2017-18 Lakers Season Watch Thread (27-34, 10th Slot on 3/2)

[CelticsElite]

At least Chicago Dallas and sactown salvaged the night. Whoever wins the clips and nets will be a win for us too

[CELTICSofBOSTON]

10 teams have between 9 and 11 wins.  8 teams have 11 wins.  Lakers have 18 losses tied with the Jazz and Clippers.  The lottery is very crowded.  They are all pretty close.  Hopefully they trade Clarkson and Randle.

[LakersFan_33]

We lost so many close games, and games where we had double-digit leads, that we were bound to win against a good team at some point.

[CelticsElite]

10 teams have between 9 and 11 wins.  8 teams have 11 wins.  Lakers have 18 losses tied with the Jazz and Clippers.  The lottery is very crowded.  They are all pretty close.  Hopefully they trade Clarkson and Randle.

im not a fan of comparing team wins, because some (like nets and clippers) don’t have as many losses as other teams

[Rondo9]

Ehh I wouldn’t worry too much.

[JBcat]

It is fascinating to watch so many teams cluttered together at the bottom, and to see how this all shakes out.

10 teams in the 9 to 12 win area, and the Hawks on an island by themselves.  You have teams currently going in opposite directions like the Magic and Bulls.

I estimate the Lakers will finish around 30 wins, but if they suffer significant injuries and/or trade off Clarkson and Randle for more cap space it might be more like 25 wins.

[CELTICSofBOSTON]

I think I’ll be happy either way. Next years draft will be loaded with probably two high school classes.

[footey]

Kuzma was a great pick, making up for the over-hyped expectations on Ball.

[libermaniac]

Kuzma was a great pick, making up for the over-hyped expectations on Ball.

What hurts the most about the Kuzma pick is that he was selected with the pick the Lakers got from Brooklyn, which they got from the Celtics.  Doh!  Had there not been a rule where a team can't trade their 1st rounder in consecutive years, perhaps Ainge would've held on to that pick as well.  One can only dream, right?

[CelticsElite]

Yup. Kuzma could have been a Celtic if we didn’t do the pick swap or whatever it was with the nets. Lol. Crazy to think about


I hate kuzma and the lakers

[rondofan1255]

The BKN pick watch was always so much more fun than making the actual pick itself. They're still in the mix. Sure they have pulled off several upsets just like BKN 16-17, but they also have losses to a depleted Clippers team, Phoenix, and Sacramento.

The Wolves, just as talented as LAL, tied for sixth-worst last year and fifth-worst the year before that.

[LakersFan_33]

I got Simmons and Tatum as 1 & 2 as rookies. Do you guys think Kuzma could make a case at being #3? He's a lot more efficient than Mitchell, that's why I might put him there. I think he just needs to improve his defense a little bit, but I dont see too many other problems right now.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

I got Simmons and Tatum as 1 & 2 as rookies. Do you guys think Kuzma could make a case at being #3? He's a lot more efficient than Mitchell, that's why I might put him there. I think he just needs to improve his defense a little bit, but I dont see too many other problems right now.

Presently yes, but I still wonder about his long-term upside compared with other guys.

It seems like Kuzma may have come into the NBA with a ready-made game. He may improve, but I don't think his improvement will be as great as Simmons, Tatum, Fultz, Mitchell, Fox, and Smith. Markannen, Monk, Jackson, and Anunoby may improve to be better overall players as well.

Don't get me wrong -- Kuzma has been really, really good. Amazing pick and great value at 27, but I think this draft class has amazing upside and talent.

[LakersFan_33]

Hmmm...same age argument was made with Dame. Fair enough, I guess.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Hmmm...same age argument was made with Dame. Fair enough, I guess.

Damian Lillard?