D'Angelo Russell Discussion: Adopting A Professional Attitude

I think Kerr makes it fun. Is it work or is it a game? I know there's a lot of hard work involved, but if you're having fun, it's not a grind.

 

Not sure who these people are that are saying this, but maybe they didn't watch the game? The stats don't back up that claim, Russ had 24 and 6 on 9/21 shooting, Mudiay had 22 and 7 on 10/20 shooting. Almost identical numbers, and Mudiay had for him what was an amazing shooting night. And from what I saw, some of it came on having Huertas on him, who can't guard his own shadow. So yeah, good for Denver and Mudiay fans, he shot well for once, he seemed to really want to come out and go at Russ hard, while Russ seemed to treat it like any other game.

You ask me who I want on my team of the two, I'm taking Russ, and that's not to knock down Mudiay to elevate Russ or anything either, I just think Russ is better and going to be better. Can Mudiay learn to shoot? Maybe, but he's the worst shooter of all the rookies I believe Billy Mac said, and "if he qualified", of anyone in the league, whatever that means. Russ can already shoot, as well as having PG passing ability as good if not better than Mudiay, he just hadn't had the opportunity or the system to show it as much as Mudiay has. But hey, Mudiay is more athletic, he is faster and can get to the hoop for layups well, so they got that goin for them.

 

I think Mudiay is a better defender too basically because his body is NBA ready. I think once Russell's legs strengthen up and he's not quite so twiggy out there he'll be as good a defender or better than Mudiay because he's a more natural player than Mudiay.

The thing about Russell is his inherent understanding of the game. You don't get that everywhere. Mudiay knows what he's supposed to do and he can do those things. Russell just feels what he's supposed to do. The game comes to him. I agree: I'd rather have Russell and I'm glad to have been wrong about that.

I'd say Mudiay outplayed him a little bit last night, but you could clearly see that Russell (and Randle) were gassed. They didn't have the energy level last night that they did against Brooklyn. I don't know how we always end up at least once a year playing the 2nd night of a back-to-back in Denver. It's a recipe for a loss. If we'd played there tonight I think you see a different outcome and maybe even Jordan doesn't get hurt.

In a vacuum I think Russell will outplay Mudiay most nights going forward. I don't know that Mudiay ever really fixes his jumper enough to make defenses honest, but he's strong enough to get to the basket pretty regularly without it. Different strokes, but I'm glad we have Russell. His game will age much better.

 

Not only did they run out of gas, but they were playing without 4 big pieces of their rotation (Nance, Lou, Kobe, Clarkson) for a large stretch of the game.

I remember even when we were winning rings, Phil used to pencil the second night of a back to back in Denver as a loss.

 

I will agree here. He is not really skinny. He does have some muscle, but needs to develop lower body.

 

That's the most important part actually. Strengthening his core/lower body is what will help his game improve, not his upper body which will also fill out over time (I expect a big jump this summer as his body matures).

He doesn't need big legs, just strong ones. Right now he's fine, but next season I expect him to be much stronger which will help a lot with his consistency from game-to-game.

 

Agreed, but you won't see the big jump until summer hits and he has that free time to really hit the gym. I don't need him to get buffer, just stronger in general. He looks stronger now because he's been literally working out 6 days a week at least which he probably has never done in his life. Next season though you should see a brand new D'Angelo: stronger, faster, and more confident.