NBA Season 2024-25

[GreenEnvy]

Doncic isn't a world-beater defensively but Reaves is quietly much worse at that end imo.  Doncic struggles with changes of direction but Reaves can't even guard the first move.

Reaves hasn't had a good series offensively either.

1 good game. 2 middling ones. 2 bad ones.

A bad showing from Reaves. He is a better player than this.

Bad matchup for him, I think.  Against most teams he takes advantage of the amount of attention Lebron and Doncic require.  Those guys get the other team's best defenders and he gets to tee off on the third guy which is usually a mismatch.  But Minnesota's defensive depth is quite good and he doesn't get to pick on weaker defenders like he wants.



Sayonara LAL.  For all of the talk about how the West is "stacked", though, I don't really see any of these teams offering OKC a series.

I think it?s more a testament to how flawed the Lakers are. But I?m sure they will get Giannis for peanuts and a future 2nd-round swap.


I do think the Wolves, Nuggets, and maybe even the Clippers can make a series with OKC. Wolves have size and Edwards isn?t afraid. Nuggets have Jokic and their altitude. Clippers would need Kawhi and Harden playing like their primes.

[Neurotic Guy]

Ahhh.  Laker Elimination Day is always a great day and especially sweet when the Celtics are still in the mix.

[Adelaide Celt]

Prior to 2024, the last 4 Celtic championships in 2008, 1986, 1984 and 1981 were immediately followed by a Lakers championship the following year.

About bloody time that trend stopped.

[Who]

I don't think the T-Wolves will do well against OKC. Their offense is too flawed. Not enough shot creation or playmaking outside of Ant. OKC's defense will make mincemeat out of them.

Strangely enough, I think LAL might have been the best equipped to cause OKC problems. The 3 shot creators / playmakers to handle their trapping defense. A good amount of outside shooting. Two big forwards in LeBron & Luka who can exploit their smaller guards which OKC relies on off the bench.

So, this Minnesota victory may have just cleared the pathway even more for OKC. I still think LAC might be able to cause them problems but LAC are struggling with Denver right now. OKC may avoid LAC as well. Then they get easier matchups for themselves throughout the West en route to the Finals.

[Birdman]

Awwwww love waking up & see Lakers eliminated..can?t wait hear all the so called experts whomm no pick lakers go to finals..LeBron is old & Luka just not in great shape plus both can?t play defense

[Redz]

Awwwww love waking up & see Lakers eliminated..can?t wait hear all the so called experts whomm no pick lakers go to finals..LeBron is old & Luka just not in great shape plus both can?t play defense

Post season win totals:
Luka & The Lakers: 1
Anthony Davis & The Mavs: 1

Gotta love a silenced Laker crowd (I don?t even know what they call their home court anymore).

They got Goberted!  Vintage Rudy .

Its just an absolute joy.

[celticinorlando]

Lakers done. Fantastic.

[Donoghus]

At least he got his bubble championship. 

GoldBoys.com
@GoldBoysSupport
Lakers in the LeBron James era:

2019 - missed playoffs
2020 - championship
2021 - eliminated in 1st round
2022 - missed playoffs
2023 - swept in WCF
2024 - eliminated in 1st round
2025 - eliminated in 1st round

[Phantom255x]

I can't with this dude

https://x.com/TheHoopCentral/status/1917820778625786304

LeBron James on the challenge of playing center:

"No comment. My guy AD said what he needed, and then he was gone the following week."

Umm dude, no one is falling for you pretending you didn't know of the Luka trade, you definitely played a part in it and sending AD out. And also, then why rescind the Mark Williams trade? Knecht didn't even play and Mark Williams seemed to be fine playing out the 2nd half with Charlotte.

Add in his ridiculous, embarrassing flops this series 

Not my GOAT. Also how do you get gifted Luka mid-season and can't even get out of the first round as a 3 seed moderately favored against the opponent? 5 points combined the last two fourth quarters? Yikes.

[Who]

At least he got his bubble championship. 

GoldBoys.com
@GoldBoysSupport
Lakers in the LeBron James era:

2019 - missed playoffs
2020 - championship
2021 - eliminated in 1st round
2022 - missed playoffs
2023 - swept in WCF
2024 - eliminated in 1st round
2025 - eliminated in 1st round

So,

2 times missed the playoffs
3 times lost in 1st round
1 trip to WCF
1 Finals / Championship

5 disappointing seasons vs 2 good seasons

It is not that good of a record. Especially when compared to other Lakers greats. Kobe & Pau. Shaq & Kobe. The Magic Johnson years. Wilt & West. West & Baylor = did not get a title but made the finals a huge number of times. Mikan.

LeBron has the weakest record of all the Lakers greats.

[Phantom255x]

I predict both the Pistons and Clippers tonight force Game 7

[bdm860]

At least he got his bubble championship. 

GoldBoys.com
@GoldBoysSupport
Lakers in the LeBron James era:

2019 - missed playoffs
2020 - championship
2021 - eliminated in 1st round
2022 - missed playoffs
2023 - swept in WCF
2024 - eliminated in 1st round
2025 - eliminated in 1st round

So,

2 times missed the playoffs
3 times lost in 1st round
1 trip to WCF
1 Finals / Championship

5 disappointing seasons vs 2 good seasons

It is not that good of a record. Especially when compared to other Lakers greats. Kobe & Pau. Shaq & Kobe. The Magic Johnson years. Wilt & West. West & Baylor = did not get a title but made the finals a huge number of times. Mikan.

LeBron has the weakest record of all the Lakers greats.

2020 and 2023, the lone high points, but a couple of things could easily go different and we're looking at maybe 2020 being the only year they even make it out of the first round (but with no championship).

2023 there was an absolutely terrible (but highly entertaining) play-in game between Lakers and Wolves (an OT win for the Lakers). Wolves gave up a 15 point lead, went scoreless for the last 6 minutes of the 4th until they were fouled on a last second game tying shot attempt, and scored a total of 16 points in the 4Q and overtime combined. If Lakers lose that first play-in, at best they end up with the Nuggets in Round 1. That gets them swept in Round 1 instead of swept in the WCF. (LeBron/Lakers fans would argue a fresher LeBron would have gotten some wins against the Nuggets, fine, but would still be a 1st round exit).

And of course 2020 Covid. I can't hate on the Lakers too much here. They had a 5.5 game lead in the West and were on a 64 win pace before the league got shut down, and had a starter (Avery Bradley) sit out the bubble completely. But the main rivals Clippers and Bucks falling apart, the extended break for old man LeBron and fragile AD, the whole weird bubble atmosphere, I like to think they wouldn't have won in a normal season (though I can't pretend they weren't a favorite).

But a couple very small tweaks, very possible we're looking at:

2019 - missed playoffs
2020 - eliminated in WCF or Finals
2021 - eliminated in 1st round
2022 - missed playoffs
2023 - eliminated in 1st round
2024 - eliminated in 1st round
2025 - eliminated in 1st round

How much sweeter that would that be.

[SHAQATTACK]

Lakers can?t improve till they dump Le Hasbeen. And his mega dollars.  Oh and his son too , gotta go?.TWO wasted sits on the bench.

[Birdman]

LeBron worth a billion but he won?t take a pay cut to bring in better players, that tell u what kind of player he is

[Phantom255x]

LeBron worth a billion but he won?t take a pay cut to bring in better players, that tell u what kind of player he is

Not only that, he forced the organization to draft his kid and put him on the roster. A roster that lacked any legit center after the deadline.

He's looking at his businesses and empire post-NBA. I don't blame him actually, but save me from this "oh he's a role model and a model teammate". I actually think this series makes him look worse. Doncic will get shrapnel thrown his way but Lebron especially the last two fourth quarters was awful as well. Lebron wasn't good defensively either, I agree he's 40 so that matters, but Gobert and Reid were looking like giants out there with the ORebs and putback dunks while Lebron just stood there every time.

It's fine to praise Lebron for what he's doing at 40, because it is marvelous. But that doesn't mean he doesn't deserve some criticism too for when things go very wrong.