GAME 46: PHX (35-9) @ DAL (26-20) | 109-101 loss

[Mavs2021]

Gotcha. 

I think that in the NBA, dudes who get paid like Porzingis get played when games are decided. I feel like it's safe to build that into our thinking. 

There's an issue relevant to this going on in LA with Westbrook right now. They're much better off not playing him, but they kind of have to...because he's Westbrook. There's a political element to it, both in the locker room and from outside lookers on.

You can´t say the Lakers are a better team without Westbrook. Westbrook has played every game, so you´d have to get a sample without him first. They are simply a team with no depth.

They lost players, that average the following right now:

Kuzma 16/9/3
Harrell 15/7/2
KCP 11/4/2
Schroeder 16/4/5

They replaced that depth with a 33 year old Westbrook. Then Anthony Davis does what he always does: Get injured.

LeBron and Melo are 37, Howard is 36, Ariza is 35, Ellington is 34, Westbrook is 33, DAJ is 33 (and grossly out of shape). This team is simply not equipped to deal with the loss of their youngest star.

Maybe they would have missed the play-in, if Nuggets, Clippers and Blazers were 100% healthy, but as it stands, they´ll limp into the play-offs "easily" and can still be dangerous.

I´d say that Westbrook trade improved their best case ceiling, but lowered their floor significantly, too. LeBron doesn´t care about the floor. He only cares about the ceiling.