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crackadon Star Player
Joined: 11 Aug 2013 Posts: 1015
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Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2021 10:39 pm Post subject: |
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This man is a stone cold killer. I've had faith in him before, but was questioning the Westbrook move at first. This has been a brilliant free agency so far.
Laker Nation, if any of us see him in public, buy him a beer or two. He deserves it. |
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lakersfan8 Star Player
Joined: 27 May 2014 Posts: 2993
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2021 3:47 am Post subject: |
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I can’t say I like what he has done so far this summer.
We won the championship by trying to build an elite defensive team.
Then last year, he decided to blend some offensive minded player. Though they never really fit into our system, I liked the idea.
This year, Rob decided to turn to a totally different direction. We lost three defensive players without adding any replacement. Our main acquisitions are offensive players.
We’ve also become too old. If I were the opponent team in the final, I would just play a fast tempo and our players wouldn’t keep it up in the 4th quarter.
Most of the free agents we sign are journeyman and there’s a reason for that. |
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roger_federer Star Player
Joined: 01 Mar 2020 Posts: 3102
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2021 5:12 am Post subject: |
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Looks like we got lot of Names past their prime and hoping they would do nicely. Let us see how they fit.
As of now Westbrook would be a horrible fit. I hope I am wrong. |
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The Gr8 Lakes Starting Rotation
Joined: 24 Apr 2002 Posts: 870
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2021 5:32 am Post subject: |
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Russ - DS = Massive upgrade.
Monk - KCP = TBD
Ellington - McLemore = upgrade
Nunn - Caruso - TBD
Ariza - Kuz - Slight upgrade
Bazemore - McKinnie = upgrade
Dwight - Drummond = massive upgrade
Melo - Trezz = slight downgrade
Given what the options were and money available. Rob killed this free agency. If he can somehow make DS turn into a trade piece and grab another SF/PF athlete with some young legs. It’s a very dangerous team. _________________ You mystified at what exists inside
Longtime LG lurker. |
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Islandboy Starting Rotation
Joined: 19 Dec 2007 Posts: 287
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2021 6:24 am Post subject: |
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The Gr8 Lakes wrote: | Russ - DS = Massive upgrade.
Monk - KCP = TBD
Ellington - McLemore = upgrade
Nunn - Caruso - TBD
Ariza - Kuz - Slight upgrade
Bazemore - McKinnie = upgrade
Dwight - Drummond = massive upgrade
Melo - Trezz = slight downgrade
Given what the options were and the money available. Rob killed this free agency. If he can somehow make DS turn into a trade piece and grab another SF/PF athlete with some young legs. It’s a very dangerous team. |
The 2 Massive Upgrades plus better shooting (Is this not what everyone was calling for?) then add the Tenacious Dawg Mentality that Russ brings it is a no-brainer vs last year's roster.
Also, get to keep THT.
Still one of the favs to win it all, but guess we need the naysayers to balance the optimists. |
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JUST-MING Retired Number
Joined: 23 Jun 2005 Posts: 43985
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2021 6:26 am Post subject: |
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What do you call a team even greater than a superteam? |
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coldzim Starting Rotation
Joined: 30 Jun 2018 Posts: 329
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2021 6:44 am Post subject: |
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Quote: | @Tim_NBA
LA went out and got guys at the top of my wish lists, then on top of that were able to get guys to take discounts that had no business being paid the min.
Good work, Rob. That's about as good as you can do without ownership wanting to pay tax $$ to keep existing talent. |
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la4win Star Player
Joined: 27 Mar 2010 Posts: 2239
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2021 7:26 am Post subject: |
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Wish Kobe had Rob and Jeanie running the team his last few years. He would’ve gone out on a much better team competing for a chance to win. |
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Islandboy Starting Rotation
Joined: 19 Dec 2007 Posts: 287
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2021 7:43 am Post subject: |
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la4win wrote: | Wish Kobe had Rob and Jeanie running the team his last few years. He would’ve gone out on a much better team competing for a chance to win. |
And wish he, Gigi, and everyone on that helicopter were here to see #17 go up in the rafters. |
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lakersfan8 Star Player
Joined: 27 May 2014 Posts: 2993
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2021 7:47 am Post subject: |
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The Gr8 Lakes wrote: | Russ - DS = Massive upgrade.
Monk - KCP = TBD
Ellington - McLemore = upgrade
Nunn - Caruso - TBD
Ariza - Kuz - Slight upgrade
Bazemore - McKinnie = upgrade
Dwight - Drummond = massive upgrade
Melo - Trezz = slight downgrade
Given what the options were and money available. Rob killed this free agency. If he can somehow make DS turn into a trade piece and grab another SF/PF athlete with some young legs. It’s a very dangerous team. |
You can't evaluate these teams as a whole by comparing players individually. If we play Nets in the Finals, I would be comfortable with our guards (Dennis, Caruso and KCP) defending Irving and Harden. Our defense at the guard takes a massive hit with our current squad. The same applies to the forward position too. How many minutes can Ariza sustain chasing KD on the court comparing to Kuzma's young legs. Oh, and maybe we will see Camelo defending KD?
I also have some different opinions regards to your grade.
Monk - KCP = downgrade (maybe you underestimate KCP's defense too much?)
Ariza - Kuz = downgrade (Ariza is no longer the same player anymore and he is getting older next year)
Nunn - Caruso = downgrade (Caruso's defensive impact to the team is greater than Nunn's offensive impact)
Howard - Drummond = same (Rebound: similar, Offense: Drummond wins, Defense: Howard wins) |
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JUST-MING Retired Number
Joined: 23 Jun 2005 Posts: 43985
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2021 7:49 am Post subject: |
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lakersfan8 wrote: |
Ariza - Kuz = downgrade (Ariza is no longer the same player anymore and he is getting older next year)
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You may be surprised, he still has footspeed. |
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dont_be_a_wuss Franchise Player
Joined: 29 Mar 2012 Posts: 21458
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2021 8:14 am Post subject: |
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JUST-MING wrote: | What do you call a team even greater than a superteam? |
The Lakers |
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LakerSD Franchise Player
Joined: 10 Nov 2016 Posts: 23778
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epic_ Franchise Player
Joined: 23 Jan 2020 Posts: 11310
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Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2021 6:48 pm Post subject: |
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I like what's he's done with the roster and coach.
Thanks Magic! _________________ 💜💛 🏆 👀 🍖 #18!!! |
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AirTupac Star Player
Joined: 04 Feb 2018 Posts: 1234
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Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2021 6:55 pm Post subject: |
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Naysayers can suck a beep. _________________ I love my Lakies
Last edited by AirTupac on Fri Aug 06, 2021 6:56 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Laker's Fan Franchise Player
Joined: 27 Jun 2002 Posts: 12850
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Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2021 6:55 pm Post subject: |
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Rob got the chemistry perfect in the first year, even if some of it was luck. Then we went away from that in favor of more sizzle. It would seem that none of Schroder, Trez or Drummond were interest in "starring in their roles". I think Rob has gone back to the original formula to a degree.
We don't have the same defensive identity as the 2019-20 team, though it's fair to say we do have potential. I think in particular Davis is going to challenge Russ to be disciplined defensively. We have a number of guys who could be called redemption stories, starting with Russ, and including Melo, Dwight (again), Ariza and a couple other guys (Monk and Nunn were released from their teams).
It's going to be an interesting year. _________________ Austin Reaves keeps his game tight, like Kobe Bryant on game night. |
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epic_ Franchise Player
Joined: 23 Jan 2020 Posts: 11310
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mad55557777 Franchise Player
Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 23128
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Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2021 9:14 pm Post subject: |
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I like his demeanor a lot, such a smooth talker. |
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venturalakersfan Retired Number
Joined: 14 Apr 2001 Posts: 144461 Location: The Gold Coast
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2021 8:43 am Post subject: |
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la4win wrote: | Wish Kobe had Rob and Jeanie running the team his last few years. He would’ve gone out on a much better team competing for a chance to win. |
Kobe and his contract were the main reason that it was hard to build a team around him. Jeanie gave him his choice of contracts and he chose the most he could get. I would do the same. And don’t forget that it was Pelinka who was advising him. _________________ RIP mom. 11-21-1933 to 6-14-2023. |
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activeverb Retired Number
Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 37470
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2021 9:41 am Post subject: |
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I think Rob has done a good job building a team given the challenges of constructing a team around two guys who take up $70 million plus in salary space.
Just like the last two years, he has made some calculated gambles that may or may not pay off.
And just like the last two years, his decisions are defensible even if they don't work out.
This isn't the ideal squad around Lebron and AD, but it's hard to know as fans whether a more ideal squad was realistic.
Ultimately, it comes down to Lebron and AD. If those two guys are healthy and playing up to their standard, they are contenders no matter what team is around them. If they aren't healthy and playing up to their standards, the team around them doesn't matter.
Whatever happens, it should be fun to watch. |
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roger_federer Star Player
Joined: 01 Mar 2020 Posts: 3102
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2021 9:44 am Post subject: |
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venturalakersfan wrote: | la4win wrote: | Wish Kobe had Rob and Jeanie running the team his last few years. He would’ve gone out on a much better team competing for a chance to win. |
Kobe and his contract were the main reason that it was hard to build a team around him. Jeanie gave him his choice of contracts and he chose the most he could get. I would do the same. And don’t forget that it was Pelinka who was advising him. |
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activeverb Retired Number
Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 37470
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2021 9:45 am Post subject: |
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The Gr8 Lakes wrote: | Russ - DS = Massive upgrade.
Monk - KCP = TBD
Ellington - McLemore = upgrade
Nunn - Caruso - TBD
Ariza - Kuz - Slight upgrade
Bazemore - McKinnie = upgrade
Dwight - Drummond = massive upgrade
Melo - Trezz = slight downgrade
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That's a reasonable analysis on a player by player basis, though I could quibble with a few of your assessments.
The question, as always, is how the pieces will fit together. Will the sum be greater than the parts or lesser than the parts? |
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activeverb Retired Number
Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 37470
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2021 9:55 am Post subject: |
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la4win wrote: | Wish Kobe had Rob and Jeanie running the team his last few years. He would’ve gone out on a much better team competing for a chance to win. |
Well, Kobe was wracked with injuries his final three years, and he was a shell of himself. I don't think there was any realistic way to build a contender around him in those years. Except for the odd highlight here and there, his career pretty much ended after his injury. In fact, I'd argue that our biggest hindrance to winning was awarding Kobe that big extension before he could show if he could return. Water under the bridge now.
In the three years between our final ring and Kobe's injuries, I think the FO did a good job, they just had bad luck -- the rescinding of the Paul trade, Odom's collapse, Nash's injuries, Dwight's meltdown and rapid decline.
It's easy to imagine alternative realities, but I see no reason to think that Jeanie and Rob would have done a better job during those years. |
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Pureshot77 Starting Rotation
Joined: 23 May 2008 Posts: 898
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2021 10:08 am Post subject: |
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lakersfan8 wrote: | I can’t say I like what he has done so far this summer.
We won the championship by trying to build an elite defensive team.
Then last year, he decided to blend some offensive minded player. Though they never really fit into our system, I liked the idea.
This year, Rob decided to turn to a totally different direction. We lost three defensive players without adding any replacement. Our main acquisitions are offensive players.
We’ve also become too old. If I were the opponent team in the final, I would just play a fast tempo and our players wouldn’t keep it up in the 4th quarter.
Most of the free agents we sign are journeyman and there’s a reason for that. |
I'd argue we only think of Kuz and KCP as defensive players because of how unremarkable they are offensively. I will concede Caruso |
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activeverb Retired Number
Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 37470
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2021 10:14 am Post subject: |
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lakersfan8 wrote: | I can’t say I like what he has done so far this summer.
We won the championship by trying to build an elite defensive team.
Then last year, he decided to blend some offensive minded player. Though they never really fit into our system, I liked the idea.
This year, Rob decided to turn to a totally different direction. We lost three defensive players without adding any replacement. Our main acquisitions are offensive players.
We’ve also become too old. If I were the opponent team in the final, I would just play a fast tempo and our players wouldn’t keep it up in the 4th quarter.
Most of the free agents we sign are journeyman and there’s a reason for that. |
Those are the questions.
Will the players fit together? Did we sacrifice too much on defense? Will a team where Lebron, Westbrook, and AD take most of the shots shoot well enough? Will the age of the team be an issue?
If anyone had an accurate crystal ball, team construction would be easy.
I am find with the changes, even as I see a wide range of possible outcomes. |
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