[OhCanada-Participant]

 Lebron brought a terrible Cavs team to the finals last year which even in a much weaker Eastern conference was an impressive feat that needs to be acknowledged.

 Throughout the regular season I see five teams having a better record Golden State, Houston, San Antonio, Toronto, Boston but once the playoffs begin the team with Lebron on it will always be runners up to GSW in my mind.

This team was likely going to breakthrough with all that young talent anyways. Ball, Hart, Kuzma, Ingram. They also got some very savvy vets. Rondo, Stephenson, Mcgee, Deng and Beasley is just as good as the supporting cast he had in Cleveland if not better.

Im sold on the Lakers and like how this team was constructed despite not pulling in any max level superstars.

[Celtics3178Participant]

 If the Celtics had Kyrie and Heyward they beat the cavs last year in 6

[Celtics3178Participant]

 If the Celtics had Kyrie and Heyward they beat the cavs last year in 6

[HitsterParticipant]

 I don’t see the Lakers being better than a fully fit Rockets in the play offs given the Rockets may well have pushed GSW even closer if CP3 hadn’t gone down.

[OhCanada-Participant]

 CP3 gets injured every playoffs though. The risk associated with relying on Paul has not gone away. Its not like the Celtics where Hayward had the freak injury and Irving got a knee infection.

 

[whiteflashParticipant]

The Lakers might not get out of the first round depending on the matchup.

[BeastMode716Participant]

 what I worry about is Media types who now live here want to make simple assumptions like this one: 

"The Lakers young core got 37 wins last year so you Know Lebron is good for 50 w/ that group"

But the Truth is the Lakers were near the Bottom of the Lottery for Long stretches last year – I know this b/c Celtics & Siuxers fans were harrassing the ish out of me that the Lakers pick in 2018 was going to be Top 3

No one in LA wanted that so we started playing Veterans more & we signed Isaiah Thomas, Julius Randle was our Best player by a mike & he’s in New Orleans now & we won a bunch of games post All Star break b.c we did Not want the Celtics or Sixers getting Ayton or Bamba or Doncic w/ our pick

So you can’t by last year – in addition if Magic "Loved or core of youngsters" Do you really think he’d be signing Rondo, Lance, Beasely & others – Phila was hoping to sign Lebron does Anyone seriously think Phila or Minnesota would bring in Loony Vets to "Push their youngsters in practice" if they signed Lebron???

Of course not – this year is prob a trial baloon – we’re just Thrilled to land Lebron – I do think we make the playoffs – prob as a 5 or 6 seed & maybe we win a round or maybe we don’t 

but the BIG thing is we got Lebron for 4 years & next summer we’ll be in a position to land another Max Free Agent & That is the Key – I know personally as a Lakers fan we have been the Worst team record wise in the NBA the last 5 years

 so I am Thrilled we are viable & we have a Real chance to win a Title in the next 4 years & there are really Only about 5 teams that can say that: Golden State, Houston, Boston, Phila & now the Lakers are in that mix & it’s a Great feeling b.c we been Dying the last 5 years!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[cohenbc1Participant]

History says that if you have LeBron on your team, you have a legit shot to win any playoff series. 

That includes last year’s finals … game 1 was in the bag for Cleveland and they flushed it down the toilet along with LeBron’s sanity. Who knows what would have happened if Hill made the free throw or JR went up quickly with the offensive board. It’s not hard to imagine that series being tied 2-2 after 4 games.

 Still I think the Warriors, Rockets and Celtics are all better bets to win the title next year.

[RUDEBOY-Participant]

 Last season the Lakers were 1-2 vs Rockets. But 1 of those Loses went to Double Overtime. Even though the Lakers lost the season series 0-4 against the Warriors.2 games were close 117-106 & 113-106 and 2 of those games went into Overtime. So adding Lebron with Ball, Ingram & Kuzma those got a year of experience under their belt. It’s going to be very interesting. 

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 We all know what lebron can do but their success next season will depend on how much guys like Ingram, Ball and kuzma develop. How much better will those guys be than they were a year ago? And how much chemistry will there be with so many headstrong veterans? And how will a relatively inexperienced coach in Luke Walton deal with all this? Simply put, there are an awful lot of question marks with this team. But if everything goes according to plan I do see a path for them to possibly get as far as the conference finals. However, to label them as the second best team in the league right now without knowing the answers to any of those questions is a bit premature.

[Ahkasi ClayParticipant]

LeBron will be tje greatest player to ever wear a Lakers Jersey, he by himself is good enough to get average teams to the finals in the East, yes tje Lakers are a average team, but this is the west. They wouldnt make the playoffs with out him, they will be lucky to gave home court advatage in the first round with him.

[whiteflashParticipant]

 That is absurd. He might be the SEVENTH best player to wear a Lakers jersey (Bryant, Shaq, Magic, West, Baylor, Chamberlain, Kareem) and won’t win anything significant during his time there. Even if somehow he pulled of winning a chip (which he won’t)  he’d have to win several to even be in consideration. 

[Captain LParticipant]

 Saying he is the 7th best player to wear a Laker jersey is crazy obsurd, he is by most experts the 2nd best player all time in NBA history, how do you rate him 7th best to wear a Laker uniform?

[Ahkasi ClayParticipant]

 I think you could make a aurgument for Jabbar, but thats about it. (I love Magic, but LeBrin is just all around better)

[timinator1Participant]

 There’s also the idea that while LeBron often gets easy open jumpers for his teammates, he isn’t often a guy who makes others around him better. He’s ball dominant, and there might be a regression if the youngsters suddenly are standing around watching LBJ dribble and put up step back threes. Just sayin… I’m predicting 48 wins.

[Cutler06Participant]

 Click bait much ???? 

[StephGoneStephParticipant]

 Can’t wait for the season to start! Going to be a fun one. Plus one for the bold prediction.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 I can see it.

I don’t see a clear 2nd best team behind the Warriors.  Golden State is in their own little orbit.

The Rockets might have peaked and some of the other Western Conference teams might not be that much better (or a bit worse).  

The Jazz or Pelicans might be as likely to get to the WCF as any other team not named the Warriors or Rockets.  If I were the Lakers I wouldn’t be afraid of either.  The Lakers can also run/shoot with the Rockets if not the Warriors.

That being said, there are probably 5 or 6 teams who could wind up in the WCF to face the Warriors.

Out East, I don’t see any team better than the Warriors. Or the Rockets. Maybe not even a LeBron-led Lakers franchise that is firing on all cylinders.  

Lakers will look GREAT some nights and look like garbage on their off nights.

But, if Ball, Ingram, and Kuzma step up enough then they have enough weapons to win some 7 game series.

I bet the league (and that is LEGAL now!) wants another round of Lakers-Celtics in the NBA Finals but we are probably more likely to get Warriors-Raptors.

A Warriors, Lakers, Celtics, Raptors (or Sixers) NBA "Final Four" would be as flashy as any with tons of big names, marketable brands, and great fan bases.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[r377Participant]

 I don’t think they are the second best team sorry.  Lebron will be lucky to get past the first round of playoffs

[CynthiaParticipant]

It will definitely be an interesting and fun team to watch; LeBron babysitting a bunch of kids and knuckleheads will make for great reality TV. However, I just don’t see it turning into many wins or a championship for that matter.

There’s no doubt LeBron will make them better, but I also think it will be LeBron’s most frustrating season to date. I’m not sure he realizes what he’s got himself into yet. He signed super early into free agency, it’s obvious he expected some other players to follow/join him and no one did.

I’d love to be proven wrong, but I think their ceiling is a mid-range playoff seed around 4-6. I could see them stealing a first round series just because LeBron wills himself to the finish line, but I doubt they make it out the second round.

 

 

 

[Andv1 WaitingParticipant]

 That is all up to debate of do you mean in the Regular season or in the playoffs?

Regular season One of these teams will have 2nd best record in the NBA:

Rockets-Dantoni teams seem to do ok in the Reg season playoffs not so much either due to injurys or Pop having his number lol

OKC-They did get a lot deeper and have some continuity which never hurts plus Donovan is probably on the hot seat so may try to get out to a better start/seeding

Boston-Easier east so could have a cruzier road to pick up some wins + probably doesn’t hurt to much getting Hayward and irving back by training camp…

T-wolves(pre Jimmy butler injury) Thibs had this team humming and in the mix for 1-3 spot for a reasonable portion of last year so you never know with them.

Then the Lakers could be in there with Lebron, However Lebron has shown he doesn’t fully care about the regular season more about the playoff time so could coast a little.

As for the playoffs though: It simply comes down to this whoever is least injured and has more in the tank come playoffs will probably challenge GSW the most beating them is a different story though.

My guess is the following teams could challenge them come playoffs though:

Boston-if they have a cake walk to Finals + Stevens is one of the best coaches out there.

OKC-due to the mental aspect OKC seems to rattle them a little so you never know with this one and they did get deeper+ have some continuity finally.

Lakers-If lebron can get the young boys to help carry him to the playoffs then he shows them how to win in the playoffs you never know younger legs could beat older ones due to less miles on them.Thats if they decide to run GSW vs get into a shoot out with them…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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