D'Angelo Russell Discussion: Adopting A Professional Attitude

Was anyone else impressed last night with the speed of Russell's release on the pull up 3pt off the dribble? It was "Splash" lite..... esque.

 

There was somebody else who I was reading who attended those SL games that said the misses were all 'left to right' as well. It will take him a little bit to put it all together, but when he does, watch out.

 

D’Angelo Russell made his return from a bruised glute in Thursday’s win over Maccabi Haifa and promptly put on a passing clinic. He dropped 11 dimes, several of them of the “whoa, nice look” variety which get fans out of their seats and teammates anxious to start cutting harder and working to come off screens better.

It wasn’t just that Russell was racking up the assists, though. It was what kind of assists they were. Or, more specifically, that his assists led to the exact types of baskets every offense wants.



The backbone of the efficiency/analytics approach to offense is that the goal of every possession is to get one of three types of shots: a dunk/layup, a three point shot, or a trip to the foul line. It has been proven that these shots produce the highest level of points per possession which, simply put, is what every team wants. After all, the goal is to still score more points than your opponent.

Look at the above tweet again. Nine of Russell’s 11 assists led to the exact type of shots efficiency hounds crave. Further, while Russell didn’t score much (he only took two shots — making them both), the points he did score followed this same trend as he got a layup off a sweet Kobe pass and hit a pull up three pointer when his man sagged off him.

This isn’t new, either. Russell’s only played extended minutes in one other game this preseason, but that contest saw two of his three assists go for a dunk (Randle) and a layup (Clarkson) while his two baskets were a 3-pointer and a layup. If we’re scoring at home, then, of Russell’s 14 assists this preseason 11 have been for either a 3-pointer or dunks/layups while all four of his baskets are either layups or three pointers.

Perceptions are hard to break. As long as Byron Scott coaches the Lakers, regardless of how much his on the record comments start to shift, the team will be looked at through the lens of not adapting to the times of the “modern” NBA where efficiency is king. Fair or unfair, fans and analysts alike will get their jabs in because, well, this is what we do. Welcome to the internet.

But if there is a shift in how the team is viewed, it will come from how the players play and what types of shots they are taking/producing within the offense. It’s a small sample, but Russell is doing his part to change the narrative.

http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2015/10/12/dangelo-russell-all-analytics-everything/

 

Was at the game and called that exactly to my buddy. "That looked like Steph". Glad to know it wasn't just the beers I was drinking

 

Good write-up. I'm not one of those people that needs to eat efficiency stats for breakfast, lunch, and dinner to exist - but good to know that we're taking shots close to the rim and that Russell's finding outside shooters, if not shooting them himself.

Byron was bluffing from day 1 with his "10 3Pa per game nonsense". He was just trying to set a tone and make sure we didn't get too 3-happy. I'm happy with the amount of 3 pointers we're taking and with Clarkson and Randle we'll get a steady dose of slashing. Kobe, Lou, Swaggy, and Russell need to just focus on taking smart 3's.

 

:Beertoast:

 

Great put on his big boy Lakers pants test tonight whenever D'Angelo is playing opposite Collison or Rondo. Welcome to the NBA. I'm looking forward to the process of him "figuring it out" as he has to night to night start matching up with all the more elite than him PGs in the league at this moment his rookie year.

 

He's very magic-like in that he could care less to even put up 5-10 shots in a game.

Now that's RARE in an NBA player. Especially among todays me-me,
I'm so special cohort.

 

It also helps that he has so many offensive weapons around him eager to be given the ball.

Last game he had a lot of good passed while not being the initiator. He found players in their spit after receiving a pass.

I'm happy we have a true PG.

 

i'm quite impressed. he's looked much better in the preseason than in summer league. for a pg, he moves really well off the ball. once he gets acclimated to the speed of the game, he's going to be a force. if he can get a little stronger as a finisher in the paint, he could be a real star. a lot to be excited about with russell, imo.

 

I see you working here. Slow down a bit though with that Williams for Clarkson substitution early in the 1st quarter. Jordan's killing it now.

 

I like how Stockton Jr blew by him off the dribble. Good film session material to prevent him from getting a big head LOL

 

You going to have Byron bring him back earlier in the 2nd quarter then, than the rest of the starters?