Joined: 18 May 2001 Posts: 1548 Location: Venice, California
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2021 1:06 pm Post subject: Lakers current team is better and more versatile then the 2020 team
I listened to several days of sports talk pundits dismissing the current squad. I hear theories like this team lacks size it can’t handle the playoffs etc. This speculation is weak for the following three reasons.
1. Better team defensively
2. Championship swagger
3. More speed and better stamina with younger bench
West coast has fewer hurdles and injured stars like Luka and Lillard. Lakers are what 4 out of 6 the past few weeks without our starting rotation. The Lakers are more then scarey this year. _________________ "Bobbin' and weavin' and let the good get even"
Joined: 24 Dec 2007 Posts: 35750 Location: Santa Clarita, CA (Hell) ->>>>>Ithaca, NY -≥≥≥≥≥Berkeley, CA
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2021 1:19 pm Post subject:
Drummond, Harrell, and Schroeder are all firepower that we didn’t have last year. Biggest difference between this year and last right now is injuries. (And some loss of basketball IQ in Rondo and Green.) _________________ Damian Lillard shatters Dwight Coward's championship dreams:
Drummond, Harrell, and Schroeder are all firepower that we didn’t have last year. Biggest difference between this year and last right now is injuries. (And some loss of basketball IQ in Rondo and Green.)
They are indeed more talented and less healthy.
AD2 and DS knowing their roles are key, especially being dynamic yet TO prone. Schröder starting, getting pulled quick to stagger his minutes to playmake while LBJ takes breaks is taxing but he has the talent. Drummond will get minutes but needs to play within the offense in respect to LBJ and Davis getting touches.
Joined: 03 Oct 2003 Posts: 8288 Location: Santa Monica
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2021 7:33 pm Post subject:
When we're healthy we have the potential to be a great offensive team. Combine that with our great defense, and we can beat anyone in a best-of-seven. _________________ Lakers 49ers Chargers Dodgers
Lakers in a playoff series are going to be a beast. I think we matchup better with Denver than we did last year, and I think Denver is better this year with Aaron Gordon.
Having both AD's in the lineup is going to be a thing of beauty, we just have to imagine it for now.
Howard's defensive presence was huge last year, AD2 doesn't have that presence. Javale was also more imposing than Gasol.
Rondo's s playmaking was huge, this year LeBron will not get the rest and will be required to do the lion's share for his entire minutes. Not ideal when he is even older and less healthy.
Current team has more ability to create their own shots but not to create easy buckets. Need those easy buckets in the playoffs
Individual pieces may be better but as a team they don't seem to have the same versatility and balance.
This years team is more talented and than last years team. It is not even an argument.
The problem with this year is injuries to both AD and Lebron. Also KCP in the bubble was sorta fluke.
If you take AD and Lebron out of last years team, they would be the worst team in the league.
AD and Lebron played out of their minds in last years bubble playoffs. 99% reason we won the ship.
40 mins per game
12.5 shots a night attempted at 44% field goal
6.8 threes attempted a night at 44.4%
4.3 rebounds a night
2.8 assists a night 1.8 steals a night
15.3 points per game
That above was KCP as a Piston in the playoffs when they got there
RS was a 14 point 36.1 min 42/31/80 on 12 shot (5 threes) attempts, 3.7 reb, 1.8ast, 1.4 steals
——
His usage and minutes goes up, his threes attempted goes up. It’s not a fluke that KCP produced when he played more mins and took more threes last playoffs. Hell he produced as a piston versus LeBron while being Kyries
Primary defender like he was for Lillard, Harden, Murray, and Herro
When people say oh it was a fluke, they have no sense of basketball outside the laker bubble because that’s what the guy did without Bron or AD in the playoffs and why they wanted to give him 80mil in Detroit.
He took 7 threes a night as a piston in the playoffs and he took 6 threes a night in the playoffs last year too as opposed to the three a game he took in this and last regular season. He will produce because unlike anyone you name he’s always produced and been a career double digit guy. Don’t mistake a player knowing their role and staying in with them not being able to produce
Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2021 6:27 pm Post subject: Re: Lakers current team is better and more versatile then the 2020 team
Jellojigglin wrote:
I listened to several days of sports talk pundits dismissing the current squad. I hear theories like this team lacks size it can’t handle the playoffs etc. This speculation is weak for the following three reasons.
1. Better team defensively
2. Championship swagger
3. More speed and better stamina with younger bench
West coast has fewer hurdles and injured stars like Luka and Lillard. Lakers are what 4 out of 6 the past few weeks without our starting rotation. The Lakers are more then scarey this year.
I can see the argument that on paper this team is better than last year's team. The questions are about health and how well the players fit together.
Last year's team wondering. Ultimately this year's team will be judged by how they do in the playoffs.
AD/Bron are about to take away around 70'ish minutes away at the Forward/Center positions. Vogel will have some tough decisions to make on who plays. McLemore just showed out and he may not even play when we are healthy.
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