Series Thread: 1st Round: LA Lakers vs Portland Trailblazers

[Wamu]

Has there even been a playoffs where the # 1 seeds both lost game one?

 

[Gman]

There better be room for me on the Laker Haters bandwagon!

 

[Wamu]

i still believe the Lakers will win the series in 6 games---- but if some magical way the Blazers pull off the series win and LeBron has zero playoff series wins in LAL after 2 years and is going into his age 36 season, it will be very funny to me.

amirite?

"i still believe"

That LAbron's legacy is ruined because he didn't drag an injured Lakers squad to the playoffs last year?

You've said alotta stupid shit on this site. But saying his leagcy is ruined is one of the all time dumbest things you've said.

 

[TrustMeIamRight]

From what I recall, there wasn't much left after the attempt to sign Kawhi finally fell through.

They have a lot of guys on 1 year deals who are older players. I expect they'll be looking to make some changes to the roster in the off season, regardless of how the season finishes.

It just doesn't make sense how they built the team. Lebron and AD are top 5 players, but in a league dominated now by perimeter play -- how they didn't go out and find a way to get a knock down 3 point shooter is beyond me.
If they don't win this year -- next year is going to be a murderer's row in the West to even get to the finals and Lebron will be another year older.
How LA didn't do everything to stack their squad from the day they signed Lebron is beyond me?!?

 

[bksballer89]

Has there even been a playoffs where the # 1 seeds both lost game one?

Yes

 

[trojanfan12]

It just doesn't make sense how they built the team. Lebron and AD are top 5 players, but in a league dominated now by perimeter play -- how they didn't go out and find a way to get a knock down 3 point shooter is beyond me.
If they don't win this year -- next year is going to be a murderer's row in the West to even get to the finals and Lebron will be another year older.
How LA didn't do everything to stack their squad from the day they signed Lebron is beyond me?!?

They're not without guys who can hit the 3. They just don't have snipers or anyone they can count on consistently.

After the attempt to get Kawhi, there really weren't any 3 point specialists available and, if memory serves, the couple that were, chose to sign somewhere else.

Their only other option was to do what they did. It's actually worked for most of the season since they did get the #1 seed.

We can question whether they should have stayed in the Kawhi sweepstakes for as long as they did. A lot of guys that they could have gone after were signing with other teams while they waited. I think I even questioned that at some point.

But I can't really question what they put together out of what was left. Especially since, up until the shutdown, it was working better than anyone thought it would.

Even if they were playing well, I can't see them making the finals unless someone upsets the Clippers.

Hopefully, in the off season, they'll get AD re-signed and be able to make some moves either in the free agent market or through trade that will get them back to the finals.

 

[michaeljordan_fan]

So this group of games were just for fun or what? I guess I thought it was a shortened playoff race to see who is going to be in the playoffs. But it was just an extension of the regular season?

Yes.

 

[Stakesarehigh]

The Lakers do not have good shooters surrounding LeBron. Career numbers are useless these guys are playing the worst they've ever played.

Again I would love to see LeBron win it all with a third team. I just don't see it happening unless Rondo coming back can spark them. Avery Bradley ended up being a huge miss for them. Nice job Avery.

 

[trojanfan12]

I’m better at basketball than that Caruso and his stupid headband

how does a team expect to win with that kid getting so many minutes

Caruso can play. The problem is that he is being asked to play a role that he's not really equipped to play.

On the Lakers, Lebron is the de facto point guard, Rondo is the backup and Caruso is a combo guard who acts as the 3rd string point guard. The offense stays more on track with Rondo running it when Lebron rests.

Caruso and Lebron have a good chemistry when they are on the floor together. But with Rondo out, Caruso has to run the offense when Lebron is out.

 

[CitySushi]

The Lakers do not have good shooters surrounding LeBron. Career numbers are useless these guys are playing the worst they've ever played.

Again I would love to see LeBron win it all with a third team. I just don't see it happening unless Rondo coming back can spark them. Avery Bradley ended up being a huge miss for them. Nice job Avery.

So you're saying Lebron needs more help?

 

[WiggyRuss]

Hopefully, in the off season, they'll get AD re-signed and be able to make some moves either in the free agent market or through trade that will get them back to the finals.

problem with that is they have almost no trade assets after the AD trade, and their cap space is pretty much non-existence. Kuzma used to be a decent trade asset but he has disappointed to a certain extent and when he is closer to free agency a team is less likely to give up decent assets to trade for him AND then have to pay him.

 

[Wamu]

Yes

What year? Just wondering.

 

[Wamu]

The Lakers do not have good shooters surrounding LeBron. Career numbers are useless these guys are playing the worst they've ever played.

Again I would love to see LeBron win it all with a third team. I just don't see it happening unless Rondo coming back can spark them. Avery Bradley ended up being a huge miss for them. Nice job Avery.

Not to sound biased or anything but I like the fact that Bradley opted out. Anything that hurts the Lakers chances of winning it all is a good thing.

 

[bksballer89]

What year? Just wondering.

Whenever the spurs/pistons met in the finals so 2004 or 2005

 

[Wamu]

Whenever the spurs/pistons met in the finals so 2004 or 2005

Oh good deal. It was '05. All the Spurs titles were won in odd years. In '04 I think the Pistons upset the Lakers.

 

[Wamu]

Caruso can play. The problem is that he is being asked to play a role that he's not really equipped to play.

On the Lakers, Lebron is the de facto point guard, Rondo is the backup and Caruso is a combo guard who acts as the 3rd string point guard. The offense stays more on track with Rondo running it when Lebron rests.

Caruso and Lebron have a good chemistry when they are on the floor together. But with Rondo out, Caruso has to run the offense when Lebron is out.

Who's hair be better- Caruso or LAbron's?

 

[Stakesarehigh]

Whenever the spurs/pistons met in the finals so 2004 or 2005

That one still stings a little. Classic series that doesn't get enough love. Went 7

 

[Stakesarehigh]

So you're saying Lebron needs more help?

All it takes is one to make shots consistently and AD play in the frontcourt where he belongs. I suppose I should say "as it stands" LeBron doesn't have good shooters around him.

 

[WiggyRuss]

The Blazers didn't play well, but as others have said, they played better than the Lakers.

The Blazers were 13/34 from 3. That's 38.2%. For the season they hit 37.7%. So, they basically hit their season average.

The Lakers were 5/32 from 3. That's 15.6%. For the season, they hit 34.9%. So they shot nearly 20% below their season average.

That's the difference in the game.

34.9% on the season isnt bad--- it was good for 21st in the NBA- but the bubble percentage is lower---- not only that but its pretty rare if not unheard of for a Lebron James led team to be bottom half of the league in 3 pt shooting. The Cavs and Heat were always elite 3 pt shooting teams with LeBron's ability to collapse the defense and find shooters.

 

[Rambunctious]

Yes.

Thanks man