[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

There has been a lot of focus lately on how this lakers team has adapted to lebrons presence on the court. Most of this has centered on Lonzo Ball. However, I feel that the player who has maybe had to adjust the most has been Ingram, who appears to be struggling with his role in the offense and has alternated between being overly passive and aggressive all season.  I was really hoping to see him continue to build on his impressive year last year, but he has stalled out and even regressed in some aspects. 

The problem is that lebron likes to operate in the same areas of the floor that Ingram does. Last season, he was more of a facilitator and someone who surveyed and read the defense. This year he has had to adapt to more of a finisher role. At this point in his career he isn’t a comfortable high volume spot up 3 point shooter and doesn’t really have the frame to consistently attack the rim and absorb contact. The result has been a lot of contested mid-range jumpers. Although these are shots he can make, a lot of them aren’t really in the flow of the offense and they aren’t really high percentage shots. His assists and rebounds are also down from last season and his defense has been inconsistent at best. 

Although things changed for the lakers when they acquired lebron, so much of this team’s future is still tied up in the development of Ingram and the lack of cohesion so far this season has been concerning. It’s still early and by no means time to panic or anything, but Walton needs to find a way to get Ingram more in sync.

 

 

[SeattleSuperChronicsParticipant]

 It gets annoying watching B.I. get pushed off his spot to just shoot another fade away. I dont think Ingram is a future all star. 

[khaled_a_dParticipant]

“Although things changed for the lakers when they acquired lebron, so much of this team’s future is still tied up in the development of Ingram”
I think Ingram for the Lakers means a trade asset, they need to step to show him to other teams IMHO, I think Lakers are in a very win now mode, Lebron is almost 34, he has limited window to make them significant (finals or at least WCF) and they need someone ready to step up. Lakers won’t wait on Ingram and Lonzo

[BeastMode716Participant]

 a Co- Facilitator w/ Lonzo Ball – Both Ingram & Ball are talented, intelligent players but Neither is a Dynamic Super Star who can inflict Damage on an Opponent 

And that is Not their Fault – those Super Star types are Very rare & the Lakers trying to Pretend Ingram was something he was Not was only Hurting his development 

Basically the Lakers last year had a nice up & coming core (including Kuzma who took the role of the Primary scorer) & the Lakers were in a position where if they could acquire a young Dynamic Star at either the Shooting Guard or Center or Power Forward positon they would Really have a Nice Core that could compete in a few years 

The problem is the Lakers do Not have the Luxury of building slowly & even if they did there is No guarentee they could land that Dynamic Star who FIT w/ Ingram, Lonzo & Kuzma 

When the Lakers had the chance to sign Lebron they HAD to Go For It & "Figure it out on the fly" – The problem the Lakers are running into now is it feels like Half the game they are trying to Grow Young players & the other Half they are have Lebron take over & put older players in & Try to Win NOW

I’m Not criticing Either way of building – Win now or Grow young talent – but you Must PICK One & Go w/ It & I feel like the moment the Lakers signed Lebron they Made their Decision to Win Now but they feel conflicted as an Organization that they don’t want to give up or sideline these young players they like. 

They already lost a Star in PG13 by hesitating, I just don’t see Lonzo & Ingram flourishing in this situation b/c playing w/ Lebron is Not going to magically give them the 3-5 more years of Experience they’d need to Understand the game at the level of a Vet 

The Lakers need to Committ 100% to Winning w/ Lebron in charge – trade Ingram & / Or Lebron & get Bradley Beal & sign a Max Free Agent this summer. ALL of us have Learned in Life that No one can serve Two Masters – you must Make a Decision & Travel that road 100% – Until the Lakers fully committ to which direction they want to go players like Ingram will struggle to Develop & that’s Really Not fair to Ingram 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[marcusfizer21Participant]

 I remember during the 2016 draft, he was touted as being the next KD or PG. But the way I see his game, he’s more of an upgraded version of Tayshaun Prince.

[bloodshyParticipant]

but he’s not nearly the defender. 

[MopgrassParticipant]

 LeBron needs to ease off the throttle, let other guys take it up a notch. He needs to save himself for the playoffs so he can take over then. 

LeBron is always upset at the #2 on the team. He complained privately all the time about Kevin Love. It took a couple years before they really worked well together. Sometimes #1 is threatened by #2, no joe matter how ridiculously far away #2 is. 

Ingram is better this year. Yes, he’s pushed off the spot a little, but those short jumpers are money. He would be a senior in college if he stayed in. Calling him a disappointment is ridiculous. The issue on court is flow of the game. Walton pushed him to slow down and do ISO last year. He improved. Problem is, that’s LeBron’s game and you can’t have two guys slowing it down. 

LeBron acted like he was going to play off the ball more this year, but they lost a couple games and he freaked out. Either Brandon should come off the bench, he should play in the flow, or LeBron should play in the flow. Magic Johnson essentially said LeBron needs to let others do the work. I agree. Play in the flow Bron. They’re not going to the finals this year. Maybe next. Focus on one year of development, try to make a dent in playoffs. 

 

 

 

 

 

[HitsterParticipant]

 The West is very congested with only 5 wins between 1st and 2nd last at the moment. The Lakers got the big prize in landing LBJ and seemed to surround him with a lot of short term contracts a majority of whom were past or present headcases!

Seriously though I agree with a lot of the guys above the Lakers need to be compete now with LBJ but the the top supporting cast – Ingram and Ball are still developing. So they are stuck a bit between two ideas. It would be risky to cash in on the younger guys but they nered to get the most out of LBJ whilst he is still at his peak. LBJ turns 34 this month and eventually time and mileage has to catch up with him.

It may seem short sighted to go all in win now but if LBJ brings a title then it is worth it. They just start from scratch when LBJ retires/moves on.

Also Ingram will be up for renewal next year so that will be a big money commirment the Lakers may have to make.

Personally I see Ingram as a top running mate not a team leading star but he may need a year or two to fully mature into this role.

 

 

 

 

[Meditated StatesParticipant]

 They should trade him. BI needs a trade so he can be the man and learn. His skill set will stall if not used. With LBJ your skills always stall.

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