Official 2018-2019 training camp thread

[Boob-No-More]

Well I dont believe hes got a shot at winning a title in LA, but I think he’s good enough to get them to playoffs.
Yes he needed other good players to win (who didnt?), but Id be pretty shocked if he didnt have them in the playoffs.
edit: He may win LA eventually but he’ll need help. As in winning a title.

What's really weird is that before LeBron signed with the Lakers, both Paul George and Kawhi Leonard openly expressed their desire to play for the Lakers. After LeBron signed, Paul George re-upped with OKC and Kawhi changed his mind and says the Lakers are no longer on his list of preferred destinations. I thought for sure, LeBron signing with the Lakers would unleash the demons of hell and all the other stars would be rushing to join him there. So far, it seems the exact opposite is happening.

Instead, he's getting guys like Lance Stephenson, Rajon Rondo, JaVale McGee and Michael Beasley (i.e. castoffs joining their 6th team in the last 5 years)..

BNM

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

What's really weird is that before LeBron signed with the Lakers, both Paul George and Kawhi Leonard openly expressed their desire to play for the Lakers. After LeBron signed, Paul George re-upped with OKC and Kawhi changed his mind and says the Lakers are no longer on his list of preferred destinations. I thought for sure, LeBron signing with the Lakers would unleash the demons of hell and all the other stars would be rushing to join him there. So far, it seems the exact opposite is happening.

Instead, he's getting the Lance Stephensons, Rajon Rondos, JaVale McGees and Michael Beasleys of the world.

BNM

I feel like I should preface this by saying I really respect Lebron off and on the court.
I just think its very real to NBA players that if you play with Lebron and dont win its because you suck, if you win its because of how good Lebron is.

I think the stuff with Kyrie was weird and Kyrie seems to be in NBA circles a lot Im sure his opinion on playing with Lebron is known amongst players.

 

[Boob-No-More]

I feel like I should preface this by saying I really respect Lebron off and on the court.
I just think its very real to NBA players that if you play with Lebron and dont win its because you suck, if you win its because of how good Lebron is.

I think the stuff with Kyrie was weird and Kyrie seems to be in NBA circles a lot Im sure his opinion on playing with Lebron is known amongst players.

I personally thought Kyrie pulled a bitch move. He wanted to be "The Man", but before LeBron arrived, CLE didn't do shit with Kyrie as "The Man". They couldn't even sniff the playoffs in the Leastern Conference.

Plus, he fucked over CLE by blindsiding them late in the summer with his trade demand.

But, if he's convincing others not to join LeBron in Los Angeles, he has redeemed himself in my eyes.

BNM

 

[Hoopguru]

Well I dont believe hes got a shot at winning a title in LA, but I think he’s good enough to get them to playoffs.
Yes he needed other good players to win (who didnt?), but Id be pretty shocked if he didnt have them in the playoffs.
edit: He may win LA eventually but he’ll need help. As in winning a title.

Heres my guess! lol lakers 39-43

 

[blue9]

Instead, he's getting guys like Lance Stephenson, Rajon Rondo, JaVale McGee and Michael Beasley (i.e. castoffs joining their 6th team in the last 5 years)..

Sad thing is, those "cast offs" are better than anyone on our team outside of Dame, CJ, and Nurk.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Sad thing is, those "cast offs" are better than anyone on our team outside of Dame, CJ, and Nurk.

And, the happy thing is they are better than anyone on their team outside of LeBron.

BNM

 

[Jade Falcon]

What's really weird is that before LeBron signed with the Lakers, both Paul George and Kawhi Leonard openly expressed their desire to play for the Lakers. After LeBron signed, Paul George re-upped with OKC and Kawhi changed his mind and says the Lakers are no longer on his list of preferred destinations. I thought for sure, LeBron signing with the Lakers would unleash the demons of hell and all the other stars would be rushing to join him there. So far, it seems the exact opposite is happening.

Instead, he's getting guys like Lance Stephenson, Rajon Rondo, JaVale McGee and Michael Beasley (i.e. castoffs joining their 6th team in the last 5 years)..

BNM

My theory is that they believe that LeBron is a flake who will leave for another team, and leave them hanging there with a sub-par team. Nobody wants that.

I think this whole LeBron/Lakers marriage is going to backfire for them. And I think the fans are going to be the first to let them know about it.

 

[THE HCP]

My theory is that they believe that LeBron is a flake who will leave for another team, and leave them hanging there with a sub-par team. Nobody wants that.

I think this whole LeBron/Lakers marriage is going to backfire for them. And I think the fans are going to be the first to let them know about it.

You sir are wrong. LeBron is a leader. He flat out has made players around him better his entire career.

 

[Scalma]

You sir are wrong. LeBron is a leader. He flat out has made players around him better his entire career.

Doesn’t mean he’s not a flake. He’s bailed on literally every team he’s been on.

 

[BonesJones]

PG: Baldwin will get 10-12 mpg on a probationary status. If he plays well, he'll get more.
PF/C: Biebs, Biggie, and Jake will battle to see which one gets probationary status.

So Curry only gets 15 mpg?

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

You sir are wrong. LeBron is a leader. He flat out has made players around him better his entire career.

Has he? Was Bosh, Wade, Kevin Love, Kyrie better with or without him? His teams see success because hes one of the best players ever. However Im not sure he makes others better as much as he makes the teams better.
I think Lebron is amazing Im not trying to be critical of him. He’s a willing passer and he does a great job of setting up his team mates.

However I feel like its a bit different than guys who played with a guy like Steve Nash who looked amazing and got paid. Guys havent left Lebron a better player very often that I can think of. Again I go back to if you play with Lebron and lose its because you suck, if you win its because of Lebron.

This sounds like Im trying to be critical of Lebron and I’m not. I just wonder how many guys we think Lebron made into better players?

Edit: thinking about this Mo Williams comes to mind - Like I said Im not trying to be critical of LBJ -

 

[BonesJones]

Sad thing is, those "cast offs" are better than anyone on our team outside of Dame, CJ, and Nurk.

No they're not. Stephenson has been Evan Turner-esque. Michael Beasley can't defend, is an inefficient volume scorer, and is a hothead.

 

[tlongII]

LeBron will be fine. I think most people here are forgetting just how good he is.

 

[THE HCP]

LeBron will be fine. I think most people here are forgetting just how good he is.

Agreed, but how that is even possible is beyond me.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

LeBron will be fine. I think most people here are forgetting just how good he is.

I hope my post doesnt come off that way, I think Lebron is one of, if not the best player in the history of the game. The guy is amazing.

 

[ripcityboy]

I definately have the Lakers in the playoff mix. Lebron is still one of a kind. But, will he ever win a title there? I'm a lot more skeptical.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

So Curry only gets 15 mpg?

18

 

[BonesJones]

18

And Baldwin gets 12... So how much does Dame and CJ play then?

Btw, Curry deserves more than 18mpg.

 

[Jade Falcon]

You sir are wrong. LeBron is a leader. He flat out has made players around him better his entire career.

You're right, he has.







.....and then he's fucked off to another team and left his 2 former teams a shadow of what they were. Nobody gave two shits about Miami after he left, and Cleveland will be lucky to make the playoffs with him gone.

That's likely to turn a lot of people off.

 

[dviss1]

However Im not sure he makes others better as much as he makes the teams better.

Stop it.

Name the 2nd 2 scorers on that first Cleveland team he took to the finals against the Spurs.

That's right.

Now look at how he took that horrible defensive team with only Kevin love and a bunch of nobodies to the finals.

LeBron does a better job of making his teammates better than Jordan ever did.

 

[ripcityboy]

You're right, he has.







.....and then he's fucked off to another team and left his 2 former teams a shadow of what they were. Nobody gave two shits about Miami after he left, and Cleveland will be lucky to make the playoffs with him gone.

That's likely to turn a lot of people off.

I doubt it. New fans watch the NBA more for brand names than teams anymore. Lebron is the biggest brand name of all. So all this means is they will change the T.V. Schedule and pump out a bunch more merchandise to sell. Pretty soon the media will have all sorts of new narratives for "LA Lebron" and that's all anybody will talk about.

 

[dviss1]

You're right, he has.







.....and then he's fucked off to another team and left his 2 former teams a shadow of what they were. Nobody gave two shits about Miami after he left, and Cleveland will be lucky to make the playoffs with him gone.

That's likely to turn a lot of people off.

This proves what I'm talking about above. LeBron is the best in the NBA at leading a team and making his teammates better.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Stop it.

Name the 2nd 2 scorers on that first Cleveland team he took to the finals against the Spurs.

That's right.

Now look at how he took that horrible defensive team with only Kevin love and a bunch of nobodies to the finals.

LeBron does a better job of making his teammates better than Jordan ever did.

Id agree about Jordan and Lebron.
Larry Hughes, Zydrunas Ilgauskus, Boobie Gibson, Drew Gooden, and Donyell Marshall are the only ones from that cleveland team I can remember. I dont know who did what scoring wise.
I feel like my point is being missed. Lebron clearly has been able to drag bad teams further than just about anyone in the history of basketball. The guy is certainly capable of taking the Lakers squad which isnt that great to the playoffs. I dont think he raises an individual players basketball ceiling though, guys dont come out from playing with Lebron and are better basketball players. I cant think of a lot of players, who we though werent very good, and then playing with Lebron all of a sudden they looked good.
How many guys went to the spurs played with Duncan and under popovich that we didnt think much of and became really good basketball players or looked great while playing there.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

And Baldwin gets 12... So how much does Dame and CJ play then?

Btw, Curry deserves more than 18mpg.

34 + 34 + 18 + 10 = 96 = 48 + 48

 

[dviss1]

Id agree about Jordan and Lebron.
Larry Hughes, Zydrunas Ilgauskus, Boobie Gibson, Drew Gooden, and Donyell Marshall are the only ones from that cleveland team I can remember. I dont know who did what scoring wise.
I feel like my point is being missed. Lebron clearly has been able to drag bad teams further than just about anyone in the history of basketball. The guy is certainly capable of taking the Lakers squad which isnt that great to the playoffs. I dont think he raises an individual players basketball ceiling though, guys dont come out from playing with Lebron and are better basketball players. I cant think of a lot of players, who we though werent very good, and then playing with Lebron all of a sudden they looked good.
How many guys went to the spurs played with Duncan and under popovich that we didnt think much of and became really good basketball players or looked great while playing there.

Playing better without the star player you uses to play with is an indicator that the star player elevates his teammates games.

You left that player and are no longer as good...

Raising a players ceiling? Only the player can do that.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Playing better without the star player you uses to play with is an indicator that the star player elevates his teammates games.

You left that player and are no longer as good...

Raising a players ceiling? Only the player can do that.

But those players werent good with Lebron either. Most players were bad with and without Lebron. I get what youre saying, I actually believe it adds to how good I believe Lebron to be is that he has gotten guys who sucked to the finals. Those guys sucked even with him, its incredible to me that except for the Miami years he’s done so much with so little.

Edit: For the record I get what you’re saying. Im on only a couple hours of sleep in the last couple days. Maybe after I sleep Ill look at this and think what in the world was I talking about.

 

[dviss1]

But those players werent good with Lebron either. Most players were bad with and without Lebron. I get what youre saying, I actually believe it adds to how good I believe Lebron to be is that he has gotten guys who sucked to the finals. Those guys sucked even with him, its incredible to me that except for the Miami years he’s done so much with so little.

You keep making my point for me.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

You keep making my point for me.

I feel like you’re making my point for me too lol. Maybe were saying the same thing in different ways? Maybe Im just tired and being an idiot, I’ll return to this convo after I get a nap lol.

 

[Scalma]

Do teams ever go into training camp without a full roster? Because...

 

[Boob-No-More]

Do teams ever go into training camp without a full roster? Because...

Define "full roster". We are going into camp with 18 players, but only 15 are guaranteed contracts. Sounds "full enough" to me. It gives us the flexibility to pick up someone when all the other teams make their final roster cuts in October - like we did with Wade Baldwin last year.

I suspect at least one of Onuaku or Oliiver will end up being signed as a 2-way, perhaps both, but no need to lock them in now until you see what else becomes available.

BNM