

AD has everything he wanted now, a coaching staff that respects his talent, a GM that's motivated to make moves around him, TWO quality bigs, to play 5, a Finals proven scorer at guard in Kyrie, probably the best player in the draft, to plug in at 3, and then Max and Tinkerbell, two familiar players that probably have a Laker's chip on their shoulders too. Tinkerbell can hold the fort, until Kyrie gets back. Then he could fade back into the background in the playoffs.

Hell I'm expecting Luka and AD, to both put up MVP caliber seasons.


On our end, if Austin, Rui and Vando, are going to be part of the future here, post Lebron. Now is the time to show and prove that. I'd rather have all Lebron has left, in the 2nd half of the season, and in the playoffs. Than depending on him, playing 70 plus games during the season, just in order to make the playin! We are better than than that IMO damn it!!!

We shall see shortly though.

 

Still looking forward to the season and have great hopes that Luka can really prove his worth.

 

Lots of negativity across the internet after this preseason. I’d like to see where we are by the New Year before I panic.

 

i wouldn't call my state "panic". i'd call it resignation. lebron's had trouble finishing seasons lately, and he's not starting this one. again, that's A LOT of cash on the sidelines. without him, we're a lesser version of the luka mavs. those teams were good enough to get to the conference finals and finals, but the finals team was basically the ideal-fitting luka roster, and ours still isn't. if lebron were healthy/younger or if his contract was split into two ideal-fitting role players, i'd be more optimistic.

it's not like i think we're going to be terrible, i'm just not liking what i've seen in terms of early health or the likelihood of being a good enough defensive team even if healthy.

 

Hubie is the man. Second best NBA broadcaster ever after Chick IMHO. Growing up out West with not liking anything from the East(obvious rivalry), I could not hate on Hubie because he just stood out as so real and respectful.
This dude is twice as knowledgeable and half as biased as all the clowns put together we currently are forced to listen to now that get paid to do the National stuff.
I guess Spero is okay.

 

I’m not fearful nor panicked.
I just feel that this team has several things to fix before it can be considered a real contender.
I only fear One.

 

Yeah. I think we could sputter a bit out the gate again, but it won't be some crazy 0-9 hole or anything. I think we will hover around the .500 level until LeBron gets back and the team gels and then actually be looking pretty good by the all star break.

 

yeah, i may just have to stay clear of here after these first couple games, lol. i'll be asleep before tonight's is over anyway.

looking at the schedule, under .500 after 10 games (considering lebron is going to miss most if not all of them) is probably expected. we'll have a chance to get on track after that, though. just could be another rough start.

 

it's 2025 and we're still getting articles about westbrick's lakers tenure lol. and you know it was his camp responsible for that coming out too

maybe they know this is it for russ. he's tried hard to salvage his image post-lakers but has failed at every stop, and i don't see that changing in sacramento

 

I actually think the takes here are quite measured. I’ve seen reddit and it’s not pretty… we’re basically the 10th seed this year according to them.

I feel like we’ve improved as a team. Luka and Reaves are going to maybe put up his best season ever. Smart and Ayton are excellent additions. LaRavia is ok, Vando and Gabe seem improved. Rui and Lebron will probably play the same as last year.

I do think it’s going to be challenging putting together a good 82 game defense. But we’ll have enough offense to win 50%+ of the games. I expect us to start 12-8 in the first 20. And then accelerate into a 40-20 team and finish strong, 53-29.

 

I don't care anything about Russ or LeBron articles. What I do care about is that LeBron had no problem setting AD up for failure with all his bs talk and sabotaging him in games. Likely did so to many others. You didn't need night vision to see it, it was as clear as a cold mountain stream. Great player with no loyalty to anyone. I know, another LeBron rant, but he is just that level of narcissist and will be looking for some way to do it to Luka. Finally, though, the LeBron chatter is starting to fade and he has met his match.

 

"Sabotaging him in games"





My man! I thought I was the only one seeing that.

 

I am curious as to how many saw this, or will admit to seeing it. Good eye.

 

I mean maybe Bron and AD just didn't want to risk Will having a mental breakdown and slapping either of them.


Also when is Russ going to launch his podcast with co-host Screaming A?

Disappointed in Melo for giving that bum a platform to s*** on Bron. It's psychotic at this point that he's STILL milking that story. Taylor Swift gets over a breakup quicker.

 

i said it a lot when everyone was s***ting on AD all the time. you can't say you've handed over the keys whilst clutching the keys with an iron fist. it wasn't until last year that AD finally started getting treated more like the centerpiece (and he played well). but then luka came available.

waive your no-trade clause and take your kid with you then, fella.

but yeah, who knows what's going on, if anything. i will say that i don't need a whole lot more evidence to say he's clearly struggled with being second on the bill. i had hoped he'd embrace it a bit considering how bitterly he's complained about getting help. feels different now that you're the help, i guess.