D'Angelo Russell Discussion: Adopting A Professional Attitude

Discussion in 'Lakers Discussion' started by The Original 81, Jun 25, 2015.

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  1. trodgers

    trodgers Administrator Staff Member

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    I think Tarik should be back, but I'm also beginning to fear that Lakers fans here are massively overvaluing him. He can't shoot, and he's undersized at Center. He's a solid backup or a great third stringer. I'm not sure what his upside is, as he's like a Chuck Hayes type player.

    That said, I am blown away that he's not playing. He's a good fit for the second unit, and he showed us that he can be an adequate NBA player last season. It's not like we're getting more from Sacre or Kelly.
     
    trodgers, Dec 26, 2015
    #2901
  2. Lakers2015

    Lakers2015 - Lakers Starter -

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    I don't think we're overvaluing him at all. He's undersized so what? Tarik is a backup. He won't be playing more than 15-20 minutes anyway and even so most teams play small ball now anyway. He hustles, plays with excellent energy, rebounds well, can actually screen which is something we need from our bigs, and runs the court. There's so many centers nowadays that are Tarik's size and some even smaller.
     
    Lakers2015, Dec 26, 2015
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  3. scnottaken

    scnottaken - Rookie -

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    Hell we play a smaller center.
     
    scnottaken, Dec 26, 2015
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  4. trodgers

    trodgers Administrator Staff Member

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    He's undersized is only one of the claims I made. He also can't shoot (or pass) at this point.

    Edit: We play Bass at Center - and he sucks.
     
    trodgers, Dec 26, 2015
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  5. Lakers2015

    Lakers2015 - Lakers Starter -

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    Because he's not a center. He's always been a power forward and a solid one at that. Black played center effectively last season. Is he a starter? No, but I don't believe anyone is clamoring for him to start.
     
    Last edited: Dec 26, 2015
    Lakers2015, Dec 26, 2015
    #2905
  6. Savory Griddles

    Savory Griddles Moderator Staff Member

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    Center Rotation: Black 48 minutes; Hibbert 12 minutes; Bass -12 minutes

    48+12-12=48
     
    Savory Griddles, Dec 26, 2015
    #2906
  7. scnottaken

    scnottaken - Rookie -

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    Still at the limit.
     
    scnottaken, Dec 26, 2015
    #2907
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  8. KareemtheGreat33

    KareemtheGreat33 - Lakers MVP -

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    a new kind of math there lol
     
    KareemtheGreat33, Dec 26, 2015
    #2908
  9. trodgers

    trodgers Administrator Staff Member

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    If he's not a center, he's not relevant to this conversation though. I like Tarik. I want him playing and back with the team next year, but he doesn't solve our problems. He's a PF who plays like a 5. We need a 5 to space when he's on the floor.
     
    trodgers, Dec 26, 2015
    #2909
  10. Weezy

    Weezy Moderator Staff Member

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    Tarik does have a lot of holes in his game. The main reason I want him playing backup C over Sacre and Bass is he's a good rebounder and he has the best pick n roll chemistry with Russ. If Russ isn't gonna start, I want him playing with Black, who knows how to go right to the hoop for Russ' passes and easy dunks.
     
    Weezy, Dec 26, 2015
    #2910
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  11. trodgers

    trodgers Administrator Staff Member

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    I hope I'm not sounding like a Tarik hater. I think he should absolutely be on the active roster and playing. I also think he could be a longterm fixture on this team playing decent minutes off the pine.
     
    trodgers, Dec 27, 2015
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  12. lakerjones

    lakerjones Moderator Staff Member

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    Yeah, Tarik has his limitations and he's not starting material, but he should certainly be the first center off the bench over guys like Sacre and Bass (come on Byron).
     
    lakerjones, Dec 27, 2015
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  13. Lakers2015

    Lakers2015 - Lakers Starter -

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    Black to me is a perfectly capable backup center. Yes he has limitations like every backup does, but he gives you instant energy, effort, and gives us at least one guy who can roll hard and finish in the paint. He's good for 15-20 minutes.
     
    Lakers2015, Dec 27, 2015
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  14. wcsoldier81

    wcsoldier81 - Lakers All Star -

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    Yep ...

    Noah can't finish at all anymore and is injury prone .

    Speights is a pick n pop guy and can't defend .

    Hickson can't defend

    so hell yeah Ezeli

    As I said before it would be great if we could keep Hibbert on a friendly deal as a backup
     
    wcsoldier81, Dec 27, 2015
    #2914
  15. sirronstuff

    sirronstuff - Lakers Legend -

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    Can also start for stretches like he did when :dwightcrying: was out with Houston. As a ROOKIE. He was solid. But then again, he had a decent coach in McHale.
     
    sirronstuff, Dec 27, 2015
    #2915
  16. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

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    Tarik is ideally a backup PF playing behind Randle. I don't see him as a long-term solution at C on a great team unless he suddenly has a jumper that I'm unaware of.
     
    therealdeal, Dec 27, 2015
    #2916
  17. sirronstuff

    sirronstuff - Lakers Legend -

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    I would think the jumper would be a bigger deal at the 4 than the 5, and that's why people think he's a better backup 5. He'd be REALLY exposed as a 4.
     
    sirronstuff, Dec 27, 2015
    #2917
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  18. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

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    He'd be equally exposed at the 5 because he's a good 4-5 inches shorter than 7 feet tall. His defense around the rim would be a slightly more robust version of Brandon Bass. In fact Bass has been defending the rim at his absolute best the last few games, I think that'd be a good approximation of what Tarik would do on a semi-regular basis. He's a 4 with a 5's game. He's a more athletic Turiaf or Josh Powell. I like all those guys a lot, but they were not ideal 5s.
     
    therealdeal, Dec 27, 2015
    #2918
  19. ElginTheGreat

    ElginTheGreat - Lakers MVP -

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    ElginTheGreat, Dec 27, 2015
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  20. trodgers

    trodgers Administrator Staff Member

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    I think we could expect more from Black on offense than Turiaf, but I'd be blown away if Black ever defends like Turiaf did. Turiaf was a decent man-to-man defender and an excellent help defender. That's what helped him log 8000 minutes in the NBA.
     
    trodgers, Dec 28, 2015
    #2920
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