NBA Season 2024-25

[Who]

Clippers offensive role players Norm Powell and Bogdanovic have let them down here. Neither guy has performed.

Their defensive guys have contributed. K Dunn has done well. Ben Simmons, Derrick Jones Jr and A Coffey gave them some good minutes. They struggled a bit though when they had 2 of these guys on the floor at the same time next to Kawhi & Harden. Just not enough floor spacing.

DJJ in particular. DJJ is useful as the 4th best three point shooter. But when you bump him up to 3rd best, he just can't handle that. They need Bogs or Norm Powell to fill that role and tonight they haven't done it. Actually, ditto for Coffey. I feel like they overplay Coffey. He does some good things but they overuse him. Neither Coffey or DJJ brings enough volume 3 point shooting / legit spacing.

Both N Powell & Bogs are prone to having anonymous games. If they are not hitting shots, they are not bringing anything to the table. And if they are not hitting shots, LAC's defensive role players struggle to fill the void. Double trouble.

[Goldstar88]

Not impressed with Kawhi. He is doing well but he is not dominant. He is playing closer to a Michael Porter Jr level. That is not enough; not for LAC to make a deep run in the playoffs.

I am not sure if Kawhi has even gotten to the rim once in this game. He has gotten to the midrange for contested jumpers. Not rim chances. Not FTs. He has 1 trip to the foul line. And his defensive impact isn't there.

Good level of performance (MPJ level) but not dominant.

Not saying he?s playing like Toronto Kawhi,  but he did finish with 25pts, 10rebs, 3ast, 1stl, 1blk. Shot 10-20 from the field and 2-4 from 3pt. He was the best player on the court. I?d say that?s a little better than MPJ. 

[Who]

Not impressed with Kawhi. He is doing well but he is not dominant. He is playing closer to a Michael Porter Jr level. That is not enough; not for LAC to make a deep run in the playoffs.

I am not sure if Kawhi has even gotten to the rim once in this game. He has gotten to the midrange for contested jumpers. Not rim chances. Not FTs. He has 1 trip to the foul line. And his defensive impact isn't there.

Good level of performance (MPJ level) but not dominant.

Not saying he?s playing like Toronto Kawhi,  but he did finish with 25pts, 10rebs, 3ast, 1stl, 1blk. Shot 10-20 from the field and 2-4 from 3pt. I?d say that?s a little better than MPJ. 

I missed the 2nd half. I just caught the last 3-4 min of Q4. It looked like he played better in the 2nd than in the 1st half.

He was looking a bit friskier on some of those moves late on. More aggressive. More assertive. Forcing the issue more. Went 6-12 FGA in 2nd half vs 4-8 FGA first half.

Still only had the one trip to the foul line for the game outside of the foul in the final seconds to avoid LAC getting off a three point atempt. I believe Kawhi had only one made layup (from his shot chart) and that was from a transition hoop (saw in a highlight during a timeout). Everything in the halfcourt was a jump-shot. Most of them contested (from the shots I did see).

.... he is creating good shots but only a small amount of great shots. Good percentage attempts (those 10-16 foot midrangers) vs high percentage attempts (layups, dunks, FTs). A lot of contested shots. Less separation from defenders.

[Who]

Nuggets with Jokic = 41 wins 21 losses (54 win pace)
Nuggets without Jokic = 4 wins 6 losses (33 win pace)

[Phantom255x]

Really hope we avoid Orlando first round. They're playing the healthy Lakers tough and while their record and overall season has been inconsistent, their size can be tricky and they still have Banchero, Wagner and some shooters who can get hot as well. KCP is a good playoff veteran too just like Jrue

(Not saying we'd lose to them of course but they could push us or Cleveland to a 6th game in a series, maybe 7. ATL/CHI/MIA are easy 5-game wins though)

[SparzWizard]

Always a pleasure to watch LAL lose. Another 3peat for them...3 game losing streak that is

[Phantom255x]

Always a pleasure to watch LAL lose. Another 3peat for them...3 game losing streak that is

I watched the second half. The Lakers defense was garbage. Orlando was legit attacking and hunting Reaves + Doncic + Hayes and dominating. Hayes got in foul trouble too because of it. There were even some possessions where Wagner and Banchero were WIDE OPEN under the basket for easy buckets, and at one point Wagner hit a wide open 3 where even the commentators were like "why are they leaving him wide open".

Lebron may still be hurt. I still expect Doncic + Lebron to elevate their game in the playoffs. But I do think their frontcourt (or lack thereof) and defense is gonna cost them.

I do sort of also wonder if the Lakers are playing some chess, maybe trying to stay in the 4-5 bracket to draw MEM first round which would be an easy win for LAL. But that could be risky since it means a 2nd round OKC series, but also GSW isn't far behind either.

[SparzWizard]

Always a pleasure to watch LAL lose. Another 3peat for them...3 game losing streak that is

I watched the second half. The Lakers defense was garbage. Orlando was legit attacking and hunting Reaves + Doncic + Hayes and dominating. Hayes got in foul trouble too because of it. There were even some possessions where Wagner and Banchero were WIDE OPEN under the basket for easy buckets, and at one point Wagner hit a wide open 3 where even the commentators were like "why are they leaving him wide open".

Lebron may still be hurt. I still expect Doncic + Lebron to elevate their game in the playoffs. But I do think their frontcourt (or lack thereof) and defense is gonna cost them.

I do sort of also wonder if the Lakers are playing some chess, maybe trying to stay in the 4-5 bracket to draw MEM first round which would be an easy win for LAL. But that could be risky since it means a 2nd round OKC series, but also GSW isn't far behind either.

Isn't the 4/5 matchup worse for the Lakers. Memphis could give them trouble? I just want the Lakers to stay away from the 2 seed. If they're the 3 seed they get the Warriors in Round 1, but a relatively easy Round 2 with either Houston or Denver.

[Phantom255x]

Always a pleasure to watch LAL lose. Another 3peat for them...3 game losing streak that is

I watched the second half. The Lakers defense was garbage. Orlando was legit attacking and hunting Reaves + Doncic + Hayes and dominating. Hayes got in foul trouble too because of it. There were even some possessions where Wagner and Banchero were WIDE OPEN under the basket for easy buckets, and at one point Wagner hit a wide open 3 where even the commentators were like "why are they leaving him wide open".

Lebron may still be hurt. I still expect Doncic + Lebron to elevate their game in the playoffs. But I do think their frontcourt (or lack thereof) and defense is gonna cost them.

I do sort of also wonder if the Lakers are playing some chess, maybe trying to stay in the 4-5 bracket to draw MEM first round which would be an easy win for LAL. But that could be risky since it means a 2nd round OKC series, but also GSW isn't far behind either.

Isn't the 4/5 matchup worse for the Lakers. Memphis could give them trouble? I just want the Lakers to stay away from the 2 seed. If they're the 3 seed they get the Warriors in Round 1, but a relatively easy Round 2 with either Houston or Denver.

I think so. It's weird, a few Lakers friends I talk to actually want Memphis first round. But yeah, your point is true too, if they can avoid DEN/OKC entirely through the first two rounds that's a big win as well. They potentially could if they get a 2 or 3 seed and DEN slips to 4-5.

I don't think a series with Denver and even Golden State would be "easy" for them, but I frankly do think they'd dispatch Houston and Memphis in 5 or 6 games. I want to believe in Memphis and I did for a while but idk, Morant isn't that consistent. Then again, without AD I think MEM might have a chance, AD gave them massive fits in the playoff series two years ago.

I actually looked at Memphis as the second best team for a while this season. It's a little hard to get a gauge on them though. @Who I think agrees too lol if you read his posts on them

[Phantom255x]

Guys we need to monitor Indiana

They are now only 2.5 back of NY for the 3 seed

Really don?t want to face IND in the second round

[trickybilly]

Chicago are playing pretty good right now.

White and Giddey are on a tear.

[Who]

Indy started the season 10 wins 15 losses

Since then, Indy has 31 wins and 14 losses.

A 56-57 win pace.

[Goldstar88]

Guys we need to monitor Indiana

They are now only 2.5 back of NY for the 3 seed

Really don?t want to face IND in the second round

I mean, Celtics swept them last year. That?s a good matchup for Boston. I don?t want to play Orlando first round. They are a big physical team.

[Goldstar88]

Josh Giddey the last 10 games: 22pts, 10rebs, 10ast, 2stls on 56/44/84 shooting splits. That trade was a steal for Chicago. Josh is only 22.

[Phantom255x]

Guys we need to monitor Indiana

They are now only 2.5 back of NY for the 3 seed

Really don?t want to face IND in the second round

I mean, Celtics swept them last year. That?s a good matchup for Boston. I don?t want to play Orlando first round. They are a big physical team.

I want to avoid ORL first round and IND second round and Cleveland ECF