Finding Hope In D’Angelo Russell’s Lost Rookie Year
Quote:
D’Angelo Russell kicked off summer league with a bang. Actually, two bangs by Mike Breen’s standards. Following a controversial rookie year marred by a bizarre social media scandal, Russell entered summer league play looking to give the Laker fan base a reason to believe in him again, and it didn’t take him very long.
Watching Russell defend in the drills, it just seems like he has the length, timing and skills to be a solid defender in the league. Playing good defense isn't predicated much on athleticism as it is on instincts and motivation. I'm hoping Luke can find a way to motivate him defensively. The problem with 1st or 2nd year players is they try to hard to make names for themselves offensively. It really is no different with Russell.
Joined: 14 Apr 2001 Posts: 144461 Location: The Gold Coast
Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2016 1:59 pm Post subject:
I agree and despite the young players having no defensive coaching last season, I am not concerned at this point. They just need a solid plan. I like that Randle was picking Bass' brains about defense last year. I think they want to play good D, they just need proper instruction. _________________ RIP mom. 11-21-1933 to 6-14-2023.
Joined: 29 Aug 2004 Posts: 11197 Location: The Other Perspective
Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2016 7:09 pm Post subject:
pio2u wrote:
MJST wrote:
TEAM USA 1 ON 1 DRILLS
Pretty awesome stuff from Russ here.
zePokar posted that originally.
He played pretty good defense on Jamie Fox!
That's cuz DLo is Unpredictable! _________________ "Chick lived and breathed Lakers basketball…but he was also fair and objective and called every game the way it was played."
-from Chick: His Unpublished Memoirs and the Memories of Those Who Knew Him
I'm hoping Luke can find a way to motivate him defensively
That is the next step for the "young core" backcourt of Russell and Clarkson.
Both need to realize that empty offensive stats while getting abused like $10 hos every night defensively in loss after loss doesn't get it in LakerLand.
If we are needing a coach to motivate our supposed franchise guy to play defense coming off a 17 win season? Yikes. _________________ Love, Laker Lanny
I'm hoping Luke can find a way to motivate him defensively
That is the next step for the "young core" backcourt of Russell and Clarkson.
Both need to realize that empty offensive stats while getting abused like $10 hos every night defensively in loss after loss doesn't get it in LakerLand.
If we are needing a coach to motivate our supposed franchise guy to play defense coming off a 17 win season? Yikes.
Find me the last 19 year old who made the all-NBA defensive team.
We need a coach to show them that defense is of the upmost importance if you want to win ball games. When you bring young players to the league under a tanking program some fundamentally important parts of their games can be overlooked by the staff, but it has to be corrected hatter sooner than later if we want to win games anywhere in the near future. Young players usually don't play great defense, but you don't want a player doing the same mistakes over and over again, that is where a competent coaching staff has to work, making sure the same mistake is not made again building winning habits.
Joined: 13 Apr 2001 Posts: 11882 Location: Looking outta the window, watching the asphalt grow ...
Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2016 6:24 am Post subject:
LakerLanny wrote:
KindCrippler2000 wrote:
I'm hoping Luke can find a way to motivate him defensively
That is the next step for the "young core" backcourt of Russell and Clarkson.
Both need to realize that empty offensive stats while getting abused like $10 hos every night defensively in loss after loss doesn't get it in LakerLand.
If we are needing a coach to motivate our supposed franchise guy to play defense coming off a 17 win season? Yikes.
I'm hoping Luke can find a way to motivate him defensively
That is the next step for the "young core" backcourt of Russell and Clarkson.
Both need to realize that empty offensive stats while getting abused like $10 hos every night defensively in loss after loss doesn't get it in LakerLand.
If we are needing a coach to motivate our supposed franchise guy to play defense coming off a 17 win season? Yikes.
I'm hoping Luke can find a way to motivate him defensively
That is the next step for the "young core" backcourt of Russell and Clarkson.
Both need to realize that empty offensive stats while getting abused like $10 hos every night defensively in loss after loss doesn't get it in LakerLand.
If we are needing a coach to motivate our supposed franchise guy to play defense coming off a 17 win season? Yikes.
$10 hos? Not sure what that experience is like. Do tell us Lanny! _________________ From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals
We need a coach to show them that defense is of the upmost importance if you want to win ball games. When you bring young players to the league under a tanking program some fundamentally important parts of their games can be overlooked by the staff, but it has to be corrected hatter sooner than later if we want to win games anywhere in the near future. Young players usually don't play great defense, but you don't want a player doing the same mistakes over and over again, that is where a competent coaching staff has to work, making sure the same mistake is not made again building winning habits.
I'm hoping Luke can find a way to motivate him defensively
That is the next step for the "young core" backcourt of Russell and Clarkson.
Both need to realize that empty offensive stats while getting abused like $10 hos every night defensively in loss after loss doesn't get it in LakerLand.
If we are needing a coach to motivate our supposed franchise guy to play defense coming off a 17 win season? Yikes.
$10 hos? Not sure what that experience is like. Do tell us Lanny!
I can only think of two possible explanations. Either back when Lanny was of an age to engage such services, $10 was a normal price or he's just not too picky about looks, age, gender, species, etc.
I'm hoping Luke can find a way to motivate him defensively
That is the next step for the "young core" backcourt of Russell and Clarkson.
Both need to realize that empty offensive stats while getting abused like $10 hos every night defensively in loss after loss doesn't get it in LakerLand.
If we are needing a coach to motivate our supposed franchise guy to play defense coming off a 17 win season? Yikes.
$10 hos? Not sure what that experience is like. Do tell us Lanny!
I can only think of two possible explanations. Either back when Lanny was of an age to engage such services, $10 was a normal price or he's just not too picky about looks, age, gender, species, etc.
I grew up in what is now known as South L.A. around the corner from the ho track and I've never witnessed the $10 ho. If a ho ever gave it up for ten bucks, even at the height of the crack era, a swift decisive beating was sure to follow. Hoes got more than ten bucks on Deadwood. FOH!
I'm hoping Luke can find a way to motivate him defensively
That is the next step for the "young core" backcourt of Russell and Clarkson.
Both need to realize that empty offensive stats while getting abused like $10 hos every night defensively in loss after loss doesn't get it in LakerLand.
If we are needing a coach to motivate our supposed franchise guy to play defense coming off a 17 win season? Yikes.
Find me the last 19 year old who made the all-NBA defensive team.
Oh wait you can't.
But keep moving those goalposts though.
Who is the youngest, non center, to make an all defensive first team?
Joined: 17 Feb 2002 Posts: 14876 Location: Reseda, CA
Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2016 10:23 am Post subject:
Vic5150 wrote:
KindCrippler2000 wrote:
LakerLanny wrote:
KindCrippler2000 wrote:
I'm hoping Luke can find a way to motivate him defensively
That is the next step for the "young core" backcourt of Russell and Clarkson.
Both need to realize that empty offensive stats while getting abused like $10 hos every night defensively in loss after loss doesn't get it in LakerLand.
If we are needing a coach to motivate our supposed franchise guy to play defense coming off a 17 win season? Yikes.
Find me the last 19 year old who made the all-NBA defensive team.
Oh wait you can't.
But keep moving those goalposts though.
Who is the youngest, non center, to make an all defensive first team?
Kobe has got to be one of the youngest. He was 22 when he first made it.
I'm hoping Luke can find a way to motivate him defensively
That is the next step for the "young core" backcourt of Russell and Clarkson.
Both need to realize that empty offensive stats while getting abused like $10 hos every night defensively in loss after loss doesn't get it in LakerLand.
If we are needing a coach to motivate our supposed franchise guy to play defense coming off a 17 win season? Yikes.
Find me the last 19 year old who made the all-NBA defensive team.
Oh wait you can't.
But keep moving those goalposts though.
Who is the youngest, non center, to make an all defensive first team?
Kobe has got to be one of the youngest. He was 22 when he first made it.
There is only 1 Kobe. _________________ Music is my medicine
Joined: 15 Sep 2012 Posts: 29280 Location: La La Land
Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2016 11:27 am Post subject:
pio2u wrote:
Gimme_the_rock wrote:
LakerLanny wrote:
KindCrippler2000 wrote:
I'm hoping Luke can find a way to motivate him defensively
That is the next step for the "young core" backcourt of Russell and Clarkson.
Both need to realize that empty offensive stats while getting abused like $10 hos every night defensively in loss after loss doesn't get it in LakerLand.
If we are needing a coach to motivate our supposed franchise guy to play defense coming off a 17 win season? Yikes.
Dayum, Lanny!!!
_________________ "Every hurt is a lesson, and every lesson makes you better”
Joined: 15 Jul 2002 Posts: 6938 Location: searching for the mojo of Dr. Buss
Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2016 11:36 am Post subject:
Yeah... like it's such a shock that superstar NBA players often struggle on defense
And DLO hasn't been that bad defensively. Given his length, he could be a true defensive force... which is what Walton is likely talking about. If DLO wanted to, he could really disrupt a lot of things on a consistent basis. _________________ "He may say it's not you, it's him.... but it's really you."
Yeah... like it's such a shock that superstar NBA players often struggle on defense
And DLO hasn't been that bad defensively. Given his length, he could be a true defensive force... which is what Walton is likely talking about. If DLO wanted to, he could really disrupt a lot of things on a consistent basis.
Yeah. He has the length of a typical SF. He already seems to show an ability to read passing lanes and plays. He has to stop ball watching off ball, and find better angles so he doesn't get crushed on picks. Plus, as shown in GT's breakdown, he and Nance (and other bigs) need to communicate better about "ICE" and so forth. _________________ From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals
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