D'Angelo Russell Discussion: Adopting A Professional Attitude

Discussion in 'Lakers Discussion' started by The Original 81, Jun 25, 2015.

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  1. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

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    I'm both with you and not.

    I think part of what is intriguing about these youngsters is the faith they have in themselves and in each other. Randle honestly feels like there's no one on this planet that can guard him. Is he right? No, probably not but that attitude is what gives him an edge over a lot of guys. Clarkson and the others telling me they've not seen a guard like him tells me that this dude is passer of AT LEAST better than Jeremy Lin's stature and Lin is a borderline NBA starter. The rest of the guys I'm far, far more skeptical of but the main three (Clarkson, Russell, and Randle) I have great faith in because they just have that edge.

    You're right though that all this talking up is going to make basically anything we see seem a little underwhelming at this point.
     
    therealdeal, Jul 7, 2015
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  2. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

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    With the brilliance of what's coming with D'Angelo's passing as he continues to get better as the great ones do (no chickens counted early.... "eye test" ;) ) and the core young talent assembled around him, plus Kobe contributing and teaching and Byron having lived the "original" .... gonna at times be the return of Showtime or Some damn time that is FUN to watch.
     
    LTLakerFan, Jul 7, 2015
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  3. ElginTheGreat

    ElginTheGreat - Lakers MVP -

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    I think the guys, particularly Randle who has been with the team a full year, know enough about hoops to recognize when someone has a certain level of ability. So its pretty easy for me to accept them praising Russell's passing ability. When you consider just how many people have raved about it and what we've seen in the highlights, there's plenty to be excited about.
     
    ElginTheGreat, Jul 7, 2015
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  4. LaVarBallsDad

    LaVarBallsDad - Lakers Legend -

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    Los Angeles Lakers head coach Byron Scott had nothing but nice things to say for the new Los Angeles Lakers rookie D'Angelo Russell, whom the team selected second overall in the 2015 NBA Draft on Thursday night. Scott said he saw shades of Lakers great Magic Johnson from Russell. That is especially high praise coming from Scott, who played alongside Johnson for the Showtime Lakers.

    Scott also coached a Chris Paul as a rookie, and so it may not just be smoke when he says that Russell is on "a similar level" that Paul was as a rookie. Russell will have another future Hall of Famer in his locker room in 19-year veteran Kobe Bryant, and Scott said that his main advice for the rookie would be to "stick as close to Kobe as possible.

    http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/...o-russell-magic-johnson-byron-scott-nba-draft

    Our scouting department, Jerry West, Byron, Jay Bilas, and every other top notch scout or talent evaluator has vouched for Russell. He still has skeptics, but I'm hopeful he'll prove them wrong.
     
    LaVarBallsDad, Jul 7, 2015
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  5. OmarE

    OmarE - Lakers Starter -

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    D'ANGELO RUSSELL PASSING HIGHLIGHTS

     
    OmarE, Jul 8, 2015
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  6. ZenMaster

    ZenMaster - Lakers All Star -

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    Yeah. Some of those won't go in the NBA, but the vision and technique are there, the understanding which to take and which to skip will
    come with experience.

    Other than that - awesome.
     
    ZenMaster, Jul 8, 2015
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  7. ElginTheGreat

    ElginTheGreat - Lakers MVP -

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    Russell has a high bball IQ. I think he will adjust to the differences of the game and throw the right passes at the right time.

    There are some legit concerns about his game, but passing isn't one of them.
     
    ElginTheGreat, Jul 8, 2015
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  8. KB24

    KB24 Administrator Staff Member

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    IMO the only legit concern is defense. Beside lacking the speed to keep up with premium PGs, he also lacks the desire to be a great defender. I think even if you aren't that fast, you can still use length and strength to be an effective defender. But you have to be commited to defense and I don't see him yet taking pride in being a good defender.
     
    KB24, Jul 8, 2015
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  9. KareemtheGreat33

    KareemtheGreat33 - Lakers MVP -

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    Any defensive inadequacies from the guards will be erased by my man Roy
     
    KareemtheGreat33, Jul 8, 2015
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  10. EJones06

    EJones06 - Rookie -

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    I think the FO has done some nice work the past two years in drafting players that appear to have very high bball IQs (Randle, Clarkson Russell). There's something to be said about that. For all the emphasis on length, athleticism, speed, etc. in scouting, you can thrive as a team if you draft players who have great basketball intelligence...teams like the Spurs and Hawks have proven that. Of course, coaching is also a factor...
     
    EJones06, Jul 8, 2015
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  11. tada

    tada - Lakers All Star -

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    D'Angelo is an elite passer and shooter, but don't forget his rebounding is also elite for a PG. Triple-double threat every night.
     
    tada, Jul 8, 2015
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  12. Kosstick

    Kosstick - Rookie -

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    Let's cool the jets on the praises and wait. Let's not jinx the guy
     
    Kosstick, Jul 8, 2015
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  13. tada

    tada - Lakers All Star -

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    Russell's size and length allows him to contribute as a rebounder from the guard position (6.5 rebounds per-40, second best among Top-100 prospects)

    From DraftExpress.com http://www.draftexpress.com/#ixzz3fJEsemKG
     
    tada, Jul 8, 2015
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  14. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

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    He's still a rookie though. If you start throwing around words like triple-double threat every night and he ends up averaging 10/3/3 you're going to disappoint yourself.
     
    therealdeal, Jul 8, 2015
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  15. tada

    tada - Lakers All Star -

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    Oh no, not this year. Probably in a couple of years. (even though Clarkson did flirt with a triple-double as a rookie)8

    But at the same time, I'm not going to downplay my hopes for D'Angelo when West, Mitch, and Byron are all convinced that he is going to be an allstar. I have him averaging 15/4/6 as a rookie. And I expect no less.
     
    tada, Jul 8, 2015
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  16. Savory Griddles

    Savory Griddles Moderator Staff Member

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    28 pts, 13 dimes, 8 boards a game. Lakers win the Pacific behind his leadership. He goes on to make Magic Johnson look like a D-Leaguer. He single handedly elevates Ryan Kelly to a Hall of Famer.
     
    Savory Griddles, Jul 8, 2015
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  17. tada

    tada - Lakers All Star -

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    That would be Magic on steroids :D

    I could see him posting numbers like 23/5/10 in his prime though.
     
    tada, Jul 8, 2015
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  18. ElginTheGreat

    ElginTheGreat - Lakers MVP -

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    I'm hoping that those are aspects of the game he will pick up from Kobe. I don't see him ever being an elite defender, but I think he can play solid defense.
     
    ElginTheGreat, Jul 8, 2015
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  19. ElginTheGreat

    ElginTheGreat - Lakers MVP -

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    Agreed. I'll say it over and over again, I like the potential of our young core.
     
    ElginTheGreat, Jul 8, 2015
    #679
  20. LaVarBallsDad

    LaVarBallsDad - Lakers Legend -

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    I've seen him play solid defense, I've seen him box out bigger guys, etc; he's 19 and you'll have to get after him defensively; that's why Byron is there. He'll emphasize or be benched.
     
    LaVarBallsDad, Jul 8, 2015
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