Andre Drummond Is A Sixer!

No we didn't play better with him on the floor. Nobody considered Javale some kind of savior either, besides maybe you. The only thing Gasol can lay claim to, is having the good fortune of playing with a healthy Lebron and AD for a short period of time. Following that logic, every member of the team made us play better during that time.

 

Caruso isn't as overrated as Gasol, but 6 pts ppg, 1 steal and 3 assists for the entire Phoenix series is NOT playing great.

 

I would rather see Drummond next year then Gasol. Mark is getting old and is too slow. Drummond has his flaws, but has a better up side then Gasol. Give him a full offseason to work with this team. Next, year will be better.

 

Right, well I think we’re on the same page there in that I think the initial Gasol hate was overblown. In the same way that I think the Drummond hate is. Our record to start the year IMO was NOT a testament to Gasol’s great play, but a testament to how we don’t really need all that much production from our center position when everyone is healthy. However, I do think we needed depth as we were in a scenario where if Gasol went down with injury, we had no other real centers in the rotation. That’s why I think the Drummond signing made sense in a vacuum, and I wasn’t (still am not) opposed to starting someone like him and having Marc off the bench.

In regards to Caruso, Slick made my point. Caruso was pretty terrible in our series against Phoenix. Sure you can argue maybe he did the little things well, but at the end of the day sub-40% from the field and sub-30% from the 3 just won’t cut it for one of our rotation guards. We DO need better than that.

I think that was just a bad series and I’m confident Caruso will play better going forward, and I do want to retain him. It’s just strange to me that he seems immune to any criticism, and I think part of that is all the hate that Schröder attracts.

 

I like Caruso, he has spunk, grit,swag etc that's a great quality for a role player. His limitations gets exposed if he plays too many minutes though. He doesn't shoot well enough to be a legit two, he doesn't handle or pass well enough to be a legit PG. He is too small to be a 3, but he gives up his body willing and will make a lot of hustle plays. Great guy to have, I wouldn't start him, or over pay him either.

 

drummond wasn't good with the starters. he clogged the paint on offense and was as bad or worse against the p&r on defense. we needed a backup center with mobility. we signed a starting center without it. people really downplay how important it was for the offense that teams be concerned with gasol as a shooter and passer, and that he knew how plays were going to unfold, which helped mitigate his sloth. drummond has no clue and isn't quick anyway. same with howard and mcgee. all equally ineffective in different ways against certain schemes and personnel. good thing we have a center masquerading as a pf who is also a top-5 nba player in these instances.

so, yes, we needed very little from the c spot, and gasol was providing it.

relatedly, if drummond was going to be a vet min backup, i'd be leading the charge to re-sign him. eating up our MLE is not good, though, as it's our primary means to improve.

i mean, who was it that played equal to or over their standard against phx? everybody was tired, and everybody knew (more than we did) how steep the hill was going to be. everybody lost spirit and confidence.

 

Did Drummond get to play with a healthy Lebron and AD for an extended period of time this season?? I won't judge him with handful of games he played with an ailing AD and a not 100% Lebron. Chemistry takes time. That is why AD wants him here. If he plays poorly next year, move him in Feb or March.

 

Just nit picking but pretty big nit? According to these stats AC shot not “under 30%” from 3 in the playoffs …. but 35%, with eFG of 47% when combined with 40% on the money from 2.

 

That is true but it's difficult to find replacement centers in the middle of the season which is why outside of Drummond, there wasn't really any noteworthy centers. Hassan Whiteside didn't even get signed, either. Dwight and Javale will be free agents as well and we know that they worked really well with the Lakers. I really think Drummond has to drop some weight. He just seems too chunky out there. Would be nice if he could move around more often and finish quicker under the rim. He's already got a size advantage against most centers. Maybe dropping some weight for increased mobility will help his game fit the team.

 

Lol..if Drummond is too chunky, what does that make Gasol?

 

Are you talking about Gasol?? LOL

 

Gasol is signed for another year. I don't know why he is the point of discussion here. He's also a floor spacer/passer. Drummond is an interior player. It would benefit Drummond more to lose some weight than a player like Gasol who isn't relied on to do the type of work Drummond is expected to.

 

I don't see the losing weight angle at all. He didn't seem to have stamina issues. Davis was on losing teams most of his career before coming to the Lakers. That in itself isn't all on the player. If that's the case, maybe teams should stay away from a guy like Bradley Beal. Drive to be great? Hard to define that one, do you see anyone on the Lakers with this drive to be great outside of the big two? Curious..

 

Because any player on a losing team does not have a winning mind set. Got it lol

 

i just think he has low hoop iq and very little basketball skill. he's a good athlete, and he's large. so people decided he should be a good basketball player. but he's really not.

people that are hopeful for him think he can just learn to fill a role, but i don't think he can. it looks like i'm going to have to hope i'm wrong, as signs indicate he'll be here next year at least.

i hope someone else offers over MLE, and we can just move on.

 

How was I twisting his words??? I have seen alot of uncivil discussions here. I don't need your lecture.