This and that

I wonder if the Lakers could have used Julius Randle and D. Russell. Looks like two pretty good players they let go of.

tardust wrote:I wonder if the Lakers could have used Julius Randle and D. Russell.  Looks like two pretty good players they let go of.

I mentioned that on game on thread, did Magic goof getting rid of Russell...??? He’s inconsistent as are many young players, but not the first time he’s gotten in a zone, no question he can score in bunches.

If Magic would have kept Russell and drafted Tatum....and with Kuzma?

tardust wrote:I wonder if the Lakers could have used Julius Randle and D. Russell.  Looks like two pretty good players they let go of.

D. Russell is a volume scorer who is a terrible defender.
His averages are up a little bit this year from his career averages.
After torching the Celtics, Russell scored only 10 of his teams 145 points last night.
In trading Russell the Lakers dumped Mozgov's bad contract and were able to draft Kuzma with the 1st round pick they received from Brooklyn..
I would take Kuzma over Russell all day every day.
With that 2nd max slot opening up from trading Mozgov and Russell's contracts, the Lakers could have signed Lebron and Paul George.
Most expected Paul George to sign with the Lakers.
IF the Lakers had Lebron and PG13 o nthe team they would probably be title contenders.

As for Randle, I like his game but the Lakers were not going to offer him or match a multi-year contract.
Plus with Lebron and Kuzma who are both generally power forwards, keeping Randle probably wouldn't have been a great fit for the way the Lakers want to play.
The Lakers see more value in having Rondo on the team for 1 year than Randle for multiple years.
If the Lakers make the playoffs, we can expect that Rondo will get quite a bit of playing time.
As we all know, Rondo can step up his game when needed, especially in the playoffs.

Philly destroying Indy in Indy. Miles Turner IS playing and is also being destroyed by Embiid. Nobody on Indy looks like they can hang.


bob


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bobheckler wrote:Philly destroying Indy in Indy.  Miles Turner IS playing and is also being destroyed by Embiid.  Nobody on Indy looks like they can hang.


bob


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"Things that happen in the NBA that make you fully appreciate the skills that Aron Baynes brings to the Boston Celtics" for 500, Alex.

tjmakz wrote:

tardust wrote:I wonder if the Lakers could have used Julius Randle and D. Russell.  Looks like two pretty good players they let go of.

D. Russell is a volume scorer who is a terrible defender.
His averages are up a little bit this year from his career averages.
After torching the Celtics, Russell scored only 10 of his teams 145 points last night.
In trading Russell the Lakers dumped Mozgov's bad contract and were able to draft Kuzma with the 1st round pick they received from Brooklyn..
I would take Kuzma over Russell all day every day.
With that 2nd max slot opening up from trading Mozgov and Russell's contracts, the Lakers could have signed Lebron and Paul George.
Most expected Paul George to sign with the Lakers.
IF the Lakers had Lebron and PG13 o nthe team they would probably be title contenders.

As for Randle, I like his game but the Lakers were not going to offer him or match a multi-year contract.
Plus with Lebron and Kuzma who are both generally power forwards, keeping Randle probably wouldn't have been a great fit for the way the Lakers want to play.
The Lakers see more value in having Rondo on the team for 1 year than Randle for multiple years.
If the Lakers make the playoffs, we can expect that Rondo will get quite a bit of playing time.
As we all know, Rondo can step up his game when needed, especially in the playoffs.

TJ

Magic still has a few tricks up his sleeve. He could make a trade for AD and sign Leonard. They have a lot of expiring contracts to free up CAP space and I am sure they would part with Kuzma and Ingram + to get AD. This is just what Boston did. They signed Hayward and traded for Kyrie.

A team with Lebron, Leonard and Davis would be unbelievable.

I don't get it , every player that is going to become a free agent everyone acts like they are going to sign with the Lakers. Stephen A even mentioned today that "someone told him" that Kyrie's phone call with Lebron seemed like it would make it easier for Kyrie to join the Lakers. Most of what I have heard is other stars don't want to play with Lebron. If they win Lebron gets all the credit, if they lose its because they don't have anyone.

Not sure what TJ is talking about with Randle not fitting into the Lakers style, I think NO is one of the highest scoring teams. I think the Lakers are wanting to run and be high scoring. Russell may not be that great but he is playing a a team on the upstart and he is a starter.

My comment was just a observation, nothing more. I definitely would take Randle on my team.

Old friend Ante Zizic gets the start, plays 34 minutes and gets a double double with 15 and 10. (For the Cavs.......)

Boogie Cousins made a seamless return last night, even hit 3 3’s, we’ll have to see how it goes.....sure looked great last night.

cowens/oldschool wrote:Boogie Cousins made a seamless return last night, even hit 3 3’s, we’ll have to see how it goes.....sure looked great last night.

I drifted in and out of watching that game least night especially because Cousins was returning but I could not keep any focus (I was not drinking)

I think this will be very revealing. A great offensive team added a huge post player that can play inside or out.

So what does he do? He scores 14 points in 15 minutes, shoots 3-4 from deep, grabs 6 rebounds and hands out 3 assists and he fouled out. GSW has just rolled out more fire power just as other teams were catching up.

dboss wrote:

cowens/oldschool wrote:Boogie Cousins made a seamless return last night, even hit 3 3’s, we’ll have to see how it goes.....sure looked great last night.

I drifted in and out of watching that game least night especially because Cousins was returning but I could not keep any focus (I was not drinking)

I think this will be very revealing.  A great offensive team added a huge post player that can play inside or out.  

So what does he do?  He scores 14 points in 15 minutes, shoots 3-4 from deep, grabs 6 rebounds and hands out 3 assists and he fouled out.  GSW has just rolled out more fire power just as other teams were catching up.  

I heard some pundit saying there’s only one ball, but they sure looked unselfish and free flowing last night.

Lonzo Ball was carried off the floor. Diagnosis is a sprain.


bob


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LeBron's coming back this week. That should cover it.

db

With Lonzo Ball out for 4-6 weeks with a Grade 3 left ankle sprain, this is why LA needed Rondo more than Julius Randle this year. If Randle went down for an extended time, LA would have Lebron or Kuzma to play PF. When Lonzo was out last year Tyler Ennis and Alex Caruso did a terrible job as backup PG. It looks like Rondo will be back just in time to take over the PG duties for quite some time.

tjmakz wrote:With Lonzo Ball out for 4-6 weeks with a Grade 3 left ankle sprain, this is why LA needed Rondo more than Julius Randle this year. If Randle went down for an extended time, LA would have Lebron or Kuzma to play PF. When Lonzo was out last year Tyler Ennis and Alex Caruso did a terrible job as backup PG. It looks like Rondo will be back just in time to take over the PG duties for quite some time.

think there could be anything to the "warming relations" between Lebron and Irving?

Meanwhile back at the ranch, Russell turns in another monster game. I believe about 40 points and 20 something in a row to lead Nets to another win. A comeback win which he dropped 7 dimes as well. Young fella and Nets are becoming a good team.

tardust wrote:Meanwhile back at the ranch,  Russell turns in another monster game.  I believe about 40 points and 20 something in a row to lead Nets to another win.  A comeback win which he dropped 7 dimes as well.  Young fella and Nets are becoming a good team.

The Sacramento/Brooklyn game today should be entertaining.
Two over-achieving teams with emerging young talent.
The Russell/Fox matchup will be interesting to see how it turns out.

kdp59 wrote:

tjmakz wrote:With Lonzo Ball out for 4-6 weeks with a Grade 3 left ankle sprain, this is why LA needed Rondo more than Julius Randle this year. If Randle went down for an extended time, LA would have Lebron or Kuzma to play PF. When Lonzo was out last year Tyler Ennis and Alex Caruso did a terrible job as backup PG. It looks like Rondo will be back just in time to take over the PG duties for quite some time.

think there could be anything to the "warming relations" between Lebron and Irving?

I don't think so but you never know with Kyrie.
He is a bit of an odd and unpredictable guy.
Kyrie seems to like being the #1 guy on the Celtics.
I think there's a 95% chance he re-signs with Boston but we will have to see how the playoffs go.
Boston has some on going issues with minutes and roles, but I see no reason why Kyrie will not re-sign with Boston.

tjmakz wrote:

tardust wrote:Meanwhile back at the ranch,  Russell turns in another monster game.  I believe about 40 points and 20 something in a row to lead Nets to another win.  A comeback win which he dropped 7 dimes as well.  Young fella and Nets are becoming a good team.

The Sacramento/Brooklyn game today should be entertaining.
Two over-achieving teams with emerging young talent.
The Russell/Fox matchup will be interesting to see how it turns out.

Russell 31 and 8 assists, no turnovers.
Fox 9 and 6 assist with 3 turnovers. The Nets are quickly becoming a team that can sneak up on so teams.

Nets no longer trash and now we stiil gotta put them out for trash pickup.

tardust wrote:

tjmakz wrote:

tardust wrote:Meanwhile back at the ranch,  Russell turns in another monster game.  I believe about 40 points and 20 something in a row to lead Nets to another win.  A comeback win which he dropped 7 dimes as well.  Young fella and Nets are becoming a good team.

The Sacramento/Brooklyn game today should be entertaining.
Two over-achieving teams with emerging young talent.
The Russell/Fox matchup will be interesting to see how it turns out.

Russell 31 and 8 assists, no turnovers.
Fox 9 and 6 assist with 3 turnovers.   The Nets are quickly becoming a team that can sneak up on so teams.

Russell and the Nets are on quite a roll right now.
Brooklyn has gone 17-5 in their last 22 games and are expecting to get back Caris Levert sometime just after Feb 1st.

I said it before amazing rebuilding job by Nets

Victor Oladipo is stretchered off the court in the Indy game vs Toronto.  From the video he just went down on his own.  Between Theis and Barbosa we've seen similar non-contact knee injuries like that before, going straight ahead and the knee just gives out.  No contact, no lateral movement or torque.  In both Theis and Barbosa's case it was an ACL.  The video says "broken leg" but I don't think they really know yet.

Oly will be getting an MRI tomorrow.  Good luck, kid.




bob


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The Joker from Denver is nearly halfway to the all time lead on centers with 10 plus assists. Trailing only Wilt. I think the Joker is 24 years old.