Watching that game was fascinating because you really could feel good coaching all over it.

And some bad.

The game turned a bit in the late 1st when Luka came out JJ tried to get too many minutes out of the Jemison/Knecht duo. The rhythm just fell to hell. It took the next two quarters just trying to get their feet back under them and hold on while they figured things out. It was subtle but noticeable at the time. They were really looking good until about 2 minutes left in the 1st and that series of subs set them back for most of the rest of the night. But they battled through it.

That's a couple pretty good teams but the Lakers are clearly better.

There's a 'big 3' still but the Lakers are the clear 4, IMO.
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I don't know why the players were going for it so hard, but it felt like a playoff game in every respect.

And as far as a big 3, Luka, with the arguable exception of SGA on OKC, is going to be the best player on the court in any of those potential playoff matchups.

I still would make Boston the favorite (they're coasting until April, which has been the plan all year), but Lakers have a decent shot with the way Redick has them going defensively. LeBron also always raises his level in the playoffs but he appears particularly rejuvenated by playing with another all-time great right now.
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Some of Lebrons defense is less about being 'rejuvenated' and more about being able to take some plays off on the offensive end. He used to always give up a defensive series (or several) when he needed a break. Now he can do that on offense with Luka driving the play and get his legs back under him for defense.
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What LeBron is doing at this age is pretty amazing
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Can you tell me why Tatum shoots so many 3s? He shoots 56% from 2FG and gets to the line really well...even better FTA rate when he shoots less threes yet he's shooting 10.1 3FGs a game. I just don't get it. Take 5 a game and you are super elite instead of elite. It's almost like laziness. It's easy to jack up threes.

It's one thing if he's a great 3 point shooter but he's avg 3 point shooter. If you are 56% on 2FG and you get fouled a bunch go to the rim and get to your spot over and over again.

There is no reason Tatum should be T2nd in 3FG attempts in the NBA. None.
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65 year old men tell me that a 39 year old Jordan averaging 18 ppg on 43% FG for the fkn 37 and 45 Wizards is more impressive.
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MoDeRn BaSkEtBaLl!!!!
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Well for some guys it makes sense but for others it doesn't. For example the org had to MAKE SGA shoot more 3s. He didnt really want to. Tatum can't be being told to shoot 10 3s a game can he?
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LeBron is now currently averaging 25 PPG......for the 21st straight season.

— Barry (@BarryOnHere) March 7, 2025

GOAT things, yeah. We'll never see anything like this guy ever again.
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True he can just hang in the corner on a lot of possessions, and watch Luka score or draw a double to get an open shot for someone else. He's never played with anybody who can do that for his teammates the way he's been doing it for everyone else his entire career.

Saves his energy a bit for defense where he is still quite good when he wants to be.
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It's not laziness, it's because Brad Stevens and that FO want him and his teammates to jack up as many threes as possible and have drilled that into all of them.
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Are you tryin to tell me Delonte West and Mo Williams aren't on Lukas level?

Blasphemy.
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56% x 2 = .112

35% x 3 = .105

This doesn't even account for the fact that he gets more FTs when he shoots 2FGs, which he is very good at.
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If LeBron wins his 5th at 40 then he would probably be the Tom Brady of basketball
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But actually good instead of a fraud
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