₦airaland Forum

greypencils:
Did I forget Suns? Smh. I see no salvation in any of them, the best they can do is to make the playoffs. I see none of them winning unless there is a major reshuffling. Like KD going back to the Warriors, a reshuffling as major as that for Warriors. Lakers if fully healthy can still create problems if a centre like Sabonis is brought in like you suggested & LeBron shipped out. Imagine AD, Sabonis & wood/Vanderbilt at front court. That is a sweet recipe for some level of success. If Bron is to stay, he can't be the primary ball handler. Suns and Clippers are cursed so it's no use figuring out any rotation for those teams.

I would rather Bron than AD. In a stats league AD looks great, and he teases you with great games. Problem is once you get to playoffs, you have to show up all 7 games to give yourself a chance to advance.

And once you start paying attention to how AD approaches things, you realize he has severe motivation issues. And it will never change - you cant go to war with guys like that. I will take an old lebron or a young hachimura, at least I know I can circle a date on the calendar and say, you must show up on so and so date, do or die affair. Even D'Angelo, I can abuse him into playing one stellar game.

Skill is not enough, otherwise KAT would have gone further with these wolves before this year. Once things get tight, the guys who show up to play win.We are now seeing the resurgence of guys who play both ends of the court every night out of pride and respect for the game. Diva types will continue to lose relevance, in fact if AD gets traded , I can almost guarantee any team he lands on will either not make playoffs, or will be perpetual 7th/8th seed.

Skrrrrrrr:

Sometimes I just wonder what you guys smoke.
They should move the only reason why the Lakers are even contenders, and replace with who
Without AD, the Lakers don't even make the playoffs. AD is the difference between you guys and a lottery team.
Speaking of High Energy, maybe you guys get Draymond and send AD to the warriors. Draymond is clearly high energy enough for you delusional bums...

Warriors fan. Still salty over that 0-13 Klay performance, I know. Its ok, let all that anger out

And no, no one is taking Dray off your hands. Yall aint getting out of that easy

steady986:
What must Luka do to win MVP in this league?

Play like MVP?

greypencils:
See all the teams you are mentioning. Ani! No room for old men. All of them make them pack themselves comot. Lakers, Clippers, Warriors, it's time to rebuild.

Warriors are still very good, they just need to make some tough decisions. I think its time Klay went elsewhere to be an alpha player. Green has tuned himself out as well. Unfortunately these guys were given sweetheart contracts, so good luck with that divorce lol

Lakers I think are complete as it is, except chemistry wise I dont thin AD and Lebron should be on the same team. AD is too low energy too often, and Lebron is too nice to ginger him. Maybe move AD and buff up the bench. There are young guys on that team that can give like 70% of what AD contributes, they just need play time to build confidence. Which is why they need a coach like Mark Jackson

Clippers, ol boy I no see salvation inside this matter . Westbirikilla, Harden onirugbon, and kawhi that likes to ghost half the season. I wonder if this is karma for PG3's player player days, its as if bball gods have decided no matter how he balls, there shall be no ring for the wicked .

Suns, man this is the biggest dumpster fire imo. 2 of the 3 superstars Beal and Durant are thoroughly deluded. Im not sure Beal is even a superstar anymore, more like star. I wonder if he will ask for trade once this realization sets in. Im hoping they can provide some entertainment this offseason tho

Roland17:
This was a bad loss for the Pacers. The Knicks were without Brunson/ Anunoby at different stages of the game. The Pacers needed to force Brunson to defend with that bad ankle. It would be interesting to see how well they play when the series goes to Indians considering their starters are playing heavy minutes, especially Hart.

They have adjusted quite nicely so far, I would be very surprised if they dont win 2 at home.

A40:
Respect to this Knicks team. Anunoby hurt Brunson and Divincenzo stepped up

Doesn't matter who's hurt for the Knicks so long as these Pacers keep parading this turnstile defense it wouldn't even matter

Tibs thrives on a certain kind of player and Brunson is actually the perfect fit for his style. Unsung hero, grind the game out with 40+ minutes, leave it all on the floor type of guy. Only problem is it tends to wear out players hence the injuries. Rockets had same issues with Tibs mentor/paddy JVG who also shortened playoff rotations in the playoffs, and had intense practices. I think it contributed to Tmac's back issues, and wore out Yao Ming as well.

In summary, if Pacers take a deep breath and regroup, they can still win this series. Tibs and JVG teams tend to grind themselves out of contention. Does it sound like im still pained after so many years? Yes I am I could see knicks injuries mounting, and they are due for some games where they go cold from 3pt land

greypencils:
No country for old men. These young niggas have taken over. Make all dem Curry, KD and Bron dem go retire.

The league has swung to a new type of coach. Its like using analytics to pick personnel and styles of play. I wish someone would do an expose on the type of offense/defense some of these younger teams are playing. If the Suns or Lakers or Warriors get the right coach next year and tweak the bench, I could see any one of those old guys making a last ditch effort for a ring.

larride:
The Grizzlies were just marred with injuries and Ja indiscipline. They will be back next season.

I feel like their window for a ring has passed. They were the team with young legs and excellent defense years before wolves and okc. Though I agree when Ja comes back, I see them making some noise and displacing an older team in the SW division. Mavericks need to win like right now, because Grizzlies and Rockets in that same division will only get better next year. They might find themselves fighting with the Rockets or even Spurs for a play-in position

Looking like a long night for Doncic already. Can Dallas keep this pace?

larride:
If they play the same way they played yesterday in game 3, it will be another blowout.

I expect them to bounce back if Murray is not suspended. But being down 2-0 at home will be too much to overcome in the end. I think Lakers sent them to sleep and they over-estimated themselves. Even KCP was feeling like Ray Allen in round 1

Khanben:
Another of this nostalgic rubbish. Where was Kobe's vaunted leadership when the Lakers missed the playoffs 4 years in a row, While he was been paid the max.

1. Do you think Kobe with this year's Lakers would have been swept by the Nuggets? 2. Do you believe Lakers with Kobe would be up 20 pts in 4 games and lose them to the same team in one playoffs series? Na simple questions o, dont do too much shalaye

steady986:
How much more could LeBron have been off the ball this season? He had his lowest usage since his rookie year. And you know that apart from DLo, there was really no other ball handler/playmaker on that team. He's complaining about LeBron's turnovers like that part of his game just surfaced. His turnover numbers this season is still the same with last season and the season before that and the previous years. Nothing has changed.

You're talking about fine-tuning offense but nobody is making reference to the amount of injuries the Lakers had that forced us to have several starting fives for two thirds of the season. At a point we were starting Prince, then Cam, then Reaves went to the bench, then it was DLo who went to thr bench, then when Vanderbilt returned he came back to the starting 5, before settling on Rui due to Vanderbilt's injury. We were all over the place. The Warriors had a similar issue and their HOF players and coaches couldn't even will them to the playoffs. And yet somebody is here comparing Curry to LeBron.

You have thrown multiple names here, everybody has some blame, except Lebron . Of course you know this means guy man is not goat material right? Excuses up and dan

Look, I watched rockets when steve franchise and cuttino mobley used to costus games while looking like they were playing hard. I am familiar with pretenders. And I know what I saw in that Laker-Nuggets series. Your guys were trying to get big leads, then coast to the end. In other words, play with the minimal effort to win. That laziness cost them what could have been another ring this year.

Good luck to Lebron with the podcasts and movies. Zero leadership shown this year. Just whining up and dan. And good luck to AD, he goes back to being a max contrac t guy with zero responsibilities, just like he likes it . Na LA fans I pity pass. After being blessed by Kobe's work ethic for so many years, you have to put up with this refuse dump of a team.

joshboo:
He's been injured since the Lakers series, he's playing with series of Knocks..

Not really, they just met a team that is playing them for real. I know what I was saying in the Lakers series, that nuggets team was nowhere near as godlike as the lakers made them seem. I said it even then, Nuggets bench is not all that - they were balling because Lakers were down low mailing it in.

steady986:
Lol, which bench abeg? The one that Gabe Vincent scored only 7 points throughout the series? Abi the one that Dinwiddie scored 15? What about Jaxson Hayes...1 point throughout the series . But na LeBron we wan blame

You realize Lebron slows down the game when he is tired, and holds the ball long enough to prevent guys from getting into rhythm. Do you want me to post multiple times he keeps the ball until 8s left on the shot clock? If we no blame leader of the team, who we wan blame again? Is he only leader when they are winning? If you want to chop accolades, why will you not chop criticism

Its not just about ant mans skills. Its his leadership, being able to make a team want it just as bad. I believe it was a40 that said I was too harsh on Lakers. But I know what I saw, Lakers bench was at least as good, if not better.

This win, in nuggets territory exposes the fraud that was the lakers team this year. These guys were never going to win a ring this year and only wanted to be in the playoffs so they can say they didnt miss it.

It also exposes the Durants and Beals and Hardens. Even Kyrie and Kawhi. A whole generation just whined and got coaches fired, but never took that MJ crown. Them youngns exposing them now.

greypencils:
Poor rotation indeed. What the Lakers need is someone who will sit Lebron's candy ass down and not allow him handle the ball so much. He is stagnating their game play because most of the offense goes through him. He is taking too many isos, has the ball longer than he should have and doesn't track back on defence when he loses the ball.

At one point in the series against Denver, He dribbled the ball off his own foot and then turned around and yelled at Prince about it. Like say na Prince make am lose ball. At another time, he was in pole position to catch a defensive rebound when Murray drove to the paint in front of him and Reaves. Reaves contested the shot, he didn't. He stood right beside both of them expecting the same Reaves who contested the shot to catch the rebound. When he didn't, he scowled at him. Who does that? He wants to play all offense and play no defense. He takes the glory when they win and shit on his teammates when they lose. You too dey here dey blame Darvin Ham because of the rotation. Yes I support you because he didn't have the balls to put Lebron in his place. LeBron has no business being PG at his age. When he pushes DLo out of PG position, what is the poor guy supposed to do if not to stand around and wait for crumb shots with no minute left on the clock, delayed shots because young Papa oldie is playing PG with his old arse moves.

Agreed on all points. Lakers should have used regular season to fine tune an offense that is not centered on lebron. Even of it meant losses this team has to keep game pace with the rest of the league

Roland17:
Suddenly, all of una Dey love on my guy Kyrie

Never hated the guy. More like annoyed at how he made it easy to pile on him. Bro has to own up to his mistakes. But you knew guy man was speaking his truth. Even if it was flat earth lol

Thunder are low on experience, so this is a good matchup for mavs i think

Kawhi doesnt know how to spell shame. I feel like the reason Lebron has been relevant this long is that the next set of superstars refused to man up. They blame coach, they blame team, they blame media. Everyone but themselves.

Thats why I like the new generation. Proud and humble at the same time. Put in the work and stop expecting everyone to bow to your greatness just because. Even Beal dey talk about coach. Lazy man... i feel like these last 8 teams deserve to be here. Every game gon be good.

This win feels good for Kyrie. Some good press for the brother. Pure soul, crazy decisions, but good guy

A40:
You're overreacting bigly. You led the defending Champions for 76% of a playoff series. Honestly if the Nuggets don't have Jamal Murray you're either tied or 3-1 up.

Maybe you get a big wing but that means Reaves has to come off the bench. I would say trade Russell but who will you trade him for? Trae Young? Lmaoo I'd be here for the lols next season when he goes 2/13 in an elimination game.

I tell you. People watch Trae highlights and get impressed. Bro has no business chucking 3s. Then again, if he didnt chuck 3s Im not sure how elite he would be in this league. But he is the kind of guy GMs salivate over, and then get themselves in trouble

Hachimura was a bit disappointing. He should have been the counter to MPJ on both ends

I had some hope here, and maybe I just didnt pay enough attention to Lakers this year, but I cant tell if its the player or its the coaching staff to blame. Dinwiddie, Gabe, those are above decent players imo and they had little impact

steady986:
It was a very competitive series. I can't even be mad. That game 2 was the swing moment.

There was an edge that just wasnt there. I cant fully tell what it was, but I think Lebron's nice guy, players best friend attitude kept this team complacent. I think its too late for him to change it though, and that is such a shame. The coaching wasnt that great, but honestly I think the team's attitude, including Lebron and AD was a bigger problem.

But I know even you, you would prefer to see Ant man vs Jamaal. This lakers team needs to be blown up and real dogs brought in. If Lebron doesnt want to do the nasty job of calling out folks, get someone else who will. In my mind I keep dreaming coach gets replaced and you guys get Mark Jackson

Come an join us in cancuuuuuun

Honlucas:
Jamal is questionable tonight

Wont change the outcome. As long as lakers want to play soft, see yall next year

greypencils:
Good scorer, bad defender. Mikal Bridges in that lineup instead of Beal would have caused Ant some wahala. But them Suns front office no get sense.

Corporate politics for you. Gotta justify that big paycheck and not make the owner/GM look stupid. Vogel was wise to play along. The GM can play enough politics to keep his job for a few years. In the mean time, he will be looking for subordinates to fire as an excuse. Had Vogel benched Beal, he would have given them good excuse to be used as sacrifice. Even so, this only buys Vogel another year. The main wahala now is, the team is good enough to get into the postseason every year. But the "big 3" do not believe in defense, so this result will likely repeat next year. Coach, stack your dollars and polish your resume now

Honlucas:
Oga stop this . Stop trolling these players..

If it's easy go play basketball professionally....

Kd was the best player for sun's.. he did his best the rest of the team bleeped up.

You mean best scorer

so na only aliondo waka come this playoffs. Sitting pretty at 3-0!

Roland17:
Some of these GMs actually need to be flogged in public and James Jones is one of them. I mean, how do you look at this team on the floor and think this was ever going to work out?

None of Beal/ Booker and KD are PGs, they are all over the court with bad spacing. All 3 are poor perimeter and point defenders, especially Beal, yet all 3 are starters?

Frank Vogel should get some of the blame for not having the courage to bench Beal and tinkering the lineup to find some spark from the bench. This has to be the worst defensive team in the playoffs this season.

How you gon blame d coach. Dude is just an employee, and it cant be easy tending the egos of superstars who dont know their season is past

larride:
Kawhi and PG are not even trying at all. It's a low down dirty shame.

You said the same about Lakers. Like I joked about earlier, these are older teams, suns, lakers, clippers, warriors They are living on reputation but all season you could tell their era is over. I would have rather rockets made the playoffs than any of these teams.

greypencils:
I done dey laugh tire. Lakers are really going out with a doughnut just like last year. I Kuku said it here they should have just allowed Pelicans to take 7th position jeje. They have a chance of doing better in a series against OKC but Birdman dey mention basketball gods. Shebi Basketball gods have designed this one now, being swept by the same team in two consecutive seasons. Lakers had better win the next game otherwise the way I would so troll my Lebron fanboys, dem no go like am.

Bball gods dont lie. This team doesnt even deserve to be in the playoffs. Denver is exposing the truth

Honlucas:
Dlo, Reaves must leave the club


Like wtf is this ..

They are not the problem. KCP was on this lakers squad, and nothing came of it. This is a leadership problem, lack of mental toughness

larride:
If Lakers lose tonight, that's the end.

The end of the coach for sure. Even if they win. That dumbo move to slow down the clock and let nuggets defense get set every possession in the 3rd q needs to be punished

Lebron was cool with it too cuz it let him rest

A40:
The GM didn't use his brain assembling this team at all. There's a glaring lack of dawg.

I don't know what's going on with these guys but I look at a KD for example and he looks almost annoyed that the TWolves are getting physical, like he should just be allowed to show skills and score like it's another game at Rucker park.

Durant said offense is what wins championships, not defense. When he was challenged, he claimed he knew better. I expect Suns to try to out magic twolves in game 3 again. Anyhow its too late to learn how to play team defense, if all season long you believed offense would always give you the edge. Might as well go down with what you believe

Lebron's reponse was very disappointing. Yeah, I understand covering up for coach's crappy rotations, but trying to blame this on officiating is not goat behavior. And those close to him, if they love him need to pull him aside. Maybe like a Magic who has nothing to gain and can speak freely without worrying about consequences. Because if Lakers get swept by the Nuggets, Lebron's reputation as Goat material will be severely damaged.

A goat candidate is not just a dog in a game, he must be able to inspire his teammates into becoming dogs in at least one game, regardless of coaching, and they should be able to punch a superior opponent in the mouth at least once. At least once! And there are no crutches like injuries to use this time, even if AD decides to "manufacture" some leg injury in game 3, this team is still stacked enough.

If not, it would have been better for Lakers to have never made this playoffs.