NBA 2016-2017 Season Thread

[Naf Nasitra]



and Steve Nash apparently to Lakers. perhaps there will be less LA-based crying in the NBA 2012-2013 thread as a result

Apparently not:

If this goes through (and there's enough talk that it could), I'd be curious to see if the deal gets vetoed by Stern and co ala CP3. If it doesn't, this whole "the Lakers are killing the witty bitty smaw mahkets" is gonna look more like bullshit and MUCH more like a Stern-owned team having putting its hand where it didn't belong.

 

[RFX45]

Man, goddamn Laker haters already up in arms before any Laker fans can even say anything about the trade.

and Steve Nash apparently to Lakers. perhaps there will be less LA-based crying in the NBA 2012-2013 thread as a result

Oh you mad?

 

[edmorel]

I'm not a Laker hater (and I'd gladly take Bynum and Gasol for Carmelo if you guys would be so kind....) but I don't think Nash gets the Lakers past OKC.

 

[RFX45]



I'm not a Laker hater (and I'd gladly take Bynum and Gasol for Carmelo if you guys would be so kind....) but I don't think Nash gets the Lakers past OKC.

I'm not totally convinced either but even at his age, he is still better than Sessions. Maybe I had higher expectations from Sessions but Blake seem to play better than him for the most part, it could also be due to the shortened season. Either way, it's a good move since Sessions isn't returning and the Lakers wants to give a final run before Kobe gets way too old. They know they couldn't land any of the better and younger PGs anyways so Nash is a pretty good option considering the Lakers aren't running the triangle anymore, they need a more traditional PG. The question is will Kobe yield and play around Nash's style instead of holding onto the ball too much (KobeShow)? Hopefully since he was the one that seemed to have convinced Nash to come to LA.

 

[Rambo]

He doesn't get them anywhere but the 2nd round. But, he might be enough of a draw to get Dwight to come over. THAT would be enough to give OKC problems.

 

[RFX45]

Nah, I'd have to disagree. Even though Nash may not guarantee a chip, it can't be any worse than this years team which got to the 2nd round and just broke apart in the end of close games against OKC that they should have won. I still say a Lakers with Nash is better, just distributing the ball and actually get Pau and Bynum more touches and easy baskets for everyone would make tons of difference. The only problem is that they may have gotten worse in guarding PGs and that is saying something because they were terrible in that department already.

 

[moffy]

Lakers need shooters and plenty of them for Nash to thrive. Kobe and Pau should take a thousand threes a day this summer.

 

[RFX45]



Lakers need shooters and plenty of them for Nash to thrive. Kobe and Pau should take a thousand threes a day this summer.

Not necessarily. Nash made Amare an All-Star and dude barely took any jumpshots. His pick and rolls with Gortat last year was dismantling teams left and right, or simply finding him for open for easy lay-ups when he drives the lane is exactly what the Lakers could use with Pau & Bynum. MWP and Barnes will have more open 3's (Barnes used to be decent at those, not sure what happened to him?). And maybe, Murphy could knocks those 3's again like he was back in Indiana. It would sure help Kobe to have a few open Js or some easy lay-ups if someone can accurately pass the ball to him when he cuts.

 

[moffy]

I don't doubt that Nash will make Bynum and Pau better via pick and rolls like he did with Amare and Gortat. But on all those Suns teams that thrived this past decade, did they have any players other than Amare and Gortat who didn't drain 3s?

Those teams were stocked with shooters who spaced the floor and allowed Nash to probe the paint, which is what he does best.

Sidebar: Murphy isn't with the Lakers anymore and I'd really be surprised if any team signs him to be anything more than a 12th man. He's done.

 

[foodguy]

my initial reaction "ha-ha!"
but on mature consideration: it's going to be a big transition ... a) as has been pointed out repeatedly last season, the lakes don't have a reliable jump-shooter. this doesn't bode well for pick-n-roll or drive-and-dump ... two of nash's strengths. b) the lakes also play a much more measured pace, which will take some adjustment from nash. on the upside, a little slower ball could extend his career and, after all, he is a career 40% three-pointer himself. just as kobe has adjusted his game with age, nash can too. plus, and the biggest one, i get to cheer for one of my favorite players rathern than screaming at him.

 

[RFX45]

Actually, Nash's 2004 Suns team (when he won his first MVP) didn't have much shooters. It was a run and gun team with Amare. They had QRich, Barbosa, Johnson, Marion and not much else when it comes to shooters and only QRich in that list are perennial 3-point specialist. In his next MVP, he lost QRich and Joe Johnson and Bell & Diaw, again just spot up shooters who are just as capable of making shots here and there just like MWP, Barnes or Blake.

The Lakers doesn't need too many more shooters once you look at the roster. Look at the starting 5. Nash, Kobe, MWP, Pau & Bynum. Kobe and MWP can drain the 3s. Pau & Bynum stays in the paint/post. Their bench is a bit thin these days but Blake can hits 3's along with Barnes. Ebanks has shown flashes of Ariza that has also made a few 3's when open. Your post made it seem like they need to get 4-5 more shooters when all they really is maybe 1 at most. Get Ray Allen and problem solved.

 

[HRoi]



Man, goddamn Laker haters already up in arms before any Laker fans can even say anything about the trade.
Oh you mad?

]

do my eyes deceive me or did you sneak a Heisman trophy in there? shenanigans!!

 

[foodguy]

i'm not so much disagreeing with you. i can see how it could work (and i hope it does). but let me point out that kobe's game has been moving to the mid-post over the last couple of years. and while MWP can hit threes, do you really want to base your offense on him doing it? i keep waiting for blake to break out of his slump. the guy has been a good shooter for most of his career. it's about time to do it again. i think the nash trade will be best for pau, who is a really heady player and i think the two will complement each other well.

 

[RFX45]

^ ^ ^
My post was a reply to Moffy, you just happen to sneak in that post while I was typing.

do my eyes deceive me or did you sneak a Heisman trophy in there? shenanigans!!

Ummm, that's the MVP trophy.

 

[ConcernedParent]



The only problem is that they may have gotten worse in guarding PGs and that is saying something because they were terrible in that department already.

Agree 100%. Nash is a maestro on offense and is still probably one of the top (if not the top) creators in the game- but his defense especially at his advancing age is going to be a huge liability. Lakers got better, but I'm skeptical if they got 2 first round, 2 second round picks better.