D'Angelo Russell Discussion: Adopting A Professional Attitude

DLO is only good when there’s no pressure (i.e. when we’re already ahead by 20, or so far behind it doesn’t matter). He never, NEVER brings it in the clutch.

 

Hmmm. Never, never? He did against the Grizz lat year in the first round. Down 99-90, he hit three straight three's in a game we won.

I do understand, though. He just doesn't do himself any favors with his inconsistency against quality opposition and he flamed out last year against Denver.

I'm sure we're looking for a comparable (I.E. more consistent) and/upgrade at the position, which I don't mind.

 

DLO is playing like a guy who wants to stay a Laker. Hopefully he keeps it up.

 

someone's gotta break it to lebron that his scapegoat is probably here for the year.

 

*97-90.. That was huge swing for us though. Also don't forget game 1 against the Warriors, they were on a 14-0 run to tie the game late in the fourth and he got the game winning bank shot to break the tie. He had some other big moments against both the Grizz and Warriors.. It's only against the Nuggets he s*** the bed. Maybe he will learn and build off of that to be better but it's not like we can upgrade him.

Lakers need shooting and skill and he has it.. He just needs to raise the floor of his bad games which he should be able to do with his talent.

 

Normally I agree with you but I have seen enough from Ham. I will not go on incessantly about wanting him gone but I am done with him. He is not a good head coach, he would be a great assistant but I do not think we will achieve anything with him as our leader.

 

yeah. last year was actually an improvement over what he's done in other big situations (he was unplayable for minnesota, imo--like in our denver series). at least he did some big things in the first two series.

anyway, i'm not a dlo stan by any means. i'd welcome a clear upgrade (e.g., murray). i'd even be ok with a slight downgrade if it meant lebron would box out.

 

I’m still not entirely sold Murray is a huge upgrade over DLo. He might be the better player, I’m not sure he’s the better fit.

But if Atlanta caved and was willing to accept Murray for DLo, JHS, and protected 2029 pick, you might have to pull the trigger.

Especially if there is any concern that DLo will opt out and walk away this summer. Murray’s contract is actually pretty team friendly and tradeable.

 

Lebron's minion is not fooled by Dlo

 

DLo is a skill guard that's good, but not elite, skill-wise with probably below average athleticism at the guard position. I think it's really tough for that profile of player to excel in the playoffs when the game is more physical, defenses are locked in, and opponents are more methodically hunting mismatches on the other end. I like him and want to see him succeed with us. When he's on like he was yesterday the fit of our Top 4 is really nice offensively. I don't want to trade him just to do it. But we need to keep getting Christie minutes, and eventually see what Gabe can do, in the event we get into high leverage games and DLo struggles again.

 

Yeah, I think you have to take that. I don't care for the other iterations of the Hawks trade where we include Rui or Reaves and get back Bogdanovic or Capela. I'd like to disrupt the rotation as little as possible at this point and shoot for a like-for-like upgrade if possible.

 

I do think DLO is stepping up to show everyone what he can do. I like that response a lot.

I'm still not against trading him though and probably would lean toward Murray of the rumors out there if we move him.

 

The biggest difference between the two is defense. If the trade goes through, we would really only have one weak link( assuming LeBron decides to do the minimum) on defense in our starting unit.

 

Can Murray shoot or pass like DLo?

 

No

He's a better rebounder and defender though so the hope would be he doesn't get played off of the floor in a series.

Edit: Assuming the Lakers make the playoffs. They are 10th with Lebron and AD both being relatively healthy so we'll see.....

 

He averaged 9 assists his last year with the Spurs, 6 last year and five this year so far.
Murray:
47% FG on 21ppg
38% from three
4.8 assists
4.8 boards
1.4 steals

DLo:
47% FG at 15.7ppg
40% from three
Assists:6.1
2.8 boards
.8 steals

As we can see, DLo isn’t a significantly better shooter, nor passer. He averages less PPG than Murray. The biggest difference is on the defensive end. Murray can be effective there and DLO can’t.

 

It's the playoffs performance that's more important to me. Murray looks to be the superior player in that regard.

https://stathead.com/basketball/ver...urce=bbr&utm_medium=sr_xsite&utm_id=russeda01

 

Careful, you are talking way too reasonable.

 

The path to a Championship goes through 4 playoff series. Not a game or two in an individual series..
He might step up this season. And what if he doesn't? What if he continues to perform, in the same way, that he always has ,to this point in career, in the playoffs?

What are we to say then? He's still too valuable at his contract? It's been a coaching problem everywhere he's been? The buck stops with D'Angelo, he may just be the guy, that he's shown to be this far. A good regular season player.