RiskelWillow:


I never claimed the 2018 Cavs would beat the Warriors and I can't remember anyone being that bold. We were excited however that after the trades the team was an improvement on the toxic waste they had.

And that's the thing. Everything about pretty much every team is based on what's on paper right now cause all the major contenders are significantly different from what they were a season ago. When you speak of lack of balance what do you mean?

Defense? We've got Green, Bradley and KCP for perimeter defense and AD and JaVale in the interior. Might get Iguodala too. Both Frank Vogel and Lionel Hollins were brought in for their defense.

Offense? We've got two of the best offensive forces in the game maybe 3 if anything that resembles the old boogie returns and a rising star in Kyle Kuzma.

Shooting? Green Bradley Daniels KCP Dudley Cook heck everyone on this roster bar rondo and JaVale has a 3 ball and even Rondo has improved in that regard. Might get Kyle Korver too.

Playmaking? We've got two of the best basketball minds in the history of the game.


So what is this balance you speak of? This roster is as versatile as any other in the NBA if not more.

steady986:

Lol. Marcus and Markief Morris with the Suns.

For non twins, Goran and Zoran Dragic. For 2 teams in fact

Say thank you

Eruditor:


I said I would get back to this, so let me do so now.

Like I said before, maybe 3-5 years ago this roster would have been scary because you would have had AD and Boogie on 20+/10+ in terms of ppg and rpg and then the icing on the cake would have been Lebron. But barring AD who is still approaching his peak no other player is at that level you are projecting anymore.

First off, this team is filled with many players who somewhat play or can deputize in the same roles. There is, in my eyes, an over-duplication of roles that the media are glossing over. And when the roles are not being duplicated, they seem to overlap themselves which portends questionable team chemistry.

Who are supposed to be the starters? You do know that a lineup starting boogie is just a recipe for abuse on defence and fouls? So if we take him out, you limit the slight spread he would have offered to Javale McGee whose only noteworthy defence will be interior shot blocking but that would not really matter since most of the teams you would face in the west have decent perimeter shooting.

AD is a beast and Lebron is still great on offence and his reading of the game. But how does he offset what the defence cannot do. Green's defence is overrated. We all saw him against GSW. He had one customary great game and was breaking knees and waists en route to fouling out. He would not be a starter. And any strategy you set hoping your bench plays defence for you is poop. So it feels like the starting line up will bleed and then somehow the limited bench that can shoot if wide open will be tasked to stave the bleeding and somehow still compete on offence? What have we seen from that bench to indicate anything of the sort will happen?

Hope you can very well see that your team is a slow one that will be run ragged by fast-paced offences? Hope you realize that all that running will tire your big dogs or force them to more load management in readiness for the playoffs? Any combination that mixes the top dogs with the so-called 40% 3pt shooters like Cook and co will also weaken any average defence the Lakers were going to play. Cook played for GSW I know him. So the length and offence that the LAL pose would only have made sense with speed and athleticism which, and sad to say, most of those players don't have as such anymore- and that includes Lebron.

Surely, a slower tempo grind out playoff game will potentially favour your team. Where pounding the glass, and post-up play could go a long way. We saw a preview of this in the 2017 Pelicans but even at that, they were not contenders. So I don't see what the fuss is about. The LAL are better than they were last season, but again I ask, how much better? 13+ win swing?

The WC is a lot different than the east. The team's that barely scrape 50wins don't usually go on to be exponentially better in the playoffs. The trends have shown it. So the "we can be 3rd or 4th seeds and become something else crunch time", does not translate. And even then, when driving lanes are sealed would you put your money on the line for your starters or bench to start raining shots? LOL.

The legs of most of the players on this roster are not where they used to be. And 1 or 2 good one on one defenders cannot change that. Pelinka knew this, which was why they were going all out for Kawhi. It was to overload the team with talent such that the obvious lapses won't matter. Which is why I asked you repeatedly why you wanted him at all costs if you were very certain Lebron and AD were already going to win it all before he arrived?

All I am saying is not in any way implying that the team is absolutely rubbish because it is not. But I wager when the season begins, the dust will settle and the hype train will stop and people will come to realize this is not that team. LAC is more athletic than yours with comparable length and significantly better defenders. Then Kawhi and PG are clutch free throw shooters. I can't say enough about their bench led by Sweet Lou. And a 13 win swing on them means 61 wins. So they are actually better than the LAL.

And when the LAL don't win it this coming season, Lebron will be 36 and still declining. Which is why I said he won't win a ring in LA. I am predicting the first casualty will be Vogel getting the boot. Lebron will have some heroic games but how many can he have to will this team to 50+ wins when every game will be like the playoffs? You guys have a target on your backs.

Roland17:


Since Brodie joined the Rockets, are you leaving the Rockets?

A40:
I was talking about twins and another pair of brothers at the same time as you can see

Eruditor:



Like I said before, maybe 3-5 years ago this roster would have been scary because you would have had AD and Boogie on 20+/10+ in terms of ppg and rpg and then the icing on the cake would have been Lebron. But barring AD who is still approaching his peak no other player is at that level you are projecting anymore.

Eruditor:


First off, this team is filled with many players who somewhat play or can deputize in the same roles. There is, in my eyes, an over-duplication of roles that the media are glossing over. And when the roles are not being duplicated, they seem to overlap themselves which portends questionable team chemistry.

Eruditor:


And when the LAL don't win it this coming season, Lebron will be 36 and still declining

Eruditor:


The WC is a lot different than the east. The team's that barely scrape 50wins don't usually go on to be exponentially better in the playoffs. The trends have shown it. So the "we can be 3rd or 4th seeds and become something else crunch time", does not translate

RiskelWillow:
Nick Wright is the best pure analyst on TV. Yes i said it, he may not be the best entertainer, he may not go about screaming balderdash but when it comes to using facts to support his point no one does it better. He also picks his poison and dies by it if necessary unlike the other flip floppers. People hate him because hes a LeBron stan, take that out of the equation, he's the gold standard and it's not even close. Yeah i said it.

chic2pimp:
RIP to probably My Favourite Boxer of all time Pernell Whittaker. It's been a pleasure to watch you perform what I can only describe as a work of art over the years. Damn Sweet Pea you'll be solely missed.

RiskelWillow:
Uh oh! Here comes that LeBron decline they've been telling us about.

Yes, LeBron's longevity is partly due to his natural God given durability and how he's managed to avoid any major injuries. But that's nothing without his dedication and awareness about his body. You can tell he's trying to slim down to prolong his career, these are things that many players know but don't want to do the work as far as what it takes to keep your body in optimal shape.

RiskelWillow:
A lot of guileless people think space jam is about Lebron copying Jordan, nay! Its about erasing everything the bald degenerate stood for.

Roland17:


This an already flawed reasoning to make a logical argument against the REAL SPACE JAM

Roland17:


This an already flawed reasoning to make a logical argument against the REAL SPACE JAM

RiskelWillow:
A lot of guileless people think space jam is about Lebron copying Jordan, nay! Its about erasing everything the bald degenerate stood for.

SmooshCHN:

I was tempted to call this tautology in tautology but nah..
You just contradicted yourself. The world would remember MJ in Space Jam 1 and LeBron in Space Jam 2. No one cares what you think.

BykeLaByke:
Arghhhhhhh...Drip too hard FFS.

Lonzo: I'm getting back to playing the style I have my whole life.

BykeLaByke:


Bleep Luke Walton mehnnn.