My observations of this Lakers rosters

[fusuyballer]

First observation:

The Lakers will struggle to find an identity this year. To play a high tempo style of basketball well -- you have to have high IQ basketball players with specified roles. You also have to be un-selfish.

I just do not trust the IQ and decision making of Kuzma, BI, and KCP to know when to pass, shoot, and push the ball ahead. Furthermore, we lack guys with specialist skills that would make a high tempo style work consistently.

Yet, I read that Luke Walton wants to play this fast pace / interchangeable style. It could possibly work, but I just cant bring myself to believe KCP will make the extra pass consistently; Lance wont over dribble; McGee wont do McGee things; Kuzma wont shoot every time; and BI wont put his head down or walk the ball up the court like he's walking his dog -- with little attention to the importance of quick decisions and pace.

I just do not believe this cast has the IQ / specific skills needed to play a open-court/ high bball iq style of game. I actually believe because of the makeup of this team, they are more suited in a triangle type of offense with a lot of cutting and movement / and I also believe they could be a monster defensive team with the right coach.

Phil Jackson (or someone in the triangle mold) would be a much better coach for this group of guys than Luke Walton. They remind me more of a young Bulls team.

Lebron James -- is a more dynamic offensive version of Scottie Pippen.

Kuzma -- is a more athletic Toni Kukoč - ( a wise coach would teach him how to round his game out and be even better...bc Kuzma has not developed the passing skills or IQ that Toni had)....if he does, the sky is the limit for him.

Lonzo - Doesn't really has a comparison...but he's long, defends well, and if his shot improves, he fits into perfectly with Lebron and co.

Rondo - High IQ. Toughness. Defense. He fits into what we do here as a backup to Lonzo or even a starter if Lonzo struggles at times. Best case is that Lonzo shoots well because his defense and length fits in very well to what we can build here.

Josh Hart -- One of those bulls type player. High iq. can defend 2 positions. etc.

Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk - Keeper.
Moritz Wagner- Keeper.
Ivica Zubac - You can keep as well for cheap.


Players I do not see a future with Lakers:

Brandon Ingram - plays too slow. body doesn't have that balance one needs to excel. doesn't do anything well enough to fit cohesively with LeBron long term. Brandon strikes me as a in-between guy that will never be great at anything where its truly beneficial to a team.

KCP - not a high IQ player. he was just signed to fill a slot with a servable player.

Lance Stephenson - see BI reasoning. Nothing more needs to be said. There's a reason he has been on so many teams.

Parting Shot - The Lakers might regret not trading BI for Paul George when they had the chance. Lebron is more a better offensive Scottie Pippen than he is Michael Jordan. He needs to play with someone who is a natural scorer to be at his best, especially as he ages. This Lakers squad (to my eyes) are built to play defense, cut, and run a system similar to the Chicago Bulls of Jordan and Pippen's day.

However, to do that, they need someone to play that Jordan role. Paul George is clearly not Michael Jordan but his scoring ability ( and his ability to raise his game next to Lebron) and his length would have fit in perfect with this team.

I know its early, but I do NOT ever see BI being a polished player with a high IQ that can play on a level of a scottie pippen or even a Paul George for that matter. I do not foresee BI being on this team in the future. I think this season will be enough for Magic to feel comfortable moving him to put a great scorer next to Lebron.

The question is, will one be available?


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[Lakesh0wtime]

Sheesh

[waterman40]

Wow, you can tell all this after one preseason game and 3 or 4 days of practice?

Patience, the Lakers are preaching it. Lets wait till the trade deadline or the all-star break to determine who is going to adjust and be great playing with Lebron.

Remember also, a bunch of the new guys are here on one year deals, and I think Zu is too. Just think, last year, Clarkson, Randle, Nance, Lopez all gone. IT played pretty good too, we let him go without raising any eyebrow.

In totality, many of these moves are part of the long term plan, and the first half of has come true because Lebron is now here, signed for at least 3 years with option on another year.
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LAKERS 2019-2020: NBA World Champions!

[Judah]

I always love when people think their analysis after a game is so important that it's worthy of its own thread. If you're going to do this, you at least should have some solid insight, and you don't.

- Svi, Moe, and even Zubac are keepers, but BI needs to go?

- You honestly think the triangle is the answer?

- Paul George in a Michael Jordan role and LeBron as his Pippen?

This is weird.
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“Christ did not die to forgive sinners who go on treasuring anything above seeing and savoring God. And people who would be happy in heaven if Christ were not there, will not be there."
- John Piper

[unleasHell]

[Eindhoven]

I'm struggling to find any similarities between LeBron and Pippen.
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....

[Vancouver Fan]

[jg77]

I agree that we need a scorer. Imagine if we had someone like McCollum. Zo/McCollum/BI/LeBron/McGee...then I'd really be believing the WCF talk.

[governator]

LeBron in a triangle would be deadly. Take a post position and look to pass the cutter on strong side or the 3pt shooters on weakside but the young guys need to run to be most efficient right now more than half court sets

[VicXLakers]

[BigGameHames]

Can we get Dean Smith as Phil’s assistant and run the 4 corners offense too?

[daytripper]

I don't agree with all of your points but will certainly concede that another big time scorer would certainly make things alot easier for this team.

It's understandable that Magic is taking his time evaluating Ingram but tbh I was probably one of the few on here that would've been ok packaging BI for a sure thing such as PG last year or Kawhi this summer despite the fact they were both on expiring contracts at the time they were dealt.

[pio2u]

IMO because of their BBIQ and skill-set LeBron, Rondo and/or Ball must to be on the court at all times in order for this team to be successful.

The offense bogs down without one of those guys on the court because Lance, BI, Kuz and Beazy tend to go iso too much when they are on the court together.

For them to be at their best they need a facilitator on the floor to keep the ball moving.

It will take time, patience, practice and coaching to mold the team into a cohesive unit; fortunately for us the talent is in place for this to be a really good team.
However Luke still has his work cut out for him.

[laker50]

For the most part agree with your post except a few.

Lebron is much better than Pippen. Pippen was a rebounder and defender where Lebron is an all time great. He has already proven it. He will slow down with age.

Ingram is not slow and can do a lot of things well. His issue is
if his jump shot gets consistent he will be an all star.

Agree on KCP and Lance. But may be proven wrong hopefully.

[textbook]

This is hilarious.

Next game (tonight) when KCP goes 4-4 from three and BI has another monster game:

KCP - must keep this guy. Entering his prime. Looks to be the deadly three point shooter we need.

BI - Destined to be a superstar. Closer and closer to durant...

[Inspector Gadget]

[ElginBaylor]

I applaud the amount of effort the OP put in just to troll this board. Good job!
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Not a legend

[oldlakerfan]

Lebron is more like a combo of Jordan and Karl Malone than Pippen.

BI may not look that explosive but he moves much quicker than it seems but he has the loping long strides. He is just 21 and breaking out of course he is a keeper.

Kuzma will be interesting to watch this year he will play all over.

Lakers have great depth and flexibility and will be able to play lots of different styles of play.

Ball, Hart and SVI are emerging and will surprise

KCP may disappoint some because he is a bit inconsistent but he is a heck of a player and he is an ascending player who had a great off season.

Stephenson is the lotto ticket, Beasley too. They seem to have a good shot at being good.

McGee looks like he ready to rock it this year.

I think we will see some sloppy and inconsistent play during the first month of the season and it will be hard for some not to over react. We we need to remember is that we have a great coach, the best player in the game, amazing young hardworking talent and a bunch of solid versatile vets and in time will mesh on offense and defense.

We will be a good team and fun to watch at a minimum. We may be more than that if the youth matures into solid playoff players. Oh yeah we got Rondo too. Should be fun to see how things develop.

[Inspector Gadget]

[pmacla]

I stopped reading when he compared LeBron to Scottie Pippen lol lol lol

[noahp45]

[pio2u]

[venturalakersfan]

The triangle?
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RIP mom. 11-21-1933 to 6-14-2023.

[RI Laker]

No reason to pig pile on the poster.

[Judah]