Why I Still Pick Lakers Over Brooklyn, Despite the Harden Trade

[Im Still Ballin]

1. Defense

The Lakers have the best defense in the league right now, according to the numbers. They have great rim protection and interior defense, as well as great perimeter defenders.

The only questions about their defense is the loss of athleticism from last year at the center position. But that can be potentially fixed with a buyout candidate. No need for any dramatic shakeup.

Brooklyn's defense is unproven. They just lost Jarret Allen, who was an important interior defender. Do they have the personnel to be a top 10 defense? Who knows. They might have to make some more moves. We'll have to wait and see.

2. Matchup

LA matches up extremely well with Brooklyn. They've got a deep rotation of quality perimeter defenders to throw at Kyrie and Harden.

- KCP
- Schroeder
- Wesley Matthews
- Caruso
- Horton-Tucker

On the other end, Brooklyn don't really have answers for AD and LeBron. That size is killer -- and with Marc Gasol? Deandre Jordan might be played off the court. Perhaps KD plays the center position? Probably would get in foul trouble.

3. Depth

Brooklyn have now lost 3 important rotation players -- Dinwiddie, Levert, and Allen -- 2 of them to gain Harden. They're top-heavy -- and one injury could prove fatal.

The Lakers look legitimately 11 players deep, with minimal clashes in role and opportunity. They're both top-heavy (LeBron, AD, Shroeder, Harrell) and deep.

[Axe]

Injuries can change the outcome for these teams

[Im Still Ballin]

Injuries can change the outcome for these teams

Very woke and what the internet kids call "based" post.

[Uncle Drew]

I agree, the biggest threat to the Lakers remains the Lakers themselves. Let's say, hypothetically, the Lakers and Nets were bound to meet tomorrow for a 7 game series, I'm taking the Lakers every time. Better depth, better structure, better defense, better match ups. Jordan and Green are borderline unplayable, meaning KD might have to play center for long stretches and he'd get slaughtered by Davis. The Nets have better star power, but despite that, the Lakers still have 2 of the 3 best players in the series.

[Axe]

Very woke and what the internet kids call "based" post.
It is true tho. Remember that time back in 2019 finals when the warriors were heavily favored against the raptors, despite injury woes to kd, cousins, iggy, klay, etc. No one thought the raptors could beat a team as stacked as that but in reality, it became a catalyst for them to win their first chip. That is regardless of the useless vegas odds which don't turn to be accurate or true all of the time.

[Wally450]

And because of LeBron James.

[Airupthere]

Lakers still more stacked and established. Thanks to Lebron's years of collusion/recruitment experience and know-how.

[red1]

I like the fact that harden is a ball-dominant player. kyrie will cause issues if he isnt getting enough touches. looking forward to that.


https://media.giphy.com/media/ZAT1BEI6NDToY/giphy-downsized-large.gif

[kawhileonard2]

Lakers lost in round 1 to a guy who never made the playoffs before and Booker broke Lebron in that series.

[kawhileonard2]

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?500431-Lakers-were-1-in-Preseason-Odds-in-2021-and-Suns-were-14
Was #1 in Preseason odds and lost to a 14th seed in odds

https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2021_preseason_odds.html

And Devin Booker walked them down in the playoffs with Devin outplaying Lebron. :confusedshrug: