Jason Timpf continues his ranking of the top 20 teams in the NBA heading into the 2023-24 season with No. 4, the Los Angeles Lakers. With LeBron James coming back for year 21, a healthy version of Anthony Davis, and momentum from their Western Conference Finals appearance last year, the Lakers have championship aspirations for the 2023-24 season. But will they be able to knock off Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets?
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#sports #basketball #nba #lebronjames #anthonydavis #lakers #losangeleslakers #playoffs #championship #allstar #halloffame
27 Comments
Hey Jason, if you see this, what do you think about Chicago blowing it up and Zach Lavine becoming available let’s say Lakers use all there assets by D-Lo and Rui and whatever pics they got is that enough shot making from Zach Lavine and AD bron to be best roster in the west
Preciate the commentary and breakdown of the game. When you reference other videos, can you provide links on the screen or in the description?
Hahahaha. No they are definitely not #4!!! NUGGETS, BUCKS, CELTICS, HEAT, SUNS, WARRIORS, AND KINGS ARE BETTER
I have them at 9
Ppl need to understand this guys is a lebromsexual I don’t know why guys are surprised 😂
I hate this Lakers team. The NBA better start utilizing the flop rule against the Lakers. They better not have 600 more freethrows than the whole league this season. Getting to the line is not a skill when calls are in the refs discretion. They can chose when and when not to blow the whistle the refs have no integrity and will cheat to keep the Lebron narrative going i can't wait for him to retire. Lebron and AD are the softest flopping big men in the league.
Excellent analysis
MAILBAG QUESTION: Hey Jason, I’m a big fan of the show I’ve learned a lot from listening. My question is I know you said you that if you were the Lakers GM you’d go after a high level shot creating star like Kyrie instead of a lower level one and if he’s not available then you’d target a top tier perimeter defender but what if you could get both in one trade? A trade I’ve been thinking about is Rui Hachimura and D’Angelo Russell for Demar Derozan and Alex Caruso. I think our starting 5 would be one of the best in the league
I think Lakers will have Alex Caruso, Kyrie Irving as wish list options if they feel the need to go that route. I agree with his point of the point of attack defender vs incredible shot maker at the trade deadline. It’s definitely a read of the team/team record/progression of chemistry at the deadline
The Lakers are healthy once again and have solid role players. I personally don’t buy the Suns this year. They had difficulty protecting the rim and relying on that kind of shot making for an entire playoff run is a gamble for sure. The nuggets are the defending champs so they get the benefit of the doubt despite losing pieces. Milwaukee is definitely better and Boston is questionable, possibly better. Idk why people are flaming him for the ranking
MAILBAG QUESTION: Hey Jason, been a fan of the show and the Volume for a while now. You and Middlekauff are among the best in the business. You’ve said in the past that you think the Bucks are built to beat the Nuggets, the Nuggets are built to beat the Celtics, and the Celtics are built to beat the Bucks. I understand what Jokic and the Nuggets did last year cannot be swept under the rug, but I don’t view Joker as some all-time great talent that has no weaknesses. I think his slow feet and lack of rim protection (vertically) would really hurt him in a 7 game series against a team like the Celtics who play 5-out basketball and are great at drive-and-kick to get opposing defenses in rotation. I think Boston was a Tatum ankle injury away from completing the greatest comeback in NBA history and hoisting their 18th Larry O’Brien trophy. My question is what gives a team like Denver the edge over a team like Boston in your opinion? (I assume you have the Nuggets #1 in your rankings but I could be wrong)
Mailbag Question: Is there a good chance the Dame Giannis PNR will end up being more valuable than the Steph Draymond PNR all time
Vanderbilt sucks
Mailbag: do you consider zach lavine and demar de rozan top tier shot makers?
I know youre a lakers fan, but the Suns are clearly a better team
Love the show Jason but I disagree with some points. Adding a guy like Kyrie as you said will weaken the defense. I would not focus on beating a specific opponent but instead adding to the defense rather. Tell me if I am wrong.
Could be a mailbag question actually: what type of player is it better to accommodate at the deadline? An offensive minded player or a defensive minded player?
I'd say a defensive one because of the complexity of certain offense but prob a case by case thing.
Thank you for the analysis
Max Christie may take a nice leap forward this season and the Lakers excell at player development..I like this kid…
‘the clippers can’t be taken seriously because of they’re history of injuries’ oh yeah because anthony davis and 39 year old lebron james are the gold standard of health 😂
They were top 4 last year and lebron was playing on 1 foot and they got better in the offseason. You either hate bron or hate the lakers to not see that other then the suns or Denver they’re right there
Besides Caruso, which other POA defenders do you see worth trading for ?
That can also be an asset on offense
with julian trending upwards i dont see any team in the west beating denver
Not Kyrie, Luka !!!!
Jokic wont have bum teams to face this year.
No weak west to cruise through for an easy finals win.
Itll be tough teams with a bit more chemistry & a beast in the east waiting in the finals.
I love this show but the laker delusion is crazy. Iv been hearing every possible way the lakers could get Irving since last year
Lakers are 6 at max
The big problem is Davis is soft when it matters he's not a franchise leader .
So, what you're saying, essentially, for the Lakers to beat Jokic and the Nuggets in the West is that they need to get another star like Kyrie Irving. Otherwise, the Lakers have no chance in hell to win a 7-game against the Champs.