NBA Playoffs
- Thread starter FtWorthCat
- Start date
Lakers aren't winning anything that matters again until he leaves. That's the point. He hasn't don't much n his tenure with the Lakers that matters. 1 title and 1 total nba finals appearance in 7 seasons.
I care about team success, not lebron padding his stats at 40.
He’s been a winner his whole career.
He went to like 8 straight finals.
They couldn’t even have the finals without him.
Never a hint of scandal.
He’s in the discussion as the GOAT.
All time leading scorer in the league.
And playing at a top 10 level.
He’s a credit to the game.
Maybe the Lakers need to put some talent / defense around him. After they won the title, they didn't make any major moves, other than signing Russell Westbrook which was a terrible idea. Lebron is 40 now, he can't guard for 40 minutes a night anymore. Adding Luka only made the defense worse. It is not that they can't win with Lebron, it is they can't defend with the roster created. Reeves, horrible defender, Luka, LOL, Jaxson Hayes, soft as Charmin, Hachimura, nope. IF they would have gotten Williams after losing AD, they would have had a better chance. James is the ONLY starter who is even remotely a two way player.
Odd you don't think they can win with him there. When was the last title BEFORE Lebron came to the Lakers ?????? I will answer that for you, 2010. ONE title and several misses to even making the playoffs until Lebron signed to play the 2019 season. Won it in 2020. So ONE title in 15 years and Lebron was on the team. Trading for AD won them their championship, but before that trading Ivan Zubac and Michael Beasley for freaking Mike Muscala (LOL) was dumb. Then to get AD they traded Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and three 1st round picks (the 2019 pick was 4th overall) could have gotten Darius Garland, cost them any picks or capital to replenish the roster. They just made the Western Conference Finals in 2023 losing to the eventual champs, Denver. So to say they can't win WITH Lebron is a bit shortsighted. Lebron James is not the reason the Lakers can't win, it is the dumb decisions by the Lakers front office is. All facts, but go ahead and put it all on Lebron James. Hell he took a very mediocre Cleveland team all the way to the finals, he had No ONE on that team worth a damn. Wait until he is gone, you will be wishing you had him back, age 40+ and all. Having two ball dominant players was never going to work, especially with a player like Luka who gives up as many as he scores. Lebron with Josh Hart, Ball, Brandon Ingram and a younger cast from those 3 #1 draft picks and Kyle Kuzma would be built a lot better for now and the future.
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I will take it one step further as far as Luka goes. Which roster would you rather have (healthy, Mavs couldn't predict Kyrie's and Gafford's injuries).
Kyrie Irving / Spencer Dinwiddie
Klay Thompson / Naj Marshall / Max Christie
PJ Washington / Dante Exum / Jaden Hardy
AD / Caleb Martin / Olivier - Maxence Prosper
Derrick Lively / Daniel Gafford / Dwight Powell
OR
Luka Donic / Gabe Vincent
Austin Reeves / Dalton Knecht
Rui Hachimura / Dorrin Finney-Smith
Lebron James / Jared Vanderbilt /
Jaxson Hayes / Maxi Kleber / Alex Len
My point being, I thought Dallas would have made their team better, more depth, defensively by getting AD and Max Christie. All the Lakers did was gain more offense, but made them a lot worse defensively.
Luka - 28 ppg / 8 rpg / 7.6 apg / .42 blocks / 1.78 steals / 3.8 to's
AD - 25 ppg / 12 rpg / 3.5 apg / 2.6 blocks / 1.16 steals / 2 to's
Yes Luka adds 3 more points per game than AD, 4 assist more, and a 1/2 steal more. BUT AD adds 4 rebounds more, over 2 blocks more, and almost half of the turnovers than Luka. Yes you give up a LITTLE offense with AD, but you GAIN a lot better defense. We all know defense wins in the playoffs. So with BOTH rosters healthy, I feel Dallas would have made it a lot further than the Lakers with their constructed roster today. Unfortunately they suffered a few injuries to major players. LA on the other hand is completely healthy and no excuses. Point being, defense and depth is more important than Luka's "star" power. If both teams run it back next year, I may be one of the few who believes this, but Dallas is in better shape by making the trade. I also feel Luka will go down hill FAST, he is not going to stay in shape and the older he gets, the harder it will be to play with his conditioning and aging.
Kyrie Irving / Spencer Dinwiddie
Klay Thompson / Naj Marshall / Max Christie
PJ Washington / Dante Exum / Jaden Hardy
AD / Caleb Martin / Olivier - Maxence Prosper
Derrick Lively / Daniel Gafford / Dwight Powell
OR
Luka Donic / Gabe Vincent
Austin Reeves / Dalton Knecht
Rui Hachimura / Dorrin Finney-Smith
Lebron James / Jared Vanderbilt /
Jaxson Hayes / Maxi Kleber / Alex Len
My point being, I thought Dallas would have made their team better, more depth, defensively by getting AD and Max Christie. All the Lakers did was gain more offense, but made them a lot worse defensively.
Luka - 28 ppg / 8 rpg / 7.6 apg / .42 blocks / 1.78 steals / 3.8 to's
AD - 25 ppg / 12 rpg / 3.5 apg / 2.6 blocks / 1.16 steals / 2 to's
Yes Luka adds 3 more points per game than AD, 4 assist more, and a 1/2 steal more. BUT AD adds 4 rebounds more, over 2 blocks more, and almost half of the turnovers than Luka. Yes you give up a LITTLE offense with AD, but you GAIN a lot better defense. We all know defense wins in the playoffs. So with BOTH rosters healthy, I feel Dallas would have made it a lot further than the Lakers with their constructed roster today. Unfortunately they suffered a few injuries to major players. LA on the other hand is completely healthy and no excuses. Point being, defense and depth is more important than Luka's "star" power. If both teams run it back next year, I may be one of the few who believes this, but Dallas is in better shape by making the trade. I also feel Luka will go down hill FAST, he is not going to stay in shape and the older he gets, the harder it will be to play with his conditioning and aging.
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It's the same story with the Knicks. Their two best players, Kat and Brunson, are also their worst 2 defenders. By a mile. Everyone on the other team is good too. Things slow down in the playoffs. Both teams know each other inside out. You have to able to make plays outside of the system and you have to guard. The Lakers and Knicks can make plays on offense. They both struggle to guard. Then you have a team like Houston that can guard like no bodies business. But can create offense.
OKC is a complete team. Boston is a complete team. On paper Cleveland is. Just something about Cleveland that makes me think this is not their year.
Dudes fitting to get traded this off season. I'm ready for it. He was another to bypass college for the G-league and looking back on all of that, I'm not sure those leagues did a lick of development. Worse yet, the vast majority of guys who went that route, turned out to be disappointing. Is there maybe something about the Gleague that attracted more of the AAU mindset, as opposed to college? Idk.
But what this also means, is that Houston will almost for sure trade for Durant.. and idk how I feel about that. His clock is ticking and I don't believe he really has a "winners" mentality. Despite being a phenomenal scoring threat. We'd probably give up the farm to get him, only to watch him play 60% of his games due to his body breaking down after 16 years in the league.
But what this also means, is that Houston will almost for sure trade for Durant.. and idk how I feel about that. His clock is ticking and I don't believe he really has a "winners" mentality. Despite being a phenomenal scoring threat. We'd probably give up the farm to get him, only to watch him play 60% of his games due to his body breaking down after 16 years in the league.
I could be wrong but I think he said he’s going atleast another few years. I would if I were him. Hes still a top player and could really put the alltime scoring lead out of reach for good if he keeps going.
I think he will keep going until Bronny gets a second contract.
I wish Giannis had slapped Haliburton dad
He's top 10 all time for sure.He’s been a winner his whole career.
He went to like 8 straight finals.
They couldn’t even have the finals without him.
Never a hint of scandal.
He’s in the discussion as the GOAT.
All time leading scorer in the league.
And playing at a top 10 level.
He’s a credit to the game.
He's also up there for the biggest cry baby of all time. You can't deny the sh*t fits he throws on the court.
He's also pulled the race card more than anyone in NBA history.
He's a turd.
But again.....he's definitely top 15-20 all time.
This is how I feel, EXCEPT.. I don't see how you don't put him in the top5. And for me personally, he's #2.
I just have to separate the artist from the art. Like Kanye. What they're doing in their craft is truly unbelievable (on some level).. but they are also very unlikable and easy to root against.
I'd have enjoyed a nice 1/2 combo with an uppercut to finish him off from Giannis but nevertheless it's over.
I'm more disturbed the Pacers needed OT and a miraculous meltdown from the Bucks to finish them off at Home. Really just not a team to believe in-so much Game 1 of the ECF in them last year. Can't trust them at all. Really good Coach but poser as the best player.
A close friend of mine just got done telling me the same thing repeatedly in his frustration when the Rockets lost that game.
I can't stand Draymond Green but did laugh out loud when he told Green "Go Paint Your Nails".
Adam Silver's "G-League Ignite" was truly a car wreck. Seeing guys not develop, lose out on big $ by bypassing college even before NIL--they'd have gotten more under the table tax free $--being so stupid they put the team in CA for the initial 2 yrs forgetting income tax equation....Silver is the worst Commissioner in Sports and that's saying something as Rob Manfred does exist.
This was an accelerated seed for a young Rockets group--but it's best to see who can/can't handle this type of environment.
Maybe the great Freak shouldn't have been punked by bad team with an "overrated" player then. I mean, he is a "champion", right? Did he handle his business like a "champion"? Maybe next time the "champion" will carry them instead of asking Gary Trent Jr to do it.
As a lifelong Lakers fan-you nailed this. Let me add that AD was 100% correct in wondering why the hell they went away from having a two headed athletic and physical Center duo--using him at PF most of the game and then he could slide over in the 4th and play Center after the other two used fouls/physical play to wear down the opposing big? They went to Marc Gasol's lame *** and changed everything that worked at that position. He was beyond washed but the "European Flow" game or some BS was talked up.
My take on LeBron as a Lakers fan is Thank You. If not for him-they don't have another Championship and not only getting one but in a year that Kobe Bryant passed. That meant a lot and was added pressure and it's not like they weren't in position to win that if they didn't have the delay and move to the Bubble. They were #1 seed in Western Conference and best team in the NBA all season. He also was responsible for getting AD to LA and from there---Pelinka and Jeannie went and ****ed up things per usual. I'd not even doubt if Pelinka has some weird Kobe thing where he doesn't want LeBron to get the same amount or surpass him in Championships because that dude is out there with his Drone like talk mixed with new age world takes. He's like Mark Pope if Pope smoked an entire Bill Walton year supply in a day with the "Magical Forces of Unicorn Strength that supply our guys" after someone goes 1-18 and had 10 turnovers.
I'm not a Giannis fan so you bashing him doesn't bother me--but someone from outside the competition wants to get involved-they deserved to get knocked the **** out--parent or friend whatever. Leave the competition to the guys involved.
Tyrese Haliburton is universally seen as the most overrated player in the NBA by his peers. This is nothing new so take it up with the entire NBA is you have issue with that commentary that he's not that good.
Nobody can win a championship alone and Giannis has one so he'll never take too much heat-but not sure why it's upsetting you that neutral fans would like to see a person who wasn't involved in the game on the court at all-not a coach or player--want to get the **** kicked out of them?
I don't like players' parents getting involved in this crap, at all. But, it's something Silver seems absolutely OK with, for ratings. As far as the Bucks and Pacers, they've been chippy for years. That entire Bucks roster is chippy. And we all know how these things go, when it's chippy, the final scoreboard gets real loud. We also know the Bucks would've done the same thing. It's a big boy game, and ALL adults should conduct themselves as such.
Here's an issue that everyone seems to be dancing around when discussing LeBron.
Why the hell at the age of 40 is he still held to a standard that other guys in this League avoid while they are in their athletic prime of 25-32? I fully understand why people don't like someone for various reasons as I'm a frequent fan partaking in this with other players. My take is the long game. The man surpassed all the hype he had entering the NBA and nobody can debate it was more than any athlete ever faced due to the difference in covering sports/era he entered the league. Not liking him off the court is anyone's right but mistaking that for what he's done on the court is where I get a bit confused. It's far more of a reflection on the NBA as a whole that guys like LeBron/Curry are still talked about as if they are 26 yrs old and carrying franchises. Speaks more about the change for the worse-where everyone is treated like a Franchise player--and we've got a majority of this League as good #2 sidekicks and support players. Leaving for Miami? Good. He did the right thing. That franchise was wasting him and he did what he was expected to do. How he did it is the aspect why I think many just roll their eyes and that's understandable. He has some goofy/stupid **** like the "mysterious racial hatred" spray painted on his home in a gated community and behind a gate with security cameras and when pressed this just faded away......that was more about him knowing after JR Smith f***ed up Game 1--that Series was over.
As an athlete-the man has overdelivered and set a standard that nobody anytime soon will sniff due to the entitlement and overvalue we place upon them with the stupid Salary Scale (again-thanks to the worst Commissioner in Sports and arguably one of the worst to ever govern over a Pro League). That fact it's 2025 and a 40 yr old man is seen as the #1 news maker in the Sport for not delivering like he did/or was expected when he was in his prime is a gross state of the NBA, not LeBron James the player. Even worse, a 40 yr old man is in better shape than the guy in his actual prime who was brought over and caused a stir.
James/Curry being as vital to NBA viewership and needed to have eyes on sets is bad for the NBA. Used to be the torch was passed and James himself keeps saying "When is someone going to take it"?? He has delivered in every franchise he's played in and really it's the fault of the Cavs/Lakers for him not having more championships. He did his end and then some.
No--the players/coaches can do that ****. Any fan and a parent is a fan-wants to be part of-put them on their ***. You can say/yell what you want-but second you want to become part of the action--no holds barred. Now the question may be--could Giannis actually deliver in a matchup against a mouthy older man? You have a point there.
This will offend a lot of people but it has to be said--Bucks-Pacers and Magic-Celtics are series that before they start you figure "NBA TV". Silver can have them playing above a Shark Tank dripping with Blood and it's going to only draw fans of both teams as nobody else even cares unless you are a true basketball fan. That's what Silver's done to the NBA and it's not going to stop anytime soon while he's in charge.
The point of my second post, in regards to the parents getting involved was, not only is it getting more common, but Silver hasn't done anything to stop it. He knows it adds to ratings. Parents, who have been in the shadow of their kids, now realize they can step into some limelight of their own, and Silver has, to this point, been ok with it.
I guess I've missed the race stuff? They all cry too much today for my taste but that's how it is today. A guy will a hit and lay there on the floor like he was shot by a cannon then 3 minutes later he's jumping over a small building.
I don't know the man so i only know what I see basketball wise. I get what you say though. I never could stand Kobe, the man. But on the court he was just wicked good.
LeBron is definitely in the discussion for the GOAT. He's not mine. But it's hard to make an argument against someone that says he is.
absolutely. I was trying to be funny but it didn't come across that way.
I would put him top 3, but I cant decide who is #2 between Lebron and Kobe.
Playoff Jamal. He turns into a star in the playoffs.
See thats what I mean. On one hand he's doing something no one else has ever done in this sport. He's 1 of 1. Jordan would never be playing like this past 35, and that's with taking 2 years off for baseball.
... but then the other side of me is like "How come you have to keep trying to hand pick your team for success, Lebron?"
Agree there. Silver has 0 control and wouldn't know what to do. I don't think he is that plotting at all. He's just a *****.
Silver being replaced will be a chance to fix the NBA. Needs to happen sooner rather than later.
I think the only thing that needs fixing in the NBA is letting defenders defend more. Not back to the Bad Boys/Knicks days. But the pendulum has swung too far to the offense. There has to be a middle ground. Someone said MJ would average over 50 now with these rules. Not if he played defense the same way he did. He would be fouled out by the end of the first quarter.
Scottie would be gone sooner than that. Players moving around doesn't bother me either. Shooting has become a premium in the NBA. And i like that it has. Free flowing games and movement without the ball is back in style. I like that too.
But call 3 seconds, call a travel a travel, call a palm a palm. Maybe they don't need to change anything? Just call the game right.
While the discussion was about Tee Morant turns out that Haliburton dad was the real villain lol
Worst part is they needed a Gary Trent meltdown at the end . He went from Hero to costing them the game with the last two possessions . The first turnover was understandable but that second one can’t happen .
I’m sure nobody took Jalen serious when he was telling Draymond that he would whoop his *** after Draymond said that to him .
Also the nerve of Jalen to tell Draymond all he does is talk because he can’t do anything on the court after he scored 9 points that game . Then he follows it up with another 8 point game .
Go Twolves- Reed, the # 3 pick is not even getting to play- wonder if the Rockets would like a do-over on that pick
The Rockets pitiful offense, and the growing possibility that Green gets moved on the off-season.. might be the best thing to happen for Reed. They need someone like him who can shoot and create offense. Granted he's got a ways to go, but it looks like he might be more of a necessary piece next season than they realized.
Playoff Jamal indeed. They said that he passes up his own teammate Jokic for the most 40-point playoff games in Nuggets history. Now, as many 40-point playoff games as his entire regular season career.
Had to catch the playback because I was watching the Knicks/Pistons deciding which team wanted to lose more. From Bickerstaff/team holding back on the dumb challenge until the 3rd Quarter--and Bickerstaff one upped it this time-he also got a Tech on a play that clearly wasn't going to be overturned--Harris was holding Towns jersey 2 separate times before any significant contact Towns made to gain any advantage....best part was in the First Half--the Pistons were upset and Knicks fans were taunting their bench with the challenge signal to mock how stupid their use of it has been throughout the series and JB caved in the 3rd Quarter-so he showed progress. lol
Gary Trent Jr being a guy you are counting on to get you through is summarizing the NBA Playoffs in '25. Then add being taunted by Haliburton's Dad? Still was an NBA TV Series.
Also in the Celtics-Magic series-if you got $100 for everytime it was mentioned that Paolo Banchero's play was absolved from the losing and the second he left the court the game turned-you'd own a team in the NBA. I get it--he's a good player and team around him needs help but there have been several players of his ability and above who had to suffer on bad teams and wait their turn.
Last but not least I thought Grant Hill's awful announcing presence was bad enough in March Madness but this forced narrative to make him into something he never was as an NBA player is odd. He was a talented guy who wasn't a Franchise level talent like expected. He never won a 1st round Series until he was a journeyman in Phoenix, yet this talk of him as if he was this unreal changing the game in NBA player is weird. I saw Iverson carry bad Philly teams out of the 1st Round while he was on Pistons teams who were heavily favored and often losing to the Hawks. Then he was so broken down in Orlando he played about 45 games in 4 yrs there. It's alright being a long time vet and great college player but there's no need to talk of someone who wasn't that guy as if he were that guy and was done wrong by an organization or teammates. Good lord. This is getting up there with Raftery having to mention his Duke playing days any game they do in NCAA Tournament.
The fact he's talking at all when he's done nothing in the league is due to the NBA Players Union owning Silver like he's a cuckold. This type of talent should have to earn the $ and status he's carried-not just gifted because he's fortunate of when he's born. The nail thing...I mean to not expect anyone to say something and especially what is Jalen going to do--tell him he's going to sabotage a pedicure?