NBA Discussion

[Seaofred92]

Should be 3-2 pistons

Yeah man. Such a shame they didn’t win game 4. Really should’ve had that or game 1.

Would love to get game 7 in the Garden on Saturday night. That series deserves it

 

[KidsSeeGhosts]

Yeah man. Such a shame they didn’t win game 4. Really should’ve had that or game 1.

Would love to get game 7 in the Garden on Saturday night. That series deserves it

The no call was egregious

 

[Stan Raymond]

That clip, at least to me, sums up the current NBA.

Poor shot choice, no ball movement, no moving without the ball, no passing, just terrible offense without any movement or screens or picks or passes, just bad offense.

But incredible ability to make difficult shots. The incredible level of NBA players to make shots has lead to awful shot choices and many teams don't even try to run an offense that gets players a good open look. Shots are all turn around, fades, step backs or some other individual move to get it off. I miss the team aspect of offense that the amazing ability of the current shot makers seem to ignore.

 

[KidsSeeGhosts]

That clip, at least to me, sums up the current NBA.

Poor shot choice, no ball movement, no moving without the ball, no passing, just terrible offense without any movement or screens or picks or passes, just bad offense.

But incredible ability to make difficult shots. The incredible level of NBA players to make shots has lead to awful shot choices and many teams don't even try to run an offense that gets players a good open look. Shots are all turn around, fades, step backs or some other individual move to get it off. I miss the team aspect of offense that the amazing ability of the current shot makers seem to ignore.

There is more movement and screening in today’s NBA than ever before in the game.

 

[Seaofred92]

There is more movement and screening in today’s NBA than ever before in the game.

Guy picked a clip of a team down 4 with 10 seconds left and said “no off ball movement”

Incredible hoops IQ there

Does not know ball

 

[Stan Raymond]

Guy picked a clip of a team down 4 with 10 seconds left and said “no off ball movement”

Incredible hoops IQ there

Does not know ball

Pretty important possession to run no offense. One helluva shot, but that was terrible offense it that is the best shot they could get. Which was my point, the incredible shot making ability has translated into really crappy offense being played.

 

[KidsSeeGhosts]

Pretty important possession to run no offense. One helluva shot, but that was terrible offense it that is the best shot they could get. Which was my point, the incredible shot making ability has translated into really crappy offense being played.

I mean it is a Thibbs offense. The only thing "modern NBA" about it really is this would've more likely been a less efficient middy iso v. a 3 (though Kobe had his share of bad 3s too).

Otherwise pretty much the defining feature of modern NBA offense is spacing and decline in iso/post-up compared to screening, ball movement, and off-ball action and commensurate defensive changes (e.g., switching). Team basketball is arguably more important than ever, given how modern NBA offense/defense works, you can feast on a weak link on offense/defense. https://thef5.substack.com/p/the-nba-has-entered-its-weak-link

 

[KidsSeeGhosts]

Giving up 27-24 to Gobert in an elimination game. Hate to see it!

 

[herbsinator]

That clip, at least to me, sums up the current NBA.

Poor shot choice, no ball movement, no moving without the ball, no passing, just terrible offense without any movement or screens or picks or passes, just bad offense.

But incredible ability to make difficult shots. The incredible level of NBA players to make shots has lead to awful shot choices and many teams don't even try to run an offense that gets players a good open look. Shots are all turn around, fades, step backs or some other individual move to get it off. I miss the team aspect of offense that the amazing ability of the current shot makers seem to ignore.

He doesn’t cross the half court line until 10 seconds left. You’re expecting them to run a set play down by 4?

 

[tman87]

Giving up 27-24 to Gobert in an elimination game. Hate to see it!

Flawed roster. Even before the AD/Luka trade, LA only had Hayes as the backup Center, and after the trade, played mostly small ball. With about 15 games left in the regular season, opposing teams figured out how to prevent the lob play to Hayes, making him a net-negative on the court. He is a willowy player who does not have much heft and gets pushed around in the paint. Also very foul prone. Just not starter level, and really not payable in the playoffs. That being said, Redick needed to play Hayes some in the playoffs, he barely played him at all (Hayes was a large net-negative in the small minutes he did play).

Making the issue of having no Centers to play even worse, the Lakers only have 3 creators and shot makers. Two of them are subpar athletically, and the other is 40 years old in year 22 (still by far the best player ever at this many years and minutes played for an NBA player). Their bench is thin, thin and does not have athelticism or shot creators. Their role players cannot create their own looks or break down a defense or their man. They have 4 players who are plus-scorers (Luka, Bron, Reaves, Rui), and Reaves was exposed as not being able to handle the extra physicality or athleticism and waves of depth thrown at him in the playoffs - the playoffs are a different game.

They over-achieved in the regular season. Even before the Luka trade (and AD was hurt for lke 3 weeks before the trade happened), the Lakers improved their defense a lot. It was small-ball, high energy/effort scrambling defense. They were outworking teams in the reg season, but that did not carry over well into the playoffs. They also had an extremely tough last 4 or 5 weeks of the season schedule, with something like 8 back to backs (plus most of their opponents being playoff level teams). It was already a tough end of season schedule, but having some games postponed from the LA fires meant more back to backs, and then Luka, Bron, Reaves and Rui (their 4 best players) all got hurt during that time, making the issue even worse.

This season was gravy for the Lakers. The roster is very flawed and not deep. A new rookie Head Coach who has literally never coached at any level before this. A 40 yr old Bron who is their best athlete. A subpar athletically 3rd option (Reaves) who had a great reg season, but was handcuffed in the Minny series. A gimped/hurt Luka who was trying to not only get back up to speed, but learn to play with a new team. A very shallow bench and supporting cast, with low athleticism.

Minny was a bigger, stronger, deeper, more athletic team. Lakers still could have won the series, but the margins are thin often in the playoffs, and Minny made the plays in the 4th qtrs the Lakers were too tired to make. Is what it is. Lakers have some work to do to improve the roster, and Redick needs to be able to look at himself and figure out where he needs to improve. How they improve the roster in the offseason (not an easy task with there small amount of picks and trade asset worthy players), will say a lot.

 

[KidsSeeGhosts]

Flawed roster. Even before the AD/Luka trade, LA only had Hayes as the backup Center, and after the trade, played mostly small ball. With about 15 games left in the regular season, opposing teams figured out how to prevent the lob play to Hayes, making him a net-negative on the court. He is a willowy player who does not have much heft and gets pushed around in the paint. Also very foul prone. Just not starter level, and really not payable in the playoffs. That being said, Redick needed to play Hayes some in the playoffs, he barely played him at all (Hayes was a large net-negative in the small minutes he did play).

Making the issue of having no Centers to play even worse, the Lakers only have 3 creators and shot makers. Two of them are subpar athletically, and the other is 40 years old in year 22 (still by far the best player ever at this many years and minutes played for an NBA player). Their bench is thin, thin and does not have athelticism or shot creators. Their role players cannot create their own looks or break down a defense or their man. They have 4 players who are plus-scorers (Luka, Bron, Reaves, Rui), and Reaves was exposed as not being able to handle the extra physicality or athleticism and waves of depth thrown at him in the playoffs - the playoffs are a different game.

They over-achieved in the regular season. Even before the Luka trade (and AD was hurt for lke 3 weeks before the trade happened), the Lakers improved their defense a lot. It was small-ball, high energy/effort scrambling defense. They were outworking teams in the reg season, but that did not carry over well into the playoffs. They also had an extremely tough last 4 or 5 weeks of the season schedule, with something like 8 back to backs (plus most of their opponents being playoff level teams). It was already a tough end of season schedule, but having some games postponed from the LA fires meant more back to backs, and then Luka, Bron, Reaves and Rui (their 4 best players) all got hurt during that time, making the issue even worse.

This season was gravy for the Lakers. The roster is very flawed and not deep. A new rookie Head Coach who has literally never coached at any level before this. A 40 yr old Bron who is their best athlete. A subpar athletically 3rd option (Reaves) who had a great reg season, but was handcuffed in the Minny series. A gimped/hurt Luka who was trying to not only get back up to speed, but learn to play with a new team. A very shallow bench and supporting cast, with low athleticism.

Minny was a bigger, stronger, deeper, more athletic team. Lakers still could have won the series, but the margins are thin often in the playoffs, and Minny made the plays in the 4th qtrs the Lakers were too tired to make. Is what it is. Lakers have some work to do to improve the roster, and Redick needs to be able to look at himself and figure out where he needs to improve. How they improve the roster in the offseason (not an easy task with there small amount of picks and trade asset worthy players), will say a lot.

27-24 for Gobert is hilarious, no matter your roster.

Have serious doubts about long-term roster construction around Luka, regardless of what they end up fixing at 5.

 

[Jim14510]

27-24 for Gobert is hilarious, no matter your roster.

Have serious doubts about long-term roster construction around Luka, regardless of what they end up fixing at 5.

He looked 8 ft tall against the Lakers lineup.

 

[tman87]

27-24 for Gobert is hilarious, no matter your roster.

Have serious doubts about long-term roster construction around Luka, regardless of what they end up fixing at 5.

It was bad gameplanning, and not having a center on the roster playable in the playoffs. Minny's coaches adjust, Redick did not. No real adjustments by Redick during the series. Playing 5 guys the entire 2nd half of game 4 was ridiculous, then he started those same 5 (no center in the 5) and played them almost the entire first qtr of game 5 was also ridiculous. Gobert was basically left alone with LA heavy doubling and scrambling the perimeter defense, leaving the paint wide open. Gobert was 6+ inches taller than anyone the Lakers had on the court, save for the few minutes that Kleber played - his first minutes since getting injured in early January. And Kleber is old and not very athletic as is.

A good coach will internalize this and admit his mistakes and find ways to improve in the offseason. The roster needs to be improved and more well balanced. A team with Luka needs rangy, long defensive wing players around him who are not subpar athletically, and needs at least two rim running lob threat Bigs (starter and backup) to open up that lob threat. The type of team/roster around Luka that needs to be built is not an unknown, it's just if the Lakers can find enough of those types of players with the small amount of trade assets they have. Luka also needs to tighten up his offseason fitness routine. Can't be sloppy and overweight and expect to last during the long NBA season.

 

[Frogsker30]

Who watches this crap lol

Outside of Luka, Giannis, Jokic maybe Wemby and Ja. I cant watch NBA

Maybe that will change when lebitchboy retires,

To me NBA hasnt be fun to watch since the Big 3 won the spurs last championship maybe goldenstates first.

 

[KidsSeeGhosts]

It was bad gameplanning, and not having a center on the roster playable in the playoffs. Minny's coaches adjust, Redick did not. No real adjustments by Redick during the series. Playing 5 guys the entire 2nd half of game 4 was ridiculous, then he started those same 5 (no center in the 5) and played them almost the entire first qtr of game 5 was also ridiculous. Gobert was basically left alone with LA heavy doubling and scrambling the perimeter defense, leaving the paint wide open. Gobert was 6+ inches taller than anyone the Lakers had on the court, save for the few minutes that Kleber played - his first minutes since getting injured in early January. And Kleber is old and not very athletic as is.

A good coach will internalize this and admit his mistakes and find ways to improve in the offseason. The roster needs to be improved and more well balanced. A team with Luka needs rangy, long defensive wing players around him who are not subpar athletically, and needs at least two rim running lob threat Bigs (starter and backup) to open up that lob threat. The type of team/roster around Luka that needs to be built is not an unknown, it's just if the Lakers can find enough of those types of players with the small amount of trade assets they have. Luka also needs to tighten up his offseason fitness routine. Can't be sloppy and overweight and expect to last during the long NBA season.

As you alluded to, Mavs had largely constructed an ideal roster for Luka, but even then he still had a negative net rating for all of last year's playoffs, as he's had for his entire career. Especially given his defense and playoff foul baiting/whining tendencies, I think there's a ceiling on what you can build around him. View him as an Embiid type (regular season stat darling -> post-season faller).

 

[KidsSeeGhosts]

Who watches this crap lol

Outside of Luka, Giannis, Jokic maybe Wemby and Ja. I cant watch NBA

Maybe that will change when lebitchboy retires,

To me NBA hasnt be fun to watch since the Big 3 won the spurs last championship maybe goldenstates first.

Saying this in a year where the Western Conference is as good as it is, plus Cavs and Celtics in the East. Yikes.

 

[tman87]

As you alluded to, Mavs had largely constructed an ideal roster for Luka, but even then he still had a negative net rating for all of last year's playoffs, as he's had for his entire career. Especially given his defense and playoff foul baiting/whining tendencies, I think there's a ceiling on what you can build around him. View him as an Embiid type (regular season stat darling -> post-season faller).

There are other players who are subpar defenders that teams build around. But yes, when your best player, franchise player, is not a good defender (he actually is really good in steals/passing lanes), even though he can at times play good positional defense, he does not have good lateral athleticism, or athleticism in general. But most of the rest of the roster need to be good defenders. Long, athletic, switchable wings, and a couple at least decent centers who are lob threats.

This roster had far too many holes. It's just a matter of can they tweak the roster enough to improve enough. Lebron has a year or two left, and a lot of that will depend on how the Lakers fill out the roster to address the holes. Heck, Bron could probably play 5 more years and still be very good, but you can't have your second best player at 40+ years old also be your most athletic player and expect that 40+ year old player to not only be good offensively, but shore up the defense by being the main Big in the paint defensively. Just unrealistic and a bad plan. But again - this season was gravy after the Luka trade. They over achieved in the reg season, but the large holes in the roster were shown bigtime against Minny. Minny was a bad matchup anyway given the Lakers roster issues.

 

[Jim14510]

As you alluded to, Mavs had largely constructed an ideal roster for Luka, but even then he still had a negative net rating for all of last year's playoffs, as he's had for his entire career. Especially given his defense and playoff foul baiting/whining tendencies, I think there's a ceiling on what you can build around him. View him as an Embiid type (regular season stat darling -> post-season faller).

Shows how bad he is defensively I guess. He averaged 30/7/6 against Minny.

 

[Seaofred92]

Knicks making a push to open the third quarter against Detroit.. really would love this to go 7