D'Angelo Russell Discussion: Adopting A Professional Attitude

He has much to learn.

I think they will cover shaving in training camp.

 

Lakers’ D’Angelo Russell downplays Summer League struggles, Kobe Bryant tweet

http://www.dailynews.com/sports/201...ays-summer-league-struggles-kobe-bryant-tweet

 

Did he just was he was extraordinary? Lol, lots to learn, but he's 19. Just hope don't expect too much for awhile. He's a big kid still, and needs time to grow.

 

Ha, no not "he" was extraordinary, quite. But was asked to do "extraordinary" things. Kind of channeling LeBron a little. Kid does talk a lot on tweets and verbally. He will learn real quick about that with ESPN and L.A. media.

Repping skin care products? Meh.....might want to be a little more selective going forward with all the endorsement offers that will come his way if he becomes as good as everyone thinks he will. His career and personality though with all of this. Like he says about his game .... I'm sure he will figure it out. Would do well to listen to and learn from Kobe in these areas.

 

Kumbaya baby!!




http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/...training-camp-dangelo-russell-jordan-clarkson

D'Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson are already practicing at the Lakers' training facility
By Drew Garrison  @DrewGarrisonSBN on Sep 10, 2015, 6:37p 3


It looks like things are starting to pick up in El Segundo.

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The Los Angeles Lakers are just a few weeks away from the start of training camp, but the young group they've put together is already busy at work in El Segundo. No. 2 pick D'Angelo Russell has been making his rounds with the Lakers' charitable efforts, but he's also been working at the team's practice facility:



His new backcourt mate Jordan Clarkson had to put his international play on hold, so he's also putting in time before training camp:



Anthony Brown's also getting in some extra work in preparation:



All of this, paired with the fact that it's been noted that Julius Randle has been working out with Metta World Peace throughout summer, and it seems these young Lakers are chomping at the bit to start their journey together. Sep. 29 is the opening of training camp, with their first game of the preseason coming on Oct. 4.

 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...kers-playoff-chances-rookie-of-the-year-hopes



Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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D'Angelo Russell is the most important player on the Los Angeles Lakers roster heading into his rookie season. That's a lot of pressure to put on a 19-year-old who has never played in an official NBA game, but the No. 2 pick in June's draft won't be intimidated by it.

In an interview with Alex Kennedy of BasketballInsiders.com, Russell said his expectation is to be the NBA's best rookie in 2015-16: “I have been grinding all summer to put myself in that position."

The pressure on Russell is already high because the Lakers are very much in a transition period. Kobe Bryant is in the final year of his contract, and general manager Mitch Kupchak has said the former MVP could retire after the season.

Going with a young nucleus around Bryant, which includes Russell and Julius Randle, could make this another difficult season for the Lakers in a loaded Western Conference.

However, Russell isn't shying away from putting expectations on himself or the team heading into the season, per Kennedy: “Expectations are high, but this Lakers squad will most definitely be a playoff team."

These are normal quotes for any athlete during the offseason. If Russell said the Lakers are rebuilding and will lose at least 55 games for the third consecutive season, he likely wouldn't be allowed back in the locker room.

Having expectations is a good thing, but reality doesn't always line up with them. Los Angeles fans should be thrilled if Russell and Randle are healthy for 82 games and consistently show the talent that has made them top-10 picks.

Russell's confidence in himself and his teammates is a good thing, even if the Lakers don't end up making the postseason this year. He will be the focal point for Los Angeles, even with Bryant still around, because he will be the one tasked with leading the offense into the future.


kids...... They are so sweet when they are naive and incapable of delivering what they are promising, and don't even know it.

 

Yeah it's tough when you've already read him saying not the smartest things for a person in his spotlight on Twitter multiple times. Still got to love his attitude! I expect us to be with how well he's playing and looking, compared to Summer League, by opening night. Just saying that. I think we're all going to be happy with the difference already in how he's looking. And how much stronger.

 

Next photo I really really want to see from someone covering the Lakers is a shot of Steve Nash out on the court working with Russell, Clarkson and Huertas (if he wants it).

 

As part of a new series here at Forum Blue & Gold, we’re examining a single skill to keep an eye on with players this season. It could be their best quality or an aspect of their game that, if successful, will help the most. The two sound similar, but aren’t exactly the same. For this part of the series, I’m looking at D’Angelo Russell’s pull-up jumper.

D’Angelo Russell’s greatest talent is arguably his passing. He sees the court insanely well and can pull off passing angles few would even consider. That being said, whether or not Russell can develop a consistent shot to keep defenses honest will go a long way in opening up those passing lanes.

To a certain extent I liken it to how Kobe Bryant would guard Rajon Rondo in those classic match ups and playoff series from 2008-10. When guards would defend Rondo with more standard tendencies (going over the top of screens, sticking to his hip, etc.) Rondo would regularly torch them. So, Phil Jackson employed Kobe as more of a general shadow, simply staying in front and daring Rondo to shoot. The strategy changed what the C Bags were trying to do, and was the best way to manage such a supremely talented ball-handler. The video below is great at displaying this technique.




Now, is Russell’s shot anywhere near as broken as Rondo’s? Nope. Not remotely so. But it definitely became an issue in the Las Vegas Summer League where, for whatever reason, his shot simply wasn’t falling. I’m not going to read too deeply into a handful of exhibition games where rhythm is always tough to come by for rookies, especially. Russell was a pretty good shooter (.449 FG%, .411 3P%, .756 FT%) in his lone season at Ohio State shooting many of the shots he can anticipate this season.

A couple minor tweaks could help, too.

First, if you’ll allow me to nerd out as the shooting coach I was once, Russell’s backspin isn’t completely true. Whereas you’d like to see the ball spin right over the top, Russell’s shot spins with a slight lean to the left. He’s left-handed, so this makes some sense and is generally a pretty easy fix. What this means, though, is any contact with the rim will have a slightly different and tougher-to-predict bounce than you’d idealistically like to see.

If I really nerd out, when you watch his shot, the ball travels through the right side of his body and on his release, he flicks his right thumb behind the ball, giving it that slight side spin. Fast forward to the 40-second mark on a catch-and-shoot three he makes and you’ll be able to see some of those minor tendencies.




Keeping his right thumb behind the ball is a popular move from young players hoping to add some range. As Russell becomes stronger, this issue can almost fix itself. Freeing up that right hand will go a long way in aiding rhythm off the dribble, as will simply playing in the NBA for more than five games with a bunch of guys he’s never played with before.

The options while running the pick-and-roll become limitless as this shot develops. Defenders have to stay joined at the hip or else risk giving up two points with a poorly-contested jumper. As he comes off the screen, any kind of fake getting ready for the shot has to be reacted to, and creates space for other options. His passing also benefits greatly as the spacing becomes more and more open, increasing the margin for error with pocket passes back to the screener or whipping the ball to any teammate as the defense is forced to react to Russell’s own shooting opportunity.

Failing to develop this shot consistently, though, will seriously hurt the Lakers’ chances at running the pick-and-roll at peak efficiency – something they’ll absolutely need in Byron Scott’s offense. Fortunately, however, Russell will share the backcourt with someone who could very easily handle more of the creating responsibilities in Jordan Clarkson, if the former doesn’t develop a consistent enough pull-up jumper.

Russell’s understanding of the game is such that he could very easily slide into more of the shooting guard role, especially seeing as he played a lot of that position at Ohio State. So, although as I described he could greatly aid the team and his own individual game as his shot improves, there are still ways to effectively use him on the court.

Still, though, it goes without saying how vital shooting has become in the NBA. Just ask the aforementioned Rondo, who’s gone from a widely-considered elite point guard to a reclamation project for the Sacramento Kings.

http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2015/09/10/one-player-one-skill-dangelo-russell-pull-up-shooting/

 

I don't think it has much to do with his form more so it was him being forced into a broken offense, asked to run the offense as his primary role, and taking bad shots because of the poor spacing. Guys like Mudiay didn't have that pressure on him and just went out and played.

In the very last game of Summer League, the spacing was much better, and they ran simple sets of pick and rolls. He put his shooting guard hat on and once he got around those big screens, he knocked down 4-5 jumpers with ease.

Rather than focusing on his form, he needs to be reading the offense and know when and where he'll get the space to get the looks he likes.

 

LOL

and......

Seriously JC? Pull up your pants.

 

LOL! Having fun before Scott kills them in training camp...

 

Good thing Russell's locker is next to Kobe. He really needs to learn to talk "less" especially with regard to things that are tough for him. Opponents will seize on any perceived weakness. Like commenting on Byron's running drills. "Running is punishment to me". Smack my head. Every guy he guards now is going to test him in that way. Run his a** up and down the court, around the key, without the ball through picks, etc.

http://www.insidesocal.com/lakers/2...-adjusts-to-byron-scotts-conditioning-drills/

 

Meh. That's not a big deal. The running does get old. Have you heard from any of Byron's teams that he's been on for more than 1 season? They get tired of the running, too. Some cardio is fine, but the extent to which Scott still does it is archaic especially in light of all the analytics we have on overtraining currently. That said, I'm hoping a training camp ramps up, and Byron test continues to test these guys, he'll continue to see their in fantastic shape, and we could focus on more basketball related things.

 

Agreed. Last training camp we had an injury.
I hope they focus more on basketball related things too, such as running an actual system, both on offense and defense, instead of running these guys to the brink of injury.

 

But there's a quite excellent chance imo that in these pre-season games he looks markedly better than SL, and for the reason too of being not 100% ......in the SL games. By start of the season, if healthy (as always all these guys) he's going to look like a different level of player and considerably stronger and at least a little more athletic. Start or come off bench a different issue. He's going to be able to compete early on I believe.