1. This is the first postseason since LMA left where Dame should be fully rested. In the past, Dame has had to go super saiyan post-All Star break to get us into the playoffs. I know many of us have lamented that Dame looked exhausted and beat up by the time we actually got the playoffs. This is the first time that I feel like Dame is in peak form at the right moment. He got four months off. He seems healthy. He's lighting it up. This is the absolute best chance for Dame to cement his legend in the NBA. 2. No such thing as home court advantage. There's no altitude. There's no traveling. There's no crowd or food poisoning or anything like. Zero distractions. I think this bubble plays right into our hands. It's just two teams in a gym. Now let's go play some basketball.
Agreed. Hopefully Dame playing hard in 9 games just warmed him up and didnt wear him out. Only one back to back and no traveling has to help. Kevin Pelton showed the home team has a slight advantage at a neutral court. I still don't understand it.... Let's win game 1 and steal HCA.
I’d say a more tangible “advantage” would be the lakers lack of perimeter defense. They’re gonna miss Rondo and Bradley, especially against Portland’s backcourt. Don’t think it’ll be enough to lose the series, especially with how shitty we are defensively, but it is something to watch.
Rondo is clearing quarantine today, but they haven's set a date for his return to play. https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...rondo-clear-quarantine-monday-no-table-return
Pretty sure it's bad analysis of the data. I noted after day 3 (?) in the bubble that the home teams had won something like 12 of 14 games other than one day where it was a split. Take out those two days, and it's probably even everywhere else. The problem with a win-loss approach in that limited setting is, vastly uneven home-away strength of schedules.
Two massive disadvantages, Portland doesn't have anyone who can even sort of match up on AD or James. With little D in general, this Blazer club already has to win with superior offense but thats especially true in this series. Without Bradley, the purple and piss lack anyone who has much of a chance vs Dame either so here's expecting an entertaining shootout. STOMP
...with a broken thumb that's expected to keep him out 1-3 more weeks. Davis even said Rondo won't play in round 1.
Rondo practiced today and is medically cleared to play "The Lakers' practice looked a little different Monday with Rajon Rondo back on the court with the team for the first time since undergoing surgery to repair a fractured right thumb nearly five weeks ago. Lakers coach Frank Vogel said the veteran point guard is medically cleared to play but is "unlikely" to see court time on Tuesday." https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...hony-ocean-rescue-ahead-lakers-blazers-series
Dame average 42 minutes in the 9 games including 45 Sunday. I'm not sure how rested he will be, but it's not quite like the late season grind
I simply cannot imagine Rondo being willing to sit out the first round unless the Lakers are handling the Blazers well enough without him. Which might happen but if this is close or the Blazers win game one my bet is Rondo will suit up.
It's obvious if the coach said Rondo is medically cleared and he is practicing those statements are true. I dont know what Davis report you are recalling, but he could've just been repeating a media report or making his own guess with a conservative timeline, who knows. That is now irrelevant.