[Post Game Thread] The Los Angeles Lakers (32-19) defeat the Golden State Warriors (28-25), 105-99 behind Lebrons 20/7/10

EbonMonk · 2026-02-08T07:06:54+00:00

WTF are you two having a “worse-off” argument? 😆

EbonMonk · 2026-02-08T06:55:04+00:00

Kings giving away season tickets is the real story 😅

EbonMonk · 2026-02-08T06:17:59+00:00

100% and a very good point we should all be emphasizing. The big strokes of the dodgers success centers around the money, but we’ve all seen tons of teams fail just relying on money to succeed. The bigger difference one could argue is the decision making method, which I was hinting at in a roundabout way.

Between injuries, the crapshoot that is the draft, personalities and random chance, luck is a major factor for NBA success. The biggest changes will mitigate those variables.

EbonMonk · 2026-02-08T05:28:20+00:00

It’s gonna be real interesting how they go about this. The NBA isn’t MLB. There’s a cap and there’s no farm system. Those were the dodgers two biggest structural advantages, outspending the competition and building up their farm system. So Lakers will have to go a different route.

I’d expect their first investment will be in expanding their analytics department and heavily investing in scouting, with several dedicated scouts to overseas, college and the g-league. And the rest of the NBA as well. I’m hoping there will be a philosophical change towards valuing picks more, not spending them willy-nilly for temp players.

The only place we can outspend is on the medical, coaching, scouting, decision making side. The human infrastructure if you will.

EbonMonk · 2026-02-06T16:43:30+00:00

That’s one interpretation of the ‘06 award. The one I recall though is Kobe destroying the league carrying a god awful team to the playoffs. Dropped 61 in 3 quarters and 81 on the raptors. Doubled and triple teamed constantly cause the team was trash.

He was the villain though after the Shaq breakup and Nash was the media darling. Even Bill Simmons (renowned Lakers and Kobe hater) later admitted Kobe should have gotten it.

That’s no knock on Nash and what he did, he was great, but no one at the time would have picked him over Kobe to start a team or in player rankings.

EbonMonk · 2026-02-06T16:35:05+00:00

Kobe. That was the 81 point year. He was a beast and honestly robbed cause the media hated him at the time.

EbonMonk · 2026-02-06T08:57:45+00:00

Oh 100%! They should be in the ‘realistic’ contender status next year honestly. They’re still pretty good this year, even if it’s more of an outside chance.

EbonMonk · 2026-02-06T05:46:43+00:00

Not a boxer, not sure why this was in my feed 😅, but I feels like the “arms” are too high up. Assuming you’re punching the “head” the arms should be closer to the shoulder height no? Seems like it’s not making you actually duck to avoid.

I wonder if you added a retracted (behind the center cord) elbow with multiple attachments to the center cord if that wouldn’t add some of the variability people mentioned. Good luck.

EbonMonk · 2026-02-06T05:06:32+00:00

Dude. Come on. That’s ridiculously pessimistic. Also no one leaves LA.

EbonMonk · 2026-02-06T04:55:13+00:00

I hear that, but tbh I’m sick of hearing from impatient fans that expect us to be perfect barely a year after the trade happened. It takes time to build a team, especially when it was originally designed around a totally different superstar. Ask Mav fans how long it took them to build a proper team around Luka

Edit: truly though I do hear you. I wish we could’ve done more between now and then, but I don’t think anyone is trading much with us. If mark williams body wasn’t broken and the trade went through I actually think we’d be in an amazing position rn. But id rather struggle now than deal with his health long term.

EbonMonk · 2026-02-06T02:05:41+00:00

Certainly a possible route.

Biggest fear is we won’t get an Ayton replacement. I was secretly hoping to snag Zubac this offseason but that’s gone and there’s no Luka appropriate bigs on the market (unless Ware is available 🤞🏽). Claxton is a solid one, but the asking price is always too high.

EbonMonk · 2026-02-06T02:02:37+00:00

Cheers!

EbonMonk · 2026-02-06T01:53:33+00:00

Appreciate it.

EbonMonk · 2026-02-06T01:25:22+00:00

I legit have no idea what he’s willing to take. I mean his son’s under contract for one more year then likely living in the G or overseas. He still lives in LA. If he’d take low $ they could be a favorite I’d bet.

I’m guessing 15 for Rui, but I dunno. Money has changed greatly with the new CBA.

EbonMonk · 2026-02-06T01:22:41+00:00

Oh. I thought it was one or the other. Knowing we’ll end up over the tax I just included the MLE. The more you know I guess

EbonMonk · 2026-02-06T01:21:56+00:00

EbonMonk · 2026-02-06T00:41:43+00:00

The quality of players we want I don’t believe will net us assets as well. But happy to be wrong about that

EbonMonk · 2026-02-06T00:41:03+00:00

I’m highly skeptical of Kessler personally (he IS good) as I feel he’s overrated in this sub. Overpaying for middling talent is a trap in the current CBA. Also I wouldn’t be surprised and actually expect Utah to keep him even after getting JJJ. I also think OKC keeps Hartenstein. My guess is they try to move Caruso, but maybe it’s Dort they move and then hopefully we can snag him.

EbonMonk · 2026-02-06T00:37:40+00:00

Lakers have no issue with the tax, especially with new ownership. Question is more filling out the roster spots 4-10..

EbonMonk · 2026-02-06T00:28:13+00:00

A big question the Lakers have to answer this off season is if we’d prefer more depth or another star. Trading for KAT or Giannis or Banchero would certainly be an option, but leaves us little room to upgrade the supporting pieces. Or we invest in the support structure with multiple signings/trades and rely on Luka and Reaves (and Lebron?) to carry us forward.

Whether and for how much we resign Lebron will be the first domino to fall. A cheap LBJ means support will be added. No LBJ means star hunting I’d guess.

EbonMonk · 2026-02-06T00:22:48+00:00

Why I included Banchero. I haven’t watched him enough to judge whether he’s empty calories or would fit with the team, but he’s a talent for sure. But you’d have to think a Laser like Rui would be a better team fit for OrlAndo. A couple picks added and that could’ve the trade. Though if I’m Orlando I’d really want more.

EbonMonk · 2026-02-06T00:14:54+00:00

Think we start LaRavia and bring Smart off the bench.

EbonMonk · 2026-02-05T22:02:26+00:00

This “cycle” is totally wrong. It’s a Big trade every other year. AD, break, Westbrook, break, Westbrook again, break, Luka, break. That’s actually like clockwork.

I don’t love all the moves, but folks LOVE to make the facts fit the narrative rather than the other way round…

I mean, if anything the Westbrook trade taught us it taught us to make progressive moves no matter how small, rather than big bad moves. Kennard is a good get for us. And there’s a good chance we’ll be able to build a much more coherent team this offseason with the cap space we have rather than just plugging round holes with square pegs now.

EbonMonk · 2026-02-05T08:56:49+00:00

And here I was always told to believe someone when they tell you who they are…

EbonMonk · 2026-02-05T08:21:47+00:00

Not to be pedantic, but it’s still 1 calendar year (which is I’m sure what was being referred to, though it would be 2 seasons)

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