Who's going to have a better record, Blazers or Lakers?

[Boob-No-More]

Magic felt bad LeBron didn't get to play on the Dream Team, so he assembled the Meme Team around him:

BNM

 

[Strenuus]

I hate the Lakers. And I expect them to have a better record than the Blazers. The two are not mutually exclusive.

But they must.

 

[Five Second Violation]

Lakers 47-35
Blazers 42-40


Both teams are mediocre.

 

[Hoopguru]

You think the Lakers won't make the playoffs?

I'll take that bet any day.

LeBron lives in the post season.

lol...i just have this feeling that it's going to take them some time to evolve and the conference isn't going to allow for much room for error.
He's no longer in the east and he has no other superstar (s) to couple with as before.

 

[calvin natt]

If the Lakers start off great the first 30 games I think Lebron turns it on and They make the playoffs no problem. If they stumble he’ll have a knee injury and rest and they’ll pick up another lottery pick and get Kawhi in the summer.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

I truly believe 'Bron went to LA BECAUSE of the challenge.

You could be right my take is quite a bit different. I believe he went to LA so he could be closer to hollywood, so his kids could be in the best schools and aau programs there. So he could grow his brand in one of the biggest markets on the planet.
I think he realizes he’s made his mark and theres nothing left to prove basketball wise.
Im not saying he’s going to cash in the checks and not try on the basketball court. I just believe he understands his legacy as a basketball player is written. He wants to do social things, and I believe he thinks LA is the right place to be for his goals outside of the NBA.

Edit: For the record I dont believe any of those things is “bad” in anyway so this isnt criticism.

 

[Chris Craig]

You could be right my take is quite a bit different. I believe he went to LA so he could be closer to hollywood, so his kids could be in the best schools and aau programs there. So he could grow his brand in one of the biggest markets on the planet.
I think he realizes he’s made his mark and theres nothing left to prove basketball wise.
Im not saying he’s going to cash in the checks and not try on the basketball court. I just believe he understands his legacy as a basketball player is written. He wants to do social things, and I believe he thinks LA is the right place to be for his goals outside of the NBA.

Edit: For the record I dont believe any of those things is “bad” in anyway so this isnt criticism.

Doesn't want to jr to feel obligated to play in cleveland

 

[Haakzilla]

...as a die-hard Blazer fan it is impossible to vote for the Lakers in any capacity -- so shame on all of you purple and piss voters!

 

[Propagandist]

It's crazy to me that anyone doubts LeBron. Dude is otherworldly.

(The move to the Lakers bothers me because the way I feel about him now is going to be long gone this time next year. Hopefully, when that time comes, I'm still impartial enough to admit that he is the GOAT.)

 

[HailBlazers]

It's crazy to me that anyone doubts LeBron. Dude is otherworldly.

I don't doubt him at all.

Simply believe in the Blazers more. Enough to bet $5 to anyone who votes Piss in this poll.

 

[calvin natt]

It’s not just lebron. So many young guys who will be better - who were already good - I mean great we all love the Blazers, but LA has the best player on the planet now. Kuzma, Ball and Ingram better. Hart is really solid. They’ll be a good team.

 

[jlprk]

Lakers 47-35
Blazers 42-40
Both teams are mediocre.

I'm close, maybe 44 wins for us and 48 Lakers. Losing half of our front-court grit (Davis and Aminu) will cost some wins.

 

[blazerkor]

I'm close, maybe 44 wins for us and 48 Lakers. Losing half of our front-court grit (Davis and Aminu) will cost some wins.

We still have Aminu... hello!

 

[jlprk]

We still have Aminu... hello!

1/2 times 2 = 1.

 

[BonesJones]

I'm close, maybe 44 wins for us and 48 Lakers. Losing half of our front-court grit (Davis and Aminu) will cost some wins.

Nurkic and Collins ate gritty too. So redo your math.

 

[blazerkor]

1/2 times 2 = 1.

Oh I'm sorry I just didn't think it was possible that you thought that Nurk and Zach don't have grit. So I think we kept 3/4 of the grit we have in the front court. Just a difference of opinion, not bad math.

 

[Boob-No-More]

I believe in LeBron. I don't believe in Lance, Rajon, JaVale, Michael Beasley, etc.

LeBron had his most success in MIA and CLE when he had two other stars on the roster with him. In CLE, they also won their only championship when LeBron was surrounded by guys who could shoot the 3. Magic has surrounded him with guys who are 30% career 3-point shooters. That just lest defenses pack the paint and make things more difficult for LeBron.

The plan was LeBron would lure another superstar and the usual ring chasing vets to LA to join him. So far, no other superstars have signed up, and the ring chasing vets are scraping the bottom of the barrel.

BNM

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

I believe in LeBron. I don't believe in Lance, Rajon, JaVale, Michael Beasley, etc.

LeBron had his most success in MIA and CLE when he had two other stars on the roster with him. In CLE, they also won their only championship when LeBron was surrounded by guys who could shoot the 3. Magic has surrounded him with guys who are 30% career 3-point shooters. That just lest defenses pack the paint and make things more difficult for LeBron.

The plan was LeBron would lure another superstar and the usual ring chasing vets to LA to join him. So far, no other superstars have signed up, and the ring chasing vets are scraping the bottom of the barrel.

BNM

I believe in Dame, and maybe CJ not so much the rest of the roster. Dame carried us to 49 wins, Lebron if he wants to can carry that laker team too. The question I have is how much will he wwnt to carry them all the time?

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I believe in Dame, and maybe CJ not so much the rest of the roster. Dame carried us to 49 wins, Lebron if he wants to can carry that laker team too. The question I have is how much will he wwnt to carry them all the time?

I believe in the refs.... LBJ will do a lot of winning.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I believe in my Laker voodoo dolls.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

I believe in my Laker voodoo dolls.

I hope you use it as a chew toy.

 

[BBert]

I hope you use it as a chew toy.

Probably tastes like piss. And purple.

 

[Boob-No-More]

I believe in Dame, and maybe CJ not so much the rest of the roster. Dame carried us to 49 wins, Lebron if he wants to can carry that laker team too. The question I have is how much will he wwnt to carry them all the time?

I suppose it depends on how many games you think the Blazers will win and how rapidly you think LAL's young players will develop and learn to play with LeBron, but...

LeBron played in all 82 regular season games, plus 22 playoff games. He led the league in games played, minutes played, playoff games played and playoff minutes played. All that and CLE won 50 games in the East. This isn't the East and he doesn't have the same supporting cast in LA he had in CLE.

Do you really think that LeBron, at 34, is going to want to log that many minutes for the second year in a row? Because this Laker roster will need him to carry an even bigger load than CLE required last year.

Also, keep in mind that when LeBron first went to MIA and when he returned to CLE, there were growing pains as his new teammates learned their new roles and adjusted to playing with LeBron. Both of those teams, with far superior talent to anything he has in LA, started slow. They eventually figured it out, but this year there will be less margin for error and he will be surrounded by less talent.

No doubt LeBron is still the greatest player on the planet, but basketball is still a team sport. LeBron will need his teammates to really step up. Not because he will be any less great this year that he's been in the past, but for the first time in his career, LeBron does not have the luxury of playing in the Eastern Conference. He will face the toughest regular season competition of his entire career.

BNM

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

I suppose it depends on how many games you think the Blazers will win and how rapidly you think LAL's young players will develop and learn to play with LeBron, but...

LeBron played in all 82 regular season games, plus 22 playoff games. He led the league in games played, minutes played, playoff games played and playoff minutes played. All that and CLE won 50 games in the East. This isn't the East and he doesn't have the same supporting cast in LA he had in CLE.

Do you really think that LeBron, at 34, is going to want to log that many minutes for the second year in a row? Because this Laker roster will need him to carry an even bigger load than CLE required last year.

Also, keep in mind that when LeBron first went to MIA and when he returned to CLE, there were growing pains as his new teammates learned their new roles and adjusted to playing with LeBron. Both of those teams, with far superior talent to anything he has in LA, started slow. They eventually figured it out, but this year there will be less margin for error and he will be surrounded by less talent.

No doubt LeBron is still the greatest player on the planet, but basketball is still a team sport. LeBron will need his teammates to really step up. Not because he will be any less great this year that he's been in the past, but for the first time in his career, LeBron does not have the luxury of playing in the Eastern Conference. He will face the toughest regular season competition of his entire career.

BNM

I kind of think the Blazers and Lakers are fairly even talent wise. Lebrons the best, Dame and CJ are next on the list but everyone else is basically just fairly interchangeable pieces at this point. Some of these guys are young still and could end end up being more than that but thats tbd.

The thing with Cleveland last year is they had similar problems as to Cleveland Lebrons first year back. The Kyrie trade, and all that “drama” seemed to serve as a distraction, then they basically rebuilt in the middle of the year.

My prediction for the Blazers and the Lakers would be 43-50 wins. I realize Lebron played a ton last year, but at this point I will believe he’s slowing down when I see it.

 

[THE HCP]

This team will surprise most and have more wins than us.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

This team will surprise most and have more wins than us.
View attachment 22482

Ah Im always in the mood for a good joke!
.

You put Lebron on just about any team and they’ll be good.

 

[stampedehero]

No blazer fan will ever vote for the lakers.

Brain or heart, it's wired the same. You must hate the lakers.

Its like a Ravens fan liking the Steelers.

 

[Boob-No-More]

This team will surprise most and have more wins than us.
View attachment 22482

Care to put your money where your mouth is?

Paging @KingSpeed, paging Mr. Eric @KingSpeed...

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

Ah Im always in the mood for a good joke!
.

You put Lebron on just about any team and they’ll be good.

The key qualifier is "just about".

BNM

 

[Hoopguru]

I believe in LeBron. I don't believe in Lance, Rajon, JaVale, Michael Beasley, etc.

LeBron had his most success in MIA and CLE when he had two other stars on the roster with him. In CLE, they also won their only championship when LeBron was surrounded by guys who could shoot the 3. Magic has surrounded him with guys who are 30% career 3-point shooters. That just lest defenses pack the paint and make things more difficult for LeBron.

The plan was LeBron would lure another superstar and the usual ring chasing vets to LA to join him. So far, no other superstars have signed up, and the ring chasing vets are scraping the bottom of the barrel.

BNM

agree and it really appears to me no other Super Star wants to play with him, I wonder why.