Lakers have been surprisingly able to add real quality (and cool heads) to their roster, which is remarkable already.
NBA 2022-2023
- Thread starter charlton66
- Start date
Clippers are an eyesore of a basketball team.
Lakers (or any team with AD) should be beating these Grizzlies after they lost Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke.
Add Morant likely out for the next couple of games and this will be a gentleman’s sweep.
Add Morant likely out for the next couple of games and this will be a gentleman’s sweep.
Monty fecking around with the rotation during the playoffs 
Really hope Wolves gets a game back in 2nd, dunno what the feck was that tonight/this morning. Malone clown puts Jokic back in game for some fecked up reason at 30 difference while he has ice on his wrist, Jokic fouls himself out quick gg. Jokic interview says all about that whole nonsense.
They had the best deadline trades of all teams. That roster with Westbrook would be without a chance and would have probably not even made it here, adding Russell, Beasley and Vanderbilt was pretty much the perfect move at a low cost of a protected 2027 pick.
Bucks are going to struggle against Miami if they are without Giannis for the rest of series. Even missing just game 2 will be an issue as you don’t want to fall 2-0 behind having played two games in your arena. It won’t be as straightforward a series as all had anticipated.
Hmm, hindsight is 20/20 of course. Getting rid of Westbrook was necessary but a lot of people (both on here and on shows and podcasts) were saying back then that we didn't add enough quality to be a factor in the playoffs or even make the playoffs.
The playoffs aren't fecking around - Herro broken hand, Giannis injured, Morant injured, ... The Bucks were my clear favourite to win it all before the start but if they are without Giannis I don't think they get past Boston or Philly.
Also very surprised that the Clippers took Game 1 from the Suns, I considered them a (gentleman's) sweep candidate without PG. Need to watch the extended highlights - I suppose Kawhi was on Durant all game but who was defending Book in that scenario? Kawhi is probably one of the only players in the entire league who can limit (not stop) Durant, he has been shooting 56% from the field this year ffs. And the Suns were 8-0 with him in the line-up before last night; albeit against poor opposition, but still.
The East only had one interesting series imo with Cavs-Knicks and that just got more interesting with the Knicks stealing HCA. Having Randle back is imperial for them, so will be a fun series which might go the distance. I think Mitchell will at least explode for 50+ once in MSG and they steal one back there, playoff atmosphere should be fun to watch in NY.
Most interesting series in the West were Grizzlies-Lakers and Suns-Clippers for me and the lower seeds both got the win in G1, pretty cool stuff (even though it's the fecking Clippers). The Nuggets will cruise past the Wolves but I don't trust them against the Suns, perhaps not even against the Clippers as well. The West is as open as ever at the moment.
Also first time since 40 years or something that there is no team from Texas involved (Mavs, Rockets, Spurs).
Also very surprised that the Clippers took Game 1 from the Suns, I considered them a (gentleman's) sweep candidate without PG. Need to watch the extended highlights - I suppose Kawhi was on Durant all game but who was defending Book in that scenario? Kawhi is probably one of the only players in the entire league who can limit (not stop) Durant, he has been shooting 56% from the field this year ffs. And the Suns were 8-0 with him in the line-up before last night; albeit against poor opposition, but still.
The East only had one interesting series imo with Cavs-Knicks and that just got more interesting with the Knicks stealing HCA. Having Randle back is imperial for them, so will be a fun series which might go the distance. I think Mitchell will at least explode for 50+ once in MSG and they steal one back there, playoff atmosphere should be fun to watch in NY.
Most interesting series in the West were Grizzlies-Lakers and Suns-Clippers for me and the lower seeds both got the win in G1, pretty cool stuff (even though it's the fecking Clippers). The Nuggets will cruise past the Wolves but I don't trust them against the Suns, perhaps not even against the Clippers as well. The West is as open as ever at the moment.
Also first time since 40 years or something that there is no team from Texas involved (Mavs, Rockets, Spurs).
Nah, listening to many NBA podcasts they were all very positive about those additions. Not to the extent where anybody would have them as challengers but given the relative lack of assets this was impressive work. You could have said all 3 players they got in isolation would have been worth a late first, and to get 3 of them PLUS lose Westbrook's due money was fantastic. Hachimura for a second round pick was a fantastic addition as well.
They also got Bamba on top of that for next to nothing (granted he hasn't really played for them but for the price seemed good addition as well).
I don't think anyone really expected them to get a third star, and I don't know a single expert that would not have liked the price they paid for the other additions.
I don't think Giannis injury is serious enough to rule him out even out of the entire first round let alone future encounters. It seemed to have been mostly a precaution to not aggravate it, he may miss 2-3 games here but I don't think he will be out of any following series (if they even make it).
Kings v Warriors is the best series in West IMO, not just for the quality of basketball but also aura surrounding it.
Well yeah maybe I was too harsh - it's not that they didn't like the trades, it's more that they didn't think it was enough to be really competitive in the playoffs - at least that's how I felt when listening about it on trade deadline podcasts. And the jury is still out on that of course.
Yeah agreed on Giannis. And Kings v Warriors is indeed a very interesting one as well, Kings' place was rocking the other night. They have the enthusiasm, momentum and quality basketball, but the Warriors have the experience and championship pedigree. They also always win on the road at least once with Curry in their line-up, going on for 20+ series now if I'm not mistaken. Fascinating stuff.
I reckon Lakers will still not have enough to win the championship but at least they will stay competitive in all series they are going to be in, and could well beat Grizzlies in this first round (which I don’t think was going to be possible with previous roster). They will also own their pick in the upcoming draft which will allow them to add further to the roster at moderate and controlled cost (Reeves has been a fantastic addition), and will have some cap space to bolster the rotation. With decent offseason they will remain competitive next year too.
Yeah, from not even into the play-in to being a legit team for the second round, it’s a giant leap per se… of course, their fans are suddenly talking about a ring, but that’s being a fan, right?
Well, I have put small amount of money on the Lakers to win it all after that trade and it doesn't look so bad now.
IF everyone stays healthy (big if with AD in your team), I'd back us against everyone bar the Suns and probably an in-form Warriors team (also very uncertain at the moment).
That said, we could just as well lose a series against every team in the West playoffs right now, so it's really up in the air. Much more uncertainty in the West compared to the East where it's likely gonna be Bucks against either one of Philly or Boston (which would be an epic series).
That said, we could just as well lose a series against every team in the West playoffs right now, so it's really up in the air. Much more uncertainty in the West compared to the East where it's likely gonna be Bucks against either one of Philly or Boston (which would be an epic series).
Whoever comes out of East is going to be favorites in the Finals IMO. West looks quite uninspiring this year though Suns look brilliant on paper. However if Clippers were to somehow eliminate them and get Paul George back, I’d probably back them to win the West (even though they are cursed).
Dubs could be in trouble here.
Epic battle in Sacramento!
Hard to believe what I’m watching right now.
Green has to do his thing every year
They're done. This might be a sweep
Great win for the Kings, would love if this goes to game 7
This Dubs team is hopeless down the stretch. In close games they are atrocious.
Unbelievable. Will our suffering in Sacramento finally come to an end?
Light the Beam!
Still believe GSW has this in 6, dont think Kings can take a game from them away and after being punched next 2 games, have a feeling 5th game will be some weird game where GSW gets a W.
Edit: Still like Kings a lot, how i couldnt, every Kings game staying awake to watch Divac i Stojakovic, that day at school half of the class looked like zombies.
Edit: Still like Kings a lot, how i couldnt, every Kings game staying awake to watch Divac i Stojakovic, that day at school half of the class looked like zombies.
If you win mate, you've definitely deserved it. Clutch plays all round.
Damn! We need you in the locker room to motivate this lot.
Good win my man, did not know there was a Sac fan on here.
I’m flying over tomorrow and going to game 3, hopefully we can turn this shit around (not looking good)
What a reckless clown Draymond is.
I just can’t see it with this team. They just have far too many bad habits
I don’t think Warriors will win 4 in a row but still reckon they are favorites in the series (though I’ll be cheering for Kings as it’s impossible not to).
It seems completely deliberate and an absolutely awful foul. He should be banned for the next two games for that.
Will he adress it in his "podcast" ?
He even went on to rile the crowd after that. If they don’t ban him for both home games now it’ll be purely because they wanted to extend the series and give Warriors a better chance.
Yup clear ban incoming though I think it'll be a one game ban. Should be multiple games though.
Yeah ban him for next season as well while we are at it
I really like this Kings team!
The ejection last night for Draymond is enough for me actually. It was reckless and stupid, and yes he's a clown, but he's also already punished for it and Sabonis did initiate the incident by unnecessarily grabbing Green's leg.