Should the Lakers be Playing DLO as a SG/PG instead of PG?

yinoma2001 · Retired Number Joined: 19 Jun 2010 Posts: 119487

IIRC, DLO did not play primary PG in high school. At OSU, arguably he played more SG/PG than PG/SG or PG. There was a nominal “PG” (Shannon Scott) who brought the ball up and oftentimes, the ball went to DLO as the finisher or the guy who made the pass to finish the play.

I understand the notion that the Lakers want to develop him as a PG, but I’m not sure it’s the best position to play him full-time. Just a comparison, size wise for the top young SGs in the NBA (draft combine measurements per DX).

DLO's measurements: height in shoes, wingspan, standing reach (according to DX database from combines, rounded up)
6'5, 6'10, 8'6

Danny Green:
6'6', 6'10, 8'5

Beal:
6'5, 6'8, 8'4

Klay
6'7, 6'9, 8'8

Harden
6'5, 6'11, 8'8

From a size standpoint, while he is thin, DLO can certainly get bigger and stronger since he’s only 19. If he bulks up for the PG position, will that compound his quickness issues at the position?

I think he operates best when there is a nominal ball handler who can set the offense up and he runs a series of off-ball movements where he can end up with the ball of a screen/curl and light them up mid-range or carve a team apart using the screen setter. Having him walk the ball up, make the first pass and just stand on the perimeter is wasting his skills off-ball IMO. I would really like to see him play more SG, particularly with Huertas. What are your thoughts?
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yinoma2001 · Retired Number Joined: 19 Jun 2010 Posts: 119487

How many minutes has Huertas/DLO played together? I would think that's one pairing we'd like to run in preseason? Is this a secret weapon?
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Dave20 · Franchise Player Joined: 15 Jun 2013 Posts: 11333

Russell should be playing off the ball more as a playmaking SG. OSU had another PG on the roster that ran the offense at times. The way OKC is using Westbrook is how the Lakers should be using Clarkson. He's better when he's in attack mode. Clarkson avg nearly 6 apg last year playing with below average players. He would be even better with Russell and other shooters around him.

City_Dawg · Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2015 7:19 am Post subject:

Yes, but this entire scenario is moot since Byron is the coach and doesn't have the creativity to take advantage of a guy like DLO which is one of the reasons this thread exists i imagine.
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ringfinger · Retired Number Joined: 08 Oct 2013 Posts: 29418

I think he should be playing more in a combo guard role, but that he should play at the 1 and in spurts at the 2.

sonic the laker · Star Player Joined: 06 Oct 2013 Posts: 2075

With a Russell/Clarkson backcourt, it seemed to be the Lakers intention of playing Russell as a PG/SG, or vice versa, however you like.

What the Lakers probably didn't count on is that Randle sometimes acts as a PF-guard, when he rebounds the ball, and pushes it up the court. Russell, not being as aggressive a personality as Clarkson or Randle, seems to disappear at times. He has the talent/potential, he just needs to find himself, his voice, on this team.

Randle, for all his potential, tends to be a bit of a black hole at times, when he gets the ball. He makes plays for himself, but the offense stagnates. He hasn't progressed to the level, yet, where he can go "Kobe". Kobe has proven to be a facilitator, that Randle hasn't, so far. He needs to learn to pick his moments, and be smarter on offense.

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Chronicle · Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2015 7:29 am Post subject:

Well since he's imitating Kelly's old hairdo maybe power forward?
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yinoma2001 · Retired Number Joined: 19 Jun 2010 Posts: 119487

yinoma2001 · Retired Number Joined: 19 Jun 2010 Posts: 119487

younggrease · Starting Rotation Joined: 22 Oct 2005 Posts: 753

Westbrook plays like Westbrook because that is who he is...Maybe DLO needs to learn how to be effective on the court.

He had the same issues when going against NBA level athletes and comp in college. Its not just the system, he hasnt looked great attacking at all and there is not any that gives no chances to attack

kaoss128 · Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2015 7:38 am Post subject:

I don't think playing him at PG hinders his development in any way so what do we have to lose by playing him there? This team isn't making the playoffs. Let him learn the PG spot by trial and error.

yinoma2001 · Retired Number Joined: 19 Jun 2010 Posts: 119487

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fiendishoc · Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2015 7:45 am Post subject:

In this offense, they really are taking turns all over the place. I don't think it really matters who brings the ball up because often they only do it to throw the ball to the other guard. And certain times during the game where Clarkson brought it up, Russell didn't even get to touch the ball.

The problem for Russell individually is that he's required to share the juicy early offense opportunities that the Lakers don't get enough of as it is, with Clarkson, Randle, and whoever's playing SF. And in the half court, basically, if it's a two guard front, then the other guy is the facilitator. If it's a floppy, then the SF or SG is the facilitator. If it's one of the Princeton high sets, then the center is the facilitator. If it's an elbow set, then Randle is the facilitator. And in all these, the Lakers don't get into them quickly enough to leave time on the clock, nor do they share the ball well as a team, so he'll get limited opportunities.

Even so, he's not really behind the other rookies statistically. It just looks that way because he's had two games cut short. So you could imagine he'd look a heck of a lot better in a pace and space offense where the ball tends to find it's way back to him to make a play with time to spare.

yinoma2001 · Retired Number Joined: 19 Jun 2010 Posts: 119487

Sina · Star Player Joined: 12 Jul 2015 Posts: 1817

It is still too early to draw any conclusion yet. But starting basically 3 rookies in Randle, Clarkson and Russell seems not a good idea. And none of them are good defender. I suggest to insert ABrown for Russell.

Hibbert
Randle
Kobe
ABrown
Clarkson

Kobe is still the best passer in this team. Let him play together with Clarkson and Russell is kind of waste of play making skill and limit his role to a spot up shooter. Replace Russell with ABrown would improve the perimeter defense, give them a better shooter, and utilise more on Kobe's play making skill, scoring ability and experience. Randle and Clarkson would also benefit.

The Lebrons · Star Player Joined: 30 Mar 2009 Posts: 4778

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younggrease · Starting Rotation Joined: 22 Oct 2005 Posts: 753

GonzagaAlum · Star Player Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Posts: 3021

I'm not sure why this poll even exists. It was obvious the Lakers were going to use him as a hybrid the second they drafted him. They have two hybrid PGs.
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yinoma2001 · Retired Number Joined: 19 Jun 2010 Posts: 119487

KyrieRubio · Starting Rotation Joined: 20 Oct 2015 Posts: 149

Who would play point than?

kikanga · Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2015 8:09 am Post subject:

Everybody is dead set on the following starting lineup:
Russell, Clarkson, Kobe, Randle, Hibbert
The thing is, with that lineup the best catch and shoot guy is running PG (DLO) in the P&R.
If we're all deadset on starting our 3 young guys together. Then running Russell off-ball is a good idea.
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yinoma2001 · Retired Number Joined: 19 Jun 2010 Posts: 119487

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yinoma2001 · Retired Number Joined: 19 Jun 2010 Posts: 119487