Medina: Byron vs D'Angelo on subject of Playing Time

[Lonzo-Lite]

Byron Scott and D’Angelo Russell view playing time in blowouts very differently

(Article)

The outcome seemed obvious well before the final buzzer sounded on the Lakers’ 111-77 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday.

Yet, the Lakers still had to finish the game. Lakers coach Byron Scott still had to evaluate how players performed. Players still had to prove they would still compete.

But Lakers rookie point guard D’Angelo Russell was not part of that process. He sat out the entire fourth quarter again after posting eight points on 4-of-8 shooting, four rebounds, two assists, two steals and one turnover in only 25 minutes.

“Nah. There’s really no reason to. At that particular time we’re down 30 [points],” Scott said. “I wanted to get Ryan [Kelly] some time and Marcelo [Huertas] as well and some other guys that haven’t played a lot.”

Scott rested all of his starters, including Kobe Bryant, as the Lakers entered the fourth quarter trailing the Warriors, 89-55. But Russell represents a potential cornerstone of the Lakers’ long-term future. Isn’t there value in Russell having game experience even in blowout losses?

“Nah,” Scott said.

Russell would not have been playing in the Lakers’ normal rotation. That experience cannot simulate the same result in a competitive environment when successes or failures become more magnified.

But Russell subscribes to the argument that any increased playing time will have long-term implications, regardless of the settings.

“That would be great,” said Russell. “You’re only a rookie once. You get reps now and mess up now. So then next year when you’re not a rookie, you don’t have to worry about making rookie mistakes.”

Scott believes Russell has made plenty of mistakes with how he runs the offense, plays defense and makes passes. But Russell has shown steady improvement with both his play and opportunities. He entered the Lakers’ game against the Warriors on Tuesday averaging 14.3 points on 41 percent shooting, 6.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and only 1.9 turnovers in 32 minutes in the previous three contests. Those are modest numbers, but it still exceeds his previous season average before those games when he only averaged 24 minutes per contest.

Still, Russell argued that the Lakers’ fourth-quarter unit earned their playing time. They closed out the last period with a 22-22 tie.

“The group that goes out there looks very good,” Russell said. “I think that’s how coach wants us to play. They were swinging it and everybody touched the ball. They got good quality shots. There was nothing they could really do. But they still looked good.”

Nonetheless, Scott has conceded he hopes one day to give Russell about 35 minutes per game moving forward before adding a caveat:

“That’s up to him,” Scott said. “That learning curve is going away. We’ve been playing him minutes now. He’s getting minutes and making mistakes. Now is a time I expect and will be more demanding. I’m not going to accept some of the mistakes we’re making, especially the ones that he makes over and over again. That’s up to him.”

Is it up to Russell, or is it really up to Scott?
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Tacos

[2019]

[venturalakersfan]

I actually agree with Byron on this one, give some of the other guys some burn. And let's face it, if he kept Russell in and he got hurt, the same people complaining that he should play Russell would be complaining that he did play Russell. So take the dumb fan opinion out of the equation, by playing the bench guys in a blow out you do what is best for the team.
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RIP mom. 11-21-1933 to 6-14-2023.

[Nash Vegas]

What mistakes are you talking about Byron?

Kobe makes the MOST mistakes on this team, the MOST. He doesn't even play within the offense, he makes his own offense. But since he has 20 years exp, Byron gives him the most minutes, and the most Fga on this team.

@JeanieBuss #FireByronScott
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[silkwilkes]

there's no benefit in playing him in blowouts... the opposition isn't playing their normal 5 or with the same intensity, more than a few of the laker teammates have packed it in AND there's no competition or pressure. What are you practicing exactly? It's a long season and rookies have a hard time physically. Let him play when it matters.

Now, if we start getting blown out in every game, then sure.... play him because what heck else are you going to do.
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"He may say it's not you, it's him.... but it's really you."

[Nash Vegas]

[Bol]

Russell shouldn't play in blowouts. He's a starter and shouldn't be treated like a scrub rookie who's trying to earn a spot on the team. But somehow, the arrogance in Byron's words makes them seem bad even when I agree with what he's saying.

[2019]

[Andre2K]

[Nash Vegas]

[bandiger]

[silkwilkes]

I actually like the message.... as long as the team is competitive, you play more. If the team isn't competitive, the scrubs will play. In a sense, you're responsible for getting playing time by doing your best to keep the game competitive.

Now, Byron sabotages this with his substitutions... i get that. But the starters got DESTROYED last night. By the time the bench came in, we were down 20.
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"He may say it's not you, it's him.... but it's really you."

[nickuku]

[leor_77]

Russell SHOULD be playing in blowouts. Every minute of PT is a chance for him to learn, grow and get better.

[venturalakersfan]

[dood23]

Hopefully he tells Russell what these mistakes are instead of threatening to take away his minutes.
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"There's only 2 dudes better than me, and I'm BOTH OF THEM."

[LakersMDGurl]

I really tired of these Byron articles.!!!! I just wish that they can go away!!! SOOOOO FAR AWAY!!!!
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New Beginings

[bum2]