OT: Lebron's Debut

Submitted by TheDirtyD on October 18th, 2018 at 11:37 PM

Lebron's debut so far is being over shaddowed perhaps so far by none other than Nik Stauskas.

He's having a classic game he had at Michigan draining threes while using that jumpshot to get to the rim. 

6:21 to go in the 2nd Nik's line is 6-7 FG 4-5 3PTFG 16 TPTS 

drjaws

October 19th, 2018 at 12:02 AM ^

Love playing basketball and watching college basketball.  Not an NBA fan.  It’s boring IMHO.

That being said I can completely appreciate the utter domination of the game by LeBron.  Dudes a legend.

UP to LA

October 19th, 2018 at 12:19 PM ^

Sorry, yeah, didn't mean to imply that his injury listing is just a form of roster management. Was trying to say that whenever he gets healthy, I'd be surprised if he was fully ready to play against NBA bigs, but that there's good chance he'll log minutes anyway given how he fits with the Lakers' two glaring needs

East German Judge

October 19th, 2018 at 12:18 AM ^

Can't wait for the Warriors to throttle LA, assuming they even make the playoffs, and have lebron have an early exit AND lavar ball start yapping that he us washed up and challenge him to a game of 1 on 1!!! 

No more finals for him!!!

Matt EM

October 19th, 2018 at 10:43 AM ^

While I'm admittedly a Lonzo critic, his net impact on the court when considering playmaking, defense and rebounding more than compensates for any lack of outside shooting. By nearly any metric, Ball was the second best defender at the point guard spot and top 30 overall.............not among rookies, but the entire NBA.

The question for him as it relates to the Lakers is whether he's an ideal fit next to Lebron James? I think his shooting will increase moderately this year but we'll see how it shakes out.

 

swdude12

October 19th, 2018 at 7:29 AM ^

College is real basketball...the basketball you were taught how to play.  I compare the NBA to the WWE.  Its all about drama.  The game itself is unwatchable for myseld.  Stand around, no defense, 1 on 1, contstant fouls and 50 free throws. Some people like it...I prefer the game that I played.  Press, zone defense and run an actual offense.

UP to LA

October 19th, 2018 at 1:17 PM ^

No offense, my man, but the game you played was the way it was because you were playing it. The level of play in the NBA is astronomically higher than the NCAA or any other league that's ever existed, and the NBA game looks the way it does because of, not in spite of, that fact. Harden gets isos because he's the most skilled scorer on the planet and it's an efficient play for him. Teams spread the court and generate 3pt looks and rim runs because that's the best way to score more points than your opponent. The quality of play in the league right now -- the pure ability of teams to play basketball -- is better than it's ever been, and no other leagues are close.

Matt EM

October 19th, 2018 at 8:13 AM ^

I'll chime in as an avid Laker fan, and obviously a vested interest in Moe and Stauskas.

Moe has a knee issue, he's been cleared for non-contact basketball activity. The expectation is that when healthy, he'll fight for backup center minutes because Zubac simply isn't able to switch on the perimeter at all and has not been very good offensively other than as a role man finisher off PnR dumpoffs. We're willing to trade spot-minute rim protection (Zubac) for 10-12 minutes of Moe's ability to space the floor on the offensive end........if he can be an adequate rebounder. Rebounding is the weakest point on the team for my Lakers, Kuzma at the backup C just isn't big enough to defend the paint.

By far the best NBA game I've ever seen from Nik. Knocking down shots, displayed good vision when attacking closeouts. He's never going to be a ball-dominant, combo-guard in the NBA........just lacks the acceleration to get any separation off the dribble. But if he can be a consistent shooter and attack closeouts with decent playmaking/passing then he will survive in the NBA and perhaps be a key bench player.

 

With regard to the NBA vs college game, its not even close for me. The NBA is FAR superior in all facets (actual basketball and entertainment value). College  basketball lacks athleticism in a very bad way (in relation to the NBA) and frankly its very difficult to watch at times because of zone defense and running tons of deliberate half-court sets that run deep into the clock. The speed of the game at the NBA level is just so much faster, the individual skillset and athletic ability of players in the league is just absurd.

If you're not a fan of ball-dominant stars then you will hate the NBA. If you're not a fan of methodical basketball then you'll likely gravitate less toward college.

Nate the Newt

October 19th, 2018 at 8:48 AM ^

Finally, a real take on the CBB/NBA difference.  This thread is littered with horrible NBA takes that are based on myth.  If you are a fan of peak athleticism and skill and seeing that played at a higher level then you'll like the NBA.  I like both but they're different games.  I hated Jordan growing up because I was a Pistons fan and now I regret not taking the time to watch and appreciate him.  I'm not doing the same with LeBron.  This is a transcendent talent and a decent human being.  I haven't liked any team he's been on but I've thoroughly enjoyed watching his entire career.  It's stunning what he's doing at this age.

Jimmyisgod

October 19th, 2018 at 12:58 PM ^

Couldn't agree more.  The NBA right now is insanely entertaining.  The skill level has made a bigger jump in the last 15 years than it made in the previous 30.  And team ball now rules the NBA, the best teams are the ones that pass the ball the best.  The NBA has finally progressed to the point where all 5 players on the floor have to be able to handle the ball, pass, and shoot.  And it's very physical too, they mug each other on loose balls with no calls anymore.

I grew up a fan in the 80s, loved Magic Johnson, loved the Pistons, then I learned to love Jordan in the 90s.  If you transported a team from today's NBA back to the 80s, people would think they were aliens from another planet.  You've got 6-11, 250 lb players handling the ball like a guard, passing, leading the break, and canning 3 pointers.

Statisticians really changed the game when they proved that the 3 pointer from the corner was a smarter shot than a 10 foot jumper.

I challenge fans who don't like today's NBA to watch a game on Youtube from the NBA Finals in the 80s.  It's comical how slow the game was then and the lack of defense and shooting is stark.  It's not even the same game.  And for physicality, the game is more physical now, the difference is that they used to allow more cheap shots in the 80s than they do now.

jakerblue

October 19th, 2018 at 9:34 AM ^

I don't really watch pro sports. Save my sports watching for UM. But I tune in around playoffs for NBA. It is such a different game than college hoops. I can't believe how much faster it is. Especially compared to the methodical Beilein offenses. It's fun to watch if you can leave any expectations from watching CBB behind.

gmoney41

October 19th, 2018 at 9:50 AM ^

Like mj I have nothing but appreciation for lebrons talent and skill. With that being said, I am a pacer fan so of course didn’t like him or his flopping at Miami and Cleveland.  To top it off, the dancing on the sideline at the osu Michigan game in 16 makes me not like the guy at all.  Seeing nik and trey and Timmy do well in their debuts is a great sign. I’m not a huge nba fan but I do enjoy watching the pacers from time to time.  Playoff time is really fun.  College and pro have things I like and don’t like.   Now the nfl??  Thank god for redzone channel or that league would be unwatchable 

TheBlueAbides

October 19th, 2018 at 11:48 AM ^

The hype around some NBA players (LeBron) gets old fast. There is no doubt they are the best basketball players in the world, and they do play defense it’s just different than college. I don’t watch pros much because it’s hard to relate. When I played in highschool and rec leagues there weren’t 15-20 dunks a game, and shooting 60% from 3 was being on fire not the norm. Very talented no doubt but such a different game.

JamieH

October 19th, 2018 at 12:15 PM ^

You can say whatever you want about today's NBA, but one thing is true without a doubt.  Today's NBA players are significantly better long-distance shooters than the players of 30 years ago.  Love it or hate it, but players 30 years ago used the 3-point shot mostly as a novelty.   Most of today's stars use it as a primary weapon. 

Also, whoever had "Lebron's Laker debut will be ruined by NIK STAUSKAS" in the pool wins all the $$$.  WOW, talk about what a difference having a team that MOVES THE BALL makes.  The Blazers looked to find Nik in rhythm and he really delivered.  I've watched Nik play on his other teams and watched him standing around completely unused in the offenses and it has been crazy frustrating.  It was great watching an offense that looked to USE him as a weapon, not just as "uh, someone just dribbled out the entire shot clock--what should we do now?  Hey, maybe that Canadian dude can chuck up a shot?"  

We'll see if he can keep it up now that other teams will be looking out for him.  I suspect he will settle more into a 10-12 ppg kind of situation, not the All-Star type of performance we stay last night, but it will still be great to see a team actually look to use his talents rather than waste him. 

Personal note--I ran into (didn't really meet) Mrs. Stauskas at halftime of the NCAA game in Dallas back in 2013 when Nik was raining 3's on Florida.   Didn't really get to talk to her because she was rushing to get in and out during the break, but I thought that was kind of fun.  Must have been awesome for her to have Nik just destroying Florida in that game.