Off-Season Observations: Paul George, Media "Takes," and Prediction Risks

1. IMO, Paul George did not turn down the Lakers. I think LeBron turned down Paul George. If LeBron had wanted George to join him, George would have. The two must have talked before any decisions were made. LeBron just didn’t want him and his "choke" shooting at clutch time.

2. The media blow in the wind. All year long, they’ve said LeBron would never come to the Lakers. "Bad basketball decision." "The only possible reason is life after basketball." "Houston and Philly are clearly better choices."

Now? "I knew it all along." It’s obvious that’s where he was going to go." The same talking heads!

The Eastern press contingent are know-it-alls and sycophants who hide behind their "contacts" and "journalistic experience" to slander Western teams they never watch (other than the Warriors). Young Laker players are routinely deprecated. "Jaylen Brown is much better than Brandon Ingram." Really? In what Bizarro World? Only now, in his Summer League showcase, is Josh Hart getting the plaudits he deserves.

If I never hear Brian Windhorst again, I will be a happy man. I just hope he doesn’t come to LA to follow LeBron like the spineless parasite he is. (And Nick Wright and Jason Whitlock shouldn’t even be on TV. They make noise only to hear themselves – nothing sensible ever leaves their mouths.)

3. The Eastern talking heads still are not giving up. They now say the Lakers will be lucky to win 50 games and gain the 7th seed.(And I mean you, Chris Mannix - 47 wins! What are you smoking!) A team that improved by 9 games from the previous season despite too many injuries can’t improve another 5-1.0 games on its own? If internal improvement grows them to a 40-45 win team, LeBron only nets them an additional 5-10 wins? Even if they don’t further change their roster, they will easily surpass 50 wins. Only an injury cascade that includes LeBron will prevent that, even if the Lakers do start slowly as they learn to play together.

Thank goodness for YouTube providing proof of what the talking heads have said. When the Lakers play the Warriors in the WCF, they’ll all take credit for believing in the Lakers. But we know better…