2nd youngest NBA team....ever.

Yes you read that right. Ever.

And that doesn't even include Chet.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;LeBron, in Year 20 at age 37, had his 10th 35-5-5 of the season. ... Right now, the Lakers are the scariest team in the Western Conference.&quot;<br><br>— <a href="https://twitter.com/getnickwright?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@getnickwright</a> on the Lakers 135-133 OT win over the Jazz to clinch play-in spot: <a href="https://t.co/saQorelvVn">pic.twitter.com/saQorelvVn</a></p>&mdash; First Things First (@FTFonFS1) <a href="https://twitter.com/FTFonFS1/status/1643698993128431618?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

They certainly looked every bit of that yesterday. They couldn't even get shots off for a large portion of that quarter. Got rattled like a college team on the road.

Do you watch the Kings? Fox takes over 4th quarters, look at the stats. The fact that the Kings have Sabonis and Fox will enable them to play with any team in the league. While defense is important, it isn't like it used to be, defense is played but teams are not shut down defensive teams. The Kings get a lot of points scored on them when they have taken their starting lineup out at the end of the games.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Kings hurt some feelings in the playoffs. They have a solid team.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Kings are one and done.

In fact I'd take 4, 5, 6 and 7 over 1, 2 or 3 to come out of the West.

Defense is absolutely important in the postseason. Regular season? Nah - they don't sustain defensive intensity and it's hard to figure out defensive rotations when you play a different team each night. But over a 7 game series, defense gets more critical with each game.

If the Kings don't start 2-0 they'll be lucky to take it to 6...

Barnes and Mitchell are both excellent defenders. I don't know how the rest of the crew will fare, though.

If the Lakers win the title this year I will never post again

FYP

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">When you finally ****ing trade Westbrook after almost 2 years and the team immediately goes 17-8 overall and 8-2 in games with LeBron. <a href="https://t.co/SUX1X70fBv">pic.twitter.com/SUX1X70fBv</a></p>&mdash; Barry (@BarryOnHere) <a href="https://twitter.com/BarryOnHere/status/1644565271389110272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Yeah, but the Dubs have Wiggins coming back and they just might be a force in the playoffs. They sure do play team ball overall.

Jason Kidd committed the ultimate sin and said the quiet part out loud. Mavs may be uber ****ed for it.

They should tbh

It makes a complete joke of the league if one of your teams so blatantly tanks when they are a couple of wins out of the playoffs.

Sucks that Steven Adams won’t be coming back for the playoffs, but I’m not surprised. I think in the long run his injury may have been the best thing for this franchise. Finally turned JJJ into a post player instead of him wanting to just hang out at the 3 point line all game. He’s become a very dominant force in the paint as well lately. Will be hard to do much in the playoffs with 2 of our centers out now with Adams and BC, but I’m excited the playoffs are finally here and ready to see what this Grizz team can do.

Any team should be able to tank if they want to tank. It's their team. It's their fans.

Puzzling to me. If they had any confidence in Luka and Kyrie at all they would go after the play in tournament and see what happens. The West is pretty weak. Is that really more important than a 0.08% at Wemby?

Udonis Haslem is retiring at age 42. I had no idea the guy was still playing. Dude has played in the NBA for 20 years and played his whole career in Miami. That's a pretty rare feat these days.

Yeah bes kinda been a player coach for a while now. I just noticed he was atill around a couple years ago.

Warriors gamed it perfectly to avoid Durant as expected. They won’t play him until the West finals now, which I suspect they’ll both make barring health.

LeBron has a TWolves team with players fighting each other on Tuesday. Should be doable to get through and play Memphis.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“It can’t get worse than the Gophers blowing a 2-0 lead and then allowing a goal 10 seconds into OT to lose the national championship.”<br><br>Rudy Gobert: “Hold my $18 Target Center beer, gotta punch my teammate.” <a href="https://t.co/FHkUZ79zcX">https://t.co/FHkUZ79zcX</a></p>&mdash; Kyle Potter (@kpottermn) <a href="https://twitter.com/kpottermn/status/1645167255804682245?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

More than that .08% chance is just the ability of the mavs to keep their pick instead of having to trade it away to the Knicks.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Minnesota Timberwolves F Jaden McDaniels -- who was seen punching a wall on his way to the halftime locker room – has a fractured hand, sources tell ESPN.</p>&mdash; Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1645188844579422208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Embarrassing organization.

**** everybody. **** everything.

Burn the whole ****ing league down.

**** you you

Yeah, the Dubs scored 55 in the first quarter yesterday (NBA record?). Seems they're heating up and getting healthy at the right time. I don't think this team is worried about playing anyone. They will have a week off to rest which will be more helpful then "avoiding Durant".

You think the Suns are going to run rough shot over the defending champs?

Offense isn't the problem it is the defense especially on the road. Getting Wiggins back and Payton fully healthy will make a big difference.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Timberwolves had to suspend Gobert for throwing a punch, but accepted that it was a shot to chest with no intent to injure Kyle Anderson and understood that Anderson called Gobert a “bitch” repeatedly on a night Gobert was playing hurt, sources tell ESPN.</p>&mdash; Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1645483372326658055?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I had to make sure Barry hadn't tweeted this first. LMAO

Pretty much. Don't care too much about Gobert, but losing McDaniels is pretty horrible. Don't care TOO much about all the draft picks lost for Robert, as this is a team that you build around Ant, McDaniels, and maybe KAT.

BUT, if you'd simply kept Walker Kessler and the picks, you'd probably be in a better situation moving forward.

I'm still trying to figure out why the Warriors let Payton walk only to bring him back for James Wiseman. I mean, there's mismanaging assets and then there's this.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">LeBron is in a class by himself. Best ever. <a href="https://t.co/bKceUY2pw7">pic.twitter.com/bKceUY2pw7</a></p>&mdash; Barry (@BarryOnHere) <a href="https://twitter.com/BarryOnHere/status/1645519567391784970?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

They probably didn't realize how much their defense depended on him.

How does a team/FO misjudge their OWN roster to THAT level? It really doesn't make sense.

How does a team trade for Russell Westbrook thinking he'll help them win? And double down by trading for Patrick Beverly?

Teams can be really stupid.

The Lakers or Wolves? Sure. The Model Franchise? Seems unlikely. It feels more like a drunk dare. "You won't trade former #2 overall pick James Wiseman for...I don't know...for...Lil Glove! Ha! You won't do it because you're scared!"

Somebody needs to ask Pelinka these questions.

Big win for the Hawks. Good job Quinn

Entertaining first half. Going to bed though as I hate these late NBA start times.

D'Angelo Russell's performance in this game has been utterly pathetic (1 for 9, 2 points). This is the guy the Lakers want to give a long term 20M+ a year contract to?

Mike Conley is balling out tonight. Love to see it. He’s always been one of the most underrated players in this generation of players. Always so consistent.

Non-LeBron Lakers are shooting 5 for 23 from 3PT (LeBron is 2 for 4), all on mostly open shots. His teammates are letting him down again, no surprise there.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Why is LeBron not willing his teammates to make their wide open 3&#39;s?<br><br>Zero clutch gene</p>&mdash; Barry (@BarryOnHere) <a href="https://twitter.com/BarryOnHere/status/1646005653079576578?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Lakers have had a million chances to win this game. Pathetic effort by anyone not named James or Davis.

LA just asking to get buzzer beat by a 3 here.

They're really calling that a foul on LeBron for diving for a neutral loose ball at that time of the game? LMAO

Hell of a time to finally have someone else hit a 3!

And they've been letting them play basically all night. Weak call for sure.

No way!

Dude. Minnesota blew that shit. They were in control.

ROFL

Davis fouled? WTF am I watching?

Guess the refs were sick of not making it about them

LeBron makes the game winning play and one of his teammates finally makes an open three. But then AD makes the dumbest foul in history. LMAO

****ing Conley man.

He's having himself a game.

This has turned into a crazy game.

About right. Tough call but both of these teams made a ton of dumb mistakes down the stretch.

ROFL

Was a clear foul on AD and should have been called a flagrant based on the rules these days (the Kawhi rule). Lakers are lucky to be in overtime.

LeBitch pussing out on taking the game winning shot and then AD does LeBitch in.

MJ would have willed his teammates not to make the dumbest foul in history.

The GOAT only made a perfect pass to a wide open 3PT shooter in the corner while getting triple teamed. LMAO

He's such a great, underrated player.

Meh. I guess. But still seemed weak at the time. Whatever. The Lakers seem to be dominating the OT. Making me stay up way to late on a $ line parlay.

Wolves melting now.

Have to give a shooter room to land. AD didn't do it. Refs had to make that foul call.

What they didn't have to make was that screen foul on Rui Hachimura there. Strange one.

You follow/know more about NBA rules than I do, so I defer to you here. Just looked weak to me at the time. But, then again, I am financially invested in the Lakers winning. Lol

Madness.

I am emotionally invested in LeBron winning, but it's a foul and they were lucky it wasn't called a flagrant based on how this league usually calls it. TWolves fans will likely be bitching about that shortly.

Needed to not brick that one.

That should do it. Fun game.

Yeah, I didn't think the play in game was worth the squeeze. But these games are fun.

Tough loss for the Wolves but I think they have a good chance in the next game. Gotta think Edwards doesn't disappear two games in a row.

LeBron goes 30, 10, and 6 on 12/21 shooting to propel his team into the playoffs. What a player.

On to Memphis.

I guess it's kind of fun to watch these teams play meaningful games. Because none of them stand much of a chance to win against the top seeds in their conference.

First play in game I've watched. Really enjoyed it. Playoffs really start for me on Sunday. We'll see if my Suns can get it done with Durant.

Will be a home game for them, but I like the Pelicans a lot more as a team if they get through OKC. Ingram is a force these days.

I would tend to agree but I would never count out a team with Lebron in the playoffs.

Pelicans are a lot of fun to watch. Should be a great game if it happens.

Man, these teams stink. Looking forward to OKC/Pels, though.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">LeBron haters right now after spending all season thinking he wouldn&#39;t make the playoffs. <a href="https://t.co/5vgG6Qdjzq">pic.twitter.com/5vgG6Qdjzq</a></p>&mdash; Barry (@BarryOnHere) <a href="https://twitter.com/BarryOnHere/status/1646015943678492674?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

He really is fun to watch. The Memphis series should be fun. The best player in the world against an up and coming superstar. I think I'm going to watch that series with an interest that I normally reserve for Suns playoff games.

Memphis should win, but if AD stays healthy/focused (always a question on both) the Lakers have a shot.

Unlike today, they probably need more than nothing from guys like Russell and Reeves though.

Didn’t watch, but looks like Anthony Edwards had a disaster of a game

As bad as it gets.

Lakers will need a dominant LeBron to win the series and I don't think he has it in him at his age but we will see. Personally, I think they will get smoked rather easily.