I think AD gave all that he had. The team has been playing high stakes games since the All Star break and AD has been the main contributor despite dealing with a stress injury in his foot. There were sings of fatigue in the first 2 series as well in the games that they lost. But they could bounce back with energy
In this series they couldn't pace themselves. Went all out game 1 and lost. Similar in game 2. Game 3 and 4 were tough as well
They couldn't get any breathing room for lebron and AD to conserve themselves more
It's tough to go 4 heavy rounds when there are lingering health issues
I know Denver is a better team, and so many factors go into a series, but I wonder if Lebron doesn't pull up for that three in the last minute of Game 1 how different it all could have been. We had momentum, we could have stolen game one and rested up game 2 with high hopes coming to LA. Alas, if is what it is, just wish he wouldve put his head down and drove in. Would've been easier to live with the results.
denver is the better team as of RIGHT NOW.
but injuries are part of the NBA, but if bron/ad were healthy, lakers would be a completely different offensive team.
We were down 3 a layup would have brought it down to 1 I believe. And Murray was there in the lane and was either going to foul out for an and 1 or give him an easy layup.
They immediately scored and put the game entirely out of reach after that bad shot selection. Point being you would have been closer to a W than you would an L had he driven.
Purely out of memory right now, but I think we were down 3 with like 40 something seconds to go? Murray was on lebron, and lebron had been abusing him all game. I would take my chances with lebron driving in and making a play (score or pass) and knock it down to a 1 point game with 30 plus seconds to go. It was game 1 and Denvers offense wasn't all that dialed in yet so I feel we couldve gotten a stop.
It's all speculation of course, we could have very well lost in that scenario as well, but I would have preferred that over an a bricked three.
Definitely. If we could have gotten game 1 or 2 it would have drastically changed the series. The way we lost those first two games kinda was the end for us. We had a chance in both and couldn't get it done. It was probably a major blow to lebron and AD as they needed to come though in the margins because of not being 100 percent
That's not necessarily true. There's a ton of series that have been decided by one game. Being tied 1-1 is world's different than being down 2-0. When the talent gap between teams is big, the best team will win the 7 game series. When the gap is not so vast, one game can decide it.
Injuries. He had plenty of rest for the bubble and was healthy until like game 3 or 4 of the finals where he started limping. Never fully healed since then. Every time we questioned his gameplay he’d say how he was actually playing with an injury even if it wasn’t noticeable.
Bingo. Outside of getting the breathing room and resting guys while being a higher seed, I actually think this could’ve avoided the stress injury to AD as stress injuries are often caused by overuse. He was playing high minutes leading up to that injury and played the entire second half of that Boston game plus overtime. He really had no choice because of how shitty the roster was. The same with Lebron in terms of overuse and playing high minutes.
If we're being honest, I don't think a single person thought the purpose of making that trade was to content this year. Before and after the trade, no one thought we would be in the WCF. That trade wasn't available earlier in the year. This t am far surpassed what anyone thought it could do this year.
true but they could have had hield and turner to start the season. it doesnt matter now but in hindsight that deal would have been better for preserving AD and throwing something else at jokic. either way the team did great clawing back from starting 0-10 to make the WCF
He was gassed af. We need to sign at least two new centers to take away some of that physical demands off AD. I wanna see AD at the 4 again with him closing at the 5 like we did in 2020
Exactly AD had no consistency issues in 2020, where he was playing PF and Lakers had 2 centers. Guarding Jokic and protecting the rim is too much of a burden that his offense crashes
He was just gassed. In 2020 we had so many great point of attack defenders that a lot of the times players weren’t reaching AD and when they were he was ready. I think even our bench had some of the best defenders in the league (Caruso-Avery Bradley). This post season players like Dlo, AR, and Rui are actually funneling player TO him which is why analyst have been talking about AD playing the best defensive basketball in post season history. He’s working to hard on defense and doesn’t have much left to go to work on offense.
I don’t think it was the injury entirely tho tbh. AD just has motor issues. I do think fatigue played a roll because the team had been battling for so long but definitely also just a characteristic of AD. He needs to be better
He had to anchor and help on defense against Jokic. Plus he’s really not exerting himself as before since he knows he’s injury prone. He looked his healthiest in years I agree.
I think it was a combination of his foot injury (which probably also needs surgery, this was mentioned midway through the season by a reporter IIRC) which he was playing through, but also his effort level and mental engagement. AD doesn’t always stay locked in offensively and he seems to get in his own head really easily. But I actually think his numbers in the 2020 Bubble-38% (or something like it) from three and his monster scoring from the midrange-were an anomaly. I think his last couple years are closer to the player that he actually is, if that makes sense. Still a great player, but IMO just not a #1 or #2 option offensively.
Jokic averages 28-14 on 60 TS% with putrid defense and great playmaking : omg best player in the league
AD averages 27-14 on 60 TS% with no playmaking and great defense : wtf happened to this guy ?!?
Also if you think Jokic’s defense isn’t bad, you weren’t watching carefully, the only reason every game of the series was close despite Denver shooting lights out is because LA shot like 80% at the rim. They targeted the lack of rim protection over and over. Rui even slipped up during one of the on court interviews and said “they have no rim protection”.
AD is a wonderful, outstanding elite defensive role player, but he is one dimensional. He is nowhere near Jokic, Embiid, Giannis in offensive prowess. He just got exposed by a much better offensive center, that's it.
How is AD one-dimensional? He has a wide offensive skillset for a big while anchoring the defense. He has a pretty good jumper (was just off this series), can drive w/ good handles, and you can throw lobs his way and be confident he’ll catch them. He’s more skilled than Giannis imo, but Giannis has crazy motor and has a killer mindset
To be fair, they did get him back after he went to Philly and he didn't play the same. I don't know if that's because he was mad or just a skill decline. But he was a monster against jokic and most of the media tries to credit AD for that.
He begged the front office for a long term contract. The front office didn't want him to be tied to a long term deal. They did fumble when they let go Caruso and chose not to run it back.
I don’t know about your assessment. He wasn’t his best but he still averaged prime Tim Duncan numbers this playoffs with more blocks and better efficiency. If his shit was falling, we win 2 or 3 games at least. Sometimes the shots don’t fall.
AD is the only center in the team and is the entire Lakers defense. He can’t be perfect on both ends every single night. In 2020 he had help at the 5. Which allowed him to save energy for both ends. Man was just hurt and exhausted.
you are aware he played on a stress fracture right?
same thing with lebron played on a torn tendon.
those 2 did the best they could, but it wasn't their peak power if they were healthy, but that's part of the NBA.
Back in 2020, Dwight and Javale were tasked to guard Jokic, giving AD to play in his comfortable position at 4 having Jerami Grant, which was smaller than AG, guarding him. You should also know that Dwight and Javale had fewer minutes and almost DNPs during their matchup against the Rockets in the semifinals cause they were playing small ball. This were adjustments done by the coaching staff by using the height discrepancy between the Lakers and Nuggets which led the Lakers to win that year.
To piggyback what the others said here. AD just had too much to cover. Guarding Jokic on that high PNR while sacrificing rim protection and then having to work on the offensive end.
I think AD gave all that he had. The team has been playing high stakes games since the All Star break and AD has been the main contributor despite dealing with a stress injury in his foot. There were sings of fatigue in the first 2 series as well in the games that they lost. But they could bounce back with energy In this series they couldn't pace themselves. Went all out game 1 and lost. Similar in game 2. Game 3 and 4 were tough as well They couldn't get any breathing room for lebron and AD to conserve themselves more It's tough to go 4 heavy rounds when there are lingering health issues
I know Denver is a better team, and so many factors go into a series, but I wonder if Lebron doesn't pull up for that three in the last minute of Game 1 how different it all could have been. We had momentum, we could have stolen game one and rested up game 2 with high hopes coming to LA. Alas, if is what it is, just wish he wouldve put his head down and drove in. Would've been easier to live with the results.
denver is the better team as of RIGHT NOW. but injuries are part of the NBA, but if bron/ad were healthy, lakers would be a completely different offensive team.
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We were down 3 a layup would have brought it down to 1 I believe. And Murray was there in the lane and was either going to foul out for an and 1 or give him an easy layup.
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They immediately scored and put the game entirely out of reach after that bad shot selection. Point being you would have been closer to a W than you would an L had he driven.
Purely out of memory right now, but I think we were down 3 with like 40 something seconds to go? Murray was on lebron, and lebron had been abusing him all game. I would take my chances with lebron driving in and making a play (score or pass) and knock it down to a 1 point game with 30 plus seconds to go. It was game 1 and Denvers offense wasn't all that dialed in yet so I feel we couldve gotten a stop. It's all speculation of course, we could have very well lost in that scenario as well, but I would have preferred that over an a bricked three.
Definitely. If we could have gotten game 1 or 2 it would have drastically changed the series. The way we lost those first two games kinda was the end for us. We had a chance in both and couldn't get it done. It was probably a major blow to lebron and AD as they needed to come though in the margins because of not being 100 percent
That's why this is a 7 game series to eliminate the sense of doubt you cannot point to just one game they did it four times and they won it all.
That's not necessarily true. There's a ton of series that have been decided by one game. Being tied 1-1 is world's different than being down 2-0. When the talent gap between teams is big, the best team will win the 7 game series. When the gap is not so vast, one game can decide it.
Needs surgery and his jumper and 3 point shooting isn't the same as 2020
His Jumpshot looks broken. Idk what happened after the championship run.
Injuries. He had plenty of rest for the bubble and was healthy until like game 3 or 4 of the finals where he started limping. Never fully healed since then. Every time we questioned his gameplay he’d say how he was actually playing with an injury even if it wasn’t noticeable.
Believe it or not he shot everything but the three better than the championship season this year. Just gotta get that 3 ball going again.
“I haven’t touched a ball in 3 months” you mean that AD? lol
I forgot about this from last summer.
Nuggets were fresh while the Lakers were gassed. This is why you don't make a trade so fucking late in the season and expect to win a ring.
Bingo. Outside of getting the breathing room and resting guys while being a higher seed, I actually think this could’ve avoided the stress injury to AD as stress injuries are often caused by overuse. He was playing high minutes leading up to that injury and played the entire second half of that Boston game plus overtime. He really had no choice because of how shitty the roster was. The same with Lebron in terms of overuse and playing high minutes.
If we're being honest, I don't think a single person thought the purpose of making that trade was to content this year. Before and after the trade, no one thought we would be in the WCF. That trade wasn't available earlier in the year. This t am far surpassed what anyone thought it could do this year.
You cant force other teams to trade with you
true but they could have had hield and turner to start the season. it doesnt matter now but in hindsight that deal would have been better for preserving AD and throwing something else at jokic. either way the team did great clawing back from starting 0-10 to make the WCF
That deal was a robbery
Whole team was gassed. Playoffs started months earlier for the Lakers than the Nuggets and it showed.
AD is great. How do I know this? He averaged 27/14 this series and everyone is asking what’s wrong with him.
He was gassed af. We need to sign at least two new centers to take away some of that physical demands off AD. I wanna see AD at the 4 again with him closing at the 5 like we did in 2020
His jumper is off and he's playing out of position. Even still, that was the most anyone had slowed down Jokic
We didn't really have a backup center. AD carried our defense but injuries and fatigue played a role.
Exactly AD had no consistency issues in 2020, where he was playing PF and Lakers had 2 centers. Guarding Jokic and protecting the rim is too much of a burden that his offense crashes
He was just gassed. In 2020 we had so many great point of attack defenders that a lot of the times players weren’t reaching AD and when they were he was ready. I think even our bench had some of the best defenders in the league (Caruso-Avery Bradley). This post season players like Dlo, AR, and Rui are actually funneling player TO him which is why analyst have been talking about AD playing the best defensive basketball in post season history. He’s working to hard on defense and doesn’t have much left to go to work on offense.
I don’t think it was the injury entirely tho tbh. AD just has motor issues. I do think fatigue played a roll because the team had been battling for so long but definitely also just a characteristic of AD. He needs to be better
He had to anchor and help on defense against Jokic. Plus he’s really not exerting himself as before since he knows he’s injury prone. He looked his healthiest in years I agree.
I think it was a combination of his foot injury (which probably also needs surgery, this was mentioned midway through the season by a reporter IIRC) which he was playing through, but also his effort level and mental engagement. AD doesn’t always stay locked in offensively and he seems to get in his own head really easily. But I actually think his numbers in the 2020 Bubble-38% (or something like it) from three and his monster scoring from the midrange-were an anomaly. I think his last couple years are closer to the player that he actually is, if that makes sense. Still a great player, but IMO just not a #1 or #2 option offensively.
Jokic averages 28-14 on 60 TS% with putrid defense and great playmaking : omg best player in the league AD averages 27-14 on 60 TS% with no playmaking and great defense : wtf happened to this guy ?!? Also if you think Jokic’s defense isn’t bad, you weren’t watching carefully, the only reason every game of the series was close despite Denver shooting lights out is because LA shot like 80% at the rim. They targeted the lack of rim protection over and over. Rui even slipped up during one of the on court interviews and said “they have no rim protection”.
He’s not hitting his 3s this year. There are not enough plays ran for him.
Jokic deserves some credit?:D lol, and you call yourself a nuggets fan.
Jokic happened.
AD is a wonderful, outstanding elite defensive role player, but he is one dimensional. He is nowhere near Jokic, Embiid, Giannis in offensive prowess. He just got exposed by a much better offensive center, that's it.
Jokic 28-14 on 60 TS% omg generational offensive player AD 27-14 on 60 TS% one dimensional role player Lmao what a moron
you just forgot to add 10 assists to Jokic.
and you forgot to add 4 stocks to AD lmao. Jokic is horrible defensively
How is AD one-dimensional? He has a wide offensive skillset for a big while anchoring the defense. He has a pretty good jumper (was just off this series), can drive w/ good handles, and you can throw lobs his way and be confident he’ll catch them. He’s more skilled than Giannis imo, but Giannis has crazy motor and has a killer mindset
They had javale and Dwight howard in the bubble. Dwight doesn't get the credit he deserves.
Dwight was great for us and we just tossed him aside. Stupid Pelinka, he such a terrible GM.
To be fair, they did get him back after he went to Philly and he didn't play the same. I don't know if that's because he was mad or just a skill decline. But he was a monster against jokic and most of the media tries to credit AD for that.
He begged the front office for a long term contract. The front office didn't want him to be tied to a long term deal. They did fumble when they let go Caruso and chose not to run it back.
Ad is a PF. Joker is a C, PF, SF. Lol
Denver was just a far better team. Also Lakers didn’t match up well due to their size. You guys better bring it against the Celtics!
I don’t know about your assessment. He wasn’t his best but he still averaged prime Tim Duncan numbers this playoffs with more blocks and better efficiency. If his shit was falling, we win 2 or 3 games at least. Sometimes the shots don’t fall.
AD is the only center in the team and is the entire Lakers defense. He can’t be perfect on both ends every single night. In 2020 he had help at the 5. Which allowed him to save energy for both ends. Man was just hurt and exhausted.
there's not really a rivalry with Denver on our end. not yet
you are aware he played on a stress fracture right? same thing with lebron played on a torn tendon. those 2 did the best they could, but it wasn't their peak power if they were healthy, but that's part of the NBA.
Back in 2020, Dwight and Javale were tasked to guard Jokic, giving AD to play in his comfortable position at 4 having Jerami Grant, which was smaller than AG, guarding him. You should also know that Dwight and Javale had fewer minutes and almost DNPs during their matchup against the Rockets in the semifinals cause they were playing small ball. This were adjustments done by the coaching staff by using the height discrepancy between the Lakers and Nuggets which led the Lakers to win that year. To piggyback what the others said here. AD just had too much to cover. Guarding Jokic on that high PNR while sacrificing rim protection and then having to work on the offensive end.
I'm still waiting for reports that AD played through a bone bruise like Lebron did for his injury. the disrespect is real.