I don't see this happening but I think it should at this point: I would bench Ingram and Larry and start both Randle and Kuzma. If we start one or the other (Julius or Kuz) I think it hurts us a little bit although either one is better than Larry. If you have BI off the bench you have chemistry and shooting with Lonzo and Kuzma at the SF, you have strength, rebounding and some scoring punch from Randle to go alongside Lopez. To me the odd guy out right now is Ingram. I think the graduation to starter may have been too soon. He's playing so poorly with them there is no real justification to keep him in over a guy like Kuzma who is doing exactly what needs to be done. Ingram is still figuring it out. He played his best ball last night with the bench guys where he didn't force things offensively and defensively he did what he's good at. Everyone keeps saying it's too soon, he's too young to give up on and I don't disagree. But then why is he starting if he isn't playing well? Put him and Nance on the bench where there is less stress to put up points and create offensively. Bottom line is Kuzma looks ready NOW. He's been our hot player and he's got the chemistry with both Lonzo and Randle. Put all three together and let them do what they do.
What has Randle done to warrant a starting spot? Yeah he played well last night, but was dreadful the previous two games.
He was one of the best players in preseason, came into the year in fantastic shape, and thoroughly outplayed Nance to earn the spot before the year started. His poor play is directly related to the fact he wasn't starting. What has Nance done to earn his starting role? What had he done before Game 1 to earn the spot?
I can't believe I'm saying this, but we need Julius back in the starting line up. Larry Nance Jr lack of offensive skills are killing us out there. This put us in a massive hole at the start of the game. Also, Kuz needs to replace Ingram. BI is stinking up the joints and forcing up shots. Zo KCP Kuz JR Brook
Whoa ....whoa .....wait....WTF with the bait and switch title up there on that clip saying JR is jealous of Kuzma attention?? He very well could be but that's not at all what Ramona said in that 3 minutes.
You know what Nance and Beverly and Pope and other decent to good man defenders do that I wish Julius would do is get his f****** hands up on defense and active to make his guy have to at least think about where he might pass or which way he might try to make a move or shoot the ball. Julius almost always has his arms down while he's on his guy trying to stay in front of him. Just like setting screens is not rocket science, keeping your hands up and active is basketball defense 101.
LOL .... all the more reason to get them up. To f****** late when your guy has zinged a pass right by you where they should have been.
True. All she said was he was upset and that the Lakers are putting him through adversity because they might not want to pay him or maybe because... I don't know. It didn't make much sense. She claims the Lakers want scoring punch off the bench and they want Julius to be that guy. I kind of... sort of... get that. Except isn't Jordan Clarkson supposed to be your 6th man? So who actually gets the ball off the bench? That makes even more sense why Julius was so angry after a couple games when even off the bench he's not getting the ball. First you bench him despite doing nothing wrong and then you tell him he'll be able to have the ball more off the bench only to give Jordan Clarkson a 33% usage. Okay.
absolutely. can't stress it enough: nance just does simple basketball stuff that works. he can't shoot (neither can randle). he can't create off the dribble, but he won't destroy your offense trying to, either. he actually sets screens. he puts his hands up on d. he watches ball and man on d. could randle do all that? sure! does he? hell no. so rarely. so frustrating. if i were coach, i'd start nance, too.
Then get in Nance's grill and tell him to shoot the ball at the top of the key when he's open and keep shooting that stupid one hand shot on his own time until he can hit it. Saw him pass up like 2 Js right beyond the free throw line when he was open and the ball came to him, and put it on the ground. But I still think, since everyone's WMCing about the offense with the starters that Randle next to Lopez opening things up and Kuzma right now in place of BI with Pope coming out firing on all cylinders on offense would fix a number of things in a hurry. The reserves can still be strong. We need to win games now that are winnable and get looked at by those players we're lusting after. Starting off getting behind every game bites the proverbial Big one.
This. I totally understand that Nance does the coaching things, but he is a net negative overall. His inability to shoot hurts the starting lineup. His defense isn't good enough to matter against starters night in and night out. We saw what a motivated Julius looks like and it's 100% better than a motivated Nance in terms of ability and fit. Hell even Kuzma could be a better player in terms of effectiveness as a starter.
it was underwhelming. i see why nance won the starting job. do i want a better starting pf? sure. do we have one? i don't think so.
I agree with you, but Randle has not shown he can bring it like that every night in his whole career, he always regresses back for one reason or another.
I rarely disagree with you abeer but Randle is worlds better than nance. He needs to be starting period.
I don't disagree with that, but keeping him properly motivated is either up to a good coach, or send the kid away. Don't bench him, piss him off, and then tank any hope of trade value. Or hell any value to him as a prospective player who is trying to earn a big paycheck. It's just not the way to treat a player when you're trying to cultivate an image of a "player's team".
