"Operation: Get the Lakers in the playoffs" has begun..

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Originally Posted by Mugen

Haven't really watched them much this season but would be pretty crazy/hilarious if they actually missed the playoffs...

Still think their young guys are overrated AF but the real issue is Maginka nabbing LeBron in Free Agency and then surrounding him with the worst possible vets you possibly could.....Rondo, Lance, McGee, Chandler, KCP, Beasley :lmao

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The hilarious thing is that if Davis IS traded elsewhere, and I'd consider it highly likely, they'll have to put together ANOTHER one year shit sandwich roster to save the cap room for him. Two years of wasted LeBron.

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Originally Posted by GusT15

Nah,they wouldn't dare fix something like that at the 1% odd the Lakers will have.

They could gift them a top4 pick however.#3 sounds about right.

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Even with help, they don’t know what to do with it. They had Russell and gave him away. Lonzo? And they just alienated their young guns. The only thing going for them are the Laker Girls

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Originally Posted by Dex

Even the jobless Carmelo Anthony don't want any part of that shitstorm. :lol

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The "Superstars" of today who all wanted a free ride to glory rather than doing the heavy lifting of dragging the team towards it.

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Originally Posted by Dex

The best part is just watching the Laker Fan's delusions come crashing down.

They were convinced LeBron would mean an instant ticket to the WCF.

They were convinced their young bloods were the second coming of Magic, Bird, and Jordan.

They were convinced that boneheads like Lance, Rondo, Beas, KCP, and McGee would magically turn their games around (In fairness, JaVale has been okay for them).

They were convinced that the FO would pull strings at the trade deadline to bring in a sidekick for LeBron.

And despite all this turmoil, they are still convinced that Kawhi or KD is going to come calling this summer, and New Orleans will reconsider their garbage offer for the best bigman in the game.

The only silver lining of this topsy-turvy Spurs season is watching Lebron's Lakers crash and burn.

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All da truf.

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Originally Posted by Mugen

Haven't really watched them much this season but would be pretty crazy/hilarious if they actually missed the playoffs...

Still think their young guys are overrated AF but the real issue is Maginka nabbing LeBron in Free Agency and then surrounding him with the worst possible vets you possibly could.....Rondo, Lance, McGee, Chandler, KCP, Beasley :lmao

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Pelinka and Aids didn't lure Lebron,they didn't recruit him.He wanted to go to LA to shoot Space Jam 2 this summer and his wife and kids were already living in LA.So he called them and said that he was signing with the Lakers.That wasn't a front office success.He just informed them.

And being too busy with movie scripts and hip hop albums,he neglected playing GM and look what happened.He brought it on himself.
The AD fiasco was the nail in the coffin and that was all Lebron and Rich Paul as well.

Lmao! birthday cakers!

Things are looking more and more bleak for the Lakers. I don't think they can land AD this summer, because they don't have the pieces and New Orleans probably wants to send him anywhere but L.A. at this point. I don't see KD, Klay, or Kawhi going there. No one really wants Lonzo, so his trade value is low. If they sign DeMarcus Cousins, it'll be a year of drama and dysfunction. Vucevic seems too low key and sensible to want to play there. Jimmy Butler & LeBron would be a volatile pairing. If they can't land a major free agent or two this summer they have no chance next season, and that leaves them running the following year with Lebron turning 36. Wow...

You need the Lakers in the playoffs. Why? Cause if they don't make it I can see them winning the 1st overall pick and getting Zion. No conspiracy there...

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Originally Posted by John B

Even with help, they don’t know what to do with it. They had Russell and gave him away. Lonzo? And they just alienated their young guns. The only thing going for them are the Laker Girls

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LeBron and the Laker kids' locker room must be a load of laughs. The entertainment should continue this off-season.

Lebron realizing that he's know longer on top and grasping at any straw that takes the blame away from him.
Injuries killed our season :cry
Lonzo is our savior :cry
The team has a worse record with me back than it did when I was out but I'm still going to harp on the kids and blame them for where we are at :cry

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Originally Posted by GusT15

Pelinka and Aids didn't lure Lebron,they didn't recruit him.He wanted to go to LA to shoot Space Jam 2 this summer and his wife and kids were already living in LA.So he called them and said that he was signing with the Lakers.That wasn't a front office success.He just informed them.

And being too busy with movie scripts and hip hop albums,he neglected playing GM and look what happened.He brought it on himself.
The AD fiasco was the nail in the coffin and that was all Lebron and Rich Paul as well.

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I have a hard time believing that Klutch will outlive LeBron's NBA career. They seem as stupid as Kawhi's "group", and don't understand leverage or pressure points at all. They've made the same mistake that The Group made in trying to force a team to trade for the Lakers trash. So far, representation agencies are 0-2 with that ploy.

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Originally Posted by Dex

Even the jobless Carmelo Anthony don't want any part of that shitstorm. :lol

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Yeah, ouch...

But cool, now he can sign with SA

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Originally Posted by exstatic

I have a hard time believing that Klutch will outlive LeBron's NBA career. They seem as stupid as Kawhi's "group", and don't understand leverage or pressure points at all. They've made the same mistake that The Group made in trying to force a team to trade for the Lakers trash. So far, representation agencies are 0-2 with that ploy.

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I honestly don't know.They also have the mess of Nerlens Noel contract in their track record.Yet,they handled Bledsoe's contract with intelligence last week.
It just may be that Lebron was more to blame in the AD situation than Rich Paul.Time will tell.

LA was still somehow in the run for a PO spot until up AD trade talks...

How do you want players to feel involved and leave it all out on the floor while your name is all over the media and your FO publicly acknowledging they want to trade half the team for Davis?

-'Hey, we want to trade your ass but we love you, you're family... so please get us in the PO'.

Same for Lebron, your leader who was certainly saying all the nice things in the locker room while lobbying for AD behind the curtains... 'Follow my lead!'

Youngters have quit on the team and Lebron...

Time to ask Lakers fans if they still think spurs were asking too much for Kawhitter...

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Originally Posted by exstatic

I have a hard time believing that Klutch will outlive LeBron's NBA career. They seem as stupid as Kawhi's "group", and don't understand leverage or pressure points at all. They've made the same mistake that The Group made in trying to force a team to trade for the Lakers trash. So far, representation agencies are 0-2 with that ploy.

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Can't wait to see the bullshit Klutch pulls with DeJounte's contract.

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Originally Posted by JPB

LA was still somehow in the run for a PO spot until up AD trade talks...

How do you want players to feel involved and leave it all out on the floor while your name is all over the media and your FO publicly acknowledging they want to trade half the team for Davis?

-'Hey, we want to trade your ass but we love you, you're family... so please get us in the PO'.

Same for Lebron, your leader who was certainly saying all the nice things in the locker room while lobbying for AD behind the curtains... 'Follow my lead!'

Youngters have quit on the team and Lebron...

Time to ask Lakers fans if they still think spurs were asking too much for Kawhitter...

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Honestly feels more like LeBron quitting on them with how lazy and unfocused he has looked since not getting Davis. LMAO at him really believing another team would trade him an in his prime Hall of Famer for a grab bag of crap that accomplished all of 35 wins last season.

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Originally Posted by baseline bum

Can't wait to see the bullshit Klutch pulls with DeJounte's contract.

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"Hey Dejounte,if you want to force a trade,tweet a simple I don't want to be here.Then we'll say you were in a hair saloon!"

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Originally Posted by JPB

LA was still somehow in the run for a PO spot until up AD trade talks...

How do you want players to feel involved and leave it all out on the floor while your name is all over the media and your FO publicly acknowledging they want to trade half the team for Davis?

-'Hey, we want to trade your ass but we love you, you're family... so please get us in the PO'.

Same for Lebron, your leader who was certainly saying all the nice things in the locker room while lobbying for AD behind the curtains... 'Follow my lead!'

Youngters have quit on the team and Lebron...

Time to ask Lakers fans if they still think spurs were asking too much for Kawhitter...

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True, in part. There's also the lack of talent to consider. Vets are just washed out dinosaurs who can't guard anybody (Rondo? Chandler? Stephenson?....), the others besides Ingram and Kuzma can't hit a shot from 5 feet. They simply are bad. I know that at a time thye were in 4th spot, but that was early season, Dallas or Memphis were up there too....You can't hide mediocrity.

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Originally Posted by JPB

Yeah, ouch...

But cool, now he can sign with SA

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They could make a reality show with the banana boat bitches :lmao

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Originally Posted by baseline bum

Can't wait to see the bullshit Klutch pulls with DeJounte's contract.

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Ugh...probably will sit out half of next season rehabbing in New York with his own doctors.

The Lakers are gonna miss the playoffs.

The Nuggets are up 20 in Staples right now.

And they are counting down Lebron's points needed to pass MJ in the scoring list.

This has to either be a joke,or they must really be a joke franchise nowadays.

He didn't even score those points for your team you morons,he just got there!

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Originally Posted by GusT15

The Lakers are gonna miss the playoffs.

The Nuggets are up 20 in Staples right now.

And they are counting down Lebron's points needed to pass MJ in the scoring list.

This has to either be a joke,or they must really be a joke franchise nowadays.

He didn't even score those points for your team you morons,he just got there!

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Didn't Dominique Wilkins have some career milestones for the Spurs during their lost season . . .

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Originally Posted by Russ

Didn't Dominique Wilkins hit some career milestones for the Spurs during their lost season . . .

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You are seriously comparing a tanking Spurs team that knew what they were doing and got Tim Duncan out of it,with the overhyped Lakers of this year?

The ESPN licking their balls all day,Lakers? The Lakers that failed horribly?
And they had a live countdown of Lebron's points?
Next to the actual score that said how much they suck?
And they were cheering every Lebron basket?

Come on man

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Originally Posted by GusT15

You are seriously comparing a tanking Spurs team that knew what they were doing and got Tim Duncan out of it,with the overhyped Lakers of this year?

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?

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Originally Posted by Russ

Didn't Dominique Wilkins have some career milestones for the Spurs during their lost season . . .

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Did the Lakers lose a HOFer this season like the Spurs did in their ONE lost season? A center who would be the advanced metrics nerds favorite player in the league? I don’t think so.

They have zero excuses. Not sure if this is GM Lebron who wanted to surround himself with castoffs, or if he was okay waiting a year until the books open up a bit.

Statswise, Lebron is at or above career averages. But his impact on the floor (+1.5 net rtg) isn’t enough to make up for dreadfully play when he sits or is out of the lineup (-5.4). If you watch them play, it’s no surprise Josh Hart is their second most positive impact player of guys who get big minutes, and stats prove it out. Everyone else is a misfit.

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Originally Posted by Russ

Didn't Dominique Wilkins have some career milestones for the Spurs during their lost season . . .

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Everything in the state of California is a joke now a days.

Lol pastry bakers

Down 16.
2-8 record on their last 10.
Missing the playoffs.
Horrible basketball played.
30-35 record.
And this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...;v=vZc23osawP8

Joke of a franchise.

So LeBron makes the Finals every year out of the East, but can't make the playoffs in the West.:lmao Tell me again how he's the best ever? Top 10, yes, but this GOAT talk is disrespectful to some other greats. Dude got lucky to win 2 of his 3 finals rings. Easily could have been 1-8

The Lakers are not cooperating with the plan of TheGiantFloatingTurd.

goddamn the lakers are horrible

This conspiracy theory died a quiet death.

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Originally Posted by GusT15

Down 16.
2-8 record on their last 10.
Missing the playoffs.
Horrible basketball played.
30-35 record.
And this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=28&v=vZc23osawP8

Joke of a franchise.

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It's gonna be weird for Lakers fans when he passes Kobe. Hopefully it happens on Staple Center. :lol

The most depressing (and fascinating) part for Lakers fans is that there isn't even really hope of greater things to come...

Players don't want to sign there (the biggest market and hyped franchise of the league!) and GMs don't wanna deal with them...

All they got these past few years is past their prime washed up stars (Malone, Nash, Lebron (it's the beginning of the end for him, mentally more than anything and he came here for his business) or disgruntled, has beens/never beens (Brooke Lopez, McGee, Lance, Rajon... that always badly fails...

Oh, and they reached that point with 3 top 3 picks and no franchise has lost more than the Lakers in the past 5-6 years...

LA's trying to revive their past glory instead on building a new one, they're dysfunctional at every level... Be grateful for PATFO, peeps...

I have no doubt in my mind that If LeBron was in the West his whole career he would only have been considered as a very good all star but not a legend and maybe somewhere even in the top 30 of all time. Just saying...

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Originally Posted by Chomag

I have no doubt in my mind that If LeBron was in the West his whole career he would only have been considered as a very good all star but not a legend and maybe somewhere even in the top 30 of all time. Just saying...

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Something like a Carmelo Anthony?

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Originally Posted by Chomag

I have no doubt in my mind that If LeBron was in the West his whole career he would only have been considered as a very good all star but not a legend and maybe somewhere even in the top 30 of all time. Just saying...

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Hmm a very intriguing point

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Originally Posted by Chomag

I have no doubt in my mind that If LeBron was in the West his whole career he would only have been considered as a very good all star but not a legend and maybe somewhere even in the top 30 of all time. Just saying...

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Very true point. Imagine Duncan in the East his whole career. If the lottery balls had bounced the Celtics way like the odds said they would Timmy could have 15 Finals appearances on his resume. Who would have ever stood in his way out east except for a challenge from the Pistons in the mid-2000s? It took a super-team and luck for LeBron to capture his first two titles. The Cleveland title was an astonishing 3-1 meltdown by the Warriors. I'm not saying take away anything from those 3 rings, but Tim might have had 8-10 championships by being in the Finals almost every year.

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Originally Posted by Chomag

I have no doubt in my mind that If LeBron was in the West his whole career he would only have been considered as a very good all star but not a legend and maybe somewhere even in the top 30 of all time. Just saying...

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Great point.

I mean team success isn't everything but he was 1-2 against the Spurs, 1-3 vs Golden State, 0-1 vs Dallas. In the finals he's now 1-2 vs Durant, 1-2 vs Duncan (with his 1 win by the narrowest of margins vs a sweep and the biggest differential in Finals history in the 2 losses respectively), and 0-1 vs Dirk, so there's 3 forwards who have bragging rights over him. Again, not saying it is everything. But making it an either/or of the GOAT MUST BE Jordan or LeBron is silly when others have so much success against you. Not to mention Kareem should have a say too.

My view is LeBron is kinda like Wilt. The numbers will be staggering when done, and he was dominate enough to get a couple of championships (Wilt 2, LBJ 3) but he was never quite as good as you think when others (Russell for Wilt, TD, Splash Brothers, Durant for LBJ) win the long term war. And, if the excuse is, LBJ's teams weren't good enough, well, he choose where he wanted to go. Only Durant, of the people I mentioned, was similar.

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Originally Posted by Chomag

I have no doubt in my mind that If LeBron was in the West his whole career he would only have been considered as a very good all star but not a legend and maybe somewhere even in the top 30 of all time. Just saying...

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Hard to argue with. I don't like LeBron, but I've always tried to give him the credit he's due. But you can't overlook just how ridiculously stacked the Western Conference was during the Duncan years. And not just stacked - to get out of the West, you had to be flexible enough to win different ways, against teams that were very good in very different ways. In the East, any team with Duncan would have just been a steamroller.

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Originally Posted by Chomag

I have no doubt in my mind that If LeBron was in the West his whole career he would only have been considered as a very good all star but not a legend and maybe somewhere even in the top 30 of all time. Just saying...

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:tu In all honesty, as much as I dislike him, I have always thought LeBron had a legitimate argument for GOAT - not strongly supported by his accomplishments, but the guy had all the physical tools and skills and was a beast, size-wise, able to play virtually 1-5, if he were inclined. But your point has shed new light on LeBron's career for my eyes. Good post!

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Originally Posted by BillMc

Great point.

I mean team success isn't everything but he was 1-2 against the Spurs, 1-3 vs Golden State, 0-1 vs Dallas. In the finals he's now 1-2 vs Durant, 1-2 vs Duncan (with his 1 win by the narrowest of margins vs a sweep and the biggest differential in Finals history in the 2 losses respectively), and 0-1 vs Dirk, so there's 3 forwards who have bragging rights over him. Again, not saying it is everything. But making it an either/or of the GOAT MUST BE Jordan or LeBron is silly when others have so much success against you. Not to mention Kareem should have a say too.

My view is LeBron is kinda like Wilt. The numbers will be staggering when done, and he was dominate enough to get a couple of championships (Wilt 2, LBJ 3) but he was never quite as good as you think when others (Russell for Wilt, TD, Splash Brothers, Durant for LBJ) win the long term war. And, if the excuse is, LBJ's teams weren't good enough, well, he choose where he wanted to go. Only Durant, of the people I mentioned, was similar.

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Just another layer to add to Tim's loyalty to the Spurs. Really only the one flirtation with Orlando that I know of... Did Tim ever think, "Wow, I should just go to the Least and clean up"?

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Originally Posted by Chomag

I have no doubt in my mind that If LeBron was in the West his whole career he would only have been considered as a very good all star but not a legend and maybe somewhere even in the top 30 of all time. Just saying...

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Originally Posted by Indianman

Something like a Carmelo Anthony?

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Originally Posted by John B

Hmm a very intriguing point

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Originally Posted by Ed Helicopter Jones

Very true point. Imagine Duncan in the East his whole career. If the lottery balls had bounced the Celtics way like the odds said they would Timmy could have 15 Finals appearances on his resume. Who would have ever stood in his way out east except for a challenge from the Pistons in the mid-2000s? It took a super-team and luck for LeBron to capture his first two titles. The Cleveland title was an astonishing 3-1 meltdown by the Warriors. I'm not saying take away anything from those 3 rings, but Tim might have had 8-10 championships by being in the Finals almost every year.

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Originally Posted by BillMc

Great point.

I mean team success isn't everything but he was 1-2 against the Spurs, 1-3 vs Golden State, 0-1 vs Dallas. In the finals he's now 1-2 vs Durant, 1-2 vs Duncan (with his 1 win by the narrowest of margins vs a sweep and the biggest differential in Finals history in the 2 losses respectively), and 0-1 vs Dirk, so there's 3 forwards who have bragging rights over him. Again, not saying it is everything. But making it an either/or of the GOAT MUST BE Jordan or LeBron is silly when others have so much success against you. Not to mention Kareem should have a say too.

My view is LeBron is kinda like Wilt. The numbers will be staggering when done, and he was dominate enough to get a couple of championships (Wilt 2, LBJ 3) but he was never quite as good as you think when others (Russell for Wilt, TD, Splash Brothers, Durant for LBJ) win the long term war. And, if the excuse is, LBJ's teams weren't good enough, well, he choose where he wanted to go. Only Durant, of the people I mentioned, was similar.

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Originally Posted by ZeusWillJudge

Hard to argue with. I don't like LeBron, but I've always tried to give him the credit he's due. But you can't overlook just how ridiculously stacked the Western Conference was during the Duncan years. And not just stacked - to get out of the West, you had to be flexible enough to win different ways, against teams that were very good in very different ways. In the East, any team with Duncan would have just been a steamroller.

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lol sons. :lol

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Originally Posted by Chomag

I have no doubt in my mind that If LeBron was in the West his whole career he would only have been considered as a very good all star but not a legend and maybe somewhere even in the top 30 of all time. Just saying...

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Don’t forget that his teammates would have been Western conference players too.. it’s not just about the main star that has led to the success of the western conference. Lebron is probably the greatest individual player ever when it comes to overall court performance from a basketball standpoint but people love to bring career success into play and not consider all the other variables(teams they played against, who was injured, who struggled, etc). That’s why I stay out of these talks most of the time because most of it is completely opinionated and no way to ever prove who’s the best. I understand the side where it creates fun and intense debates though.. so carry on.

Days are left to Walton fired...LaBoom gets to select next coach, sign Carmello next season, will strike out on major free agents....

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Originally Posted by Rummpd

Days are left to Walton fired...LaBoom gets to select next coach, sign Carmello next season, will strike out on major free agents....

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A big time coach would not help this team imo, unless Lebron learns to be coached. I’m also curious what their young players reaction after being openly shopped around.

So LeBron goes to the Lakers and not only do they miss the playoffs, but they may actually end up with a worse record than last year. They have to go 8-9 the rest of the way to beat last year's record. They have a very tough schedule against a lot of teams from the West that are jockeying for the playoffs. Looking at their schedule and the fact that they are limiting LeBron's minutes now I think they go 5-12 or 6-11 to close. I made 2 bets when I was in Vegas before the start of the season. One was on the Spurs to win more than 42 1/2 games and for the Lakers to lose more than 52 1/2 games. Easy money.

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Originally Posted by sasaint

Just another layer to add to Tim's loyalty to the Spurs. Really only the one flirtation with Orlando that I know of... Did Tim ever think, "Wow, I should just go to the Least and clean up"?

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I'm not trying to argue his loyalty. But it would have been foolish to leave a team with Manu and Tony with the best coach at the time and having a legit shot at a ring every year. Having that kind of organization around a player tends to help with the loyalty part. They really have him no reason to want to change teams.

According to ESPN, the Pels are set not to send AD to the Lakers. Thye must be seriously pissed at Magic bullying tactics. Plus they have the same ownership of the Saints who were robbed and raped by LA team (their lady owner wrote a great letter to the fans about being livid at the robbery).
I hope Toronto sign nephew and then somehow find the way to trade him for AD: god that would be fun (I know it is technically impossible, but it would be lovely).

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Originally Posted by monty4329

According to ESPN, the Pels are set not to send AD to the Lakers. Thye must be seriously pissed at Magic bullying tactics. Plus they have the same ownership of the Saints who were robbed and raped by LA team (their lady owner wrote a great letter to the fans about being livid at the robbery).
I hope Toronto sign nephew and then somehow find the way to trade him for AD: god that would be fun (I know it is technically impossible, but it would be lovely).

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Even outside of the collusion crap, the value of the Lakers offer has fallen even since the trade deadline:

Ball - out for season with ankle issue, still has a batshit crazy father who doesn't want him in NO
Ingram - out for season due to DVT, could be career threatening
Kuzma - good on offense, net negative on defense

All of the rest are veterans and scraps nobody wants.

I don't think the Lakers 10th-12th pick is really gonna seal the deal.

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Originally Posted by Dex

Even outside of the collusion crap, the value of the Lakers offer has fallen even since the trade deadline:

Ball - out for season with ankle issue, still has a batshit crazy father who doesn't want him in NO
Ingram - out for season due to DVT, could be career threatening
Kuzma - good on offense, net negative on defense

All of the rest are veterans and scraps nobody wants.

I don't think the Lakers 10th-12th pick is really gonna seal the deal.

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I totally agree, but I've seen worse (i.e. Pau trade...), anyway the Lakers could very well acquire a lot of assets to offer NO. Also, do you think NO can get much on the market this summer? Look what we got for Nephew (a bad contract). I expect serious talks between the Warriors and NO if Durant leaves, in that case the Lakers will get Thompson

I just LOVE this.

Wow Ingram's injury was the worst possible thing that could've happened to the Lakers. Let go of Randle and now left w/ Lonzo and Kuz as pieces? Lol. I wonder how this is gonna effect Celtics' offers for AD now that Lakers have less value. Could effect entire AD market.

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Originally Posted by TimmyBuckets

Wow Ingram's injury was the worst possible thing that could've happened to the Lakers. Let go of Randle and now left w/ Lonzo and Kuz as pieces? Lol. I wonder how this is gonna effect Celtics' offers for AD now that Lakers have less value. Could effect entire AD market.

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We could trade DDR + White for AD

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Originally Posted by Chomag

I have no doubt in my mind that If LeBron was in the West his whole career he would only have been considered as a very good all star but not a legend and maybe somewhere even in the top 30 of all time. Just saying...

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Top 30? C'mon-- that's ludicrous. Looking at his stats, traditional & advanced, that argument is impossible. This is an "off" year for him and he's putting up 27.4 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 8 apg, 1.4 spg, shooting 51.7 FG%. He's led the league in RPM multiple times... There's no serious way to argue there are 29 guys who can say they've had the same impact.

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Originally Posted by TimmyBuckets

Wow Ingram's injury was the worst possible thing that could've happened to the Lakers. Let go of Randle and now left w/ Lonzo and Kuz as pieces? Lol. I wonder how this is gonna effect Celtics' offers for AD now that Lakers have less value. Could effect entire AD market.

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I'd bet that AD to the Lakers is done... The only far outside shot I can see is if the Lakers beat the odds and get the #1 pick, and even in that case, it would be a risk to give up 3 years of Zion on a rookie scale versus AD being maxed out...

I still see Toronto as the best option for New Orleans-- Siakam & whatever pieces sets them up for success paired with Jrue Holiday.

Operation: Who gives a fuck about Lebron James and his "rent a ring" campaign. Also, fuck the Los Angeles Lakers.

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Originally Posted by Ed Helicopter Jones

Very true point. Imagine Duncan in the East his whole career. If the lottery balls had bounced the Celtics way like the odds said they would Timmy could have 15 Finals appearances on his resume. Who would have ever stood in his way out east except for a challenge from the Pistons in the mid-2000s? It took a super-team and luck for LeBron to capture his first two titles. The Cleveland title was an astonishing 3-1 meltdown by the Warriors. I'm not saying take away anything from those 3 rings, but Tim might have had 8-10 championships by being in the Finals almost every year.

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That's lunacy. If Tim was on Boston there would be no David Robinson, no Manu Ginobili, and no Tony Parker lining up next to him. The Celtics completely botched Chauncey Billups' development and they would never be in a position to draft Paul Pierce with Duncan on the team. Watching Tim have to carry Antoine Walker and Dana Barros would have been brutal.

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Originally Posted by monty4329

According to ESPN, the Pels are set not to send AD to the Lakers. Thye must be seriously pissed at Magic bullying tactics. Plus they have the same ownership of the Saints who were robbed and raped by LA team (their lady owner wrote a great letter to the fans about being livid at the robbery).
I hope Toronto sign nephew and then somehow find the way to trade him for AD: god that would be fun (I know it is technically impossible, but it would be lovely).

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Well of course now. Ingram's trade value is zeroed out by his DVT and they're not trading a HOF player in his prime for crap like Kuzma and Ball. Not that Ingram wasn't crap too, but at least he had that five game stretch after the AS break. :lol

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Originally Posted by baseline bum

Well of course now. Ingram's trade value is zeroed out by his DVT and they're not trading a HOF player in his prime for crap like Kuzma and Ball. Not that Ingram wasn't crap too, but at least he had that five game stretch after the AS break. :lol

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No way the Hornets touch Lonzo after his daddy went on ESPN crying that he didn't want his kid in New Orleans.

Lavar is already enough of a nonsense when he is playing for the team he wants...I can't imagine they want anything to do with that drama.

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Originally Posted by TheCerebral1

Operation: Who gives a fuck about Lebron James and his "rent a ring" campaign. Also, fuck the Los Angeles Lakers.

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This man gets it.

My favorite Laker Fan lament so far, courtesy of reddit:

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I don't think people understand how much I fucking hate the Lakers this year.
EDIT: For people quoting me and asking things. Yes, Caruso is a solid backup. Williams also showing signs. But that's not the issue. I hate the Lakers this year cause of how everything was handled; The stupid signing of players. The injuries we encountered. Luke's idiotic coaching for years now. LeBron's "I'm bigger than life" attitude. Shit defense. Shit offense. Robs Bible stories like we're about to fight the Holy War. Magic's lunacy. The Anthony Davis saga. The fact nobody gives a fuck that after all these years and that after 5 years of sucking, we get LeBron, we still suck.
So year, I hate the Lakers, and this nightmare can't end soon enough.

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Man, Lakers losing to everybody.

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Originally Posted by Dex

My favorite Laker Fan lament so far, courtesy of reddit:
I don't think people understand how much I fucking hate the Lakers this year.
EDIT: For people quoting me and asking things. Yes, Caruso is a solid backup. Williams also showing signs. But that's not the issue. I hate the Lakers this year cause of how everything was handled; The stupid signing of players. The injuries we encountered. Luke's idiotic coaching for years now. LeBron's "I'm bigger than life" attitude. Shit defense. Shit offense. Robs Bible stories like we're about to fight the Holy War. Magic's lunacy. The Anthony Davis saga. The fact nobody gives a fuck that after all these years and that after 5 years of sucking, we get LeBron, we still suck.
So year, I hate the Lakers, and this nightmare can't end soon enough.

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And here there's people smearing Spurs FO....
20+ years in the playoffs, etc etc...Spurs is the fucking holy grail of basketball organizations

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Originally Posted by BillMc

This man gets it.

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Bill, amazing signature. Props. :tu

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Originally Posted by baseline bum

That's lunacy. If Tim was on Boston there would be no David Robinson, no Manu Ginobili, and no Tony Parker lining up next to him. The Celtics completely botched Chauncey Billups' development and they would never be in a position to draft Paul Pierce with Duncan on the team. Watching Tim have to carry Antoine Walker and Dana Barros would have been brutal.

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I guess I imagine the Celtics, or any team, having the motivation to put the right pieces around a once in a generation talent like Tim Duncan, so my thought process involves the pieces around him changing.

Maybe a better example would have been Timmy going to Orlando in the FA signing that wasn't. Orlando was motivated to build a super-team at the time, and may have made the moves to do so. It's a whole bunch of what-ifs, I realize. Maybe the best hypothetical scenario is what if the Spurs had never gotten moved from the East to the West. Leave the Spurs in the Eastern conference where they started and how many titles would they have had.

Bottom line is there was always a major obstacle to the finals out West, and yet Timmy found his way there 6 times. The Spurs of the East would have had a much easier finals path and Tim's career may be lauded amongst the top two or three players of all time instead of the top 5 to 10.

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Originally Posted by Ed Helicopter Jones

I guess I imagine the Celtics, or any team, having the motivation to put the right pieces around a once in a generation talent like Tim Duncan, so my thought process involves the pieces around him changing.

Maybe a better example would have been Timmy going to Orlando in the FA signing that wasn't. Orlando was motivated to build a super-team at the time, and may have made the moves to do so. It's a whole bunch of what-ifs, I realize. Maybe the best hypothetical scenario is what if the Spurs had never gotten moved from the East to the West. Leave the Spurs in the Eastern conference where they started and how many titles would they have had.

Bottom line is there was always a major obstacle to the finals out West, and yet Timmy found his way there 6 times. The Spurs of the East would have had a much easier finals path and Tim's career may be lauded amongst the top two or three players of all time instead of the top 5 to 10.

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If Tim went to Orlando it would have been the same situation since they had a ton of unproductive money tied up in Grant Hill. Duncan was obviously the foundation of everything the Spurs did but he's not winning five rings on some Eastern conference team drafting crap with their #25-30 pick every year. Orlando, Boston or whoever else isn't finding Manu at #57, TP at #28, and George Hill at #26 and then trading him for Kawhi at #15. And they wouldn't have the stability of a generational coach like Pop who has been able to adapt the team as times have changed. Rick Pitino or Doc Rivers wasn't coaching him to five rings. The Spurs were a perfect storm of a generational talent in Duncan, an unselfish willing and able mentor in Robinson who was still a pretty great player too, and the best organization an NBA team has ever had from GM to coach to assistants. Every part of that equation was critical to those five rings. We already saw what happens to a generational talent who doesn't have that kind of first rate front office building the team around him in David's prime.

Operation get Lakers the #1 pick has begun tbh

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Originally Posted by Ed Helicopter Jones

Bill, amazing signature. Props. :tu

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Cheers bro.:bobo

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Originally Posted by baseline bum

If Tim went to Orlando it would have been the same situation since they had a ton of unproductive money tied up in Grant Hill. Duncan was obviously the foundation of everything the Spurs did but he's not winning five rings on some Eastern conference team drafting crap with their #25-30 pick every year. Orlando, Boston or whoever else isn't finding Manu at #57, TP at #28, and George Hill at #26 and then trading him for Kawhi at #15. And they wouldn't have the stability of a generational coach like Pop who has been able to adapt the team as times have changed. Rick Pitino or Doc Rivers wasn't coaching him to five rings. The Spurs were a perfect storm of a generational talent in Duncan, an unselfish willing and able mentor in Robinson who was still a pretty great player too, and the best organization an NBA team has ever had from GM to coach to assistants. Every part of that equation was critical to those five rings. We already saw what happens to a generational talent who doesn't have that kind of first rate front office building the team around him in David's prime.

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Valid points. I lived through Prime Robinson's career getting wasted, so I feel the pain in that as much as anyone, and get what you're saying.

My argument really wasn't about Tim taking eastern teams to the finals, it was more about had Tim played in the east, rather than the west, how would his career have looked. So perhaps my last example about the Spurs having never been moved to the Western conference is a more valid comparison. Give Tim his team, his city, and his teammates in the Eastern conference for twenty years instead of the West, and what would his legacy look like now. That probably a better stated question.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by baseline bum

If Tim went to Orlando it would have been the same situation since they had a ton of unproductive money tied up in Grant Hill. Duncan was obviously the foundation of everything the Spurs did but he's not winning five rings on some Eastern conference team drafting crap with their #25-30 pick every year. Orlando, Boston or whoever else isn't finding Manu at #57, TP at #28, and George Hill at #26 and then trading him for Kawhi at #15. And they wouldn't have the stability of a generational coach like Pop who has been able to adapt the team as times have changed. Rick Pitino or Doc Rivers wasn't coaching him to five rings. The Spurs were a perfect storm of a generational talent in Duncan, an unselfish willing and able mentor in Robinson who was still a pretty great player too, and the best organization an NBA team has ever had from GM to coach to assistants. Every part of that equation was critical to those five rings. We already saw what happens to a generational talent who doesn't have that kind of first rate front office building the team around him in David's prime.

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You need to re-post this summary of greatness every few weeks as a reminder to a bunch of folks on ST. Perfect, sir.

:lol They're not getting in.

Not getting help to make the playoffs, not getting Zion, none of it. The conspiracy theorists are just dead wrong in this thread.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ed Helicopter Jones

My argument really wasn't about Tim taking eastern teams to the finals, it was more about had Tim played in the east, rather than the west, how would his career have looked. So perhaps my last example about the Spurs having never been moved to the Western conference is a more valid comparison. Give Tim his team, his city, and his teammates in the Eastern conference for twenty years instead of the West, and what would his legacy look like now. That probably a better stated question.

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Or, alternatively, if the NBA had a 1-16 seeding system in place with no conferences from the start of Duncan's career. How many more playoff and series wins would Duncan have, and how many fewer would LeBron have?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by baseline bum

If Tim went to Orlando it would have been the same situation since they had a ton of unproductive money tied up in Grant Hill. Duncan was obviously the foundation of everything the Spurs did but he's not winning five rings on some Eastern conference team drafting crap with their #25-30 pick every year. Orlando, Boston or whoever else isn't finding Manu at #57, TP at #28, and George Hill at #26 and then trading him for Kawhi at #15. And they wouldn't have the stability of a generational coach like Pop who has been able to adapt the team as times have changed. Rick Pitino or Doc Rivers wasn't coaching him to five rings. The Spurs were a perfect storm of a generational talent in Duncan, an unselfish willing and able mentor in Robinson who was still a pretty great player too, and the best organization an NBA team has ever had from GM to coach to assistants. Every part of that equation was critical to those five rings. We already saw what happens to a generational talent who doesn't have that kind of first rate front office building the team around him in David's prime.

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not to mention how adept the spurs were at bringing in quality veterans such as horry, elie, finley, willis and so on.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by baseline bum

If Tim went to Orlando it would have been the same situation since they had a ton of unproductive money tied up in Grant Hill. Duncan was obviously the foundation of everything the Spurs did but he's not winning five rings on some Eastern conference team drafting crap with their #25-30 pick every year. Orlando, Boston or whoever else isn't finding Manu at #57, TP at #28, and George Hill at #26 and then trading him for Kawhi at #15. And they wouldn't have the stability of a generational coach like Pop who has been able to adapt the team as times have changed. Rick Pitino or Doc Rivers wasn't coaching him to five rings. The Spurs were a perfect storm of a generational talent in Duncan, an unselfish willing and able mentor in Robinson who was still a pretty great player too, and the best organization an NBA team has ever had from GM to coach to assistants. Every part of that equation was critical to those five rings. We already saw what happens to a generational talent who doesn't have that kind of first rate front office building the team around him in David's prime.

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Perfect

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Originally Posted by R. DeMurre

Not getting help to make the playoffs, not getting Zion, none of it. The conspiracy theorists are just dead wrong in this thread.

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LBJ spent all his capital on that D Wade All-Star spot...now he’ll have more time to ruin Space Jam 2

Longer offseason, time for more hair transplants.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by baseline bum

If Tim went to Orlando it would have been the same situation since they had a ton of unproductive money tied up in Grant Hill. Duncan was obviously the foundation of everything the Spurs did but he's not winning five rings on some Eastern conference team drafting crap with their #25-30 pick every year. Orlando, Boston or whoever else isn't finding Manu at #57, TP at #28, and George Hill at #26 and then trading him for Kawhi at #15. And they wouldn't have the stability of a generational coach like Pop who has been able to adapt the team as times have changed. Rick Pitino or Doc Rivers wasn't coaching him to five rings. The Spurs were a perfect storm of a generational talent in Duncan, an unselfish willing and able mentor in Robinson who was still a pretty great player too, and the best organization an NBA team has ever had from GM to coach to assistants. Every part of that equation was critical to those five rings. We already saw what happens to a generational talent who doesn't have that kind of first rate front office building the team around him in David's prime.

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Bingo.

For every Tim Duncan, there is a collection of Barkleys, Webbers, McGrady's, Iverson's etc...supreme talents who never had the right pieces in the staff and team to make it work.

This generation will be no different. AD has been wasting away in New Orleans. Embiid is a great player but still hasn't won anything. The Suns ended up with both Booker and Ayton, and are still hunting ping pong balls. And then you have all the busts like Oden, Olawakandi, Bennett, Fultz, etc...

Hell, it even took Lebron and Jordan like 7+ years to win their first ring.

The fact that San Antonio was able to instantly become an actual title contender when Duncan came, and stay there for 20 years, is a shining testament to both Timmy and the organization.

Lebron blocked twice in the final minute of a game blown with a lead by ten with five minutes to go as the Lebron's Lakers swept in the season series by the worst team in the league.

:lol

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Originally Posted by Spurtacular

Lebron blocked twice in the final minute of a game blown with a lead by ten with five minutes to go as the Lebron's Lakers swept in the season series by the worst team in the league.

:lol

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The Lakers are going to end up with a worse record than before they got Lebron. How embarrassing that would be for him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNGv-GSwOV0

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Originally Posted by Dex

Bingo.

For every Tim Duncan, there is a collection of Barkleys, Webbers, McGrady's, Iverson's etc...supreme talents who never had the right pieces in the staff and team to make it work.

This generation will be no different. AD has been wasting away in New Orleans. Embiid is a great player but still hasn't won anything. The Suns ended up with both Booker and Ayton, and are still hunting ping pong balls. And then you have all the busts like Oden, Olawakandi, Bennett, Fultz, etc...

Hell, it even took Lebron and Jordan like 7+ years to win their first ring.

The fact that San Antonio was able to instantly become an actual title contender when Duncan came, and stay there for 20 years, is a shining testament to both Timmy and the organization.

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Absolutely.
Organizations win titles, not single players. Actually, relatively bad players win titles when in the right organization. Most of the times the best talent doesn't win shit.

If Duncan ended in Phoenix (2nd pick in 87) he would have won a big nothing until he would have run away at the first chance.

Maybe 22 years in the Playoffs mean something.

The thing that separates Duncan from like AD is that Duncan had go to moves to finish off a game. A lot of the these new players have nothing to really go to at the end of games which makes them easy to guard in the 4th. Also Duncan was a great passer as a big man. It's really the little things that he focused on that led to winning. Allowing himself to be "coached" in front of others, staying last in practice and games. To me that what separates Duncan from today's players.

Also so I like how Silver is playing chess while the Lakers are playing checkers. He knew that shitty Longo, Ingram, and Kuzma wouldn't get them AD so he quickly switched from operation "get Lakers into the playoffs" to operation "get Lakers Zion." The man is subtle that way :lol

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Originally Posted by monty4329

Organizations win titles, not single players. . .

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Try to tell that to Ivanka Buss. (Jerry West tried.)