2018 NBA offseason

[tlance]

Im talking about leading a team towards a championship.
A couple months ago you were saying Tristan was outplaying him.
Is he a locker room leader?
Maybe. I dont know.
But, if hes anything but your 3rd or 4th best player, you aren’t beating elite teams 4 of 7 times.

It is absolutely hilarious Wiggy is digging his heels in on this.

Remember a couple months ago when we were talking Kawhi trade scenarios?

Wiggy wanted Boston to send Horford and picks because he was the least valuable of the Celtics main players. I said the better player to deal was Kyrie because of Horford's fit, Kyrie's injury history and the possibility of him leaving next summer.

Wiggy never ceases to amaze how quickly he can change tune. Priceless.

 

[Raw_Bee808]

I'm Trying Jennifer T-Shirt

 

[Raw_Bee808]

 

[bksballer89]

Good Morning to everyone except Wiggy

 

[Heatles84]

"He's probably the best PG I've ever had as a team mate."

James on Lonzo Ball

Wouldn't read too much into it considering they haven't played one NBA game together.

Also, I wonder how Kyrie Irving is taking that.

 

[bksballer89]

Wouldn't read too much into it considering they haven't played one NBA game together.

Also, I wonder how Kyrie Irving is taking that.

Yeah exactly. I also don't think anyone thinks Lonzo Ball is better than Kyrie

 

[Heatles84]

Yeah exactly. I also don't think anyone thinks Lonzo Ball is better than Kyrie

Not even in the same spectrum.

 

[DJ]

Wouldn't read too much into it considering they haven't played one NBA game together.

Also, I wonder how Kyrie Irving is taking that.

True.

But, Irving is more of a combo guard/shoot first PG.....Ball is more of the traditional pass first PG...





Your 2nd comment is why I posted it and to get Wiggy's reaction.

 

[Heatles84]

True.

But, Irving is more of a combo guard/shoot first PG.....Ball is more of the traditional pass first PG...





Your 2nd comment is why I posted it and to get Wiggy's reaction.

Well, I don't think Wiggy cares much for Irving anymore.

Notice that as soon as a player leaves the Cavs, they're rendered useless and overrated.

 

[WiggyRuss]

True.

But, Irving is more of a combo guard/shoot first PG.....Ball is more of the traditional pass first PG...





Your 2nd comment is why I posted it and to get Wiggy's reaction.

I mean if he is just talking about "pure point guards" he may be right. Think of the "point guards" that LeBron has played with--- Mo Williams, Mario Chalmers, Kyrie Irving, George Hill for a minute, -- all of them are combo guys that can effectively work off the ball and all are good three point shooters. Thats not coincedence.

LeBron is one of the best ever in large part because the guy is an amazing player maker and sees things that others dont with the ball in his hands.

Lonzo cant shoot, and needs the ball in his hands. Should work out FABULOUSLY with LeBron. Now guys can just double off Lonzo since his shot does not need to be respected---- and of course- when Lonzo has the ball in his hands--- LeBron doesnt- and I think id rather have LeBron with the ball in his hands. lol

 

[bksballer89]

Lonzo cant shoot, and needs the ball in his hands. Should work out FABULOUSLY with LeBron. Now guys can just double off Lonzo since his shot does not need to be respected---- and of course- when Lonzo has the ball in his hands--- LeBron doesnt- and I think id rather have LeBron with the ball in his hands. lol

One thing you should stop doing is jumping the gun on guys after 1 year in the NBA and act like they can't make improvements. I'm not a fan of Lonzo due to his Father and I hope he is a bust but it is certainly possible that he's been in the gym working on his 3 pt shot.

That's why I actually enjoy paying attention to preseason. You get to see those who put in the work in the summer to get better and those who did not.

 

[DJ]

I mean if he is just talking about "pure point guards" he may be right. Think of the "point guards" that LeBron has played with--- Mo Williams, Mario Chalmers, Kyrie Irving, George Hill for a minute, -- all of them are combo guys that can effectively work off the ball and all are good three point shooters. Thats not coincedence.

LeBron is one of the best ever in large part because the guy is an amazing player maker and sees things that others dont with the ball in his hands.

Lonzo cant shoot, and needs the ball in his hands. Should work out FABULOUSLY with LeBron. Now guys can just double off Lonzo since his shot does not need to be respected---- and of course- when Lonzo has the ball in his hands--- LeBron doesnt- and I think id rather have LeBron with the ball in his hands. lol

And you're still not comprehending (like @trojanfan12 and I have been trying to tell you, lol) they plan on lightening his load so he doesn't have to initiate the offense.....Ball will......not to mention Rondo.

James will be scoring and rebounding, not having to create for others AS MUCH AS HE HAS.

However, he should still average 4-5apg....he'll kick it out if he gets doubled.

 

[bksballer89]

And you're still not comprehending (like @trojanfan12 and I have been trying to tell you, lol) they plan on lightening his load so he doesn't have to initiate the offense.....Ball will......not to mention Rondo.

Just because they plan on doing something doesn't mean James will allow it to happen. He can act like he doesn't want the ball in his hands but Lebron loves when he is running the offense.

 

[Heatles84]

One thing you should stop doing is jumping the gun on guys after 1 year in the NBA and act like they can't make improvements. I'm not a fan of Lonzo due to his Father and I hope he is a bust but it is certainly possible that he's been in the gym working on his 3 pt shot.

That's why I actually enjoy paying attention to preseason. You get to see those who put in the work in the summer to get better and those who did not.

You're WRONG!!!!

If the player wears a Heat or Lakers uniform, then you can't make judgement on their career after their rookie season.

If it's a player on another team, then you can wait until they hit their prime!!!!

 

[Heatles84]

Last I checked, Rondo can't shoot worth a lick.

I'd take that guy on my team in a cold second though, even though he's an asshole.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Just because they plan on doing something doesn't mean James will allow it to happen. He can act like he doesn't want the ball in his hands but Lebron loves when he is running the offense.

not only that but you WANT LeBron running the offense.....i mean holy shit its one of the things if not the biggest thing that makes him one of the top players of ALL TIME. LeBron benefits a LOT more having a guy like Kyrie that can carry hte load when he is on the bench or when he wants to play off the ball and can kind of take a break- then a guy who is initiating hte offense but still relies on LeBron to actually score and rebound etc.

Kyrie Irving does MUCH more to keep LeBron fresh than does Lonzo Ball.


for shitsake the guy played with Kyrie and Wade- 2 guys that can initiate offense better than 99% of the NBA and LeBron did it BECAUSE HES LeBron!

 

[trojanfan12]

Just because they plan on doing something doesn't mean James will allow it to happen. He can act like he doesn't want the ball in his hands but Lebron loves when he is running the offense.

Obviously we won't know how Lebron will respond to having his role change until they start playing games.

Folks can say what they want about Lebron, but the guy ain't stupid. I'm sure he's well aware of his age and the miles on his body and knows that what he did last year is unsustainable. We've already seen him do a couple of things this off-season that everyone (myself included) said he would never do. So why would we assume he can't/wouldn't be willing to take a lighter load? Especially since we've been hearing for years that a lighter load is exactly what he wants.

I expect there will be some growing pains and times where Lebron will take over the offense out of habit. I also expect that, late in close games, he will take over and run the majority of the offense as he see's fit. He's the star, that's how it works.

But overall, once they get all of the kinks worked out, we will likely see him initiating the offense less than we have seen in the past.

How much less? That will likely be determined by how the season is going. But I will say that if, shortly after the all star break, we are seeing Lebron initiating the offense as much as he has in the past, it will likely mean that Lonzo is injured, no longer on the team or not long for being on the team.

 

[WiggyRuss]

One thing you should stop doing is jumping the gun on guys after 1 year in the NBA and act like they can't make improvements. I'm not a fan of Lonzo due to his Father and I hope he is a bust but it is certainly possible that he's been in the gym working on his 3 pt shot.

That's why I actually enjoy paying attention to preseason. You get to see those who put in the work in the summer to get better and those who did not.

thats a fair point its just that its very rare to see someone make huge leaps on a year to year basis- especially when they have a broken motion like Ball and are still so young.

I have no doubt Ball can improve his shot- do i think we will see a substantial improvement this year? of course not- it took LeBron years to get a reliable jumper it took a guy like kidd years to get a reliable jumper- rondo STILL doesnt have a reliable jumper and neither does rubio. Anderosn Varejao couldnt hit anything outside of 3 feet when he came into the league and by his 6th 7yh year he had a very reliable 16 footer....

can ball improve? of course- and he has PLENTY of upward mobility, lol....but do i expect him to see a material improvement in his age 22 season? I mean- he has to improve a LITTLE because last year was so fucking atrocious but i certainly dont expect him to shoot 35% and be a guy that is a threat- do you?

 

[trojanfan12]

Last I checked, Rondo can't shoot worth a lick.

I'd take that guy on my team in a cold second though, even though he's an asshole.

Him being an asshole is part of why I'm glad that the Lakers got him. From everything I've read and heard about Rondo, the dude is a basketball genius (most seem to think that when he retires, he'll either be coach or working in a front office) as well as being an asshole. The Lakers kids can learn a great deal from both of those traits.

From the basketball genius trait, the kids can learn how to approach, prepare and play the game. Learn to recognize more quickly, what a team is doing both offensively and defensively and to adjust on the fly.

From the asshole trait, they can learn to not back down from anyone and to hold each other accountable.

If the kids can learn those things from him, I really don't care what he does as far as on court production.

 

[Wamu]

Aretha Franklin