D'Angelo Russell Discussion: Adopting A Professional Attitude

A) Shooting is pretty important, it turns out.
B) I don't think that's at all accurate.

http://www.nbadraft.net/players/dangelo-russell

http://www.nbadraft.net/players/lonzo-ball

They're both really impressive, and they tied in some categories, and Russ also got the edge in "Intangibles" from NBA Draft.net. That's just one scouting report. I think they're both very good prospects, with a big question mark - can Russell cut down the TOs? can Ball develop the strength needed to score reliably in the NBA? So, I'd actually disagree with anyone saying that one of them is much better than the other.

 

I'm glad you asked. 20-6-5 on the season, and 19.4 points, 7.7 assists, 5.1 rebounds (in the last 9).

 

I'm on my phone. Responding to long posts is difficult but I'll try.

I'm not sure to define it better if you're not willing to concede the point. Russell does not put the team consistently in positions to be successful. If he did... we'd be more successful and he would be too. I mean the evidence sort of speaks for itself. He forces passes constantly in the name of running the offense and his inefficiency in large part is due to him not finding the right spots. What happened to his mid-range jumper in the pick and roll? He hasn't shot it consistently in months. Sure he CAN run an offense but it's not something he excels at. I want to put our players in their best positions. His best position could be coming off screens for easy looks, but he doesn't get that opportunity. His idol Steph does. And I didn't include Paul because I'm petty when it comes to him.

He is as much of a point guard as some of the better guards except for the success of course. Not to mention most of the guards you're referring to have other playmakers on the team. Wall has Beal. Kylie has LeBron. Lillard has McCollum. I mean what's so wrong with wanting Russell to play off the ball more and give him someone else to organize and run the offense?

Actually Randle does cut... right on top of another cutter or right into the driving lane of the other player. He does it all the time. It's very annoying.

All I was pointing out was that they're talented which you said they weren't. Are they good fits? Nope. Not right now. The one thing I wanted most out of Randle this season was a jumper and he has failed to come through with that. Not just that he can't make it, but he doesn't take it. Actually when he takes threes they generally look okay but he won't take the damn shot. Infuriating. As for Ingram it's all there for him to improve but he certainly is incredibly talented.

I think it would improve Russell's game a lot if he wasn't asked to take care of the offense or if he didn't feel responsible for it all. That was my point. Bring someone else in whose first inclination is to pass the ball and get things moving. Someone confident enough to bring the ball up the court and run an Elevator play to get Russell an open three. Is that so negative?

 

If Ball is as good as some of you think, he's not going to be available for us to draft.

 

Cause he has the awareness of Michael Scott in The Office.

 

What does that mean? As of today, there's a 47% chance we keep that pick. There's a 16% chance that we have the 1st pick, a 16% chance we have the second pick, and 16% chance we have the third pick. This means that there's about a 69% chance we pick after #1. If Ball's that amazing a prospect, shouldn't he go #1? Even if he's only the second best prospect in the draft, we have only a 31% chance of picking him up.

In other words, the odds are that we don't land Ball.

 

Funny thing is I trust Zu's jumper/set shot more than Randle or Nance's

 

Not sure that's funny. That's more of an unavoidable conclusion.

 

I don't see the Kidd comparison. I see Penny Hardaway. He's got some serious hops, as well as the passing and shooting. Weird shot, but he does a step-back move that gives him room to get it off.

 

What?