LABron James Discussion: The Final Year?

LeBron and his salary aren't why we couldn't have had a good puncher's chance to win a championship this year. Or next, IF he and AD were miraculously healthy again. In no particular order and not insurmountable, with smaller non 3 star moves (Trae Young Nyet ) ..... as always luck or lack of luck with key injuries (though these were not as bad as if had been LeBron or AD centered) and a poor coach making all kinds of poor decisions around those injuries; >>> led to our worst of all possible 1st round draws in the playoffs in Denver, where DLO again has been unable to walk his "want all the smoke" talk, and AR and Rui also not able to score well, plus AGAIN poor Ham coaching, stupid small lineup rotations and adjustments; lack of a legitimate quality and size BIG center other than AD; and a REAL Defensive coach like Vogel who would undoubtedly have done better with this Lakers roster, with AD and LeBron healthy basically all year, other injuries notwithstanding. Ham just says he prioritizes defense first, like so much other BS he said he would do and be as a coach. IMO.

 

Depends on your perception of reality. You don't know, what the next team values. Trades are made, for different reasons all the time. If we don't have anything of value, than it was already over, before it started.

The Lakers future picks were supposedly a hot commodity this past summer.

 

To be clear, I’m not blaming Lebron. We wasted a year with both Lebron & AD healthy, but now the window has closed. If Lebron wants to stay on a max contract, I get it and I do understand why the FO does it, but there’s no more rings. If DLo opts out, can’t really replace that. If he opts in, his value is again in the toilet. Limited options with both Lebron and AD one year older and I’m not betting on mostly perfect health from each of them again.

A miracle development would have to occur for them to compete.

 

Loved when he knocked the ball out of Joker's hand and went in for the breakaway slam, just as DEN was getting it to single digits.

 

Didn't like his demeanor this game at all. Whining, yelling at teammates.

Did like him getting pissed at Pimple. 1 game left.

 

Bron still cares. He definitely ain't waving no white flag.

 

This series is another reminder that Lebron is just a very good NBA player right now, he isn’t the destroyer of worlds he was 10 years ago anymore.

That’s still significant, but it does mean we need role players to fire and we can’t just rely on him and AD like we did even during the bubble.

 

he buried the lede there. at the end windhorst is claiming lebron will opt out because opting in would preclude a no-trade clause, which matters because we had trade discussions with gs about lebron this year.

is windy playing loose with facts? that is, did GS call us and we laughed--technically a conversation? or is he saying that he knows we didn't laugh or that we called? i'm guessing it's the former, and he's just being inflammatory, but it's still pretty wild that he thinks this (fear of being traded) would influence lebron's contractual choices.

 

i mean, he's turning 40 this year. he's still playing at an elite level, but expecting him to play like its 2018 or even 2020 at this age and with his mileage is just not realistic. it's insane that he's still even able to play at this level

 

look, i agree with the "holy cow how is he doing this" stuff, but

1. stats now aren't the same as stats 10 years ago
2. you sort of have to hide him on defense now
3. he makes 40% of the salary cap

so, it's great that he's defying father time or whatever. but he's not getting close to another ring with the way things are going, imo.

 

Losing the box out to Gordon was painful.but that was one hell of a game from Lebron.

Really really painful when your two best players basically go even with the two best players in the defending champions but you lose our because of the bench and 4/5 best players outplaying yours

 

Once AD got hurt, Bron leveled up. Hell of a game, series, and season. Wasn't enough because after our top 2, Nuggets blow us out of the water.



Much better spirits than following last year's retirement threat presser

 

Yeah he emptied the clip tonight. I'm happy with his performance. Some plays you'd like back (Aaron Gordon offensive rebound that led to Murray three) but that's basketball. Happy he stepped up and made those 2 clutch fts at the end.

I think the team is solid overall, just needs more SIZE and of course better coaching.

 

“Sort of” is being extremely generous.
Basketball is played on two sides of the ball. Yeah, he’s still elite on offense, but it’s another story on D.
We won’t win another Chip fooling ourselves into thinking playing severely handicapped defense will get it done.

 

I sure hope it’s a 1+1
Deal for much less than $50 million per.
If he truly wants to get some real help around him, he will take less.
They almost never do.
We shall see.