Luka is f*cked

[3ba11]

he has no chance to win as long as
LeNegative sticks around, so each year that Lebron sticks around is a wasted year of Luka's peak.. And Luka's prime promises to be short.

Super-old dudes like Lebron are ceremonial players that no one takes seriously or goes hard at until the last couple minutes - then they blow the old man away - it's been like this for several years now..

as long as LeNegative causes weak regular season records and weak teams that have no chance at a title, Luka is screwed .. he needs Lebron to retire ASAP.

And Lebron plays a dummy version of off-ball where he doesn't run off screens to facilitate ball movement - he just stands there on the wing instead and then he "looks to go downhill upon the catch", according to the T'Wolves' coach, aka still turning everyone into spot-up shooter.. That's why he's such a massive negative as an "off-ball" player - there's as reason he didn't play off-ball with mostly assisted buckets for his entire career - it's because he stinks at it - the 1st Round upset loss further confirmed that he doesn't know what he's doing off-ball.. He'll always be LeBrick and never a goat jumpshooter on 2's or 3's like MJ or Curry.. His weak jumpshooting is why he has the worst clutch efficiency ever from the field or the FT line..

[1987_Lakers]

1-9

[3ba11]

1-9


https://i.makeagif.com/media/4-09-2025/m6H5wT.gif


You should be happy that I'm letting you know the tik tok because now you'll know they're bs'ing when they say Luka needs more help

[FultzNationRISE]

https://i.makeagif.com/media/4-09-2025/m6H5wT.gif


You should be happy that I'm letting you know the tik tok because now you'll know they're bs'ing when they say Luka needs more help


Still cant believe they lost DFS for nothing.

[clipps]

Still cant believe they lost DFS for nothing.

Shut the f### up you stupid piece of s###.

[StrongLurk]

https://i.makeagif.com/media/4-09-2025/m6H5wT.gif


You should be happy that I'm letting you know the tik tok because now you'll know they're bs'ing when they say Luka needs more help

Lebron has the highest plus-minus of all time in the playoffs. So I guess if you are putting stock into plus-minus, then you must think highly of LeBron :lol

[Real Men Wear Green]

Doncic was recently in Men's Health. He's gotten into shape and could be about to have his best season. I don't expect him to become a great defender but just being respectable on that end along with his elite offense the Lakers should be taken seriously. Ayton just needs to be competent defensively.

[bullettooth]

1-9

Cope.

[Akeem34TheDream]

Still cant believe they lost DFS for nothing.

He will be a great rotational player on Rockets

[3ba11]

Doncic was recently in Men's Health. He's gotten into shape and could be about to have his best season. I don't expect him to become a great defender but just being respectable on that end along with his elite offense the Lakers should be taken seriously. Ayton just needs to be competent defensively.


Teammates take on the leader's traits, so it's too bad that Lebron is one of the worst defenders in the league, otherwise Ayton and Doncic would be elevated on that end.. Instead, they're asked to carry Lebron on defense, which is suboptimal on many levels and ultimately fails.. Accordingly, the Lakers need a lot more than "competent" defense from Ayton, Luka and Reaves (good luck with that).

So I wouldn't expect the Lakers to have a top defense that sustains in the playoffs as long as Lebron is a big part of the offense - he would never accept a "banger/hustler/defender" role that focuses on defense with low PPG.. His high PPG essentially prevents good defense from him, since we know that he can't do both anymore (both sides of the ball).

The way that the Lakers win the title in 2026 is for Ayton to break out alongside Luka and be an All-NBA player - this isn't absurd - Luka is tasked with elevating a rare historic talent like Ayton, who was considered more talented than say, Pippen.. Luka needs to light that fire like MJ did with Pippen, and the FIT should be there for that duo to work.. As for Lebron - he's done - he needs to fit in, otherwise a massive negative like him needs to be benched..

A team led by peak Luka and a decent cast should easily win 60 games, so 50 wins and the 3 seed was never some sort of achievement.

[ShawkFactory]

Teammates take on the leader's traits, so it's too bad that Lebron is one of the worst defenders in the league, otherwise Ayton and Doncic would be elevated on that end.. Instead, they're asked to carry Lebron on defense, which is suboptimal on many levels and ultimately fails.. Accordingly, the Lakers need a lot more than "competent" defense from Ayton, Luka and Reaves (good luck with that).

So I wouldn't expect the Lakers to have a top defense that sustains in the playoffs as long as Lebron is a big part of the offense - he would never accept a "banger/hustler/defender" role that focuses on defense with low PPG.. His high PPG essentially prevents good defense from him, since we know that he can't do both anymore (both sides of the ball).

The way that the Lakers win the title in 2026 is for Ayton to break out alongside Luka and be an All-NBA player - this isn't absurd - Luka is tasked with elevating a rare historic talent like Ayton, who was considered more talented than say, Pippen.. Luka needs to light that fire like MJ did with Pippen, and the FIT should be there for that duo to work.. As for Lebron - he's done - he needs to fit in, otherwise a massive negative like him needs to be benched..

A team led by peak Luka and a decent cast should easily win 60 games, so 50 wins and the 3 seed was never some sort of achievement.

He has in the Olympics. If Luka comes out in shape, and Reaves continues on this path offensively, then I could easily see Lebron further moving to an off-ball and then hustle position. He had by far the most productive off-ball and spot-up year of his career last year so things will probably continue to trend that way as he gets even older.

[3ba11]

He has in the Olympics. If Luka comes out in shape, and Reaves continues on this path offensively, then I could easily see Lebron further moving to an off-ball and then hustle position. He had by far the most productive off-ball and spot-up year of his career last year so things will probably continue to trend that way as he gets even older.


Unfortunately, you simply don't understand how hoops works.. :facepalm:

But I'll try to make it simple since you never played:

If me and you were on the same team and we played 2-on-2 versus toddlers, how much energy do you think we would expend?... Do you think we would get tired running the court and jostling for rebounds against toddlers?.. Or would we be infinitely faster and stronger, thereby yawning as we cruise to victory?... This example is over-simplified to make the point that you can't compare NBA games where the comp is basically even-steven, to international format where 12 All-NBA guys face 1-man teams and less-than G-league casts.. Our teams can literally turn it on for the last 5 minutes and overcome massive deficits.. I used to do that in 1-on-1 against weaker players - I would let them get a 8 to 1 lead (going to 11), and then I would deflate their dreams with an 11-8 comeback win, or maybe 11 to 9.. Again, we saw what Lebron does in the 1st Round as a big favorite - he's a massive negative and loses with bad defense - he's a bad defender now and has been for many years now.

[ShawkFactory]

Unfortunately, you simply don't understand how hoops works.. :facepalm:

But I'll try to make it simple since you never played:

If me and you were on the same team and we played 2-on-2 versus toddlers, how much energy do you think we would expend?... Do you think we would get tired running the court and jostling for rebounds against toddlers?.. Or would we be infinitely faster and stronger, thereby yawning as we cruise to victory?... This example is over-simplified to make the point that you can't compare NBA games where the comp is basically even-steven, to international format where 12 All-NBA guys face 1-man teams and less-than G-league casts.. Our teams can literally turn it on for the last 5 minutes and overcome massive deficits.. I used to do that in 1-on-1 against weaker players - I would let them get a 8 to 1 lead (going to 11), and then I would deflate their dreams with an 11-8 comeback win, or maybe 11 to 9.. Again, we saw what Lebron does in the 1st Round as a big favorite - he's a massive negative and loses with bad defense - he's a bad defender now and has been for many years now.

So...which is it?

Would he never "accept" the hustle role (your previous words, WITH further commentary after it that makes it clear it wasn't just a misuse of words on your part) or is he just incapable of it at this point?

[3ba11]

So...which is it?

Would he never "accept" the hustle role (your previous words) or is he just incapable of it at this point?


Everyone accepts a hustle role on Olympic Dream Teams, even Jordan... :confusedshrug:

But in the NBA, Lebron must average his 25/7/7 - the goat empty stats - this will lead to bad defense and a need for Luka and Ayton to carry Lebron defensively, which is impossible.. Hence the impending failure.. And it's interesting because prime Lebron would choke with a ball-dominator like Luka just like he did with Wade - there's a goat choke in the offing for Lebron's career, basically regardless, since he was always going to be paired with some star ball-dominator.. It's a weakness in his status as a ballplayer (the impending choke with any big ball-dominator), and it's due to a skill deficit - he lacks the elite off-ball and jumpshooting volume/efficiency required to fit with anyone like Curry, Jordan or Kobe.

[tpols]

Everyone accepts a hustle role on Olympic Dream Teams, even Jordan... :confusedshrug:

But in the NBA, Lebron must average his 25/7/7 - the goat empty stats - this will lead to bad defense and a need for Luka and Ayton to carry Lebron defensively, which is impossible.. Hence the impending failure.. And it's interesting because prime Lebron would choke with a ball-dominator like Luka just like he did with Wade - there's a goat choke in the offing for Lebron's career, basically regardless, since he was always going to be paired with some star ball-dominator.. It's a weakness in his status as a ballplayer (the impending choke with any big ball-dominator), and it's due to a skill deficit - he lacks the elite off-ball and jumpshooting volume/efficiency required to fit with anyone like Curry, Jordan or Kobe.

The Marcus Smart and Ayton signings are going to improve their defense from last year. Hes got massive help 0n both sides of the ball.

[3ba11]

The Marcus Smart and Ayton signings are going to improve their defense from last year. Hes got massive help 0n both sides of the ball.


Lebron's age will drag down the team, just like 2025, where he was the only negative on the team after Luka arrived.. Everyone was a big positive, except Lebron was a big negative - he's a cancer that infects his help... He simply can't play big minutes because he's too big of a negative... I'm not sure the last time negative player made All-NBA or the last time a primary option on a contender was a negative.. I doubt it happens.

[3ba11]

The Marcus Smart and Ayton signings are going to improve their defense from last year. Hes got massive help 0n both sides of the ball.


Lebron's age will drag down the team, just like 2025, where he was the only negative on the team after Luka arrived.. Everyone was a big positive, except Lebron was a big negative - old Lebron is a cancer that infects his help (far more than normal)... He simply can't play big minutes because he's too big of a negative... I'm not sure the last time a negative player made All-NBA, or the last time a primary option on a contender was a negative.. I doubt it happens.

[Full Court]

I wonder if Lebron will sabotage Luka this year. I'm not sure his childish ego can handle Luka being the main attention getter.

[gengiskhan]

1-9

9-0

[90sgoat]

The only way Lebron becomes a positive on Lakers is if he accepts coming off the bench. He could still be effective as a super 6th man, because his offense is still pretty good, but not against starters anymore for 30+ minutes. 25 minutes of the bench and he might win another ring.

[Full Court]

The only way Lebron becomes a positive on Lakers is if he accepts coming off the bench. He could still be effective as a super 6th man, because his offense is still pretty good, but not against starters anymore for 30+ minutes. 25 minutes of the bench and he might win another ring.

I agree. Redick has no cajones though. He won't bench LeShrivel.

[StrongLurk]

Luka screwed himself over by constantly being out of shape, so much so, that his own team traded him.

This has nothing to do with Lebron or any other player. Luka only has himself to blame.

[Phoenix]

One thing I couldn't figure out with Luka( and Zion too, for that matter), how do actually get 'out of shape' during the season? Like, we've seen a few summers where Luka is 'in shape' playing for Slovenia internationally, then he's somehow out of shape halfway through the NBA season? What the fukk are you consuming that playing 48 minutes of NBA basketball 3-4 times a week isn't counteracting? I was looking at some 2021 highlights recently, and while he's never been Allen Iverson speed-wise, it's jarring just how plodding he is now compared to when he came into the league.

[Real Men Wear Green]

I have no inside info on that front but I would guess it's not just about food. He probably guzzles beer like mad. If that is the case he will have to tone that down a bit to stay in shape.

[Phoenix]

I have no inside info on that front but I would guess it's not just about food. He probably guzzles beer like mad. If that is the case he will have to tone that down a bit to stay in shape.

Yeah, I say 'consume' because I'm not specifying it as food. It could be that as much as beer and/or hard spirits. Either way, you gotta be eating/drinking in thousands of empty calories if you can't maintain decent shape during an NBA season. It's just weird that he's had summers being in shape which would suggest his diet is better during the summer? You'd think it would be the opposite if anything.

[Real Men Wear Green]

The NBA season brings with it a hectic travel schedule that could make the kind of regular habits he needs to establish a challenge, and then you have a young man with millions of dollars and a great deal of fame and fans touring some of the biggest cities in North America so he can find a party 7 days a week. Of course every star has to deal with all of that but I'm just speculating how and why he may have lost control in the past.

Ithink he's in better shape mpw than he has been in past offseasons though. That could be a sign.

[Phoenix]

I think it comes down mostly to consistency and discipline. It's also clear that Luka has a body type that probably requires more effort to maintain conditioning. You know how some people can eat just about anything and stay skinny, but another person could eat two slices of pizza and gain 5 pounds? I had a friend like that, dude partied every week drinking like a damn fish and eating whatever he wanted, had a 6 pack. Yeah he was in the gym but like average 3 times a week for an hour stuff, not really a gym rat per se. Some people just have the genes, I guess.

I'm guessing losing out on hundreds of millions being traded has a certain incentive, and he's playing in a market that's gonna crucify him for not being in shape. He looks real good right now by his standards, but we'll see. Other than last year, the prior two seasons he started the year looking like an early season MVP soat this point it feels like its time for him to max out that potential.

[warriorfan]

Will miss the Luka fat jokes. “Fupa Doncic” killed me.