You aren't going to find a better hustle guy like Black for the same money. Black is a backup, he's a role player, but he can grab a bunch of boards, play solid man D, and score around the hoop with a decent PG that can get him in the right spots like Russell has. I keep Black, you have to have minimum salary guys ready to step in when injury or foul trouble comes along, and you HOPE you can have one as good as him where there is little drop off when he comes in.
Russell / Huertas Clarkson / Williams Bryant / Young / World Peace / Nance Randle / Bass / Kelly Hibbert / Black / Upshaw These guys all deserve to make the team.
After thinking he was going to be Steve Nash with the injured start, he became Steve Nash with his play. He is genuinely the Laker I most want to see play next game (for the moment.) Definitely a great addition. He is no super athlete, but his shrewd knowledge of the game and willingness to lead and feed players makes him a true asset for us.
I feel like someone is missing, but they all seem to be there. These are the guys I want on our roster very much as well. We are solid and deep with them. And lookee here ..... that leaves one roster spot still available.....which does not suck. :Feelingyou:
Shooting from distance has been his Achilles heel for his whole career. Internationally it never mattered, but in the NBA it's going to become a problem eventually. I give it a while before the NBA catches up and hopefully he'll have worked on the shot a bit by then. His shooting form when he's not taking that one legged runner leaves a lot to be desired.
I think Huertas was impressive in his debut and thats from someone who isn't considered his fan...a 32 year old rookie is just not so exciting. If Sacre is on the team, I will be mad but I have a feeling thats going to be the case. Brown, Frazier and Holmes are pretty much doo doo at this point... Metta is also useless but can be a good defensive presence in training and a mentor for some of the young guys even though he is kind of a knuckle head himself.
Just saw some replays...Huertas looked great! But a lil' whoa needs to be said. Yes he looks like Nash...passing and setting up the offense, However Nash was one of the best pure shooters in NBA history, which opened up passing lanes.Once teams start sagging off on D daring him to shoot we'll have a better idea on how valuable he'll be. That said... Russell, Huertas, >>> Lin , Price,.....I'm liking the PG position this year.
It will he verysimple to defend him if he can't shoot; they'll go under the screen to defend him during him to shoot. I still think he'll so a good job running the 2nd unit, though
Off the bench that's a harder adjustment to expect out of worse players. Obviously the great teams will get it and adjust, but the bad ones won't be able to adjust easily to Russell's all around attack and then Huertas' great passing ability. Not to mention Lou will take some pressure off in that second unit as well.
Really digging our bench now with Huertas running the offense as oppose to Lou. Lou being an extra ball handler and creator will be beneficial too.
How much fun is this guy to watch? Wow. He's absolutely looking like some of what we expected when we got Nash, but for wayyyyyy cheaper.
Yikes. Yeah was not an impressive game at all for Russell. Looked better against GS. Of course Lillard is a tough matchup for anyone.
