Not successful at all if Lebron has to do this even once a week. But the team still has a lot of new parts and they should become better at finding their roles. But last night was an important game for the Cavs, so Lebron did everything he could to win it. And he's so good, he figuratively put the team on his back and won the game.LeBron was fantastic last night. But, if he has to put forth that kind of effort night in and night out how successful are they going to be as a team? They still gave up 122 points.
Too bad they don’t have Stevens.But the team still has a lot of new parts and they should become better at finding their roles.
During Russell Westbrook's triple-double campaign last season, one of the criticisms was that other players on the Thunder let him grab rebounds they could have gotten so that he could pad his stats. One place this is especially true was at the free throw line, where OKC's two low players just sort of back their opponents up, and Westbrook swoops in for the board.
This season, again, they are employing that strategy. Let's watch Irving's rebound again, and you can see this in action.
I hear you, but isn't this upcoming draft supposed to be the best/deepest in recent memory? And of course, you have the opportunity cost of having to wait another year for that asset, whatever it might be. I know I'd rather just get a top 5 this season, and be done with it, than have to wait another year, and hope that another potentially improving team continues to suck (not saying I think the Kings won't continue to suck, because I think they will and regardless of where LA finishes this year, I think they'll have a better season than the Kings next year unless things change dramatically).Sure, but it's not like if the Lakers win 36 games and end up with something like the 10th pick we get it and we're all let down. Then it will flip to Sacramento's next season.
We get #2-#5 or root against Kings next season.
Still think it's very likely the Lakers are going to be terrible. They had a nice schedule to start the season, including 7 out of 10 games at home.I fear tonight is going to be a turning point for the Lakers season, and it's all because they finally came to their senses and started Kuzma. Can't really give them too much credit because they only started him due to the injury to Larry Nance Jr (wh has actually been playing pretty well too).. Kuzma went for 21 and 13, on 8/11 shooting, and is now shooting 54% from the field on the year, averaging 15ppg in 26 minutes and has a PER of 18.12, which will probably start going up significantly with his minutes.
It'll be interesting to see what they do when Nance comes back. If Ingram can play the 2 (even though he's 6'9), maybe they keep Nance and Kuzma (both of whom are also 6'9, but they play "bigger" than Ingram) on the floor, and bench Caldwell-Pope. It would make them a huge starting 5 with Lopez at center. And they would still have Randle, Ennis, Caldwell-Pope and Clarkson for their second unit. Kind of amazing that they gave Deng a huge contract last year, and he isn't getting off the bench anymore for even a couple minutes. The Lakers could be a surprising team this year, which obviously kind of sucks for the C's.
Wow. I had to look that up.Between Thanksgiving and Christmas they'll play Golden State and Houston three times each.
This class is top heavy --- there are 3-4 very, very elite prospects. One of them will fade but another currently in the 5-10 range will rise. But the depth, i.e. late lottery, teens and even into the early twenties, will not be as strong as the class we just witnessed.I hear you, but isn't this upcoming draft supposed to be the best/deepest in recent memory? And of course, you have the opportunity cost of having to wait another year for that asset, whatever it might be. I know I'd rather just get a top 5 this season, and be done with it, than have to wait another year, and hope that another potentially improving team continues to suck (not saying I think the Kings won't continue to suck, because I think they will and regardless of where LA finishes this year, I think they'll have a better season than the Kings next year unless things change dramatically).
And FTR, I'm always, always going to root against the Lakers. Having their draft pick is just icing on the cake.
I think it is reasonably likely that one of Porter, Bagely, or Ayton passes him for whoever drafts number one. I think that is also quite likely to look like a major mistake 5 years from now.Interesting. I don't follow prospects or rankings nearly as closely, but this is the first time that i've seen Doncic noted as being a clear cut #1. I thought his lack of superior athleticism (similar to Tatum in my mind?) would keep him from running away from the pack.
Donecic has by far the highest floor. He'll be an instant contributor to whomever drafts him and will play in the NBA for years. But it's currently undetermined whether he is athletic enough to be a top tier NBA player.I think it is reasonably likely that one of Porter, Bagely, or Ayton passes him for whoever drafts number one. I think that is also quite likely to look like a major mistake 5 years from now.
Maybe...but this is also why some of these early season wins hurt so much. Brooklyn, for example, has played one of the softest schedules in the league, but only managed 3 wins. We'll know more by New Year's but the Lakers current ranking in SRS (0.56) seems to reflect reality and puts them on pace for 32-40 wins in the West.Still think it's very likely the Lakers are going to be terrible. They had a nice schedule to start the season, including 7 out of 10 games at home.
Their schedule through New Years is pretty brutal, save for a week long homestand in the middle of this month. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas they'll play Golden State and Houston three times each.
They're 4-5 now, I'd be surprised if they're better than 10-25 by New Years.
Brooklyn started last season 4-5. I'm not too worried about the Lakers' start. They definitely have a ten game losing streak in them. The standings right now are very weird. The end of season standings will look very different.Maybe...but this is also why some of these early season wins hurt so much. Brooklyn, for example, has played one of the softest schedules in the league, but only managed 3 wins. We'll know more by New Year's but the Lakers current ranking in SRS (0.56) seems to reflect reality and puts them on pace for 32-40 wins in the West.
Proper context. The minutes LeBron is on the bench is typically when opponents 2nd units are in the game with their top scorer(s) also on the bench. I'm guessing this stat would be similar with any starter who sits when opponents 2nd units are out there.Small samples, but as long were talking about the one-game sample of his legendary 57 point night...
Opponents this season with LeBron on the floor: 117.4 points per 100
Opponents this season with LeBron on the bench: 107.0 points per 100
Net: -10.4
I’m sure that’s a factor, but it’s certainly not the case for all starters. For the sake of comparison:Proper context. The minutes LeBron is on the bench is typically when opponents 2nd units are in the game with their top scorer(s) also on the bench. I'm guessing this stat would be similar with any starter who sits when opponents 2nd units are out there.
If Drummond really is a 75% FT shooter then they're pretty comfortably in the 5/6 range in the East. Odds he keeps it up all year are remote, I buy he's improved but still think he's closer to ~55-60% by year end.Anyone think the Pistons are for real? It's not like their schedule has been a cake walk this year and they are 7-3.
Anyone been watching the Bucks at all? Why are they so terrible rebounding with all their length?
Brooklyn was actually half-decent last year when Lin was healthy.Brooklyn started last season 4-5. I'm not too worried about the Lakers' start. They definitely have a ten game losing streak in them. The standings right now are very weird. The end of season standings will look very different.
Where would you place Detroit if Drummond was still shooting 40%? The difference between him shooting 70% and 40% is around 1.0 to 1.5 points per game.If Drummond really is a 75% FT shooter then they're pretty comfortably in the 5/6 range in the East. Odds he keeps it up all year are remote, I buy he's improved but still think he's closer to ~55-60% by year end.
Absolutely, but it also means he can stay in the game at certain times, instead of replacing him if teams were employing "Hack an Andre".Where would you place Detroit if Drummond was still shooting 40%? The difference between him shooting 70% and 40% is around 1.0 to 1.5 points per game.
I’ve had this game on in the background while puttering around the house and I just cannot believe how bad the Cavs have looked on defense. Schroder and Taylor have absolutely carved them up on the perimeter and John Collins is just destroying them on the glass.Cavs down 91-78 after 3.
John Collins is a + 20 in 15 minutes. Crowder's been mostly invisible on the court.
The Cavs are not a very good team atm. Losing to the Hawks at home is pretty embarrassing if that ends up happening.
Where would you place Detroit if Drummond was still shooting 40%? The difference between him shooting 70% and 40% is around 1.0 to 1.5 points per game.
DrewDawg hit the nail on the head, Drummond at 40% is unplayable late, requires a lot of offense-defense. At 60% he's contributing more offensively and can stay on the floor defensively close and late, that's a big boost in value. Coming into the season I had them fighting for a playoff spot, from there to 5/6 in the East isn't a huge leap given the state of the conference.Absolutely, but it also means he can stay in the game at certain times, instead of replacing him if teams were employing "Hack an Andre".
They don't seem for real to me at all. They fail the always-reliable eye test, for one thing, though maybe that's just because they start Reggie Jackson. But they're also just not particularly good at anything, and mostly average at everything. Offensive Rating is ninth, which is only borderline good -- and part of that is because Tobias Harris and Avery are shooting admirably but unsustainably well from deep -- and their Defensive Rating is 15th. The only thing that stands out from the stats is they're second in the league in forcing turnovers, but that's true of any team who's faced the Warriors because they play with a greased watermelon. If they end up top four in the East, they'll still get pasted in the playoffs by any one of the Bucks, Raptors, Celtics, etc.Anyone think the Pistons are for real? It's not like their schedule has been a cake walk this year and they are 7-3.
Anyone been watching the Bucks at all? Why are they so terrible rebounding with all their length?
Yeah I don't disagree on the strategic aspect in the future only how much of a factor Drummond's FT shooting has been to the Pistons this season with 6 of their 7 wins being by 8+ points and of the 3 wins which were close late Drummond took a combined 5 FT's in those games.DrewDawg hit the nail on the head, Drummond at 40% is unplayable late, requires a lot of offense-defense. At 60% he's contributing more offensively and can stay on the floor defensively close and late, that's a big boost in value. Coming into the season I had them fighting for a playoff spot, from there to 5/6 in the East isn't a huge leap given the state of the conference.
with an 8 game losing streak.Wow. Hawks did their best to cough it up but the Cavs couldn’t fully close. Losing at home to a (previously) 1-8 squad is never a good look.