"Poll question: Where do the Lakers finish in the West in 2018-2019?"
The Lakers off-season acquisitions have been met with mixed reactions. But I think they absolutely did the right thing in "Letting the Kids Cook" - not shipping out their young core for Kawhi (who they may very well get anyway) - and bringing in proven, tough veterans who can provide a buffer against the inexperienced young guns.
I love the Rondo, Lance & McGee pick ups. I even think Beasley will be a good look off the bench. The Lakers have amassed unheard of assets at the SF slot - and their strategy seems to be to overpower teams w/ their elite wing play, youth, speed, and ability to switch on a dime and play elite D.
West will likely see heavy traffic once again in the 3-8 playoff race - but the Lakers will be right there - and I think they will go into the 1st round of the playoffs with home-court advantage.
27. "yea that's more/less how I see it." In response to Reply # 2
>Warriors are clearly better, Rockets are great in the regular >season, and the rest of the West is a bloodbath.
Although I'll boldly wager that they finish at the #3 slot. But fully realize that with the way the West is comprised - the difference between #3 and #7 literally could be 0.5 games.
16. "They finished 30 games behind them last year" In response to Reply # 5
I mean as long as we're talking about last season, that tidbit seems relevant
-The Knicks’ coaching search still includes a lone frontrunner, Kurt Rambis, whose qualifications for the position include a strong relationship with Jackson and a willingness to take the job.
26. "LeBron has flipped scripts in both Miami & Cleveland" In response to Reply # 16
and he'll flip the script in L.A.
I'm not ready to declare that they'll finish with a better record than Houston - but right now I have them finishing at #3 out West - and think they will be an elite, top 5 NBA team come April/May 2019.
41. "not sure why this was a response to me but ok." In response to Reply # 26
-The Knicks’ coaching search still includes a lone frontrunner, Kurt Rambis, whose qualifications for the position include a strong relationship with Jackson and a willingness to take the job.
25. "RE: 3 this year, overall 1 next year " In response to Reply # 14
>Vex, if you wanna hit up a game at staples - holler at me >fam
for sure. Watching a Laker game @ Staples would be immense. I covered a few fights at Staples a few years back - but a Laker game is on the bucket list.
it is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. - sherlock holmes
32. "RE: Where do the Lakers finish in the West in 2018-2019?" In response to Reply # 0
8 straight years LeBron has taken his squad into the finals. He took the Cleveland Cavaliers to 4 straight finals (You will never see the Cavs in 4 straight NBA finals again). Take LeBron off of last year's Cavaliers, replace him with anyone else, and they don't make the finals.
I'm not betting against LeBron. He's a proven commodity. Granted, he's got more comp in the west, but he's got more help too.
38. "they're making him wait tables and throwing foam rollers at him while" In response to Reply # 36
he dribbles, shit is almost a parody. I'm all in on this kid though. He had that game against KD where he held his own and maybe even outplayed him, the sky's the limit.
it is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. - sherlock holmes
44. "yea that's pretty much the bulls-eye median in Vegas, too." In response to Reply # 43
~50 games is well-reasoned.
I'm going to go on a limb and say that they capture the 3rd seed, just edging out OKC in the standings (with Houston at #2/GSW at #1). I think this will require them to win 52-54 games - but I absolutely think that's feasible. They've got a plethora of young horses that are itching to break out the stable. Ingram, Ball, Kuzma & Hart all will take steps forward (with 1 or 2 of them taking 2 steps forward) this season.
>The Lakers off-season acquisitions have been met with mixed >reactions. But I think they absolutely did the right thing in >"Letting the Kids Cook" - not shipping out their young core >for Kawhi (who they may very well get anyway) - and bringing >in proven, tough veterans who can provide a buffer against the >inexperienced young guns. > >I love the Rondo, Lance & McGee pick ups. I even think >Beasley will be a good look off the bench. The Lakers have >amassed unheard of assets at the SF slot - and their strategy >seems to be to overpower teams w/ their elite wing play, >youth, speed, and ability to switch on a dime and play elite >D. > >West will likely see heavy traffic once again in the 3-8 >playoff race - but the Lakers will be right there - and I >think they will go into the 1st round of the playoffs with >home-court advantage. > >
------------------- I wanna go to where the martyrs went the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...
56. "Too bad they didn’t have a true leader at the point guard spot" In response to Reply # 49
>when they were healthy (4th in the West at Christmas) - but >then the ship sank and injuries persisted. > >-shrugs- > >party if you want, though. > >-->
------------------- I wanna go to where the martyrs went the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...
53. "they could have easily won 45+ games if LeBron were healthy" In response to Reply # 46
He ended up missing 27 games, parts of others and being limited in his effectiveness. That's not to mention the huge ass pile of other injuries they had. I'd love to party off this because 1) fuck the Lakers and 2) fuck LeBron for not riding with The Process, but I can't. Injuries were their main problem this year.
And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.
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