Topic: 2019 NBA Pre-Season - page 865. (Read 918996 times)

maybe I'm wrong in my comment because I haven't followed the nba for many years, but now that I've started to follow the nba games I notice that the lakers need to play games with some potential for the team to have good results in the long term, that's enough seeing that the lakers have Russell Westbrook who is a good player but he is 34 years old, and the lakers are very dependent on LeBron who is constantly the best scorer on the team, that would be a very good thing if we were talking about LeBron being 25 years old , but with his age and the extreme dependence that the team has on him, the lakers are in a very bad position, it looks like LeBron carried the whole team alone, I saw LeBron's interview complaining where he said he didn't know which one and the identity of the lakers, I imagine he spoke in that tone due to the inconsistency of the team

Reports saying that the Lakers are trying to talk LeBron into riding out this year and then in the offseason they'll try to get Dame or Beal.  I honestly think from a business perspective, this is the only thing that makes sense with Westbrook's contract.  They're going to have to eat that money and then try again to get a championship level point guard.  I'd personally love to see Dame and LeBron play together, as they're both a couple of the best ever at what they do.  They're both getting pretty old though.  I hope there's still time for them to play at a high level.  In any event, this is bad news for people who wanted to see the Lakers in the playoffs this year.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/nba-insider-says-the-los-angeles-lakers-are-trying-to-sell-lebron-james-on-acquiring-damian-lillard-or-bradley-beal-this-summer/ar-AA16knMc

People are even rooting for the Utah Jazz already to participate in the upcoming playoffs because despite of the fact that the team is still rebuilding, they are showing some good signs from having a consistent performance since the season started and still getting some improvement in every games which is quite unexpected from a team that is supposed to be tanking this season. Hopefully, the Jazz can adjust with Clarkson's price for at least a year to see where will this team go.

They have been a goner since like the firt week of the season, they are definitely not good at all. We are talking about a team that has been under 0.500 for the whole season, how could people still have any hopes about them at all is beyond me. I know that it's not going to be that easy, I know that it's going to be difficult to handle, and I know it's going to hurt a lot of people emotionally if they are Lakers fans, but that's true.

You have to just realize that Lebron gave you a title, and that's it, there isn't anything else this team could do with this roster, it gave success already and now it's going to suck for a while until it is good again years later.

Indeed, there's no official statement or some news that can somehow link Clarkson to the San Antonio Spurs. The rumor with him and the Spurs began when he bought a mansion in San Antonio and it really coincide with event where he took down an offer from the Utah Jazz that's why the people took the bait and started talking about his transfer to Spurs but, I do think that the bases established are too shallow.

And just like with the link that you provided, Clarkson is still really interested to wear the same jersey next season. So maybe the Jazz and Clarkson will somehow find a way to be in the same page before the trade deadline ends or before he goes into the free agency.

Sacramento Kings have the play-offs locked in right ? With the W against Rockets last night , they solidify even further that 4th place in West Conference with Mavs chasing them.

Pelicans are still in great shape even without Zion and I'm sure they will fight a lot in order to get to play-offs and there Zion should be healthy to play.

Miami - Bucks , should be one hell of a game to watch 

It isn't tough but it's impossible for me.

Now that AD is injured "again", they are at the bottom of the standings. When AD, Lebron and Westbrook played, they are still at the bottom spot (highest that they've got I guess is around 12th). What I'm trying to say is that, their standings isn't changing at all. Whether their big 3 play or not, they will still remain at the bottom spot. Play-ins is the highest that they can get but looking at how they are right now, even that might be hard for them to achieve this season. It's your opinion though but for me, they will not enter the playoffs this season whether their big 3 will play or not.

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We are at the half of the regular season already and we've seen teams who are at the bottom last season but now at the top 8 and vice versa. Teams like Phoenix (currently 10th), Atlanta, Toronto and Chicago are out of the playoff spot but they entered the playoffs last season. On the other hand, teams like Sacramento and Indiana are now at the playoff spot.

There are teams who surprised on both ways. New Orleans, Cleveland, New York are now on the top while teams at like Utah, Miami and Golden State are now at the bottom 8. Surprises really do happen in NBA. The teams which are at the top last season will not maintain and be the same next season and vice-versa.

Making the playoffs without a healthy Westbrook, Lebran, and AD will be tough but not impossible. These young guys are showing a little spunk, if they can keep it up and just get a little better as a unit they have a playoff chance.

They have a lot of shooters now and good defenders. One great addition to their roster is KCP, his having a decent production this season averaging 11 PPG as a reserve. https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/caldwke01.html

If this team will remain healthy, at least their big 3 (Jokic, Murray, and Porter Jr. ), this team should be a team to beat in the West. I know we have the Warriors who are the defending champ, but they will have having a problem against an opponent with good center because they don't have the height, just like last season. With the Nuggets having plenty of outside shooters and Murray able to create his own shot, that is something to watch for this playoffs.

Yes, it was evident this season that the Nuggets is very different, there's not much of a change in the lineup, but with a healthy Murray and MP, Jokic games is so much easier right now and that's why his numbers is insane that we are talking of him taking the MVP for 3 consecutive years.

They are now on a 5 game winning streak, and they can continue with the Magic next and then Portland who is also struggling in their last couple of games. So minimum 7 games is what I'm seeing for them.

Jokic and Murray plus all the role players around Denver, a very competitive team for the west. We don't know what will happen after the All-Star, but this team is expected to perform more.

With complete and healthy squad, the winning chance is good for Denver possible to see them chasing
another birth for the west finals, too early, but who knows right?

Exactly, that's their problem last season, they are heavily reliant on Jokic that's why their big man will be exhausted in the 4th quarter. But there was no Murray and Porter last season IIRC, so it's really a huge upgrade that these two are healthy.

Yes, right? We thought they will be like a crippled team without him and yet they showed how good they are today.
We could say Murray is totally back, I have my doubts about Michael Porter Jr. and yet he is proving again how reliable he could be whenever they need him to step up his game.
So true, that's why I am also amazed at how they ended it. Closing games in a good lead had been an issue for many teams today and yet they did it perfectly without letting the Clippers have a run.
If this keeps up, they don't need to overuse Jokic and injuries can be prevented as Coach Michael Malone could now rotate his players and rest them well. Having a deep bench will do a lot of things for them.

The Lakers are in a complicated situation these days, I even dare to say that they are a goner, unfortunately.

But if the LAL can play like they played against the Kings, with chemistry and teamwork, I even imagine that they might have a chance to go to the playoffs.
In that game against Sacramento, they surprised me, because I had no doubt that the Kings would win that game, but that didn't happen.
Other players that have been calling my attention are Schroder and Thomas Bryant.
Currently they are being important players, and literally in almost every game they are able to help the Lakers, especially Schroder.

While AD doesn't return to games, the Lakers will have to do everything to win without AD's help.

And I guess Jokic has matured already, so no more emotions in the playoff if ever they make it as a first seed in the West. And obviously, he doesn't have Jamal Murray at his wing that's why they have to fight it out in a very competitive playoff series.

He just need to be healthy and so is Murray and Michael Porter Jr, and Gordon, I think this is the best season that they had and hopefully it will not go to waste this time.

Things will be different in the playoffs though but I believe this lineup is a great lineup that could potentially win a championship. Clippers? I think they need to stay healthy, especially Paul George because Leonard alone cannot win against the strong teams in the West.

Nuggets vs Warriors in the WCF, I think that's fun to watch.

How scary is the Nuggets? when we thought that without Jokic, the Clippers can at least snag a good win and carry their momentum. But they are also so inconsistent that they allow the Nuggets to take over the game in the last 2 quarters.

So yes, this is a good sign that Nuggets is proving themselves to be the top seed in the West right now.

No Jokic, they can win with Porter Jr and Jamal Murray taking the lead.

He should be recognize for his effort, 7 blocks, that's insane, this guy is even more valuable that Rudy Gobert if we will compare their performance now.
I don't understand why Gobert got a max contract, Jazz really wasted their money with a player that are not even consistent in the playoffs.

And winning against the Clippers is no joke. Murray and Porter Jr. are now healthy, they are a different team now.

Don't forget about Walker Kessler. He made 7 blocks, 2 steals, 1 crucial offensive rebound, and 2 very important free throws that got them the 3-point lead, and then Markennen shut the door for the Magic to return with another free throw added to make it a two-possession game.
I say that was a fun game against the Orlando Magic.

How about the Denver Nuggets?
They are the underdogs when the game started against the Clippers because they played Jokic-less and yet they won the game by letting it rain 3-pointers.  This is a good sign, they can win games on the road and against a strong team even without the heart of their plays.

That's 2 straight of close game, last time it was Clarkson who close the game, this time, still a bit of Clarkson but Lauri was their best scorer. I don't know, it seems like Clarkson is really the best player of the team because the fans are more entertain watching him play, it will be a huge loss for the Jazz if they cannot give the demand of clarkson which is $20 million per year.