D'Angelo Russell Discussion: Adopting A Professional Attitude

I'm not a basketball fan, honestly. I like playing basketball, but I don't like the way the game is played now. I can't stand watching Harden and LeBron brutalize people and have fouls called against the players guarding them. If that's what the NBA is, it doesn't really appeal to me. I lose no sleep over basketball, and I'm happy with that.

On fandom: I was a Magic and Kareem fan. I was a Jordan fan. I was a Shaqfan(TM). I was a Kobe fan. What almost all of those guys have in common is that they were Lakers. So I was a Lakers fan. I never felt the loyalty to that team the way I do to Notre Dame and the Phillies (maybe the quicker turnover here is what attracted me to those teams rather than the specific players; not sure).

Raiders fans, don't read this.
I even stopped following the Raiders when Marcus Allen went to KC. I rooted for KC those years. And then I went back to watching the Raiders when Allen retired.

 

Heresy! I did not understand and hated what Davis to Allen...so did a lotta peoples. Can't blame ya...

Howie Long once said seeing Allen in a Chiefs uni was like seeing your ex-wife in another man's kitchen.

On topic: Russell as being an ex-Laker, I will always note his progress and how his career unfolds.

 

That was a good team - castoffs who almost made it.

 

Nice subtle sexism from Howie. Cause where else would she be than in the kitchen.

 

T-Rod,

these numbers aren't bad. But they aren't great either. Russell very clearly was not worth a #2 pick. Guys like Towns, Booker, Porzingiz are clearly better. Not slightly but clearly.

Russell is a poor soul putting up average numbers on crap teams so far. He is not particularly efficient, he isn't particularly smart, he is definitely not mature, he is definitely not a great professional, he is most likely not a great teammate and above all...he has never elevated his team in the W-L column. He is an immensely talented underachieving 22 year old with a problem between the ears.

16ppg and 7 apg on 45% shooting and 35% 3FG playing for one of the worst teams in basketball...I mean even the Nets have moved him to play more off the ball because they realize he probably isn't better than Spencer Dinwiddie distributing the ball. In other words...Russell hasn't even been able to become an undisputed leader on 2 absolute crap teams (the Lakers and Nets). I just don't see greatness of any kind at anything.

 

^The point is for Lakers fans, anything other than stardom would have been labled a massive fail and Russell was going to feel the heat.

If Laker fans would have been happy with Russell being a 16 ppg player with 7 apg...then it would have been a different story. The expectations here were more along the 23/5/8 for him at his peak.

With the type of expectations that Russell's draft brought along with it, the Lakers had to trade him if he wasn't gonna become a star because that was clearly the expectation. You can say it was the highest dumping price ever. I tell you, Russell wasn't going to mesh well with Ingram and Ball. His ego was going to be a problem. So while it was a high price to pay, it definitely improved the locker room chemistry.

The Lakers success this season is proving it to be the right move.

 

You don’t see 23-5-8 in Russell?

I definitely see 20-6-4. I’m not sir about the star label. It’s not just about numbers. Russ may be a guy who’s better his whole career are getting his numbers than getting wins. I get why people don’t like that.

 

At this point in time, I don't see 23/5/8 on efficient percentages.

I don't see him ever being a good Playmaker and averaging more than 6/7 assists.

20/4/6 is realistic though shooting 43% and 37% from three. To me that's his ceiling right now given his maturity. But honestly, those numbers are all star-ish, if it doesn't translate to leadership and wins its worthless to me.

 

A) I totally agree 20-6-4 on 43/37. Absolutely attainable - and he's 21.
B) I probably agree with that as well - he hasn't yet been able to become a leader, and that's a legit knock on him.

Last night: 20-8-3 on 57% shooting, 3-6 from three, and 8:1 ast/to ratio.

But...to have a 20-4-4 (not 20-6-4) by age 22 is rare. It's been done 28 times in the last 60 years.

Kareem, Giannis, Devin Booker, Kobe, Tyreke Evans, KG, Juwan Howard, AI, LeBron, Kevin Johnson, Magic, Jordan, T-Mac, CP3, Oscar Robertson, D-Rose, Reggie Theus, Isaiah, David Thompson, Webber, Russ, and Sidney Wicks are the only players to do it. The list shortens to 12 times, 9 total players, if you bump it to 6 assists.

 

I think there's sufficient evidence that Russell's vibe at the very least didn't mesh with management. Sometimes people just don't get along. It happens. I for one was definitely curious about what Russell/Ball would look like, but the FO had other plans. It is what it is and I'm perfectly fine with it given the success we're having now.

 

Last 6 games he has scored 6 (2-9) then 25 (9-18), then 15 (5-15), then 6 (1-6), then 20 (8-14) and then 8 (2-8).

The inconsistency is a major culprit for him right now.

 

And 26 (9-17).