Much needed proof of life, especially shorthanded. Needed that bench lift. 10 of those points were in 11 minutes. Still some frustrating decisions with the ball, slow reactions, bad reads. But hopefully his confidence can build on this one. Nice job on the glass rook!
It was great to see him finally start attacking and scoring in other ways. If the 3 ball isn’t falling, he’s got the athleticism and skills to score in the mid-range and at the hoop, hopefully this starts to get his confidence going back up.
Well he also needs MINUTES in order for a lot of this stuff to happen. He's stuck behind a few guys in the rotation at the moment...but something tells me if a few guys get shipped (DLO/Gabe/Reddish), he's going to have an opportunity to get those consistent minutes where he can actually contribute like he did tonight. Needed every single point and rebound from him tonight esp with AD out. Love that he had no fear on an XMAS day game in the most raucous environment...this kid is ready we just gotta find him opps when we can over guys like Gabe and Reddish
He’s finding the offense again, 18 points, but only 2 threes, so he’s still scoring in a variety of ways. Which, in the long run, will open up the 3 ball to him more if players know they can’t play too close up on him or he’ll get by for a layup.
Glimpses!! That drive last night when DK blew past his defender right side top of the key and took the rock through traffic to elevate off wrong foot and finish with his left hand other side of the rim was awesome. You can just see he already has skills to create his own shot but has to dial them back in the team concept and until he has better consistency with them.
Love that he’s been exploring more than the three on offense. On the other hand, I’ve never seen a Laker explode for 37pnts, on mostly long jumpers, and then not be able to get another streak going for the rest of the season. We still have a lot of games left to start draining from the outside again.
He's legit. He will be a top5 shooter in the league for as long as he plays in the league. He already knows how to shoot and score. He's learning all the rest that he needs to do to stay in the court, which impacts his fluidity in the game because there's just so many things. He'll eventually get more comfortable and thrive. The only worry is that he doesn't look the brightest individual. That may hinder his development and lower is ceiling because what he needs to learn the most is in reading the game and off ball stuff, which requires intelligence
this is a little off topic, but i find it darkly comical that once again a bunch of guys drafted right around our guy (many of whom we were linked to pre-draft) are doing well again: mccain, missi, dasilva, and ware were all guys we were mocked to draft in various places. don't get me wrong, i was fully on the knecht train and think there's still a good chance he's the best of this bunch, but it looks like we'd have been ok with any of them, lol.
DK is not a cerebral guy. He seems immature. But basketball intelligence - actually: bodily-kinesthetic intelligence required of all elite athletes - seems like a different TYPE of intelligence. I think DK can evolve just fine. He's young. We like him to be more well-rounded as an individual, but my gawd he's still only 23. I'm drawing on the multiple types of intelligence hypotheses put forth by Benjamin Bloom and Howard Gardner. One of the funniest moments for me, as a Laker fan, was seeing rookie Magic Johnson playing with Kareem. They were both basketball geniuses, but Kareem was very cerebral, while Magic had charisma and sort of interpersonal/social intelligence, that I don't think Kareem valued all that much. Likewise, when the Lakers drafted Magic, it was impossible to imagine him reading Plato on the plane.
Two solid games this month and 4 of the past 7, he's looked back on track offensively. Hopefully he's climbed over the wall. Prior to Christmas, December was U-G-L-Y. The issue is still defense. He's been really bad. Team are targeting him. The shot has to be on every time out (to the tune of 13 PPG at least) + rebounding to be able to justify giving him rotation minutes until he is ready to defend at a NBA level. He has the gravity to draw the defense, but a missed 3 doesn't help us. Nor does the turnstile defense. I have high hopes for him and think he can a really nice fit for us. I'm just skeptical it's this season as the significance of these games and schemes ramps up.
i've been wondering the same. seems like we really just put jhs out to pasture. i get that he wasn't good enough to play this year, but we've treated him pretty weirdly, imo, from start to finish. he should have a legitimate chip on his shoulder after his developmental experience here, imo. anyway, dalton was both more ready and treated better than jhs, but he's also looking less ready to be a rotation player than he did early. i thought he'd already be adjusting on defense, but it seems like there hasn't been much progress there (i haven't enough attention to make a full assessment, however). both the fans and organization don't have a lot of patience, in any case. i wonder if jhs's lack of progress might make rob itchier on the trade trigger with knecht.
He can't get or stay healthy. Ironic considering we passed on others in that draft due to health concerns. He's had a hammy issue for a month, give or take. When we didn't extend his rookie deal, fate was sealed. I'm fine with that. I'd rather Olivari and Bronny get those reps anyway. DK has been handled much better but is also a much better player.
