fishmike wrote:we needed a 3rd guy. We got 2 big ponies... RJ/Randle. Those are the only guys who can impose their will on a nightly basis. They arent good enough to win a ton of games... you need a 3rd guy. Last year that 3rd guy was Rose. They were 24-11 with him. Thats GREAT basketball, and Rose played like a true 3rd "star"

I wanted us to sign a legit 3rd guy. Derozan, Norm Powell, Conley, Lowry. Those were the guys available.

Bottom line is we will need that 3rd guy. Randle/RJ are good. We have good young role player/core with IQ/Grimes/Mitch/McBride/Obi/Sims/Reddish. That translates along with what you get from the vets to about a .500 team.

Where is the 3rd guy coming from?

The lakers got a 3rd, 4th and 5th guy with other guys lined up. How did that work for the lakers this season.

Come on fish. I usually agree with you on most topics. It’s clear as day the issue is chemistry and lack of defensive energy or more specifically lack of defense at the point of attack. This team has the talent to repeat or hit 60 wins. Thibs and this FO was the main bottlenecks this season. Remove Kemba, insert deuce and increase IQ mins. Now we look like a different team? Mmmmmmm I wonder why. Sure Randle looks happy and focused. Yes but why? Chemistry not a 3rd wheel is the key.

With better defense that’s less pressure on Randle and RJ to perform on offense. IQ allowed to play free and not focus on passing to Randle. That’s also a huge plus.

I give thibs credit now. I like this new rotation and believe if thibs found this chemistry earlier in the season, we wouldn’t have blown the 3rd most 10 pt leads in the league. Defense helps.

blkexec wrote:This team has the talent to repeat or hit 60 wins.

This is a tough perspective to start from.

Knixkik wrote:

martin wrote:Not having healthy C or PG AND their backups is certainly a recipe for disaster. Add to that a step back by both RJ and Randle, and there you have it.

Step back by RJ? Are we thinking of the same RJ? He’s taken a big step forward. I get the 3pt shooting but you won’t hear one person say he’s taken a step back this year. It’s the completely opposite.

I should clarify on RJ, he has definitely gotten better overall, especially in the last month. But for long periods of the season his shooting has taken a step back from where it ended last year. One always hopes a player doesn't have to go thru the first half of a season just getting back to where you ended up in the prior season.

martin wrote:

Knixkik wrote:

martin wrote:Not having healthy C or PG AND their backups is certainly a recipe for disaster. Add to that a step back by both RJ and Randle, and there you have it.

Step back by RJ? Are we thinking of the same RJ? He’s taken a big step forward. I get the 3pt shooting but you won’t hear one person say he’s taken a step back this year. It’s the completely opposite.

I should clarify on RJ, he has definitely gotten better overall, especially in the last month. But for long periods of the season his shooting has taken a step back from where it ended last year. One always hopes a player doesn't have to go thru the first half of a season just getting back to where you ended up in the prior season.

Ok that makes sense. For whatever reason he does have a tendency to start slow and come on strong as the year goes on. Last year and this year were a lot of the same. But obviously he’s peaking the highest he ever has right now.

60 is hard. I'm trying to find a good list of 60 win teams- but you definitely need some legit, no questions asked, All Star/HOF caliber talent.

blkexec wrote:

martin wrote:

blkexec wrote:This team has the talent to repeat or hit 60 wins.

This is a tough perspective to start from.

I agree. 🤣 I was caught up in this 3 game hype. But it took time for grimes to become who he is now. And deuce just scratching the surface of his potential. As fish said and I agree. We needed more talent. The FO gave us more talent on paper. But Kemba and Fournier (at his price tag) was the wrong players. Fournier is a perfect 6 man but not a starting SG next to another defensively challenged guard and RJ who wants to improve as a defender.

But you never know how this team would look right now if thibs put in IQ instead of Burks at PG, when Kemba was removed from rotation. We lost the 3rd most double digit leads in the nba. Most was due to guard defense which put pressure on the forwards and centers. IQ and deuce apply defensive pressure that we would’ve never got from Kemba and Fournier. Whoever came up with that idea should be fired. Anybody can see that was a major risk from the start.

So here is the crux of it, right?

IQ played REALLY well against Dallas, best we have seen all year. When he does get a chance to play with the starters, there are a lot of analytics that show that the other guys around him shoot better.

We have also seen IQ play stretches of very poor basketball, witness his struggles just within the last month both offensively and defensively.

He is also still learning to do PG things, like keeping his dribble in traffic. Making decision of what to do with clock management, etc.

My guess is when he has shown consistency, he will move Burks to the bench. I'd also guess that the FO and coaching staff WANT him to start over Burks and are just waiting for him to fully put it together.

Won't be easy - but find ways to move Burks, Rose, Noel and Walker's salaries off the roster (even if it means sending picks) - then sign Kyrie when he opts out. Your core 3 will be Kyrie, Randle and RJ - pair them with EF and re-sign Mitch if financially feasible.

2nd Unit - IQ, Obi, Cam, Grimes and Simms / Taj

Deuce can also be an option if you have to move IQ to clear cap space.

foosballnick wrote:Guarantee that many are not going to like this suggestion but if you want to quickly make this team into a contending team by next year there is one player staring us in the face who well all pretty much despise......

Won't be easy - but find ways to move Burks, Rose, Noel and Walker's salaries off the roster (even if it means sending picks) - then sign Kyrie when he opts out. Your core 3 will be Kyrie, Randle and RJ - pair them with EF and re-sign Mitch if financially feasible.

2nd Unit - IQ, Obi, Cam, Grimes and Simms / Taj

Deuce can also be an option if you have to move IQ to clear cap space.

Im not asking Kyrie to homeschool my kids or look after my mother, I'd take him on his skills.
How easy life would be for Fornier, RJ, Randle and say Mitch.........
The drama follows him. But he is not a bad dude. Frustrating as all get out for his team, but never heard a player complain about him.
Plug and play? I dont' know if he wants to be here or either Thibs can deal with him, or visa versa. Defer to WWW, coach, Assistant coach Bryant, and does Uncle Cliff want to take his act to ole' Broadway.