The new Lakers duo: Luka and Reaves

[90sgoat]

Since Lebron went out, 5 games:

Reaves: 28-7-8 on 49/40/92
Luka: 30-11-9 on 38/38/84

These two are going to win rings together for the next 5 years.

[90sgoat]

My question is if they should trade Rui or keep him and make that their core.

[RRR3]

Reaves was an undrafted scrub until LeBron taught him the secrets of basketball. Now look at him. LeBron molded him into a star.

[sdot_thadon]

These next few years are going to be popcorn worthy

[FKAri]

They got me so excited I went out and bought some white robes just like you.

[Neal Romer]

I could share a lot of nuanced thoughts on the Lakers short term and long term outlook, but I'd have to receive payment up front. I am more than happy to do it tho.

For an a la carte write up on this topic alone I could go as low as an even 100. Or if you'd like to reserve quality, substantive posts for the next full week on ISH, I can offer a flat $250 rate.

It can be collectivized through multiple posters, or if one person wants to float it as a gift for the whole board that's cool too.

Paypal is vxsandman@gmail.com

Hope to hear from ya!

[90sgoat]

They got me so excited I went out and bought some white robes just like you.

Wait with the buying of robes until Knecht starts at SF.

[ImKobe]

White boys are taking over :pimp:

[Neal Romer]

White boys are taking over :pimp:

It's not just white boys tbh. There is and will continue to be a big African influx as well. And biracial French players for example.

With global scouting and global interest in basketball, the sheer math suggests African American representation is going to be gradually squeezed out relative to what we've seen in recent decades when basketball was a much more localized talent pool. African Americans are a numerical minority in the US alone, let alone compared to the billion people each in Europe and Africa respectively.

With the perpetually misguided chase for the next MJ mostly over, which valued purely explosive athletes (which is not exclusively what made MJ great) like Michael Beasley and John Wall and Darius Miles and guys who really werent ready to be serious professional basketball players, theres really not any specific advantage to being from any particular demographic. So it's gonna just be a purely worldwide mix of players.

What will be interesting is how much the NBA will continue to posture itself as partners on black American issues, once they no longer rely so heavily on them as a labor base.

[dankok8]

Last 5 games without Lebron:

Luka: 31.0/10.2/8.0 on 56.2 %TS (-1.3 rTS) with 4.6 topg
Reaves: 28.0/7.0/7.6 on 62.6 %TS (+5.1 rTS) with 2.8 topg

Luka with a huge slash line but inefficient.

[ShawkFactory]

Since Lebron went out, 5 games:

Reaves: 28-7-8 on 49/40/92
Luka: 30-11-9 on 38/38/84

These two are going to win rings together for the next 5 years.

Who's going to get the defensive stops?

Both are atrocious on that end. Rui and the other role players aren't much better.

[90sgoat]

It's not just white boys tbh. There is and will continue to be a big African influx as well. And biracial French players for example.

With global scouting and global interest in basketball, the sheer math suggests African American representation is going to be gradually squeezed out relative to what we've seen in recent decades when basketball was a much more localized talent pool. African Americans are a numerical minority in the US alone, let alone compared to the billion people each in Europe and Africa respectively.

With the perpetually misguided chase for the next MJ mostly over, which valued purely explosive athletes (which is not exclusively what made MJ great) like Michael Beasley and John Wall and Darius Miles and guys who really werent ready to be serious professional basketball players, theres really not any specific advantage to being from any particular demographic. So it's gonna just be a purely worldwide mix of players.

What will be interesting is how much the NBA will continue to posture itself as partners on black American issues, once they no longer rely so heavily on them as a labor base.

What's important is diversity in play and the way that happens is with more "white" teams, because whites play different and then black teams and yellow teams (Toronto) can begin playing diverse again.

[90sgoat]

Who's going to get the defensive stops?

Both are atrocious on that end. Rui and the other role players aren't much better.

DFS, Lebron, but they can trade Rui for Walker Kessler and Lebron for Caruso.

[SouBeachTalents]

2-3, both wins over losing teams, Luka's efficiency is trash. LeBron will reestablish himself as the alpha when he comes back and have the Lakers playing like they were when he led them on an 8 game winning streak. They only go as far as he can take them.

[Full Court]

Who's going to get the defensive stops?

Both are atrocious on that end. Rui and the other role players aren't much better.

Rui's actually a very serviceable defender.