thecampster

You've been writing Jeff poems?

Highlighted a few things....1st...poor vit, he didn't get paid for his 16 games missed. 2nd, the Hunter/Johnson/Matthews injuries had some overlap that probably cost us more games than anything else. The Bufkin thumb, Bogi playing through injury and a few other small things (like Griffin/Bey shooting woes) cost us a few more games. I think we're better than our 22-27 record but after looking at this list, I'm not sure how much better. How many wins did the JJ/Hunter injuries cost us?

I wish evil on Draymond. I just can't stand him.

Should have been the hire after his interim role!

Good news is I don't need your approval in a hypothetical.

Dre has developed the ability to ISO, handle the ball for himself and score. I mean nothing more than that with him.

Playing the silly game....Hunter plays some 2. You could easily have lineups like the following with Simmons on the floor. Bogi Hunter JJ Simmons, Bruno (if you want to go huge on folks) Trae Bogi JJ Simmons OO (if you want to punish people wanting to trap Trap Trae Trae Bogi Hunter JJ Simmons (if you want 5 possible ball handlers on the floor at the same time (the hands team)). Simmons Trae Bogi OO Bruno (against big lineups) The hard part to remember with Simmons is he was traditionally a point guard and can pass over the top of double teams. You have a lot of options with Simmons on the floor. Its not a terrible idea, I just think he can be had for less. But yes, the idea of playing JJ next to Simmons, next to OO is very intriguing defensively.

Bufkin recalled from the Skyhawks, Vit sent down. Just putting this out there.

Patty Mills is my spirit animal!

LA is in town next. East/West trades happen a lot before.the teams play so teams can use those players right away. I have feelers out.

So everyone knows I've been a Jalen stan longer than @kg01 has used humor to deflect. I've got some things I want to see going forward. Some opportunities for improvement. Lets start with some defending of Jalen and then move into the criticisms. 1) Folks have criticized him getting burnt on defense. He is not as much as you think. He is funneling to bigs who are out of position due to many of the things DJM's X message stated. If you watch Jalen on D, there are times it looks like he's getting crossed or giving up the hard right lead dribble. Jalen is attempting to give up one hand to overplay to the other, taking away the opponents favorite pullup. In most of these cases, the drive is coming to either side of the foul line or straight down the lane. If OO/Clint are playing in position, these should be drives right into them. If you want when Jalen is playing with Bruno on the floor, Bruno is getting blocks. Bruno is playing to the scheme, OO/Clint are still covering for Trae. I have done a 180 on Bruno. His team scheme positioning has been extremely solid. 2) Folks are criticizing Jalen passing up jumpers. This is also by design. Jalen is supposed to be forcing rotations as the 2/3rd ball handler. This means a quick pass, or an insta drive kick. Again, Jalen is playing scheme. The above 2 tells you that Jalen is getting coached and he's listening to the coaching (see any Bey sucks thread for the alternative). Now what I want to see. 1) Jalen gives up on the offensive end too quickly after a shot, taking the coaching advice to get back early on D. F' the coaches here. I want Jalen to start crashing the glass after every Bogi ISO, DJM ISO and every 3 no matter who is taking it. He is legit leaving 3 offensive rebounds a game on the floor (because he can outjump everyone). This is my number 1 disappointment with him. Crash the offensive glass, defensive scheme be damned. Let Bogi, Matthews, Trae, DJM, Bey, others get back. I want to see JJ go for the offensive rebound and if he doesn't get it, I want to see him pressure whoever does and force a turnover/slow pace. We give up far too many runouts giving up on offensive boards. JJ should be top 5 in the league on the offensive boards based on athleticism/instinct alone. And if he does get the offensive board, I want to see him try to dunk that donut every time trying to draw a foul. That kid should be going to the line 5 times a game. 2) I want to see him getting more contact on his post attempts. Free throws, free throws, free throws. I want him trying to go right into people's chests like Giannis. Make the refs blow the whistle. Take the occasional offensive foul for it but stop letting people get away with slapping at your wrists. Punish someone so they start playing you different. Guards should not be stopping you from dunking...period. 3) I want to see him start bodying people up at the 3 point line. When the pick is coming, get right up the ball carrier with the body. Make the pick person stick to you so his man can trap. Stop trying to play the pick n roll like a small guard. Make them go around that 7 foot reach. Force the pick setter into some moving picks. Make some folks nervous. Less finesse, more terrifying. 4) Start calling for the ball in on the block, back to the basket and use that to kick it out. Get the ball out of DJM/Trae's hands so they stop getting doubled. Become the center of the in/out game. Don't just sit in the corner and if the coaches complain, just tell them I told you to under penalty of a 3 hour lecture every time one of guards gives up a turnover due to getting doubled. 5) Learn to do interviews. He is almost as bad as Ebby Calvin (Nuke) Laloosh. You come off the floor at half time, get a mic shoved in your face, make a joke, talk slower and use some canned responses. I actually heard him give a 1 word answer last week to a multi-part question. See @Spud2nique I can want people to improve without recommending yoga/meditation.

JJ 4-4 for 9 points. I love this kid.

Houston and a few other teams in play for Capela. Murray to LA is interesting. Not a done deal but there's a lot going on in the background. Multiple other teams still engaged which LA was trying to quelch by going public. They did not want a bidding war. Hunter was getting looks from a few teams but teams are concerned about his health issues. Bogie getting tons of interest but no great offers. OO getting interest but the price is too high. Griffin getting a little interest.

Anyone else bothered that if it wasn't for Herro and Robinson we'd be blowing them out? How are those the 2 guys keeping them in it?

Russell would be a pass through to a 3rd team. Rui probably comes in the deal and is not trash.

https://hoopshype.com/rumor/lakers-package-for-dejounte-murray-would-include-dangelo-russell/ This is the trade I shared in the Insider thread as the most likely 2 days ago. It still is. This would be a 3 for 3 or 4 for 4 trade with picks coming to Atlanta.

Diesel, I'm not all in on crapping on Quin yet. Like with all wounds, it has to hurt if its to heal. I see this as a process, fleshing out the problems on the team and slowly correcting them. Personally, I'm ready to walk away from Clint, start OO and bring Bruno off the bench (unless a trade nets a big body center). Personally, I'm ready to walk away from Bey at the 3 and maybe DH for a bigger 4, no different than what their current plans are. I'm down with the get bigger around Trae plan. I would have loved Barrett to come in at the 2/3. I just want to get bigger/longer. I loved the havoc Orlando's length caused us last night and I'd like to see us built like that. I don't want to crap on Quin till he's given something better to work with.

OMJ (OH My Jalen)!!!

Drudging up an oldie but a goodie.

Bey needs to take a step or two in those corners away from the baseline. His shots are all straight on but short long. It's a depth perception issue.

Bey makes me miss Huerter and anxious for Hunter to return.

Bagley on his way to Washington in a salary dump. Kind of sad as this was a low risk move we just couldn't make happen. Only downside (as what it took to get him wasn't much) is he makes 12.5 mil.

I've shared this with the insiders. Take everything I say here with a grain of salt. Its an extension of what is written above. Jalen is the only untouchable on the roster. Not because he's the best but because his cost to production value is off the chart. There is no way to get back Jalen level value at his salary. Trae is untouchable 1a. But its not because he's untouchable. Teams would not give back enough value for Trae. They understand how he limits teams and he's techs/complaining have worn thin around the league and with officials. Trae is untouchable because you'd never get back = value. The team would like to get back a good PF and slide Jalen to the 3. They believe his best value is at the 3 where he can overpower 1/2 of the 3's in the league. The team would like to get bigger (like 10lbs/2 inches per position) and that starts with Jalen over Dre. The interesting name I heard (and I heard several) was Marvin Bagley at the 4 next to Jalen. They think that's the kind of size/fit they'd like and they think Trae can bring out the best in a player like Bagley. The team would be willing to slide BB back into the starting lineup at the 2 if the return on DJ is good. The team would like to move on from Clint for a bigger, longer Center with potential. They would be willing to play OO at the center until the big center develops. Short answer, if you hear a rumor about us acquiring an undersized player, its a lie. Quin wants length/size. He doesn't want another Philly/NY/Miami foul fest with no retribution. I'd be very surprised if we don't acquire an enforcer. Lastly, there is a possibility that for the right player, we spend that John Collins TPE. I really can't say more than that but that's on the table right now.

I have a very unhealthy bro love for that kid.

Wow Trae.