JJ Reddick Unveils the Lakers Starting Lineup for This Season

[Full Court]

Apparently he doesn't intend on experimenting with different starting lineups every game.

Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves are in, Bronny James is out.

D'Angelo Russell
Rui Hachimura
Lebron James
Austin Reaves
Anthony Davis

Also implies that Bronny will be in the G League - says it's not a demotion. And states that Bronny and Lebron playing together will happen "sooner rather than later."


https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/joel-embiid-extension-knicks-center-rotation-and/id986595124?i=1000670582968

[Patrick Chewing]

They need to hurry up and make Reaves the captain cause this is his team now.

[Xiao Yao You]

Anyone thought bronny wouldnt be in the gleague?

[Full Court]

Anyone thought bronny wouldnt be in the gleague?

It's not a matter of merit.

Wouldn't have suprised me if he got a rotation spot right off the bat.

[Full Court]

They need to hurry up and make Reaves the captain cause this is his team now.

They need to get Reaves better help than often-injured AD and old net negative Lebron.

[bison]

I hope JJ is a stats man. He has the exact same roster we had last season, meaning he has tons of data and stats of what worked last season and didn’t work last season. God bless Darvin Hambone to give us controlled experiments with cam reddish and taurean prince. JJ just needs to have common sense and give the lakers a normal season.

[Full Court]

I hope JJ is a stats man. He has the exact same roster we had last season, meaning he has tons of data and stats of what worked last season and didn’t work last season. God bless Darvin Hambone to give us controlled experiments with cam reddish and taurean prince. JJ just needs to have common sense and give the lakers a normal season.

On paper, the Lakers should be going to the finals. They're stacked with 3 all stars and one borderline all star and a decent bench. And they're better than last year with the addition of Knecht.

However, if they end up underachieving again this year (like they have almost every year since 2019), the question is who will be the scapegoat? Will it be Reddick like Ham was last year?

[HylianNightmare]

10 seed

[dankok8]

The Lakers' biggest issue is health. If Lebron and AD both miss 20-30 games, even making the playoffs could be a struggle. There's also the danger that Lebron could finally fall off the cliff at age 40. If they manage to stay healthy and fight off father time, they should be title contenders with that talent although I do think their perimeter defense is a big weakness as is a lack of a backup C.

[Xiao Yao You]

The Lakers' biggest issue is health. If Lebron and AD both miss 20-30 games, even making the playoffs could be a struggle. There's also the danger that Lebron could finally fall off the cliff at age 40. If they manage to stay healthy and fight off father time, they should be title contenders with that talent although I do think their perimeter defense is a big weakness as is a lack of a backup C.

Lebron and davis were healthy last year and they were still mediocre. They have other issues obviously

[Spurs m8]

Would be hilarious if LePED had a career ending injury before stepping on the court with his fraud son

2 complete frauds on one team...poor bison

[Neal Romer]

Would be hilarious if LePED had a career ending injury before stepping on the court with his fraud son

2 complete frauds on one team...poor bison


Hey Bud? You need to check the way you talk about My King™ and My Prince™. And I mean ASAP.

Theres no place for those kinds of comments in our game. No place. NONE.

Alright? Clean it up. Because it's not okay.

[Spurs m8]

Hey Bud? You need to check the way you talk about My King™ and My Prince™. And I mean ASAP.

Theres no place for those kinds of comments in our game. No place. NONE.

Alright? Clean it up. Because it's not okay.

Actually, he's probably more likely to hopefully end up in jail for diddling minors at the Diddy parties

[Full Court]

The Lakers' biggest issue is health. If Lebron and AD both miss 20-30 games, even making the playoffs could be a struggle. There's also the danger that Lebron could finally fall off the cliff at age 40. If they manage to stay healthy and fight off father time, they should be title contenders with that talent although I do think their perimeter defense is a big weakness as is a lack of a backup C.

Vanderbilt is supposed to be back by the beginning of the season. That will help their defensive woes.

[90sgoat]

D'Angelo Russell starting at point guard is throwing in the towel before the season even begun. He is not a championship quality starter.

[Neal Romer]

D'Angelo Russell starting at point guard is throwing in the towel before the season even begun. He is not a championship quality starter.


Therell be some regular season bright spots and false optimism, but yeah this team has zero playoff chances

[90sgoat]

Therell be some regular season bright spots and false optimism, but yeah this team has zero playoff chances

They don't need that much, I'm high on Rui and Reaves and AD and Lebron still have enough in the tank. They do need for Lebron to take a step back and they need a proper point guard who is good at defense, because Reaves, D'Angelo and Lebron are weak.

I can see them look good on offense though, lot of firepower.

[Neal Romer]

They don't need that much, I'm high on Rui and Reaves and AD and Lebron still have enough in the tank. They do need for Lebron to take a step back and they need a proper point guard who is good at defense, because Reaves, D'Angelo and Lebron are weak.

I can see them look good on offense though, lot of firepower.

They may not need a ton, but what they do need is more than anything they can realistically get. Theyre pretty asset strapped.

[Naero]

That lineup was predictable enough. It's not like they lost or gained any start-worthy players this off-season aside from Prince (who was benched by the end of last season anyway).

They'll be interesting to follow as usual (especially with the father-son duo), but is anyone expecting them to fare much better than last season? They were a quick first-round exit despite improbably healthy seasons from LeBron and AD (neither of whom is getting less injury-prone), which isn't encouraging to say the least.

[Full Court]

That lineup was predictable enough. It's not like they lost or gained any start-worthy players this off-season aside from Prince (who was benched by the end of last season anyway).

They'll be interesting to follow as usual (especially with the father-son duo), but is anyone expecting them to fare much better than last season? They were a quick first-round exit despite improbably healthy seasons from LeBron and AD (neither of whom is getting less injury-prone), which isn't encouraging to say the least.

They were unlucky in that they had Denver in the first round. Just a bad matchup for them. Had they played Minny, OKC, or the Clips they very well could have won. Dallas would have been a toss up.

[iamgine]

D'Angelo Russell starting at point guard is throwing in the towel before the season even begun. He is not a championship quality starter.

I thought he's decent. Along the Terry Rozier or Immanuel Quickley level player.

[Real Men Wear Green]

I thought he's decent. Along the Terry Rozier or Immanuel Quickley level player.
Didn't watch him at all in Charlotte but in Boston Rozier was a good defender. If that hasn't fallen off and he stays healthy he's better than Russell.

[coin24]

Won’t even sniff the playoffs :oldlol:

They made zero moves. Keeping dangeslow is insane

[Full Court]

Won’t even sniff the playoffs :oldlol:

They made zero moves. Keeping dangeslow is insane

I don't get the criticism for Russell. Is he just being scapegoated? He was a lights-out shooter from 3 last season (42%), and he was killing it in the playoffs too. In the one game the Lakers won against Denver, Russell was the one who buried Denver with his shooting.

Sure his defense sucks, but so does everyone else's on the team not named Davis or Vanderbilt.

[ShawkFactory]

I don't get the criticism for Russell. Is he just being scapegoated? He was a lights-out shooter from 3 last season (42%), and he was killing it in the playoffs too. In the one game the Lakers won against Denver, Russell was the one who buried Denver with his shooting.

Sure his defense sucks, but so does everyone else's on the team not named Davis or Vanderbilt.

Poor defense and inconsistency overall, particularly when the games slow down and get more physical.

He was good in the one win against Denver, but in the 4 losses he averaged 12 on 34%.

[Full Court]

Poor defense and inconsistency overall, particularly when the games slow down and get more physical.

He was good in the one win against Denver, but in the 4 losses he averaged 12 on 34%.

That statistical average you cite is a bit skewed though by game 3 in which he had 0 points. Out of the five game series, that was his only bad game. He was outstanding in games 2 and 4. And as far as averaging 12, as the Lakers third scoring option, how many points do you reasonably expect him to average?

And you say if you take out the one game the Lakers won he averaged 12, but if you take out the one game that he scored 0, he averaged 18.

[ShawkFactory]

That statistical average you cite is a bit skewed though by game 3 in which he had 0 points. Out of the five game series, that was his only bad game. He was outstanding in games 2 and 4. And as far as averaging 12, as the Lakers third scoring option, how many points do you reasonably expect him to average?

And you say if you take out the one game the Lakers won he averaged 12, but if you take out the one game that he scored 0, he averaged 18.

True. That's why I tend to hate using series averages as if they mean much, particularly a short series.

But that does highlight the inconsistency I was talking about. I don't reasonably expect a 3rd scoring option on the Lakers to average more than 15 or so, but it would be nice for them if that 3rd scorer added value in other areas, which Russell does not aside from occasional nice passes. If he's shooting poorly (which he regularly does in the playoffs) then he isn't really a useful player. And the Lakers don't need a 3rd option who is only good at scoring occasionally and not much else.

He's better suited as a guy on a bad team allowed to do what he wants and average his 23-24 or whatever with no one caring what else he does.

[1987_Lakers]

About to enter year 22 and turn 40 years old and people are still talking about LeBron and his teams. Gotta love it.

[Full Court]

About to enter year 22 and turn 40 years old and people are still talking about LeBron and his teams. Gotta love it.

40 years after Jordan's shoe came out, people are still talking about it. Gotta love it.

[1987_Lakers]

True. That's why I tend to hate using series averages as if they mean much, particularly a short series.

But that does highlight the inconsistency I was talking about. I don't reasonably expect a 3rd scoring option on the Lakers to average more than 15 or so, but it would be nice for them if that 3rd scorer added value in other areas, which Russell does not aside from occasional nice passes. If he's shooting poorly (which he regularly does in the playoffs) then he isn't really a useful player. And the Lakers don't need a 3rd option who is only good at scoring occasionally and not much else.

He's better suited as a guy on a bad team allowed to do what he wants and average his 23-24 or whatever with no one caring what else he does.

Russell is only liked by casuals who don't understand the game.

He was a bit better than expected last season, but I think the trade rumors had him playing better because he doesn't want to leave LA. The inconsistencies are still there and he is a negative defender. Pretty much everyone on the roster is expendable except LeBron, AD, & Reaves.

[Full Court]

Russell is only liked by casuals who don't understand the game.

He was a bit better than expected last season, but I think the trade rumors had him playing better because he doesn't want to leave LA. The inconsistencies are still there and he is a negative defender. Pretty much everyone on the roster is expendable except LeBron, AD, & Reaves.

Ironic.

Yes, he is a negative defender. But so are the rest of the Lakers except for AD and Vandy. It's almost like their team leader has created a culture of defensive laziness.....hmmmm.

But regardless, he balled out last year, had the best shooting year of his career, and the Lakers wouldn't even have made the play-in if not for his offense. There were quite a few games when he bailed the team out.

[sdot_thadon]

About to enter year 22 and turn 40 years old and people are still talking about LeBron and his teams. Gotta love it.

It is crazy. Woulda never thought he'd have hung around this many seasons. He's definitely got the longest superstar story ever.

[1987_Lakers]

It is crazy. Woulda never thought he'd have hung around this many seasons. He's definitely got the longest superstar story ever.

YouTube and Facebook didn't exist when he entered the league. Dial-up internet was still a thing, full court wasn't born yet. Pretty mind blowing.

[RRR3]

YouTube and Facebook didn't exist when he entered the league. Dial-up internet was still a thing, full court wasn't born yet. Pretty mind blowing.
Full Court’s posts make it seem like he still hasn’t been born.

[Full Court]

Full Court’s posts make it seem like he still hasn’t been born.

Wow, what a clever zinger. :roll:

Then again, nobody ever accused a Bronie fluffer of having intelligence.....

[ShawkFactory]

Ironic.

Yes, he is a negative defender. But so are the rest of the Lakers except for AD and Vandy. It's almost like their team leader has created a culture of defensive laziness.....hmmmm.

But regardless, he balled out last year, had the best shooting year of his career, and the Lakers wouldn't even have made the play-in if not for his offense. There were quite a few games when he bailed the team out.

DLo has always been a terrible on D. He's simply not quick or strong enough, deadly combo for a defender. Even if you do put in good effort (which he doesn't really), you have to be at least one of those two to get away with it.

And that hurts his offense when defensive pressure is tighter.

[Full Court]

DLo has always been a terrible on D. He's simply not quick or strong enough, deadly combo for a defender. Even if you do put in good effort (which he doesn't really), you have to be at least one of those two to get away with it.

And that hurts his offense when defensive pressure is tighter.

Yeah, he's never been a good defender, but I'm of the opinion that anyone can be a decent defender if they put the effort and energy into it. I really don't see that from the Lakers, which is strange considering Darvin Ham was supposed to be a defensive-minded coach.

An example of this is Austin Reaves. His defense is mediocre at best. However, there have been times when he's been absolutely lockdown for short periods of time. He clearly COULD be a good defender if he cared or wanted to be.

[dankok8]

Defense isn't just effort unfortunately. A lot of it is awareness and being able to read plays as they happen and some guys just don't have it in them. Over the course of their careers, most pros improve in making reads but some still never reach that level. You can run around like a headless chicken but if you're just fouling opponents, losing them on cuts or failing to rotate constantly and get lost in your team's schemes, you'll never even be a positive defender despite making effort.

With effort, you can probably at least not be a major liability though.

[ShawkFactory]

Yeah, he's never been a good defender, but I'm of the opinion that anyone can be a decent defender if they put the effort and energy into it. I really don't see that from the Lakers, which is strange considering Darvin Ham was supposed to be a defensive-minded coach.

An example of this is Austin Reaves. His defense is mediocre at best. However, there have been times when he's been absolutely lockdown for short periods of time. He clearly COULD be a good defender if he cared or wanted to be.

That's where it gets tricky because nothing about Austin Reaves strikes me as the type of guy who isn't going to give max effort whenever he can. If he can be strong on D for short bursts then I believe something else is at play, such as conditioning or overall defensive instincts when not presented with a favorable matchup on a given possession. Or not being a strong communicator on switches and rotations. Etc.

He has decent size though, which Russell doesn't really.

[Full Court]

That's where it gets tricky because nothing about Austin Reaves strikes me as the type of guy who isn't going to give max effort whenever he can. If he can be strong on D for short bursts then I believe something else is at play, such as conditioning or overall defensive instincts when not presented with a favorable matchup on a given possession. Or not being a strong communicator on switches and rotations. Etc.

He has decent size though, which Russell doesn't really.

Could be conditioning I suppose, but I doubt he lacks defensive instincts. One thing he excels at is drawing charges. I'll give him that.

[Neal Romer]

Could be conditioning I suppose, but I doubt he lacks defensive instincts. One thing he excels at is drawing charges. I'll give him that.

Reaves has good anticipation and excels when things are happening quickly and he can diagnose and react, to cut guys off or disrupt passing lanes or whatever.

But if you stand him in front of a ball handler at the top of the key hes susceptible to getting burned by a first step and Im guessing this is because he carries decent bone mass in his hips and pelvis, and more mass takes longer to move, even if it's just an extra fraction of a second or two.

If you look at Jaden McDaniels, hes got slim hip volume with probably low density too, thus it's easier to move on a dime. Reaves isnt exactly bulky but that doesnt mean his hips and pelvis dont have greater mass/density. And therefore take longer to get moving. Once hes in motion its less of a problem and he can then go to his strengths, but getting in motion just takes that split second longer than it might for other guys with different builds.

It's just physics dear boy.

[Full Court]

Reaves has good anticipation and excels when things are happening quickly and he can diagnose and react, to cut guys off or disrupt passing lanes or whatever.

But if you stand him in front of a ball handler at the top of the key hes susceptible to getting burned by a first step and Im guessing this is because he carries decent bone mass in his hips and pelvis, and more mass takes longer to move, even if it's just an extra fraction of a second or two.

If you look at Jaden McDaniels, hes got slim hip volume with probably low density too, thus it's easier to move on a dime. Reaves isnt exactly bulky but that doesnt mean his hips and pelvis dont have greater mass/density. And therefore take longer to get moving. Once hes in motion its less of a problem and he can then go to his strengths, but getting in motion just takes that split second longer than it might for other guys with different builds.

It's just physics dear boy.

Interesting theory...

So would you say Reaves has the most pelvic mass of anyone on the Lakers?