Optimism Discussion: The Laker's Sky Is Not Falling

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Yeah …. like in their first month together last season. Not “mini” …. “lite”

 

we're fools gold

a few things going the other way, and we have a losing record. Our margin for error is very small

 

we should at least be near the top of the league in generating quality looks from three.

both luka and reaves have been cold from distance overall, and i expect that part to change. though folks need to get used to luka's three point percentage not matching the ability. he takes a lot of tough/bad ones. it's part of his game and why teams have to blitz him 35ft from the hoop, though, so you live with it.

anyway, i'd probably take it as good news, as i don't think we'll end up this far down in three point shooting when the year's over.

 

You cursed them sigh hopefully Ayton injury is minor

 

Someone else getting the dreaded LB jinx boy label in scarlet? The H with them @JSM

 

probably a bit early to look at this, but while I and others have been a bit concerned about the narrow point differential, it's encouraging to see that 15+ games in, BPI has us #4 in the league, behind the three teams we all expected (okc, denver, houston) and bunched up with the top east teams. this has been done without lebron (and a few others at times). will it hold up? maybe not, but i feel like these start becoming pretty good predictors by midseason and are already not terrible.





https://www.espn.com/nba/bpi

 

Aint no compliment like salty tears of enemies...

 

Well, this is only partly truthful.
Joey and Jesse had very good success running the scouting department.

 

I think Jerry West imparted as much of his scouting knowledge as he possibly could to Ryan, Jesse and Joey. They all grew up around that before he left and things got bitter.

 

Lakers a bit top heavy but one 3 and D defender away from being a legit title contender this year (competition also a down year)

 

Couple random things:

- Vibes and chemistry are special with this group. The buddy comedy starring Luka and Austin is at the forefront of that. But this group has that thing. Doesn't mean you're going to win the ship, but great energy in the foxhole goes a long way.

- the position we're in being able to send waves at other teams is something no one else can quite do like us. You finally get Luka off the floor after he cooks you while laughing in your face and you're met by an Austin and Bron assault. There's just no let up that a team typically relies on to start the 2nd quarter or that late 3rd/ start of the 4th switch. It's relentless and if we had any semblance of perimeter defense and a modicum of quickness, we'd be destroying 26 of the other teams out there by a wide margin.

 

yeah this is what makes this team a title contender and one of the most unique teams in NBA history - 48 minutes of 3 playmakers who can score at 3 levels is unheard of basically. Should make it tough even on OKC to keep that sort of sustained defensive intensity.

problem is that they need 1-2 more roleplayers who can shoot and defend - get me Ellis and Monk from Sac and the team has the potential to be one of the greatest of all time

 

Not sure what's more impressive:
1) Luka being in the top 3... twice
2) Luka having the backup C in the top 3
3) Ayton being in the top 10... twice

Crazy stats.

 

All of them.