The Lakers are not contenders

[StrongLurk]

Lot of hype around them, but it just shows how dumb the NBA fanbase is. Lakers might have a chance to build a real contender next year, but they arent winning anything this year.

To be fair, OKC is so dominant this year that it will be a huge failure if OKC doesn't make the finals.

[Full Court]

It'll be a huge failure if the Lakers don't make the finals.

Damage control starting already?

[John8204]

Well at lease we aren't hearing that if they win it's not legit because...for some reason.

[Real Men Wear Green]

With James and Doncic they might be the best team for getting a basket in the clutch and that's major...but in paper that defense is awful. I wonder if James could defend at a huge level again if he sacrificed his offensive touches? I don't see that happening but they need to do something. You can't have a bad defensive perimeter and no shot blocker.

[RRR3]

With James and Doncic they might be the best team for getting a basket in the clutch and that's major...but in paper that defense is awful. I wonder if James could defend at a huge level again if he sacrificed his offensive touches? I don't see that happening but they need to do something. You can't have a bad defensive perimeter and no shot blocker.
He'd improve but he's still 40, how many perimeter defenders are elite at 40?

[Neal Romer]

He'd improve but he's still 40, how many perimeter defenders are elite at 40?


Uhhhhh, how many 20 year olds could do what Lebron was doing at 20?

How many 30 year olds could do what Lebron did at 30?

Why would you compare Lebron to anyone else at the same age?


Lebron's defense still is elite anyway, it's just hard to see it because of all his teammates mistakes. Their ineptitude makes him look bad.

[Meticode]

It'll be a huge failure if the Lakers don't make the finals.

Damage control starting already?

No it's not.

[ImKobe]

Uhhhhh, how many 20 year olds could do what Lebron was doing at 20?

How many 30 year olds could do what Lebron did at 30?

Why would you compare Lebron to anyone else at the same age?


Lebron's defense still is elite anyway, it's just hard to see it because of all his teammates mistakes. Their ineptitude makes him look bad.

That's a load of horseshit. He has been coasting on defense since 2017 and can only do it in spurts. Overall he's a below-average defender at this point in his career and it shows in his effort and in his stats like EPM.

[Neal Romer]

That's a load of horseshit. He has been coasting on defense since 2017 and can only do it in spurts. Overall he's a below-average defender at this point in his career and it shows in his effort and in his stats like EPM.


Defense is in the eye of the beholder.


I say hes still elite.

[ShawkFactory]

It'll be a huge failure if the Lakers don't make the finals.

Damage control starting already?

OKC?

[dankok8]

I think people are overreacting with LA's bad defense. They have DFS and Vando both of whom are actually impact defenders. And Lebron will probably sacrifice some offensive usage to Luka and play better D in the PS. In the last 10 games they are #2 in DRtg and that's mostly without AD. It's obviously a small sample but they've improved a lot since DFS and Vando are playing.

Are they contenders? I'd say so. They are definitely a top 5/6 team in the league on paper. And currently 6th in title odds.

[Xiao Yao You]

Contending for a play in spot. Same as it ever was

[StrongLurk]

Again, Luka/Lebron/Reaves is WILDLY redundant. They will not come close to maximizing each other as a trio on offense and none of them are good at defense either.

Lebron/AD is a better 1-2 pairing than Lebron/Luka.

Lebron/Luka are the biggest combination of ball dominance/unassisted scoring in the league as far as duos go. Lebron would need to get his assisted scoring rate from 38% up to like 60% if he wants to get Luka/Reaves incorporated into an efficient offense. It would be a big change, Lebron would essentially have to be a full-time power forward/screener/3-point shooter, but can he really do that at 40 years old?

[Mask the Embiid]

How? Reddit told me that the #4 seeded lakers just added someone "better" than lebron to the Lakers. So how are they not contenders