D'Angelo Russell Discussion: Adopting A Professional Attitude

Yeah, seriously a lot of this irrational crap this summer hating on us from ESPN types is starting to make more sense now. Boron the a-hole is the gift that keeps on giving.

 

Some more Dlo talk in the first half of this video

 

With Kobe gone ESPN needs a Laker punching bag and DAR fits the bill. Had an incident and is somewhat cocky. He seems like the kind of person that will take all this negative and use it as motivation.

 

I thought Mason came across rather strongly opinionated on stuff he was even mistaken on. Obviously not a fan of management/Buss, and I'm not a fan of Buss, but even I thought he was taking it a bit too far.

I don't think I heard Iteland say anything about a trade though. Besides, Mitch took the time to call DeAngelo Russell and tell him in person that he wasn't going to be traded.

 

You know now you got me wondering if it was Westbrook they were talking about, I tried to find this on the podcoast last night for 1/2 hour but couldn't. I literally jumped in my car for a few minutes and as I recall it was crosstalk (makes sense it was around 3-ish) and Max and maybe someone covering for Marcellus (I believe was out, not sure) were just coming in. They had been talking about both DAR and Westbrook, so there's a chance I could have mixed up the two and they were talking about Russ. It was Ireland, and someone like Mason presented the question to him and said something like "what's your final call on the kid" to which Ireland said "Oh he's getting traded this year, I guarantee it". Mason was also like "really??" and seemed surprised at the prediction which makes me further think it was DAR. And I went "wtf" when I heard it. And I don't think Mason would be surprised at someone saying they thought Westbrook is getting traded this year. Anyways, seemed like DAR was the subject, now I'm not so sure. I had to jump out of car right then to meet a client. And anyways, he said it like opinion, not like he had insider info so either way I'm personally not worried about DAR going out without something amazing coming in.

 

Great to hear he's stepping up the example of working hard. Winning makes people forget a lot of wrongs.

 

But, but, but... Boron said he was not working out. He lazy and bum. Ship his a** for McConnell.

 

Russell will be an All Star within two years. There I said it. Not this season, not next season, but I could definitely see it the year after in what I believe would be his fourth season. If I remember correctly Steph made his first All Star team in that same scenario. Of course he was about three years older. I don't really care that it's summer league. It was summer league last season and he just looks like a completely different basketball player. D'Angelo is more poised, more disciplined, stronger, looks more athletic, more effecient, making less mistakes and while he does need to continue to work on those turnovers he's made excellent progress.

 

He does. We have a great one on our hands. The only thing that was gonna stop this kid from being spectacular was Byron or himself if he got too comfortable. I'm very pleased to see D'Angelo continue to work, continue to improve, and I have to believe as he said last season we haven't really seen anything yet and playing under Luke is gonna allow him the flexibility and the freedom to really shine as a player.

The one thing I've maintained from the start is that D'Angelo has all the tools to be a special player in the NBA. I never bought the whole he's not athletic or fast enough to be great logic. So what? Larry Bird and Steve Nash were never spectacular athletes and while Russell isn't either he's an NBA athlete. He does have deceptive quickness like he showed when he crossed over two players in one play against the Warriors. He understands NBA coverages, how to attack them, he change speeds, and he has something that not many point guards have anymore and that's a low post game. He's so big and long for a point guard that he creates such a mismatch problem because he can just shoot over those smaller guards. I'm really happy to see he's continued to operate down there.

D'Angelo needs to continue to find that balance between scoring and facilitating. Part of the issue stems from him never really being allowed to facilitate or be a primary ball handler. He just doesn't have enough experience as an NBA point guard. As gets more and more comfortable I think we'll see less of him trying to press the issue and being able to show off his passing skills more.

He's got everything. He has the shooting stroke that combined with his handles and his know how of being able to get seperation with his handles, with up fakes, using screens really well, and being able to lull defenders to sleep and as he continues to improve using both hands I don't see him ever being less than at least a really, really good scorer in this league. He's so creative with the ball, he can came off screens, he can handle the ball, he knows how to entice a defense to make him pass the ball, and he's gotten comfortable down low I don't have any concerns about his offense. My concern is defensively. I don't want him becoming like Harden. He has the ability to at least be a good, solid defender in this league. He just needs to put in that effort consistently.

 

Ireland said that if it were up to him, he'd trade the kids for vets right now. But that's not what the Lakers FO wants to do, so that's not likely to happen.

 

You had to jump out of the car while possibly strategic Lakers observations were being pulled from Ireland's butt ..... to meet a client??

Dude! Priorities!

 

Russell isn't being traded. Mitch already said that and told D'Angelo that as well. Isn't Ireland the same guy who said Byron would get another year? Ireland has been on the trade the kids bus all offseason so I think his opinion is baseless.

 

This is why Byron is rallying the hate of the entire ESPN empire to focus on the Lakers and especially DAR. He know's what's coming and how freaking stupid he's going to look for having been nothing but an obstacle course in D'Angelo and Julius's development last year.