Series Thread: 2) Phoenix Suns vs 7) LA Lakers

[trojanfan12]

Thinking they bring back Drummond and pay him after deeming he cannot be used in a must win game?

I think Drummond can be useful, but only situationally. He's an excellent rebounder for a guy who isn't really a rim protector, he's a pretty good defender in the paint. But he's pretty limited outside of that and not as good offensively if as he thinks he is.

I don't expect him back because I think he'll want more than the Lakers could/should pay him and there is likely a mediocre team that will pay him closer to what he likely wants.

The biggest thing, imo, is that Ayton is pretty much exactly the kind of center that Drummond should be able to be effective against and Ayton kicked his ass.

 

[tlance]

Sure...but you could argue they got past some teams as good or better than this Suns team.

For sure.

Like I said, LeBron right now at this moment is not close to where he was in 2018.

I am hoping he gets some of it back with an off season of rest, but I fear he may not.

 

[tlance]

The Kobe-Shaq Lakers would have beaten MJ's Bulls
.

Some of the Bulls team?

Yes. Almost definitely.

The very best version from 1996?

Nah. That is another level of greatness only surpassed by the KD Warriors of 2017.

 

[msgkings322]

Some of the Bulls team?

Yes. Almost definitely.

The very best version from 1996?

Nah. That is another level of greatness only surpassed by the KD Warriors of 2017.

Like I said above, can't really say which all time great team would beat the other in a 7 game series. They'd all be pretty close.

 

[tlance]

I think Drummond can be useful, but only situationally. He's an excellent rebounder for a guy who isn't really a rim protector, he's a pretty good defender in the paint. But he's pretty limited outside of that and not as good offensively if as he thinks he is.

I don't expect him back because I think he'll want more than the Lakers could/should pay him and there is likely a mediocre team that will pay him closer to what he likely wants.

The biggest thing, imo, is that Ayton is pretty much exactly the kind of center that Drummond should be able to be effective against and Ayton kicked his ass.

That is exactly what Drummond’s best role is.

Put him on a mediocre team and let him get numbers.

I just don’t see him ever being a legit asset on a contender. His vision of his own skill set is just a lot different from how a good team might effectively use him.

 

[tlance]

Like I said above, can't really say which all time great team would beat the other in a 7 game series. They'd all be pretty close.

Nah.

I found Doc’s DeLorean and got all those teams together to compete in a playoff.

The ‘17 Warriors beat the ‘96 Bulls in the Finals. Shaq and Kobe Lakers couldn’t get out of the 2nd round. They lost to the ‘87 Lakers.

 

[msgkings322]

Nah.

I found Doc’s DeLorean and got all those teams together to compete in a playoff.

The ‘17 Warriors beat the ‘96 Bulls in the Finals. Shaq and Kobe Lakers couldn’t get out of the 2nd round. They lost to the ‘87 Lakers.

I mean, ok? Who had home court?

Doesn't it depend a bit on the rules (hand checking etc) too?

 

[dtgold88]

Sure, go with that.

OK, let's see....

Dance, bee-yach!!

 

[dtgold88]

Nah.

I found Doc’s DeLorean and got all those teams together to compete in a playoff.

The ‘17 Warriors beat the ‘96 Bulls in the Finals. Shaq and Kobe Lakers couldn’t get out of the 2nd round. They lost to the ‘87 Lakers.

don't forget the Plutonium to get back.

 

[dtgold88]

I think Drummond can be useful, but only situationally. He's an excellent rebounder for a guy who isn't really a rim protector, he's a pretty good defender in the paint. But he's pretty limited outside of that and not as good offensively if as he thinks he is.

I don't expect him back because I think he'll want more than the Lakers could/should pay him and there is likely a mediocre team that will pay him closer to what he likely wants.

The biggest thing, imo, is that Ayton is pretty much exactly the kind of center that Drummond should be able to be effective against and Ayton kicked his ass.

with AD out for most of the game he couldn't even get on the court. If that's not a wakeup call to him, what could be?

 

[tlance]

I mean, ok? Who had home court?

Doesn't it depend a bit on the rules (hand checking etc) too?

Neutral site and yeah, a bit, but not as much as most here think.

 

[WiggyRuss]

THT isn't going anywhere.

wanna bet?

 

[Picklerick 2.0]

If you listen to people on here, Kuzma is trash and the worst player in the NBA.....LOL.

People are reactive, he had a seriously trash series.

 

[wildturkey]

 

[DJ]

Some of the Bulls team?

Yes. Almost definitely.

The very best version from 1996?

Nah. That is another level of greatness only surpassed by the KD Warriors of 2017.

They wouldn't have been able to stop Shaq and Kobe.....no way.

The Lakers had great role players in Fox, Horry, Fisher, Shaw, etc.

 

[DJ]

wanna bet?

Sure.....1k says TNT stays with the Lakers.

 

[tlance]

They wouldn't have been able to stop Shaq and Kobe.....no way.

The Lakers had great role players in Fox, Horry, Fisher, Shaw, etc.

You realize that ‘96 team swept Shaq right?

With Penny, Dennis Scott, Nick Anderson, etc.

Was that Magic team as good as the Lakers? Clearly no.

But the 3 headed monster was 18 fouls and Rodman was really good at annoying Shaq in the minutes he guarded him.

The Bulls never had a problem defeating elite centers.

The Shaq Kobe Lakers weren’t as good as the ‘96 Bulls, and even through homer goggles that should be clear.

 

[Black Adam]

Sure.....1k says TNT stays with the Lakers.

yeah, i'm not seeing TNT going anywhere. that's a guy they wanna see continue to develop...

 

[Mebert]

We saw what happened when Jordan "retired" for two seasons

Yes we did, they won 55 games. They started 5-7 while Pippen was hurt, then went 50-20 once Pippen returned.

 

[BigKen]

Like I said above, can't really say which all time great team would beat the other in a 7 game series. They'd all be pretty close.

How good would some teams be if there was no 3 point line?? How bout if more than 1 step was traveling?

People forget that in the Wilt/Russell years, basketball wasn't as pussified as it is today. Players had to work their asses off to score more than 100 points. Simple rules that are totally ignore like dribbling with a hand turning the ball over. Allowing three steps to the basket for a slam. Howe often is 3 seconds called? I can remember guys like Unseld and Cowens literally dancing in and out of the paint to avoid a three second call.

Trying to compare one era to another is like trying to compare whipped cream to vanilla pudding.