Why I think the Kobe-Pau Lakers would be just as good today

[tpols]

Only because they might not be able to shoot right themselves. Pau and Bynum is a ridiculous line up vs anyone. It was ridiculous back then. Just like TD and Robinson would also be very hard to deal with. Twolves are running KAT and Gobert. Tatum would be BBQ'd off the floor. The whole Cs team would be unable to compete with that squad. Why? Because nobody could stop Kobe from getting inside and shooting, and when he missed, they would reb.

Porzingis is a crazy player, but he can't guard Pau or Bynum and keep them off the glass, imo, especially not if he has to move to contest Kobe. However, there is a lack of shooting in the LAL lineup, for sure.

I think the Cs were a one time thing. They are gonna be able to compete with anyone due to their line up, but historically, I don't think they beat a lot of championship teams. Their team is deeply flawed considering its talent level. You'd just hope you could leave LAL open and they'd miss. They can't deal with Odom and Kobe.

Cs lost a game to the Mavs. It's possible they could win a series with exceptional play/shooting, but I'd be shocked if they won it easily. More likely, they would get ground out. The ups and downs of modern shooting teams would cause them to lose. Remember, the Cs did a lot of games of bricking in the Finals. I think they gotta shoot close to 40% cuz they aren't gonna get offensive rebs, either.

If you wanna switch up the lineup and try rotating people out, put Porzingis at PF and Brown/Tatum at the wings, that would be nice. They could play small for spot moments, but I don't think they could run the whole game with Tatum at PF.

It'd be fun to see, though, obviously we dunno. I just have a hunch. But yea the Cs aren't the team I am using to prove that 09 Lakers wouldn't be as good as today, plus they were a better team compared to their peers than LAL was then, especially considering Porzingis missed a decent chunk of time. So, in theory, they SHOULD be winning, but I don't think they would.

-Smak

Yup. The Celtics simply don't have the defensive personel at all to guard the Lakers frontcourt with a gimpy injured Zingis and old undersized Horford. They basically have no sturdy big men. And with how we seen Tatum bricking a lot of his shots, you know Kobe would outproduce him by a lot.

What it comes down to is the Lakers 2pt and paint dominance would be a certainty. If their role players get hot from 3 like in the 2009 run that would just be a cherry on top. Where as Boston is completely at the mercy and variance of their 3pt spam because their midrange game is mediocre and they wouldn't be doing squat at the rim.

[Real Men Wear Green]

Saying Tatum could guard Pau or Bynum in the low post is one of the most delusional things I've ever seen posted on this forum.

He guarded Myles Turner and Bam Adebayo just this postseason. He had been the starting power forward for the last two years. Are you paying any attention at all?

[tpols]

He guarded Myles Turner and Bam Adebayo just this postseason. He had been the starting power forward for the last two years. Are you paying any attention at all?

Neither of those guys are even remotely as skilled offensively in the low post as Pau and Bam in particular is nowhere near as long and tall as Pau. Turner isn't even a gifted offensive player either... he's known for his defense mostly. Gasol would be getting automatic buckets on Tatum all game long. That's an absurd mismatch.

[Real Men Wear Green]

Neither of those guys are even remotely as skilled offensively in the low post as Pau and Bam in particular is nowhere near as long and tall as Pau. Turner isn't even a gifted offensive player either... he's known for his defense mostly. Gasol would be getting automatic buckets on Tatum all game long. That's an absurd mismatch.

Adebayo averaged 19 points, same as Gasol. And it wasn't just jumpers, he pays. Tatum isn't going to shut him down but he would defend Gasol as competently as most power forward. But on the other end how is Gasol going to cover a perimeter player that has averaged 30? That year out is one of the reasons why the Celtics are a great team, because they're are a lot more guys that Tatum can guard than they're are guys that can guard Tatum.

[tontoz]

@ the C's being "deeply flawed". They had the best record in the league by far in spite of chillin at times. They have strong 2 way players throughout their lineup.

How many ECF's have they played in the last few years? I lost count.

[tpols]

Bam was measured @ 6'8 barefoot at the combine. Pau Gasol was a true 7 footer. And not only that, Bam is not a low post guy. Miami runs him in the pick and pop and roll all day. While the strongest part of Paus game was his low post footwork, hook shots, craftiness and passing. He was like a diet Kevin McHale in that regard. Bam and Paus styles and size are so far apart it makes 0 sense to equivocate their games.

[Real Men Wear Green]

Bam was measured @ 6'8 barefoot at the combine. Pau Gasol was a true 7 footer. And not only that, Bam is not a low post guy. Miami runs him in the pick and pop and roll all day. While the strongest part of Paus game was his low post footwork, hook shots, craftiness and passing. He was like a diet Kevin McHale in that regard. Bam and Paus styles and size are so far apart it makes 0 sense to equivocate their games.

And yet Gasol averaged 19 points. Tatum is not smaller than the average pf Gasol faced. But on the other end Gasol never had to guard elite scoring wings. He's literally never done it his entire career. Tatum meanwhile has been defending 4s for the last two years. The mismatch is definitely in the Celtics favor, even more so considering that the Laker offense is going to run through Kobe not Gasol.

[Im Still Ballin]

Pau Gasol led the league in post-up efficiency in 2008-09 with 1.034 points per play. I'm not sure what the league average was but it was considerably less than today. I imagine, relatively speaking, that's like 1.10-1.15+ ppp in today's league.

Factoring in post-up scoring efficiency, diversity, range, and passing, Jokic is the best modern comparison. Even if he's not as good he was still a handful.

[Real Men Wear Green]

He's nowhere near Jokic's level offensively. Not close in scoring average or assists per game. Also doesn't have Jokic's bill to take it to the Celtics as a physical presence.

[Im Still Ballin]

Did you think they are? Because I never said that.

[Real Men Wear Green]

Did you think they are? Because I never said that.

You said Jokic was the best modern comparison. I pointed out why that isn't that relevant.

[Im Still Ballin]

2008-09 Pau Gasol Regular season: (81 games)

3-10 feet: 52.3% FG (29.5% of FGAs); [LEAGUE AVERAGES: 41.2% FG and 12.4% of FGAs]; Pau shot 26.9% above league average efficiency
10-16 feet: 49.2% FG (17.5% of FGAs); [LEAGUE AVERAGES: 39.5% FG and 11.1% of FGAs]; Pau shot 24.6% above league average efficiency

2022-23 Nikola Jokic Regular season: (69 games)

3-10 feet: 64.3% FG (41.4% of FGAs); [LEAGUE AVERAGES: 45.4% FG and 20.6% of FGAs]; Nikola shot 41.6% above league average efficiency
10-16 feet: 50.0% FG (9.2% of FGAs); [LEAGUE AVERAGES: 44.7% FG and 9.6% of FGAs]; Nikola shot 11.9% above league average efficiency

[Im Still Ballin]

You said Jokic was the best modern comparison. I pointed out why that isn't that relevant.

Can you read? ... In the post. There's no one who's a better comparison in the game today when you break down all the elements of post-up play. Doesn't mean he's as good. Just that he's stylistically most comparable.

[Real Men Wear Green]

Can you read? ... In the post. There's no one who's a better comparison in the game today when you break down all the elements of post-up play. Doesn't mean he's as good. Just that he's stylistically most comparable.

And I pointed out why that isn't relevant. "Can you read?"

[Im Still Ballin]

2008-09 Pau Gasol PLAYOFFS: (23 games)

3-10 feet: 56.5% FG (30.8% of FGAs); [LEAGUE AVERAGES: 41.2% FG and 12.4% of FGAs]; Pau shot 37.1% above league average efficiency
10-16 feet: 46.3% FG (14.9% of FGAs); [LEAGUE AVERAGES: 39.5% FG and 11.1% of FGAs]; Pau shot 17.2% above league average efficiency

2022-23 Nikola Jokic PLAYOFFS: (20 games)

3-10 feet: 56.0% FG (52.2% of FGAs); [LEAGUE AVERAGES: 45.4% FG and 20.6% of FGAs]; Nikola shot 23.3% above league average efficiency
10-16 feet: 47.5% FG (9.7% of FGAs); [LEAGUE AVERAGES: 44.7% FG and 9.6% of FGAs]; Nikola shot 6.3% above league average efficiency