HA!! I wonder who took this photo actually. It's a nice shot, no question, but it's not your "typical" (cue Tim the Tool Man manly grunts) ..... "exercising jocks" photo. NO. He/she went to the trouble to go artsy fartsy with it. Tim and D'Angelo are in good focus but everything around them has with software been put into extra soft focus or shallow "depth of field" focus. I like it. I also again think of Top Gun volleyball images. It's still dog days of nothing going on so a little Photo 101 for you whether you give a s*** or not.
it was a short clip of Clarkson acting silly eating a krispy cream donut with a dumb person type accent. I will try to figure out why it's no saying not available... Edit: Looks like it was deleted. It did not come from Clarkson's instagram account. I saw it on Lakers24ever account.
http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2015/9/21/9365745/la-lakers-dangelo-russell-jordan-clarkson D'Angelo Russell posts Instagram photo with Jordan Clarkson, continues backcourt bromance By Harrison Faigen @hmfaigen on Sep 21, 2015, 10:50am The Lakers' hoped for backcourt of the future keeps building chemistry If Jordan Clarkson had a bigger ego, the Los Angeles Lakers' selection of point guard D'Angelo Russell second overall in the 2015 NBA draft after Clarkson just made the 2015 All-Rookie first team on the strength of his play at point guard could have caused a rift in the two's relationship before it even began. Instead, Clarkson has by all accounts fully embraced his likely move to shooting guard in the Lakers' starting lineup alongside Russell in what the team's front office hopes will be the team's backcourt for the next decade. Clarkson and Russell first demonstrated their off the court chemistry in Las Vegas Summer League, with Russell ending Clarkson's media availability by jokingly asking why Clarkson could not finish his lob pass. Then the two were seen returning early to the Lakers' training facility to take part in voluntary workouts nearly three weeks before training camp was slated to begin. The latest chapter in the guards' bromance was Russell posting a photo of the two of them as celebrity coaches at the Power 106 All-Star game to his Instagram feed: It's a welcome site for Lakers fans to see this young backcourt building chemistry and getting ready to begin their on-court growth together when Lakers' training camp kicks off one week from today in Hawaii.
Man, i have a feeling this kid broke threw to other side this summer. He is gonna be a star real soon.
His little hop back for space move is QUICK. How do you defend that without fouling unless you're just going up high enough to get it. And "little" is the wrong word, he moves a lot back on those. Those little point blank 2's all game long ....whenever baby :sashafire:
We already knew he had an offensive game, though it needed polishing of course but I'm so happy to see him working on defense. We don't need him to carry the offense like we did last season so I was hoping he improved his defense so that he is still effective out there with all the other scorers. He's pesky and quick on defense and if he guards the premier PGs, with HIbbert in the back..... we won't look dead on defense anymore.
This is what I'm looking for. I envision the future having Jordan annoy the other team's best guard while D'Angelo plays the opposing SG. D'Angelo is quick enough to play passing lanes effectively and constant pressure from Jordan is going to make Hibbert's job easier too. There's a TON of potential right there. All we have to do is make sure Randle and Kobe are helping Hibbert out around the rim. Kobe might not be able to help and recover the same way he used to, but starting next summer if/when Kobe retires and you replace him with Demar or Durant or Batum... That defense could be really deadly actually.
His defense in these few clips of training camp scrimmages has been extremely impressive. He's hounding his man upcourt, he's sneaking around and swiping the guy with the ball in the post who doesn't have his head on a swivel, and he's jumping the passing lanes. How many steals did he have in 8-10 minutes of footage from yesterday, like 4? That's impressive. I especially like that play where he scored off a steal, then stole the inbounds pass immediately off that.
Jordan has that smooth speed. But in addition to his physical game which is looking like, "can't wait to see him in games", even more impressive is his basketball IQ which is off the charts, as evidenced by his decision to wear neon green shoes ..... which makes it easy for his fans to keep track of him through all the bodies. :magicsmile: :Hotshot:
The call came unexpectedly. The Lakers informed D’Angelo Russell they wanted to host him for a second draft workout, his playmaking and confidence at the point guard spot intriguing the team’s front office enough to consider him instead of a prized big man (Jahlil Okafor). But even if the interest felt flattering, Russell still wondered aloud about the Lakers’ interest. He remained well aware of Jordan Clarkson’s emergence as a member on the NBA’s All-Rookie First team after starting 38 of the Lakers’ last 39 games at the same position. “He already assumed we had a ball-handling guard,” Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak recalled. “Our position with him was, ‘The reason we’re bringing you in a second time is we feel like you can play together.’ He was taken aback. He said, ‘Really?’ We said, ‘Really. That’s why we’re bringing you in a second time. We feel you guys can play together.’” The Lakers’ instincts appear correct. Clarkson immediately welcomed Russell with open arms after the Lakers selected him second overall. During Summer League play, Russell’s pass-first mentality complemented Clarkson’s quest to score. And through four days of training camp here at Stan Sheriff Center, the two often have dined together after practice. Even before the Lakers drafted Russell, Clarkson never showed any hint of insecurity that such a move could leave his job security vulnerable. “To win, you have to have great players around you,” Clarkson told Los Angeles News Group. “That’s my biggest thing. This is a five-man sport. You can’t win by yourself. Maybe back in the day when (Kobe Bryant) was doing his thing. But he had pieces around him, too.” Sounds like a simple concept. But the business end in professional sports can complicate things. Clarkson will make $845,059 in the 2015-16 season in what marks the league minimum for a second-year player. But Clarkson could then net a lucrative deal next summer as a restricted free agent should he build off his rookie season. That partly explains why Clarkson joined Octagon sports agency, where he will be represented by agents Jeff Austin and Chris Emens, according to league sources. Earlier this summer, Clarkson and Excel Sports Management had cut ties. Meanwhile, the Lakers have held out hope Russell will become the franchise’s next cornerstone. Yet, the Lakers sense Clarkson and Russell remain motivated about something else more pure. “I don’t think either one of those guys are worried about that phase of it. They’re more worried about wins,” Lakers coach Byron Scott said. “They seem to get along extremely well. Both of those guys want each other to do well. Their chemistry is undeniable when you see them on the court and off the court.” Russell frequently looked to set up Clarkson in Summer League play, which contributed to a team-leading 16.8 points per contest. Russell jokingly interrupted Clarkson’s post-game interviews. The two recently coached together at the Power 106 All-Star game. They also frequently play paintball together, too. “He’s not one of those serious vets that you can’t crack a smile around. He’s a young dude and still growing. I’m the same way with my first year,” Russell said. “I’m a goofy guy. He’s a goofy guy. We complement each other.” Practical reasons exist why that has happened. Said Russell: “If I was a scoring guard and looked to score as much as possible, then I could see (tension). But I feel like I can play with anybody.” Said Clarkson: “We’re two totally different players. He’s an excellent passer and I’m more aggressive.” Officially, Scott has not yet determined if Russell and Clarkson will start together in the backcourt while Kobe Bryant starts at small forward. But if that likely scenario unfolds, Russell and Clarkson already showed glimpses in Summer League and training camp how that would work. Though the dynamic forced them to share ball-handling duties, Russell and Clarkson determined how to even up that workload pretty easily. Russell mostly handled the ball and organized the offense, while Clarkson mostly moved off the ball and looked to score. The roles only switched whenever Clarkson grabbed the rebound. That made Russell envision something he would not have thought when the Lakers brought him in for a second pre-draft workouts. Said Russell: “I feel like we grow together after every practice.” http://www.dailynews.com/sports/20151002/lakers-dangelo-russell-jordan-clarkson-forming-close-bond
It's happening guys! These guys are doing exactly what fans sitting behind their computers envisioned months ago. How often does that happen? We're seeing two guys who could easily have butted heads, but instead are choosing to make it work for the betterment of the team and for a better opportunity to win. It's been a common theme for the team this summer, but it's not something you see out of young guys very often. Clarkson, Russell, Randle, Hibbert, Bass, Williams, even Kobe and Nick Young have ALL said the same thing: I'll do what's necessary to win more games and they're backing it up too. That's amazing. Those are the guys we're building around and they're doing what they need to win. Feels like the Lakers again.
Warning..... Top Gun volleyball scene worthy "take" coming up here. :ShaqOh: I have always loved watching Kobe move. In the midst of his most explosive prime, and to this day for his age he has an extraordinary grace and elegance along with the thrills and chills in his athletic performances. Like no other. I am going to miss that tremendously when he finally hangs it up. But watching Jordan now and knowing how great he wants to be and seeing what he is already, years short of his prime ...... thank Lakers goodness we have a new player of similar grace and elegance of movement. Clarkson, to LetsGoLakers' everlasting credit, is a hell of an athlete. :twothumbs:
