Especially when he most likely only got the job because Bron wanted him. You can see the pathetic defensive efforts from him in that clip and what I’ve been talking about. A lot of the time he’s on the weak side standing between the 3pt line and the key, but whenever he’s required to actually slide over and help he just stands there. And when they score he’s got his arms out. If you’re putting your hand out for $53M, at least look like you give a ■■■■.
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We’re two months into the season and the expected Laker drop has and will continue to occur. We’re not good enough to be anywhere near the top 4 in the West. Teams continue to shoot the 3 well against us and when you combine that with getting beaten on the boards, you’re pushing ■■■■ up hill to compete against the best in the West. The offence has been average at best too as we play better teams who don’t feel the need to send a double at Luka because it gives us an advantage elsewhere on the court. Play them straight gives you the best chance to minimise the offence. Wouldn’t mind having a stable lineup for longer than 5 games, but it is what it is. We don’t have the depth to handle multiple players out of the lineup (even if they are defensively flawed). Looking very much like the play-in team I thought we’d be. It is what it is.
Other story lines that have continued or evolved…
- The MVP race seems to be SGA’s. The Jokic injury is enough to tilt things his way. Luka has dropped off. So has Giannis.
- The championship race was over and done with a month ago. It was nothing but OKC. Now San Antonio are a threat having beaten them a few times. I still think Denver are OKC’s biggest threat. As long as Jokic and Murray are fit, they’ll push OKC and anyone else in a 7 game series. It’s still full of west heavy contenders. Two of OKC, SA, Houston and Denver make it to the conference finals. It’ll just come down to matchups. I still wouldn’t count Minnesota out. They have a habit of just getting through the season then locking in during the playoffs.
- Dallas and the Clippers are going to make it interesting for the play in spots. I don’t see Memphis and Portland holding pace and Utah have been a surprise too. I still think Dallas and the Clippers make the final two playing spots. The Clippers / Kawhi / Balmer stuff has gone quiet as expected. I doubt it gets sorted before the end of the season. That sounds like a quiet announcement during the Finals kind of event.
- Golden State are still a smokey. I don’t expect them to be consistent through the year, but as long as they get to the playoffs with Jimmy Butler and Curry up and running, they are a good chance to progress depending on matchups. They are struggling and surprisingly Butler is playing pretty much every game.
- Phoenix are in it for the experience. It’ll do them the world of good to get into a playoff series. They’ve done very well to waive and stretch Beal to give themselves a chance. They only have 1 of their own first round picks in the next four drafts, but they’re doing well to get value in trades.
- The East is the east. It’s pretty ripe for a run by a handful of teams. Detroit are looking good and Cade is running that team pretty well. New York are New York. Whatever they do during the season means nothing to them. They’ll be tested through the playoffs. I still like the look of Orlando. It looks like it’ll take the year for them to find themselves. Toronto just keep staying under the radar with no major spotlight players on their roster. Just players who do their job.
- Philadelphia are holding up well. Who knows, if they can be fully healthy come playoffs (big if) they might reach a conference finals on the back of Maxey and VJ. Chicago look like running back their usual playin spot out east. Milwaukee will go as Giannis goes. They have very few alternatives.
- The trade front is interesting. Morant, Young and Kuminga are all being dangled. AD is also there for the taking but again, I doubt teams will take him on. He’s got 3 years left (he’ll pick up the player option to continue) and at 32, he’s already injury riddled.
- Giannis trade speculation continues to rage on. All whilst he remains non-committal. I’m not sure how that’ll end, but I’m sure speculation will continue.
- For me, the trade interest is in who tries to go all in. OKC, SA and Houston have plenty of assets to trade if they want to make a jump. Cleveland is an interesting watch. Not sure what they can do to minimise their tax bill. Maybe they get lucky in the off-season, but they cannot salary dump players because of the apron rules. I’d also watch Boston. They have Simons as an expiring and could set themselves up for a run this year and into next year.
- The tank for a shot at Dybantsa or Boozer next year will be in full effect by February. Indiana started theirs early and look good. New Orleans are looking swell (unfortunately, they do not own their own pick). This’ll probably be the year neither of the bottom 3 get picks in the top 5.
January is the month during the season where things get interesting. Tanking is in full affect and teams start making their run leading in to the all start break.
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Death taxes and miami heat in the crunch deciding yes bam needs to play iso then turning it over
Miami finally getting something going again with 4 in a row. Powell with another great game.
They are consistently good or consistently bad, there is no in between.
Also, I know they are missing their best player, but the Indiana drop off has to be one of the craziest I have seen.
Imagine being a game away from the championship and now you are the bottom team in the conference (even below Washington). Crazy stuff.
Yeah raises questions about paskal
Would be crazy except the way these teams “manage” their results it’s hardly surprising. Most likely achieving what they want to achieve.
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Boston with a good away win at Sacramento.
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I’m going to be so devastated once norm powell gets traded for aging superstar by pat
Buzelis is looking pretty good man, that dunk yesterday was NASTY too damn - link: https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1q2hr7a/highlight_all_the_angles_of_matas_buzelis_poster/
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Sixers just finding their chemistry.
Giddey-less Bulls lose to Centre-less Hornets.
The 1 point loss to the Bucks yesterday was so frustrating on every level , would’ve kept us within (distant) striking distance of a play in chance.
The Celtics snap the Clippers win streak in emphatic fashion. Brown with a 50-piece, Celts up 30 with 3 mins left. What this team has done so far has been remarkable.
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The winning mentality of this organization is something else. We should not be doing what we are doing with the roster we got. What’s the word of JT’s potential return this season?
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Apparently he’s tracking for a return this month, but I don’t know whether the ownership/front office might make him sit the season out. If we remain where we are and a real threat to win the conference they might roll the dice, but I’m sure they won’t put his long-term future at risk. Still so young.
IMO we are the best run franchise in the NBA.
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This Suns team is as fun and as competitive as I’ve seen since I started following them in the 80s.
We won’t get far this season if we do make the playoffs but we are one or two pieces away from having a say.
Loving it.
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And I said the above when we were down by 10. Did not anticipate a win against OKC after the last time we played them.
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Thanks Lakers for Goodwin
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WTF is going on @saladin