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Lauri Markkanen - Utahin Marsalkka: All-NBA Snub

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Do You Enjoy Saunas?

  • Yes

    Votes: 1 7.1%
  • No

    Votes: 1 7.1%
  • Yes, only if it is co-ed and naked

    Votes: 5 35.7%
  • Yes, but only if nudity is not allowed

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • No, heat gives me rashes

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • No, I prefer a bracing plunge into Lake Erie in January

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Yes, but only if a naked Lauri is present

    Votes: 5 35.7%
  • Yes, only if Jim Chones is present

    Votes: 4 28.6%
  • No, no Jim Chones, no Sauna!

    Votes: 2 14.3%
  • Yes, but only if drinks are served and Death Metal is played

    Votes: 3 21.4%

  • Total voters
    14
SVG last night:

“He’s shooting needlessly long shots. He’s standing 2-3 feet behind the 3P line and missing short. He just needs to take one step forward.”
I think there’s some truth to this. He hits at an OK rate from the line but his percentage takes a huge dip if he’s a couple steps back. For whatever reason, he seems to be taking more and more of those longer 3’s.
 
I think there’s some truth to this. He hits at an OK rate from the line but his percentage takes a huge dip if he’s a couple steps back. For whatever reason, he seems to be taking more and more of those longer 3’s.
I think he makes up his mind to shoot before receiving the ball and it almost doesn't matter where he is. That doesn't make any sense to me, but... there you go. [shrug]

He's also completely stopped doing pump fakes and putting it on the floor when the ball is kicked out to him. He's just shooting like a broken robot.
 
Yes, I thought they could figure this out over the course of the year, but they haven't so far.

They need him to cut in those situations.

He was always a streaky shooter, but this is getting very bad.

You can tell the whole team is sort of out of Rhythm, but Lauri is particularly bad.
Teams don't have enough time to game plan during a regular 82 game season. They will *definitely* game plan for Markk and attack him relentlessly during a 7 game series though. The flukey 3 big man lineup worked early in the season as it is an anomoly in today's game. Teams are going to find ways to exploit it in the playoffs which is a reason most bigs, despite having good regular seasons, get played entirely off the floor in the playoffs.
 
Teams don't have enough time to game plan during a regular 82 game season. They will *definitely* game plan for Markk and attack him relentlessly during a 7 game series though. The flukey 3 big man lineup worked early in the season as it is an anomoly in today's game. Teams are going to find ways to exploit it in the playoffs which is a reason most bigs, despite having good regular seasons, get played entirely off the floor in the playoffs.

Team that have continuity absolutely gameplan for the Cavs. Jazz, Heat and Warriors clearly did.
 
Serious question - is Markky playing hurt? I was at the Blazers/Cavs game and I swear his left shoulder was bothering him.
 
Serious question - is Markky playing hurt? I was at the Blazers/Cavs game and I swear his left shoulder was bothering him.
He's got a history of both shoulder trouble and playing hurt...
 
Serious question - is Markky playing hurt? I was at the Blazers/Cavs game and I swear his left shoulder was bothering him.
Not sure, but his play sure has taken a nosedive of late, so it would make sense.
 
He is absolutely horrible. He is a complete pussy on defense. No defensive awareness. No strength. Terrible hands inside. He’s so weak and uncoordinated he can’t even post up 6’3 guards

If he isn’t hitting 3s, Dean Wade is clearly better than him. Imagine that.
Agreed with all of this. The three big lineup was neutered last night because Lauri couldn't hit threes and got exposed on defense.

This is an unsustainable situation even if Lauri was hitting his shots. His defense and lack of foot speed is just a giant disqualifier for someone that is in the same starting lineup as Garland and assigned to defend perimeter guys. His longterm role will have to be as the backup 3/4 to make this work.
 
I think there’s some truth to this. He hits at an OK rate from the line but his percentage takes a huge dip if he’s a couple steps back. For whatever reason, he seems to be taking more and more of those longer 3’s.

Spacing is so bad in the starting unit. Garland and Lauri are literally the only guys you have to worry about hitting a shot. Is there another worse shooting lineup in the league?

I genuinely wonder if he would start hitting if Windler were at the 2 instead. Seems silly, but spacing begets spacing. Look at how they stretched our defense last night where the guys couldn't stop easy layups.
 
If you look just +/- stats in recent games..

Lauri is -3 against GSW in a 14 points loss (Garland -22, Allen -17, Love -21, Osman -20 etc.).

He was +13 against Portland in a 13 points win (Mobley -1, Garland +9, Love +7 etc.).

And against Grizzlies +10 in a 4 point loss. (Mobley -7, Garland -3, Allen-3, Love -10).

Yes +/- stats doesn't tell much but it tells that when Lauri plays, team plays better.

Then again, maybe another spacer could do the same for team that lacks shooting/spacing.

At now Lauri could be better to come of the bench without any pressure. He plays better at 3rd and 4th Q anyway as he doesn't do anything at all in 1Q. I don't know if it's NBA hierarchy or something but it was same in Bulls. He kind of starts attacking basket in second half.
 
HERE is a trade that works trade rubio and lauri to Philadelphia for simmons
 
Last edited:
HERE is a trade thatsworkd trade rubio and lauri to Philadelphia for simmons

Yeah I bet Philly would be thrilled to receive a PG who's injured and won't play the rest of the season and is also in a contract year.
 
THere getting nothing right now they save money plus they get a player under a favorable contrac
 
Lauri's been a tough watch of late. Hope he turns it around vs the Kings, but we've been waiting, and waiting. If his shot isn't falling, he's a real liability, and he's shooting like he knows that all too well.

Cavs should find a cardboard cutout of Jokic Lauri can dunk on to get his mojo back.
 
A step forward is a step forward. Decent on both ends ofc matching up with Haliburton wasn't the easiest defensive task. 3/8 from downtown and his missed ones wasn't as much all over the place as in some games. WIth his good on court ratings if he picks up shooting a bit its gonna be a huge positive instead of current situation where he is just an ok option with no much better upgrades in the roster.
 

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