The Bobcats are a tough team.

Denver was so bad that it's almost hard to take much from it.

I'd have preferred see a better effort from Denver there. That was just an ass-kicking.

Jokic wasn’t at his best but…

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">how Lakers fans sleeping tonight <a href="https://t.co/awuOPfZqT4">pic.twitter.com/awuOPfZqT4</a></p>&mdash; LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) <a href="https://twitter.com/LakeShowYo/status/1893529107268542545?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Warriors 5-1 since the Butler trade. They look like they have a new hitch in their step.

Yeah, it's called adding a top 20 player in the NBA

Unclear why some thought Butler ceased being a good player just because he got in a massive fight with Pat Riley.

I thought he would be disgruntled having to play with Golden State. I thought he would actually tank them.

Well the Warriors didn't think he ceased being a good player. Dude can ball and the Warriors are back to being a contender.

Tank them? They were a complete dead end team without him.

Contender? Bit of a stretch considering Steph and Draymond's decline.

They're not hopeless like they were with washed Klay last year, though.

Wait.

The Rockets gave Dillon Brooks 4/$86 million?!?!

You could've told me he was on a minimum deal and I wouldn't have been shocked by it. What the ****?

I know you don't like the Warriors due to their bouncing your cousin LeBron around but at least you're a realist in recognizing a good team.

Wrong, I hate the Warriors because they cried to Durant to come and save them from LeBron. Had no issue with them (other than Draymond being a disgrace to the game) before that weakness.

Draymond being that 2nd round pick for the Warriors is exactly why I like him. He compliments his team like Rodman did for the Bulls.

What has Durant done outside the Warriors?

Yeah, I was shocked when it happened. Of course, I was also shocked they gave Fred FatVleet a huge deal as well, and it has worked well for them. I thought they should supplement around their ascending youth, but they gave these odd vets huge deals. What do I know, though, as it seems to be working.

Edit: To give myself SOME credit, though, I did push LOUDLY for OKC to sign Hartenstein, regardless the cost. He just seemed like the missing piece and an outstanding fit. He's been that and more.

OKC really hasn't put a foot wrong in 3 years now.

Hartenstein is just another really smart move they've made.

They're a tough out for a long time if ownership will pay what it takes to keep that team together in a market that just may not support the ticket prices required to pay those 2nd apron penalties.

Edwards blocks SGA at the rim for the win

OKC soft when it matters as usual

More like SG GAY!!!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">MINNESOTA PULLED OFF THE COMEBACK. ������<br><br>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/50NuancesDeNBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@50NuancesDeNBA</a>) <a href="https://t.co/ghgkwCBWHf">pic.twitter.com/ghgkwCBWHf</a></p>&mdash; Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheHoopCentral/status/1894234200859185364?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Imagine Luka ever being scared of this group of chokers

I actually feel bad for SGA, he needs more help and isn’t gonna get it come playoff time

Oh wow -- they blew a 16 point lead in less than 4 minutes?

Yikes.

Relax. Chet is being given rest as he's coming back from an injury.

Not a surprising result for a team just playing with their food right now with no real incentive to give it your all since they are up by so much in the West for the #1 seed.

They mailed it in in the 4th quarter since they were up by 25. Caught up with em. Happens with teams that are bored.

Nuggets and Wolves are the only other teams that even matter in the West.

SGA = Josh Allen of the NBA?

He's only had one crack at the apple.

Jordan had way more than that before he broke through.

Well the Lakers just fired the Nuggets into the sun and did so despite getting games that would be mostly average from Luka, LeBron and Reaves. Rui is the only one who overperformed and was largely offset by DFS underperforming.

And Luka already sent SGA's ass home with less around him than he'll have this year in LA.

But I hope OKC keeps their heads in the sand. Keep reading those press clippings and telling yourselves that a team full of small wings plus Chet is some unstoppable juggernaut.

Y'all can be beaten. And if I had to bet OKC vs. The Field, I'd take the field. They're a very good team -- I certainly hope they're as convinced of that as you are.

Good teams lose games. News at 6.

I guess I'm pretty crazy to discount a game vs the Wolves where OKC beat them the night before IN Minnesota and handily and in the game they lose Chet sits out for rest and Hartenstein only could play half the game due to a nose injury.

Luka looks pretty gassed but he still sees the floor so well.

Not sure he's gonna hit 25 pts tonight but he'd already have 12 assists if the shotmaking was worth a damn this quarter.

Need to get the ball more to Reaves

And I’m not just saying that because in have him in fantasy

Now DFS can't even remember how to ****ing dribble. Just a random as travel after catching a pass.

This feels like that Hornets game. It's bad bad bad basketball.

That's absolutely what they should do. Just clear out and let him work.

Everyone else looks like balls.

The LeBron + scrubs lineup ain’t it

LeBron looks asleep tonight

You know what you ****ing guys should do??

Go miss another ****ing three! Do that. Do more of that.

Jesus Christ. How do they fall into this crap. I mean these shots aren't close and they just don't care. Gonna keep firing up shit 3s that barely draw iron.

Reviewing a hostile act because LeBron loses a ball on the way up?

What are we doing here

You know who hasn't missed a wide-ass open corner 3 in a solid 5 minutes? Rui. We should probably get him involved in this. Let's draw up a play for him to stand in the corner and brick the shit out of an unguarded 3 ball.

That's what the most creative offensive mind had figured out to end the quarter, eh?

"I'll stand at the top of the key for 8 seconds and throw it to the elbow for someone to shoot a contested 3..."

James jaked the shit out of that quarter.

I know Redick wants to stick with his rotations but LeBron has absolutely nothing in this game, probably should have recognized that and not played him with no Luka or Reaves

James makes a running layup, lakers get a block...miss a 3. Get an offensive board...miss a 3.

Bwillie is probably beating off to this.

"It's soooo efficient!!!!"

{fapfapfapfap}

There's no defending this.

Refs have decided no fouls this quarter

I still think it's funny that folks thought the Lakers rescinded that Williams deal for buyers remorse.

Any of yall actually see Dalton Knecht play this year? If that guys giving you playoff minutes you are really really ****ed.

Getting absolutely cooked by the corpse of Klay Thompson. Oof.

Luka should probably take the open three there instead of Rui

Rui with another open brick. Reaves with a lazy turnover.

But hey - more 3 point shots.

Just beautiful basketball, amiright?

Yes, have seen that narrative and it’s absurd. That deal was a total steal if Williams is in any way healthy (he clearly isn’t).

You see the 5 seconds before the ball rotated to him?

Literally bending over grabbing his shorts as the ball was going the other way. He's been on the floor 90 seconds.

Luka is in really really bad shape.

He didn't take the shot because he didn't have the legs for it and knew it.

Better play his way into shape then

LeBron woke up a bit

Oh that's absolutely what has to happen.

But you can see that this is gonna be a process. He reminds me a bit of Kelce in 2023 right now. The flashes of the burst are still there, but they're short.

He'll get back to where he needs to be but I wonder if he'll have enough time this season. Just no stamina at all.

LeBron had enough energy to try for one quarter and it looks like that’s all they needed in this one

Yeah - the talk will be Luka.

James pulled that game from the fire. Luka looked spent the entire second half. Let the emotion get the most of him and shot his wad in the first half.

Seemed like James realized during the 3rd that Luka didn't have it anymore so he was going to need to finish it in the 4th.

And that he has.

Good lord - the refs have just let the Mavs beat the living shit out of the Lakers this quarter.

Wow.

I'm watching this on Max - holy crap this postgame is really strange.

Shaq, Candice Parker and Vince Carter and they ALL look miserable. I mean genuinely pissed at having to be there. It's really bizarre.

WTF? Are they always like this?

Yes, I watch them often and the show is awkward. Shaq isn’t able to be his true self like he is on the regular broadcast and Vince is quite stilted.

There's no chemistry or flow at all. It's all so forced - there's none of that natural charisma the normal crew manages effortlessly.

They take turns staring angrily into space then they will literally stare straight down at their notes and speak. Their highlight clips are them randomly making noises and just intermittently shouting a name.

I've truly never seen anything like this. If I weren't watching it and someone tried to explain it to me, I wouldn't believe them.

This is an SNL skit. You can't convince me otherwise. I'm just fascinated by it.

Charles Barkley being a comedic genius and EJ being maybe the best studio host of all time makes a great difference.

There’s a reason nobody has ever been able to replicate them (despite many trying).

I watched the 4th.

Pretty entertaining game.

I watch every Kansas game. Most Iowa Hawkeye games that are on ESPN.

If you wanna watch that slop compared to these NBA games. Be my guest. I am sad sometimes I grew up a college basketball fan. It is awful. Everybody sucks almost.

To be fair there is a difference in high quality college basketball teams and your average ones like KU and Iowa this year.

Again -- you badly need to remember which person you're arguing with.

Over and over and over again I have argued that college basketball is a FAR inferior product to the pros. These guys are incredible.

I've literally been arguing this ON THIS BOARD for over a decade:

https://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/show....php?p=7988466

The issue is that the NBA game is getting CLOSER to the college game by being dumbed down into a 'swing around the perimeter and jack up a three' slop fest that undercuts all those advantages that the greatest athletes in the world have when it comes to making an entertaining product.

All that time they can put into executing complicated offenses is wasted on slow dribbles at the elbow that lead to nothing more than a step back 3 or Yolo ball.

The 4th quarter was when James finally decided to impose his will and suddenly you started to see a little actual offense being played. I mean the Mavs were still just chucking, but at least the Lakers brought some variety to the party.

You just absolutely refuse to see what's right in front of you in favor of trying to have the argument you want to have -- an argument that NOBODY is making right now.

Warriors blow out another team that they should. Seems Butler has really lit a fire for them.

Get rid of Draymond

The potential Def player of the year? That guy?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING: Paul George is taking a break from podcasting to focus on a championship <br><br>&quot;I want to let the podcast P family know that after today&#39;s episode with Dwight I plan to take a break from the Pod just to focus on getting my body right getting mentally right and you know help… <a href="https://t.co/1R1xv9Dmcf">pic.twitter.com/1R1xv9Dmcf</a></p>&mdash; NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheDunkCentral/status/1894833342765256772?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

LMAO

Either the Mavericks ownership is just that pathetic or Luka did some really shady shit that hasn't come to light yet, because this level of blatant slander is unheard of.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">When is someone going to tell this franchise that the whole &#39;He was drinking beer the entire time he averaged 33/10/9 and scored 73 and led us to the NBA Finals...&#39; isn&#39;t the best PR strategy. <a href="https://t.co/nFj5Ne8G8V">https://t.co/nFj5Ne8G8V</a></p>&mdash; Jason Gallagher (@jga41agher) <a href="https://twitter.com/jga41agher/status/1894787080263467488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

they'll never tell stories like this about lebron

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kevin Garnett &amp; JR Rider tell an amazing Michael Jordan story:<br><br>“I can’t even explain the next 6 or 7 minutes of play. We down 25 when it was just at 2. It got bad quick yo…Mike came down ‘ok damn young fella ya’ll done!?” <a href="https://t.co/xowigHj3U0">pic.twitter.com/xowigHj3U0</a></p>&mdash; Die-Hard Chicago Bulls Fans (@DieHardCBfans) <a href="https://twitter.com/DieHardCBfans/status/1894733036786188426?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

starts at 11:10

<iframe width="1280" height="960" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FZua5HnLtCk" title="Chicago Bulls vs Minnesota Timberwolves (1996)" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ht" dir="ltr">LeBron in his 20&#39;s:<br><br>28.2 PPG - 7.4 RPG - 7.0 APG - 59.1% TS<br><br>LeBron in his 30&#39;s:<br><br>26.6 PPG - 8.0 RPG - 8.1 APG - 60.1% TS<br><br>LeBron in his 40&#39;s:<br><br>26.2 PPG - 7.5 RPG - 8.8 APG - 63.9% TS</p>&mdash; Barry (@BarryOnHere) <a href="https://twitter.com/BarryOnHere/status/1893297884231286859?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Oh oh Happy learned how to putt. / LeBron shoot

His jumper's better than it's ever been. At least better than I've ever seen with the Lakers.

And since about late November/early December, he's putting effort in on defense. Admittedly, it's in spurts, but it's noticeable when he does it.

This is the best he's been as a Laker, IMO.

They are pathetic. He lead the Mavs to the finals after medaling with Slovenia the previous summer. Luka balls out in the playoffs. The Mavs had no business getting past the Wolves and Thunder.

I will say drafting Lively and getting Gafford revolutionized their defense and also helped on the PnR lob game. Those two while on their own may not be great but it was the last piece of the puzzle last year.

I don't get the Luka trade, though, obviously. They must know something nobody else knows.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This is a tour de force <a href="https://t.co/JOJk5U3mvv">pic.twitter.com/JOJk5U3mvv</a></p>&mdash; Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillSimmons/status/1895212596787323077?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Luka threw a 85 ft pass off a missed shot for a layup on the other end.

It was neat.

Thanks Dallas.

I hope he chokes on hookah and dies.

Or ingests a nad Bud Light and dies. Either way.

If the Lakers could either:

A) shoot better than 30% on their 3 point attempts or;
B) stop ****ing chucking them like rec ball players

That would be great.

19/29 from 2.

10/33 from three.

And they just keep chucking.

MoDeRn BaSkeTbALl

Luka 0-7 from three lololol

Whatta fkn chode

Knecht can’t even make a wide open dunk, kid is unplayable in the playoffs

11/38

Wolves now within 6.

They should probably miss more 3s.

He's been unplayable period for about 2 months.

He's just completely mind-****ed at this point.

Maybe one of the most gifted players in NBA history should be used to actually make plays.

Instead of just standing around waiting to cycle the ball and shoot a 3.

This is just bad offense.

Luka magic

Meanwhile that washed up Curry guy scored 56. Probably had a few 3’s in there.

Those irrelevant Warriors are 7-1 since the Butler trade.

Anyways back to the main topic of this thread: Lebron and the Lakers.