**LA LAKERS THREAD** Sitting on 17! 2023-2024 offseason begins

[SORIANOTRON]

millsap x mozzy would be a solid FC

milsap got that work on the block

 

[essential1]

Are the Lakers Better Now than they Were to Start the Season?
Darius Soriano — January 9, 2017 — 6 Comments

Which team would you rather be?

Team A

Offensive Rating: 104.3, 13th in the NBA
Defensive Rating: 107.4, 27th in the NBA
Net Rating: -3.1, 21st in the NBA
Winning Percentage: .500

Team B

Offensive Rating: 108.9, 12th in the NBA
Defensive Rating: 108.5, 19th in the NBA
Net Rating: +0.4, 13th in the NBA
Winning Percentage: .400


Team A scores less, defends better, has a negative (and worse) net rating, but a better record. Team B scores much better, defends slightly worse, has a (slightly) positive net rating, but has a worse record. Before we get into the answer to which team you like better, know that Team A is the Lakers through their first 20 games where they posted a 10-10 record. Team B is the Lakers as well, but from their last 10 games where they have gone 4-6 during that stretch.

Call me crazy, but I’d rather have team B. Yes, the defense and winning percentage is worse, but when you consider how much better they have been scoring and the fact they have a positive net rating, there’s a case to be made that the way the team is playing now is actually better than they were to start the season. Especially when you consider the lineup data.

Over the last 10 games, the starting lineup of D’Angelo Russell, Nick Young, Luol Deng, Julius Randle, and Timofey Mozgov has played 121 minutes. During those minutes the they’ve posted an offensive rating of 121.8 and a defensive rating of 99.0, for a net rating of +22.8 for the year. Consider through the first 20 games those numbers were, offensive rating of 112.1 and a defensive rating of 110.0, for a total net rating of 2.1.

Also consider the play of D’Angelo Russell and Julius Randle during the recent 10 game stretch. In the 232 minutes Russell and Randle have shared the floor in the team’s last 10 games, the Lakers have had an offensive rating of 113.9 and a defensive rating 107.1. Compare that to the 111.7 offensive rating and the 110.2 defensive rating the team posted in the 316 minutes that duo shared the floor in the Lakers’ first 20 games.

With that, I think Reed’s point is a salient one:

@Reed_nba
The early W's were encouraging for Luke/culture change. But this current stretch means more as it's showing DAR-JR-BI are 1st rate prospects
1:06 AM - 9 Jan 2017

I understand the recent samples are small. And the level of competition in this stretch is not what it was in the team’s first 20 games — in that stretch the Lakers played the Warriors three times, the Thunder twice, the Hawks twice, the Rockets, Spurs, and the Bulls. Playing as well as the team did to start the year was important for a variety of reasons, but maybe none as much as how it set the tone for what the team could be. There’s an argument to be made some of the success the Lakers are seeing now is directly related to them having that early season success as proof their approach can actually work.

That said, there’s also an argument to be made that this most recent stretch where the team has been without Larry Nance Jr. for the entire 10 games and where opponents have the Lakers more fully scouted and, thus, are more prepared for what the team is doing on both ends should be weighted more heavily. When you add that Russell, Randle, and, in the last few games, Ingram have really started to elevate their play and been drivers to getting some of these wins, that’s another positive mark towards this iteration of the team than the one which was being more heavily influenced by the play of the 2nd unit.

To speak to the question in the title of the post, I’m not ready to say it definitively but I am leaning towards “yes” — the Lakers are better now. The play of the young guys is not only improved, but what they are doing looks sustainable in several key ways. They are more attentive on defense, attacking the rim more on offense, and in carrying a bigger load have taken on more responsibility in the form of increased minutes.

If nothing else, this might make this recent play more meaningful even if not conceding it as better.

 

[whiplashtw03]

It's simple, really. Lakers are better now because they've had more games under their belt to gel, work on their deficiencies, and get used to one another's tendencies.

They are slowly starting to find their identity as a team and should continue to improve as the season progresses.

 

[BIG LEEMELONE]

This dude really just slid in here like 'see, told ya...Kids just needed some time. This is why I always preach patience'

 

[Lizakers]

If we beat Portland, I think we turned a corner

Will be VERY interesting what happens when nance returns

2 years 2 knee injuries maybe he gets shopped

 

[dceja]

Haha what happened to #ontheclock

 

[CP1708]

This dude really just slid in here like 'see, told ya...Kids just needed some time. This is why I always preach patience'

 

[tupac003]

Don't worry, let us lose a game. It will be one players fault...

 

[essential1]

If we beat Portland, I think we turned a corner

Will be VERY interesting what happens when nance returns

2 years 2 knee injuries maybe he gets shopped

I mean the one this year was a contact injury... So that shouldn't scare the FO really


But there was also an ACL injury in college

 

[Lizakers]

He planted his leg and it buckled chasing down a loose ball in New Orleans I wouldn't call that a contact injury

 

[moonman818]

It's simple, really. Lakers are better now because they've had more games under their belt to gel, work on their deficiencies, and get used to one another's tendencies.

They are slowly starting to find their identity as a team and should continue to improve as the season progresses.

 

[essential1]

He planted his leg and it buckled chasing down a loose ball in New Orleans I wouldn't call that a contact injury

I misremembered it then...

 

[Lizakers]

I didn't know about the college ACL

that sux

 

[lovehateself]

I didn't know about the college ACL

that sux

Plus his chrohns but it seems like he's got that under wraps ...still though

Please take your time Larry

 

[whiplashtw03]

This dude really just slid in here like 'see, told ya...Kids just needed some time. This is why I always preach patience'

lol...you think this will continue consistently throughout the rest of the year? 

Lakers are merely in a stretch of games against non-elite teams where they're playing solid bruh. It was to be expected that the Lakers would eventually string together some decent games, but it doesn't mean all of a sudden they're playoff contenders. You're kidding yourself if you're thinking they all of a sudden found the magic touch.

Just wait til next week when they lose at least three games in a row. They'll be right back where they belong and talk of tanking will resume.

 

[whiplashtw03]

Haha what happened to #ontheclock

DLo #ontheclock every game til he turns 23 bruh

 

[kingjaffejo]

This dude lol. Straight clown status
The difference between us is whether or not they go thru a stretch of bad games our opinions won't change whichever way the wind blows.
And I've noticed some of you that were leading the charge still haven't admit that y'all might have jumped the gun a bit too early with the bust/trade talk.
I'll let y'all live tho [emoji]128521[/emoji] Lol

 

[purpnyellow]

Dlo was killing it in summer league he's playing good against some weak teams hopefully he's turned a corner and keeps playing like this

 

[kingjaffejo]

Who knows he may struggle. That doesn't mean you give up on the kid and label him a bust before he can buy a drink or rent a car

 

[purpnyellow]

Who knows he may struggle. That doesn't mean you give up on the kid and label him a bust before he can buy a drink or rent a car

I don't think it's the struggling that bothers most of us about him it's the effort we see when he's out there

 

[lovehateself]

 

Who knows he may struggle. That doesn't mean you give up on the kid and label him a bust before he can buy a drink or rent a car

I don't think it's the struggling that bothers most of us about him it's the effort we see when he's out there

its the fact that hes not Magic or Zeke that bothers them 

 

[Lizakers]

The effort bothered me and his slowness. See how JC recognized Vucavic on him and blew by him for a 360 dunk?

I'm starting to see Dlo make those reads and use his size on smaller defenders and his quickness on slower bigs. And he's putting in more effort on both ends

Let's keep it going Hollywood!!

 

[whiplashtw03]

This dude lol. Straight clown status

The difference between us is whether or not they go thru a stretch of bad games our opinions won't change whichever way the wind blows.
And I've noticed some of you that were leading the charge still haven't admit that y'all might have jumped the gun a bit too early with the bust/trade talk.
I'll let y'all live tho [emoji]128521[/emoji] Lol

Sorry to inform you, but my opinion of DLo has been the same from Day One - too slow, not aggressive enough, takes plays off, etc etc. And it's not likely to change unless this cat leads, I mean actually LEADS this team to a playoff series win or begins to drop 22 and 8 on the daily like a legit #2 pick should. Period.

Ingram NOT DLo will be the "star" of the Lakers. DLo may not be a "bust" when it's all said and done (btw, not once did I ever say he was terrible, just average), but DLo won't even be the 2nd best player on the team. That mantle belongs to The Caesar aka Emperor Julius Randle.

In fact, the Lakers should trade DLo in a package to acquire either a Paul George or a Jimmy Butler if the opportunity ever came up and look to solidify Brandon Ingram as the starting point guard for years to come.

 

[whiplashtw03]

Who knows he may struggle. That doesn't mean you give up on the kid and label him a bust before he can buy a drink or rent a car

Who's labeling him a bust? Answer: Nobody  

I swear, some of you guys need to quit with all that hyperbole 

 

[MVP]

Who's labeling him a bust? Answer: Nobody  

I swear, some of you guys need to quit with all that hyperbole 

They think if you don't believe he's the 2nd coming or going to be a bona-fide star that you think he's trash.