you know... multiple times he's standing still as guys drive to the basket or score right next to him.... no effort on some plays really...
If you notice the Lakers go on bad stretches right when he's doing that..its like it zaps the energy out of the team.....you start seeing turnovers.….
the line up with Ingram at the 2....Lonzo…...Lebron ..Kuzma and McGee is a cold line up.... we need a big man that can defend because McGee is still basically a 3rd string center...if you're relying on him to anchor your defense you've got problems....
small ball with Lebron is gonna work because he's not putting up any real defensive presence south of the free throw line....
LAbeathustla Member since Jan 24th 2004 33858 posts
Fri Nov-02-18 11:08 AM
9. "so all of a sudden all the other lakers know how to play defense but leb..." In response to Reply # 7
cannot? if thats the case they wouldve been a lot better defensively last year. its lebrons fault all of a sudden that the lakers give up 110 a night...same as they were doin last year? foh.
10. "RE: so all of a sudden all the other lakers know how to play defense but..." In response to Reply # 9
>cannot? if thats the case they wouldve been a lot better >defensively last year. its lebrons fault all of a sudden that >the lakers give up 110 a night...same as they were doin last >year? foh.
so my opinions are based upon watching the actual games.... I'm speaking on right today.... I'm watching guys come off of picks up at the free throw line and dribble all the way to the basket and Lebron watches them and never moves his feet towards the guy with the ball.... Or dudes standing literally next to Lebron at the basket and he makes no effort to contest a shot ..again with the guys literally right next to him.
That's what's happening now..
Lebron started the season as the Lakers Power Forward ... after Ingram went out and Kuzma entered the line up, the plan was to play Kuzma at the 3 and Lebron stay at the 4.... His lack of defensive effort now has him playing the 3, with Kuzma at the 4, and Ingram at the 2.... the move for Lebron was made because of his complete lack of effort on defense below the free throw line.... Not that Kuzma is friggin Ben Wallace down there, but Lebron simply wasn't defending the paint with anything....
Luke has actually subbed Lebron out in the 4th quarter of 2 games for defensive purposes..... which is bad considering we don't have a defensive minded 4 or 5 on our bench.....
as far as the rest of team and last year's numbers.... The Lakers were 29th in Turnovers last year. you had some starters with some really bad shooting percentages....and you had some guys who are no longer on the team that played a lot of minutes, and were less than average defenders...like Julius Randle and Brook Lopez....
again I'm not saying that Lonzo, BI and Kuzma are great defenders...I am saying that they are at least average to slightly above average, and they are not watching guys go to the basket and not moving...that's what Lebrons doing and anyone who is watching these games sees that..
but again...it's a fixable problem....
the Lakers could very easily be undefeated right now...
Frank Longo Member since Nov 18th 2003 86672 posts
Fri Nov-02-18 04:29 PM
15. "Young players struggle with isolation defense. " In response to Reply # 13
The fact that they played pretty good team defense last year is very encouraging for their potential, and it shouldn't be surprising that, if a game was close, they struggled to contain a star in iso or pick-and-roll.
IIRC, at least five of the ten worst defenses in the NBA today are among the youngest teams in the NBA. It takes time to adjust.
18. "why would I have watched Lebron play meaningless regular" In response to Reply # 16
season games at any point in his career??
lol..
I'm a Laker fan....and although I watch tons of basketball...both college and pro.... if there is a meaningless regular season game I would have been watching...obviously the Lakers would have been one of the teams playing...and being that Lebron only played the Lakers twice per year.... the games I've watched Lebron James play usually actually meant something....
whenever I've had the league pass...I would have been watching other games besides ones Lebron was playing in...
Now that he's a Laker...watching every second of every game he's playing in... you notice things you didn't have the opportunity to notice before... and that pause and rewind button comes in handy too..
I certainly didn't expect him to be Dennis Rodman on defense during the early part of the season...but being that his lack of effort is playing such a pivotal role in these early loses ...losing by less than 5 points so many times.... ..
22. "Lebron will play defense in high-leverage moments in the 'offs" In response to Reply # 0
but he didn't come to L.A. to run up his odometer in October/November -- let the young horses scramble and prove merit on the defensive end to see who will be riding into the sunset in April/May/June.
24. "RE: Lebron will play defense in high-leverage moments in the 'offs" In response to Reply # 22
>but he didn't come to L.A. to run up his odometer in >October/November -- let the young horses scramble and prove >merit on the defensive end to see who will be riding into the >sunset in April/May/June.
This is actually true.....
GOAT of his era......long live Prince.....God is alive....
40. "if you think he should be buckling down in Season 16" In response to Reply # 29
In October/November on the defensive end - *especially* when the Lakers have a myriad of young horses that are capable of stepping up and playing good defense - then bless your heart.
dula dibiasi Member since Apr 05th 2004 21925 posts
Sat Nov-10-18 02:18 PM
23. "it's nice to see ppl finally catching on to this. " In response to Reply # 0
i mean, i was talking about it years ago, back when he was hiding weakside on sol hill and rasual butler while PG was getting busy, and i got nothing but pushback and "hater" accusations.
but better late than never, i guess.
___
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
30. "What the hell...lol" In response to Reply # 25
-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.
auragin_boi Member since Aug 01st 2003 20939 posts
Mon Nov-12-18 09:21 AM
27. "His late game FT shooting is a bigger concern." In response to Reply # 0
And I've been on that one for YEARS...it's one of the reasons when they need a bucket to retake or extend a lead, he'll pass to Hart with 5 secs on the shot clock instead of driving and getting the foul.
He's done it in 4 different games this season.
And the LA fans SEE it. They moan hard af every time he blows 1-2 late game free throws.
39. "w/ all the disdain and lamentations - Lakers are 1 game from 3rd seed" In response to Reply # 0
They have gotten significantly better over the course of these last few games - and have won 6 of 7 (with wins against quality opposition).
They are still a player away from being able to compete at the upper echelon - but LeBron instantly has put them in the playoff picture and he's doing it in a way that is empowering the young guys to step up. They are getting great looks and great opportunities to ascend - now they just have to. Ball and Ingram have not played well yet - and when they do - this team will be significantly improved. -->
43. "RE: Agreed on all expect one part:" In response to Reply # 42
>Zo and BI haven't played well *offensively* yet. >Defensively, they've been excellent - highlighted by their >play on Lillard and CJ last night.
They sure have - and that's an important point that I should've made. They both have tremendous ability as defensive forces - and more importantly - I see them putting in the effort to ramp up the RPM on the defensive end, which will be critical to this team's success.
I'm high on both of them (and Kuz) - but they will need to find their groove on the offensive end for this team to get to where I think they can get (as a top 4 seed in the West *this* year).
44. "Lonzo and BI have been inconsistent on offense..." In response to Reply # 42
more Zo than BI... but they've both played well offensively at various times this year.... BI has to be more efficient..and he has to start consistently knocking down his outside shots..
but the upside of them as a backcourt can be huge...got to give them time..
got to remember that they are both 21 years old right now..
45. "Ingram's midrange has been coming around..." In response to Reply # 44
but he hasn't attacked the basket as aggressively this season.
So while Rondo's been a fantastic backup, his injury does open things up for other players. I'm hoping Luke starts exploring pulling BI for Hart around the 6m mark in the first, then puts him back in whenever he pulls Lebron. BI can then run point forward for the second unit.
Lance was actually pretty nice as the backup point when Rondo was suspended but I'd rather get Ingram comfortable with primary ballhandling duties again. There's been (understandably) a lot of deference to Lebron in the halfcourt but I'd like to see more sets with Ingram initiating the offense.
49. "I think LeBron's back isn't 100%" In response to Reply # 0
been noticing he's been stretching his back on the sidelines....now I see he has on a back brace under his warmups before the game...
honestly one of the first things I thought of when I saw his lack of defensive effort early was that he looked like he might be hurt..particularly a bad back..
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