Kilroy wrote:Lakers were 12-5 when Davis scores 30 or more points... And 12-13 when LeBron does...
And when LeBron scores more than 30, Ad is averaging just 21.75...
There were only 2 games last season when they both scored 30...
So, it's fairly obvious that the Lakers are much more of a threat when AD is the focus, than they are when LeBron takes over... The frustration is, LeBron still seems to think when the Lakers struggle, he needs to take over, when in reality, he should be focused on getting AD going instead...
And that's just offense... Forget the fact that when LeBron scores 30, he's generally playing spot defense at best, while AD is anchoring the D...
I'm basically done with both LeBron and AD... So I could care less if I'm called a hater... But the idea that we should ignore the cliff LeBron is currently tumbling off in ways no one ever let us ignore the cliff Kobe fell off... While blaming everything on glass AD, is just stupid...
Our only shot at another championship aside from an absolutely stellar supporting cast (ie one that doesn't involve D'Lo) is to try to find a way to make AD the focus of the offense every night... Which naturally involves LeBron accepting a complimentary role... Which I don't realistically see ever happening...
Hence, the assertion AD isn't really the problem, LeBron is...
I guess my question would be does Lebron stubbornly take over....or does he need to take over due to the lack of another Alpha male? I'd submit that It's prob a bit of both.
I'd say there is no reason to hate either player. They are what they are. Lebron is past it. He has still put up good numbers, but his ability to throw a team on his shoulders, and carry them past another good team is over. To your points...he seems to think he still has it though, and typically it goes south, instead of north. But we got Lebron about 5 years ago. We got a title. He's still performing better than most expected, if not all. Again...no reason to hate him. But the FO needs to recognize the NOW.
Same with AD. AD is not an alpha male. He's not gonna go out there and "kill em". He'll play damn good....he'll play not so damn good. It's all part of the ebb and flow of his game. He's also got a track of missing huge chunks of games, that nobody can deny. The argument that Durant missed more games - or whatever, does little good for the Lakers when Davis is in street clothes. And that's been a large chunk of every season here. But there is no reason to hate him. He is what he is. He's certainly not some little bi### getting worked out there. When he's on his A-game, he's a top 5 player. But people need to stop pretending your gonna see his A game on any sort of consistent basis. Or that that you can count on it come post-season. There's a reality in there....and everyone needs to recognize it. The FO shoulda recognized it earlier. Now we're stuck with a contract that we're gonna completely regret.
Both these guys brought a title. Last season's run was a ton of fun to watch. I'm glad both guys were Lakers. If I thought there was any hope of Davis staying healthy, I'd be really happy he signed long-term. Lebron came and delivered. His methods haven't always been to my liking.....but I also understood where he was in his career, and I'm not down on him for sliding in efficacy. These things are what they are.
But in saying that....it's up to the FO to see these things. Not me. I'm just some chump shouting on a message board. And when AD goes down, and the whole thing blows up....I can go "SEE!!!! I told you!!" but who really gives a $*&? We're now stuck with a MAJOR problem. This Laker FO needed to move AD after his stock rose...and either move Lebron, or just live with him for another season, and then start over. Because their window has closed.
If that's hate...then fine. I don't care. The FO needs to get a little hate in them too then. Cause this is gonna go south, and once we're stuck paying $60 mil for 5 more seasons to a guy who can't stay healthy enough to attract another star....but will keep this team from getting the draft picks it needs, then the REAL hate is gonna come. And prob most loudly from the people calling my side dopes today.
I'm just as proud of the "ma and pop" feel that the Lakers sometimes have...and the history, and the "family" that everyone else is. But there needs to be a couple casino "wise guys" in the organization as well. We're a little too one-sided right now. I don't think a single "numbers guy" makes that deal with Davis. It's insane. And once more......IF the Lakers had a legit shot this year, then MAYBE I jump on board..and say 'to hell with down the road...we got a window open". But that so clearly isnt the case. I don't think stars could have lined up any better last post-season than they did. And we the tires knocked off us by the first good team we faced. As fun as it was....GS was so clearly in a funk they couldn't get out of, and the Grizz we're reeling from their internal issues. We won't get that lucky again....if we even make the post-season (crossing fingers on AD).
There's no 'one issue" its not Davis' fault. Its not Lebrons. It's that this Lebron/AD team is done. And the FO needed to recognize, and move on. I think we're gonna look back at this offseason with a ton of regret in the not too distant future.
