LAKERS LAKERS Thread

(Previously in... "The DSP Lakers Thread.".. the character of Fall Winslow has described the idea of LeBron playing center as "LOL" and is now saying that LeBron is "all in for playing the 5".)

 

Pop is a tyrant with the way he governs.
His players and staff and everyone involved treat him as dear leader.
It is a liberal tyranny.
LeMarcus tried to rebel but Pop gave him an offer he couldn't refuse.
He gave him the role that rightfully belonged to the man who had earned it and duly owned it. Kawhi.
Kawhi being raised as the quiet 3-and D-emocrat assassin elite prince of Pop has become what he was destined to be. The son of a lefty tyrant is going to be a spoiled diva willing to throw the team into chaos in order to get his way.
Good that he's getting all that shit outta his system now so he can be cool once he becomes a Laker.

 

Nobody is going "oh I want Melo on the Lakers".
But if he comes to the Lakers it is not the end of the world.
And there are possibilities that may work to our advantage.
Like Rondo said in that spotlight... you cant outshoot the Warriors, they the best at that type of game.
So the Lakers are going defense and lots of guys who can play very well in either high or low post with the skills to pass between each other or finish with either hand and in many ways while still being tall enough to get the others miss rebound and athletic enough to switch out on wing player on defense.
That is where Melo as LeBrons backup and sometimes partner in the frontcourt might be a nice one two punch.
A triple threat would be if they also sign Bosh.
They can play fast with the kids and with LeBron at center and then switch to a ground and pound with the veterans in the halfcourt. Running plays that specifically set up guys like Melo and Wade to use their special moves so they have a higher chance of success.

PG: Lonzo 28, Paul 28
SG: Kawhi 34, Wade 10
SF: Ingram 34, Melo 12
PF: Kuzma 34, Bosh 10
C : Javale or Wagner 20, LeBron 32

LeBron wins the Scoring Title and MVP and Sixth Man of the year and leads the league in assists as the point center.
This combo of young guys starting with LeBron coming in 5 minutes in for Javale and then the other 4 old dudes coming in as the period progresses until the Banana Boat finally forms.

 

Melo to the Lakers has been written in the stars years and years ago as soon as the idea started popping up in peoples minds that LeBron would one day want to finish his career in Hollywood.
Melo is inevitable.
Wade is probable.
Chris Paul is possible.

The masterplan to counter the Warriors and Celtics type of high volume shooting super teams now at the top of the heap the Lakers will counter with a system that partners LeBron with a younger top 10 player like a Kawhi and a rogues gallery of veteran role players that can start of come off the bench.

Guards should be primarily defensively skilled, board crashing, willing passers, that can make open shots from a kickout by a star. The ability to create or make plays is also prized. At any point they are can be the second or fist options in a spot but generally are third options at best in this type of lineup.

Pure centers will play less than 18 minutes per game and have more reduced roles unless they are a superstar level like Joel Embiid.

Power Forwards should be stars that can create their own shots inside, outside or midrange as well as versatile enough to switch between bigs and small forwards or even put up a good fight against the majority of PG's yet start at C the way Magic did in in the playoffs early in his career and late during his comeback.
These guys will be playmakers that take the pressure off the two superstars by being able to take the scoring load off in spurts or over the span of a few games to give the stars rest in a good rotation.
They should be past superstars or very skilled offensive players who used to be tall 6'8 to 6'11 sized or with equivalent wingspan SF who may have lost a step defensively but are now stronger physically and can play PF and even C in the modern gentrified Showtime that is ruling the NBA game.

The team has to all be able to move the ball until a playmaker gets a look he likes for a one on one scoring opportunity or a role player gets a wide open shot that is statistically his bread and butter.
Lots of getting the ball into the midpost for the playmaker to operate and wear down the opposition with defensively and create fouls and free throw opportunities by players prone to get favorable calls from refs.

The young guys and role players can run for fast breaks and play tough defensively and try for steals and dunks and 3 point bombs but if that does not develop the lazy skilled playmaker will cross midcort a few seconds later and get the ball for an ISO for when his boredom turns into excitement and he makes dazzling plays.

Its not showtime anymore. Its just The Show.

LeBron is the star but he wants to be Denzel and let Kawhi be Donald Glover the new leading man and lead the team. LeBron wants to be at that point that a Samuel L Jackson or a Morgan Freeman are right about when they enter 'grizzled old veteran that still has it' status.
Like how Kareem still had it in one way or another for a long time.

PG: Rondo 30, Hart 12, Bonga 0
SG: Lonzo 30, Pope 12, Svi 0
SF: Ingram 30, Lance 12, Wear 0, Melo 10
PF: Kuzma 30, Bosh 12, Wagner 0, Melo 10
C : LeBron 30, Javale 12, Zubac 0, Melo 10

6th man of the year: Melo 30 playing all 3 front court positions.

Thats 6 guys that play around 5 shifts where a shift is about 6 minutes long. Two shifts in the first half and 3 in the second.
With 5 guys that get 4 shifts that they split each half,
The rest are garbage time.
Keeps everyone fresh and allows shifts to focus certain playmakers when they are in.