The LeBron James- 23-24 NBA Playoffs & Off-Season Thread -(NO PERSONAL ATTACKS & BAITING)

[donnieme]

Edwards is doing what you want your guard to do when you have Jokic in a drop. People actually think young Lebron wouldn't have cooked him alive when old Lebron kinda already did in patches during the 2020 series.

[RRR3]

It's embarrassing as hell Ham couldn't beat this team even twice

[nzahir]

I think this series is showing us that having size helps and we should consider getting a 4/5 that can close games

Myles Turner: Would be great since hes mobile
Lauri Markennan: Not sure if he helps enough defensively, but tall and helps the offense. Would cost Reaves, Rui, and a combo of multiples picks and swaps.
WCJ: Ideal honestly, maybe a solid idea if Orlando wants to go with Goga and spend less on frontcourt with Paolo and Franz as well?
Draymond?: Only if GS is blowing things up, doubtful he is moved though. Probably too clunky of a fit with Bron and AD, but off the bench and can play the small ball 5 without AD or the 4 with AD. Just unsure if its easy to work with him, Bron, and AD. He did shoot well this year, but feels like anomaly.
Brook Lopez: I can see this as being realistic. But he is mobile enough?
Bobby Portis: I think its realsitic, but Portis is not a great defender I think right? Rates as a negative
Horford: I dont see Boston moving him as hes KP insurance, but would be solid

Cheap options:
Kevin Love: Meh, not a shot blocker, but a solid rebounder and gives some space. Would be solid for the vet min
Duop Reath: Meh, cant see him closing games

Christian Wood could in theory maybe be that guy, had some decent moments this year, but likely not smart enough and the shot wasnt falling. Unsure why

Thoughts?

[nzahir]

Edwards is doing what you want your guard to do when you have Jokic in a drop. People actually think young Lebron wouldn't have cooked him alive when old Lebron kinda already did in patches during the 2020 series.

Dropping 38-40 efficiecntly, even 2018 Bron

This is why Donovan Mitchell or Trae would cook him tbh

[EmpireFalls]

The Lakers would be getting wrecked by this Wolves team too.

[thebigbird]

I love the nuggets getting cooked like this. The Jokic talk had been getting pretty outrageous. Would be happy to see him lose this series and the conversation be brought back to reality.

[homecourtloss]

I love the nuggets getting cooked like this. The Jokic talk had been getting pretty outrageous. Would be happy to see him lose this series and the conversation be brought back to reality.

Jokic’s rebounding and defense has been really poor this series. And he hasn’t been creating on offense.

People might have to rethink those thoughts about the “highest peak ever” “ Best offensive peak ever” talk.

[donnieme]

Can never rule out the Nuggets. I think they are adjusting to a perimeter defense that won't just walk them to all their favourite spots. Lakers need to rewirk that backcourt because Reaves and D'lo backcourt is doubling down on some of the same flaws

[draftbarnes]

A big problem the Lakers have is the Reaves/DLO backcourt gets exposed on defense. Minnesota has zero holes on defense even Towns is defending now

[nzahir]

A big problem the Lakers have is the Reaves/DLO backcourt gets exposed on defense. Minnesota has zero holes on defense even Towns is defending now

I am done with us playing small

If we are moving Reaves for a star and getting a guy like Mitchell for ex, I am cool with Dlo leaving if it helps us get the non tax payer mle or convincing him to have a bench role so we dont rely on him. If he walks, maybe we can get Cp3 for the min or mle? (or even a piece of it)

And then having a SG with size next to him who can defend. Maybe Christie is that guy?

[donnieme]

Not sure the Lakers FO even did a single thing to make the Denver matchup more competitive. Since 21 have double-quadrupled down on this playing small nonsense. Worst part, what they keep throwing out is not even what real smallball is about!! It's like watching your kid cousin build a team on 2k.

[GSP]

This series tells me La had a real shot at the 0-3 like i was feeling real time. They just eek out game 5 and i think they do it man. Murrays calf is clearly bothering him. He took a dump on La last year looked like Steph Curry but he had like 3 great quarters this series and was a disaster brickhouse most the series this time around

Wolves wouldve killed La tho but that 0-3 really wouldve cemented things further for Bron man.............

[tone wone]

I think this series is showing us that having size helps and we should consider getting a 4/5 that can close games

Myles Turner: Would be great since hes mobile
Lauri Markennan: Not sure if he helps enough defensively, but tall and helps the offense. Would cost Reaves, Rui, and a combo of multiples picks and swaps.
WCJ: Ideal honestly, maybe a solid idea if Orlando wants to go with Goga and spend less on frontcourt with Paolo and Franz as well?
Draymond?: Only if GS is blowing things up, doubtful he is moved though. Probably too clunky of a fit with Bron and AD, but off the bench and can play the small ball 5 without AD or the 4 with AD. Just unsure if its easy to work with him, Bron, and AD. He did shoot well this year, but feels like anomaly.
Brook Lopez: I can see this as being realistic. But he is mobile enough?
Bobby Portis: I think its realsitic, but Portis is not a great defender I think right? Rates as a negative
Horford: I dont see Boston moving him as hes KP insurance, but would be solid

Cheap options:
Kevin Love: Meh, not a shot blocker, but a solid rebounder and gives some space. Would be solid for the vet min
Duop Reath: Meh, cant see him closing games

Christian Wood could in theory maybe be that guy, had some decent moments this year, but likely not smart enough and the shot wasnt falling. Unsure why

Thoughts?

Utah is probably not trading Lauri for anything less than a superstar package.

They definitely need a more well rounded big forward in Rui's spot. I just don't know who they can even target who can approximate Rui's offense while providing good defense and rebounding.

Then you have the D'lo/Reaves problem. Where you mostly like the offense but know you're in a athletic disadvantage against most good teams. You need to upgrade the size and overall physicality of the backcourt but you don't want to do it at the expense of shooting and playmaking.

Wanting to keep the offense of the 2nd half of the season while improving the defense and rebound is a tough needle to thread.

[falcolombardi]

It's embarrassing as hell Ham couldn't beat this team even twice

Two losses literally came down to game winners tbf

[rk2023]

This series tells me La had a real shot at the 0-3 like i was feeling real time. They just eek out game 5 and i think they do it man. Murrays calf is clearly bothering him. He took a dump on La last year looked like Steph Curry but he had like 3 great quarters this series and was a disaster brickhouse most the series this time around

Wolves wouldve killed La tho but that 0-3 really wouldve cemented things further for Bron man.............

Murray emptied the gas tank to close us out lmao..

[Mos_Heat]

God damn you Rob Pelinka for picking Russell over NAW and Conley. How bad is this guy, jeez

I know it's not a fair comp and KAT is one of the best jump shooting big men of all time, but AD loosing any semblance of a 3pt shot really limited their offense

[letskissbro]

I think this series is showing us that having size helps and we should consider getting a 4/5 that can close games

It's becoming all the more frustrating that they didn't trade for Turner when they had the chance. He'd be perfect next to LeBron and AD in this new meta of teams with supersized front courts that can shoot. Instead Rob Pelinka went and got three guys who are unplayable in the playoffs and Laker fans called it a 200 IQ 3D chess move. Dude is actually satan.

[RRR3]

It's embarrassing as hell Ham couldn't beat this team even twice

Two losses literally came down to game winners tbf

Shouldn’t have come to that point in game 2 that was a Hamster masterclass.

[RRR3]

God damn you Rob Pelinka for picking Russell over NAW and Conley. How bad is this guy, jeez

I know it's not a fair comp and KAT is one of the best jump shooting big men of all time, but AD loosing any semblance of a 3pt shot really limited their offense

Pelinka is so bad I half suspect it’s intentional.

[PistolPeteJR]

Christian Wood picks up his PO. I think I like that. $3m, easy.