Ledecline is finally happening.

[Mr. Manhattan]

negged

 

[Professor Emeritus]

That first year back in Cleveland (2014-15) was the first year I remember hearing it. That was the first year he started picking his spots defensively and his shot was off all year, I remember even questioning if he was slipping a little...

Playoffs proved otherwise but remember even after dominating the Warriors that Finals, people were talking about how inefficient he was and how he got tired and was losing a step...

He was actually a step down that year because he DID have back problems all season. That insane playoff run just proved how good he could be even when he wasn't 100% and didn't have his shot at all.

Everybody eager to crown the next guy, and I think it's possible Kawhi may have a brief run (1-3 years) as the best player, until guys like Luka or Pascal or Giannis or Embiid fully mature their games. Kawhi is playing at the highest level I've ever seen him play and he's yet to hit the level Bron touched last night, which is a routine April/May playoff game...

He sustains this, there ain't a better player in The League, excluding nobody. And the thing is the Lakers aren't even offensively consistent yet, still need constant shooting. Got a long way to go on offense as a team, but the team defense this squad is rolling out looks like its gonna be elite, and so far, Bron is playing the best defense by any way you slice it, I've seen since his last years in Miami...

Best D he's played in a half-decade...

I already think it's a coin flip with him being The GOAT #1 (he ain't no lower than #2 to me), he gets chip #4 and it's a wrap for me...

What LeBron did night in and night out in the 2018 playoffs might be the most incredible shyt he's down his entire career. It wasn't a chip and most of it wasn't at the highest level so it's not his peak moment, but at that age to drag that sorry-ass team through the postseason and just say over and over again, "I don't care what you have to give, I will not lose this series" was incredible. There were 7-8 different games that any other superstar might match once at most in an entire postseason.

Best D he's played in a half-decade...

Everyone forgets that he played monstrous defense in 2016. Not just the ridiculousness in the Finals (18 steals 16 blocks and the Greatest Block in Finals History), he was actually shutting down his man all season long. I think that was actually the last year (he was 31 and pulled off his 6th straight Finals run) that his age didn't bother him. It's clearly affecting him now, he's just compensating effectively.

 

[murksiderock]

This Lakers team is the deepest in NBA history and it ain't close, there is 3 first ballot hall of farmers, 3 different 3 and D players, 3 rim runners/pick and roll finishers, another hall of fame that has led the league in assists numerous times, Boogie in street clothes (another possible HOFer) a 6th man of the year type in Kuzma, ect.

THIS IS THE DEEPEST BASKETBALL TEAM EVER ASSEMBLED

I don't know if they deepest in history, but your analysis otherwise is legit...

And I'm gonna show some love to Pelinka for bringing in the guys he did, and Vogel and the staff for gameplanning and managing the way they have. This team is gonna be GREAT on defense...

Obviously its basketball, it's a long season, there's gonna be bumps in the road and a losing streak or few, and nikkas gonna be right back to flooding the front page of The Coliseum with Anti-Bron/Anti-Lakers shyt (compared to last night and this morning, almost no threads going bout the Lakers hahahahaha)....

But this roster was assembled smarter than cats projected, and I like the depth, too. The big issue is finding a consistent balance on offense, cause the pieces are mostly there. We've gone into these lulls offensively, and thru the course of the year that should improve, and Vogel and the guys gotta find a better rhythm with the lineups and rotations...

No way anybody looks at Lakers and Clippers rosters today and says "Clippers have easily better roster Top to bottom", unless there's a bias...

No way anybody looks at the coaching (including assistants on both sides) on both rosters and say Clippers have the "easy" advantage, unless they still falling for Doc Rivers trickery...

 

[eastside313]

This Lakers team is the deepest in NBA history and it ain't close, there is 3 first ballot hall of farmers, 3 different 3 and D players, 3 rim runners/pick and roll finishers, another hall of fame that has led the league in assists numerous times, Boogie in street clothes (another possible HOFer) a 6th man of the year type in Kuzma, ect.

THIS IS THE DEEPEST BASKETBALL TEAM EVER ASSEMBLED

 

[Damnshow]

This Lakers team is the deepest in NBA history and it ain't close, there is 3 first ballot hall of farmers, 3 different 3 and D players, 3 rim runners/pick and roll finishers, another hall of fame that has led the league in assists numerous times, Boogie in street clothes (another possible HOFer) a 6th man of the year type in Kuzma, ect.

THIS IS THE DEEPEST BASKETBALL TEAM EVER ASSEMBLED

Pretty funny reading these type of comments, like many fans were laughing at laker signings this year. Now it's the deepest team ever. First it's "lakers will never win a championship with this roster" then after 4-1 start it's "the deepest team ever"?

 

[murksiderock]

He was actually a step down that year because he DID have back problems all season. That insane playoff run just proved how good he could be even when he wasn't 100% and didn't have his shot at all.




What LeBron did night in and night out in the 2018 playoffs might be the most incredible shyt he's down his entire career. It wasn't a chip and most of it wasn't at the highest level so it's not his peak moment, but at that age to drag that sorry-ass team through the postseason and just say over and over again, "I don't care what you have to give, I will not lose this series" was incredible. There were 7-8 different games that any other superstar might match once at most in an entire postseason.




Everyone forgets that he played monstrous defense in 2016. Not just the ridiculousness in the Finals (18 steals 16 blocks and the Greatest Block in Finals History), he was actually shutting down his man all season long. I think that was actually the last year (he was 31 and pulled off his 6th straight Finals run) that his age didn't bother him. It's clearly affecting him now, he's just compensating effectively.

Yeah my memory must be cloudy about '16, too. I clearly remember him playing elite defense in the '16 playoffs, but he does that every postseason. Even when he started dealing in the regular season, he still "flipped the switch" in clutch moments in the playoffs...

So the rhetoric about him being bad defensively was always a little exaggerated to me because year after year he turned it up in the postseason...

At any rate, he's playing inspired d so far, hope it continues. He's obviously always been a smart defender, but I think sharing the room with the combo of coaches he has who have excelled in defensive philosophy their whole careers, has given him a recharge. As well as playing with a bunch of new teammates who have excelled in man and team defense for their whole careers...

The potential on this thing has no ceiling...

 

[murksiderock]

Pretty funny reading these type of comments, like many fans were laughing at laker signings this year. Now it's the deepest team ever. First it's "lakers will never win a championship with this roster" then after 4-1 start it's "the deepest team ever" which means they are now by far the clear title favorites?

I picked the Lakers as a title favorite to start with, though, so ain't no hot take. My Lakers prediction always hinged on if Bron could return to his level of play. So far it looks like he's warming up, ain't no hot take there...

And after 0-1 even more people were saying Lakers wouldn't make playoffs or get knocked out in first round, so you tell me which has more credence? Lmao all those people just not posting right now...

It's a small sample size but that's a good team they beat last night. What were your predictions for title contenders?

 

[Damnshow]

I picked the Lakers as a title favorite to start with, though, so ain't no hot take. My Lakers prediction always hinged on if Bron could return to his level of play. So far it looks like he's warming up, ain't no hot take there...

And after 0-1 even more people were saying Lakers wouldn't make playoffs or get knocked out in first round, so you tell me which has more credence? Lmao all those people just not posting right now...

It's a small sample size but that's a good team they beat last night. What were your predictions for title contenders?

I thought this year had no clear favorite, might be a very competitive playoffs. I had clippers or lakers, wasn't going to be surprised if nuggets or rockets made it there. But so far it looks like lakers or clippers might get there.

I don't understand how you think lakers are the deepest team ever...they waited on kawhi way too long and had to sign whatever was left. They have a lot of dudes who are past their prime, can still ball but they are too old to handle a whole season. It's not even the deepest team Bron has been. The 2013 heat or 2016 cavs were deeper in my opinion.

 

[Professor Emeritus]

This Lakers team is the deepest in NBA history and it ain't close, there is 3 first ballot hall of farmers, 3 different 3 and D players, 3 rim runners/pick and roll finishers, another hall of fame that has led the league in assists numerous times, Boogie in street clothes (another possible HOFer) a 6th man of the year type in Kuzma, ect.

THIS IS THE DEEPEST BASKETBALL TEAM EVER ASSEMBLED

I don't know if you can say that at all yet. If the top five is bradley-green-Lebron-AD-Dwight, then you're talking a starting 5 that includes 2 guys that were dead assets when the season started. Then a bench of something like Rondo, Caruso, KCP, Dudley, McGee? No one shook of that shyt. Interchange Cook or Daniels...not much difference.

Deepest team in recent years I'd give to something like the 2014 Spurs. First five of Parker-Green-Kawhi-Duncan-Splitter. Then they could roll out Patty Mills - Ginobli - Belinelli - Boris Diaw - Baynes and sometimes they'd beat teams with the 2nd unit alone. FOUR Hall of Famers and depending on matchups you basically had 9 different guys you could interchange in the starting lineup without missing a beat.

I thought this year had no clear favorite, might be a very competitive playoffs. I had clippers or lakers, wasn't going to be surprised if nuggets or rockets made it there. But so far it looks like lakers or clippers might get there.

I don't understand how you think lakers are the deepest team ever...they waited on kawhi way too long and had to sign whatever was left. They have a lot of dudes who are past their prime, can still ball but they are too old to handle a whole season. It's not even the deepest team Bron has been. The 2013 heat or 2016 cavs were deeper in my opinion.

2016 Cavs had too many guys who you couldn't trust on the court. There were really just 5-6 guys you wanted around and then you were talking Shump and Delly.

2013 Heat were super deep though. They weren't like the 2014 Spurs because you couldn't trust the bench to do things on their own, but you still had 9-10 guys you could trust on the floor in the big moments.

 

[Originalman]

AD and Dwight got him inspired again

When you got someone to help in scoring (AD), wing defenders (bradley and green), plethora of big men who can rebound/defend/change shots in the paint (Howard, Mcgee and AD) and a coach who understands defense (Vogel) lebron as a 35 year old man can have energy in the tank to play defense.

He had none of that (items listed above defensively) last year in LA or the last 2 years in Cleveland.

 

[RisingSon]

When you got someone to help in scoring (AD), wing defenders (bradley and green), plethora of big men who can rebound/defend/change shots in the paint (Howard, Mcgee and AD) and a coach who understands defense (Vogel) lebron as a 35 year old man can have energy in the tank to play defense.

He had none of that (items listed above defensively) last year in LA or the last 2 years in Cleveland.

LeGotMoreHelp

 

[Originalman]

Yeah my memory must be cloudy about '16, too. I clearly remember him playing elite defense in the '16 playoffs, but he does that every postseason. Even when he started dealing in the regular season, he still "flipped the switch" in clutch moments in the playoffs...

So the rhetoric about him being bad defensively was always a little exaggerated to me because year after year he turned it up in the postseason...

At any rate, he's playing inspired d so far, hope it continues. He's obviously always been a smart defender, but I think sharing the room with the combo of coaches he has who have excelled in defensive philosophy their whole careers, has given him a recharge. As well as playing with a bunch of new teammates who have excelled in man and team defense for their whole careers...

The potential on this thing has no ceiling...

Yeah thats the media and fools just making stuff up. Almost every great 2 way player picks his spots to play defense when they got older.

MJ, Kobe and Kareem all did it. Hell the media use to ride Kareem on it in his laker days and Pat Riley would tell them mouth breathers to shut the fukk up. Kareem even had a tongue and cheek joke addressing that bull shyt in the movie airplane.

I would also argue that no player outside of wilt has the media and fans expected to do so much offensively and defensively. People forget that in miami the team expected lebron to be a defensive stopper (guard pgs, sgs, sfs and pfs), be the best rebounder, help defender and at times guard the paint.

In lebrons return to Cleveland....lebron was expected to be a defensive stopper (guard sgs, sfs, pfs), be a help defender and be the last line of defense as a shot blocker (no better evidence of that then the 2016 series vs the warriors).

No 2 way wing player (scorer and defender) has ever been expected to do that for a year and for multiple years on title contending teams. The fact that he won 3 rings doing that and being his teams primary facilitator and leading scorer is arguably one of the most amazing feats in the history of all sports IMO.

 

[Originalman]

LeGotMoreHelp

Actually this is the same way Kobe's and MJs teams (actually all 6 bulls teams) in their later championship years were made.

So they both also got more help.

 

[murksiderock]

I thought this year had no clear favorite, might be a very competitive playoffs. I had clippers or lakers, wasn't going to be surprised if nuggets or rockets made it there. But so far it looks like lakers or clippers might get there.

I don't understand how you think lakers are the deepest team ever...they waited on kawhi way too long and had to sign whatever was left. They have a lot of dudes who are past their prime, can still ball but they are too old to handle a whole season. It's not even the deepest team Bron has been. The 2013 heat or 2016 cavs were deeper in my opinion.

I'm not the one who said I think they have the deepest team, and I don't agree with that. I agree with the rest of his analysis, though...

Yeah thats the media and fools just making stuff up. Almost every great 2 way player picks his spots to play defense when they got older.

MJ, Kobe and Kareem all did it. Hell the media use to ride Kareem on it in his laker days and Pat Riley would tell them mouth breathers to shut the fukk up. Kareem even had a tongue and cheek joke addressing that bull shyt in the movie airplane.

I would also argue that no player outside of wilt has the media and fans expected to do so much offensively and defensively. People forget that in miami the team expected lebron to be a defensive stopper (guard pgs, sgs, sfs and pfs), be the best rebounder, help defender and at times guard the paint.

In lebrons return to Cleveland....lebron was expected to be a defensive stopper (guard sgs, sfs, pfs), be a help defender and be the last line of defense as a shot blocker (no better evidence of that then the 2016 series vs the warriors).

No 2 way wing player (scorer and defender) has ever been expected to do that for a year and for multiple years on title contending teams. The fact that he won 3 rings doing that and being his teams primary facilitator and leading scorer is arguably one of the most amazing feats in the history of all sports IMO.

This is 100...

Actually this is the same way Kobe's and MJs teams (actually all 6 bulls teams) in their later championship years were made.

So they both also got more help.

I wasn't around to see MJ but this mirrors things my dad and older heads said. My dad always said the primary defender was Pip and they had other defenders to ease the burden on Mike; he said Mike in that second 3peat was picking his spots defensively because he couldn't carry it at an elite level all the time, etc...

The Mythology of Michael Jordan is something my dad, who is and always was a fan, but it's something my dad always spoke on. My dad is 54, so he saw Mike's entire career college to pro, he's always said the media machine Mike and his supporters built around him are one of the largest drivers to why he got a different standard than other guys like LeBron and Kobe. Not that he wasn't obviously great, but there was a lot of balance when he spoke about Mike and his accomplishments...it wasn't always Mike was uncontrollably hot with no flaws and did it all himself...

Heard alota balance from other old heads I've spent time around, too...

 

[Devil Plisken…CMS]

Pretty funny reading these type of comments, like many fans were laughing at laker signings this year. Now it's the deepest team ever. First it's "lakers will never win a championship with this roster" then after 4-1 start it's "the deepest team ever"?

Then in May when these guys look unplayable it’ll be back to the original point lol