Comments on: Clippers-Lakers Preview: We Go Again on Opening Night

By: chogokin

chogokin — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 23:48:45 +0000

Prepare for some disappointment, just in case then. With MM being out, we’ll probably see a lot of Fi and/or PatPat on Lebron/AD – that doesn’t seem like a recipe for success.

By: mlslaw1

mlslaw1 — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 21:24:39 +0000

For me, it’s all about the result tonite.

By: TheGreatestShowman

TheGreatestShowman — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 20:11:51 +0000

KOC has also been sucking at the Klutch teat a lot lately so his opinion doesn’t matter much.

The season rides or dies with Kawhi staying a Top 5 player and PG performing like a Top 10 player especially when it counts. Period.

By: jbugs

jbugs — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 20:10:25 +0000

The comments about Lue implementing the triangle are really interesting. I’ve always found the comparisons of Leonard to Jordan really compelling. If implementing the triangle means that PG will learn to include passing as a focus (and try to be pippen), we’ll be on a path to fixing some of our key issues from last year.

I’m not sure if I fully understand what the triangle is, but I believe it’s basically the players moving around so that the guy with the ball has two people to pass it to at all times with enough distance between both of those guys. I’m not sure that’s such a novel concept in the modern NBA where there is already a focus on ball movement and getting the best shot, but maybe this simplified philosophy is what this team needs to improve it’s ball movement. Instead of trying to get these guys to be aware of the 4 other teammates on the court, they just need to focus on 2. If PG or Leonard have the ball and they have two guys that they need to look for, it should be very manageable for them to balance that focus with their natural focus on scoring. If you ask these guys to be lebron and be cognizant of everyone on the court, they might overload and not be able to do anything. If this is all true, I really hope we could see PG be a more proactive passer this year. Between, Bev, Kennard, MM and Ibaka, there are lots of scoring threats that PG could activate.

By: jbugs

jbugs — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 20:03:35 +0000

KOC was really high on the Luke extension. I’m pretty pumped as well. Luke is the guy I’m most focused on for this season. I’m not expecting any changes for anyone else on the roster. To me, the season rides or dies on whether or not Luke can be our 3rd best player.

The next thing I’m looking for is whether or not MM is much better this year. I still don’t get his contract and I’m hoping that the FO believes he was being misused last year (as MM has suggested) and that under a different coach, MM is going to be a stud that fits much better with PG and Leonard.

Surprising performances from MM and Luke will take this team much further than PG being a little bit more aggressive than last year. Leonard is most dangerous when he plays with a unit that is cohesive. If MM, Luke, Bev and Zu/Ibaka can play cohesively, Leonard will be able to do whatever he wants and as much as he wants. I don’t want this team to depend on PG being able to carry the team for minutes in a playoff series. IMO, that would be the worst case scenario and the one where we are at risk of Leonard leaving. I’d love to see PG fit within a solid system.

By: chogokin

chogokin — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 19:00:43 +0000

I’m really hoping Lue doesn’t roll out the all-bench lineup. If he has to, then it’s not looking good – I’d guess Lou/Reggie/Kennard/Batum/Zu. I really, really, really don’t want to see the Lou/Reggie/Kennard trio try to play defense. Though we’ve all seen Lou/Reggie/Trez, and it’s hard for me to imagine it being any worse than that.

By: Taiji Miyagawa

Taiji Miyagawa — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 18:47:48 +0000

BTW, what is the 2nd Unit? Zu/PatPat/Batum/LouWill/TMann?
Combo options: LouWill/Kennard; TMann/Reggie?

By: Taiji Miyagawa

Taiji Miyagawa — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 18:29:25 +0000

I hated loosing JaMych to the Nuggets, but have much more confidence in Ty Lue to counter Vogel’s rotations than Doc Rivers, who always seemed oblivious to the task of creating optimal matchups. Nonetheless, I am intrigued at how the 2nd Unit competition will work out between these two teams.

By: dhpat

dhpat — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 18:28:40 +0000

Agreed, these first 5-6 games are equivalent to a regular preseason. New team members, coach, system. Hope to see some good basketball. Everyone come out healthy.

By: chogokin

chogokin — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 18:22:11 +0000

For me, it ain’t about the result tonight. I just want to see cohesion and ball movement, regardless of the final score. Also hoping the new additions (Kennard, Ibaka, Batum) can show us that they’re good enough to replace the guys we lost (JMG, Trez, Shamet).