2018-19 NBA Thread

The whole idea that LeBron was going to lead the Lakers back to greatness sinlehandedly was a pipe dream from the start. But the WWL seemed to bite on it, hook, line and sinker and everyone else followed along. Now LBJ is back to his old pattern of wanting some of his BFFs along with him, wanting a new coach, etc. This will likely cost Walton his job, which sucks because he seemed to have him on the right path. But if I owned an NBA team and needed a new coach, I'm camped out on his doorstep as soon as he's done cleaning out his office at the Lakers' practice facility.

 

That's a very good way to look at it. As much as he is a floppity-flopper with highly ambitious shot selection, Marcus Smart or others of his ilk would have at least lunged for the ball rather than enjoying a front row seat at the 2-for-1 IMAX.

Since he's returned from his groin injury, LeBron has hucked up more than a handful of 25'+ fuck-it 3s with heaps of time on the shot clock. Those sort of "load management" possessions coupled with his putting both Fs in "effort" on the other end of the floor make it easy to pile on something like this (which I did).

 

mixed fresh daily by brian windhorst

 

At the very least, someone from the Clippers needs to make him pick the ball up so the clock starts. Even if you don't go for the steal, force him to pick it up in the backcourt.

And LeBron knows this season is over. The diminished effort isn't a great look, but he's old enough that he's not going to kill himself for nothing.

 

LeBron appears to have a disconnect with reality
“I can speak for myself, I can’t speak for everybody else,” James said, when asked how the Lakers would approach their grueling stretch run. “I’ll continue to be a professional and be as great as you can be every single night. No matter the circumstances. Someone is always watching.”

 

It's been 13 years since he hasn't made the playoffs?

 

and i would really appreciate it if the pelicans would trade him to us when the season is over

 

If they really fall out of it, I'm sure he'll shut it down.

 

It'll never happen for a thousand reasons, but I'd love to see the rest of the Lakers get together and design a big "F you" game for LeBron one of these nights. Freeze him out of possessions. Play half-assed defense like he's doing. If he calls for the ball, give it to him and just stand around the perimeter and let him go 1-on-5. Have Walton keep him on the floor for about 45 minutes.
If you're all going down anyway, go down swinging.

 

Everyone knew LeBron's first season in LaLa land would be a right-off. Well, at least most people should have known.

 

Wasn't that always the plan? Maybe they could make some sort of run with LeBron and the young cast, but the real push would come in 2020 and 2021 after they got rid of the roster-fillers, freed up cap space, and signed Durant or Davis to follow the usual superteam blueprint?

 

Lakers miss playoffs = Lakers in lottery = Lakers get Zion.