D'Angelo Russell Discussion: Adopting A Professional Attitude

I know he's your client, but did you put him in his place

 

I feel like the alpha has emerged from our young core. I thought it was going to be Julius, but it seems like DLO has the skills, the heart and the guts to be the leader of the young team. He's got that "ice in his veins" to take the big shot down the stretch. Julius wants to dominate and he does at times, but he hasn't really shown a clutch gene. He has had some decisive rebounds down the stretch but hasn't shown enough with clutch scoring or defense yet. He doesn't have a go to shot or move either like DLO who can just knock down a killer shot or make a great play with the ball in his hands. He's starting to show that he's the leader moving forward.

 

D'Angelo was 7th on the most recent Rookie Ladder (Feb. 24th). I can't wait to see where he is in the new one, and I can't wait to hear the narrative.

 

Russell's ranks among rookies
Games: Tied for 2nd
Minutes: 3rd
FGM: 4th
3pt: 1st (by 34) (See below)
FTM: 7th
Rebounds: 12th
Assists: 3rd
Steals: 2nd
Points: 4th

Only 37 rookies have made 100+ threes. Russell is currently tied with Marbury for 34th most. Lillard has the rookie record at 185. Curry is second at 166. Should be interesting to see where Russell ends up. If he hits 1 per game for the remainder of the season, he'd be 20th, sitting between Nick Van Exel and Ray Allen. NOICE.

 

He's handing out some assists doe.

 

I wonder if Russell will make the all-rookie 1st team. I mean, he has to right? He is the second best rookie at this point. Okafor scores points but doesn't seem to contribute to "winning basketball" like Russell can and does. Porzingis...kind of wondering if he's benefiting from the NY media hype more than he should. Remember how good Shumpert was supposed to be? I mean, if Mudiay beats out Russell, then Laker fans are just being straight up trolled, right?

 

I don't know why you gotta bring up Okafor.

For what it's worth Okafor has more than double D'Angelo's win shares, a better PER, and a better TS%. I don't know how many other rookies have put up Okafor's 17.5/7/1.5 blocks.

The Sixers might be out tanking us but I'd say D'Angelo is one of three young talented kids. Who else is with Okafor right now? Noel? That's about it. I'd say the two of them have acquitted themselves nicely at this point.

edit- I'd prefer Russell now, but Okafor has been a good rookie too. No reason to tear the kid down to build up Russell.

 

I'm not trying to tear him down. I'm actually saying there are those 4 and that's it. He is putting up real good numbers. I just dont know what his real worth is. It's like Lou Williams. He puts up numbers, but are they contributing to anything?

 

Finished watching it this morning. Awful shooting night and five TOs. Teague played him very well.

DA should have been in double figures in assists. Randle, Hibbert, Black, and Bass all fumbled passes in the restricted area.

Aside from the amazing passes, the other thing that stood out was DA's amazing ability to get into the paint. He missed shots, I know, but he was regularly in the paint. No one else was creating much of anything.