D'Angelo Russell Discussion: Adopting A Professional Attitude

it was a good plan, imo. gabe just died.

 

He'll be fine in the regular season.

He's a good innings eater, too.

 

There’s no baseball references allowed in basketball. But I do think we hit a home run with Connect 4.

 

I know he has is issues but I still like Russell. I wonder if his ego took a big hit and humbled him when no one wanted to trade for him this offseason. With hopefully a better staff, maybe he can find that consistency he has searched for his entire career. Or in the very least, look good enough that someone would want to trade for him now actually.

 

I think he stays and he makes this his home, and we supplement around him. Not sure how that will work, but I don't think he's going anywhere.

 

I'll get in that foxhole with you ....

 

Good presser. Very interesting to hear him apologize and own up to not being the most professional.

He seems to really like JJ and what he's doing. Hearing about how DLO was running through plays in his head during his kid's bday and also while on the golf course.

Biggest key will be one area he touched on during the presser, staying engaged defensively. Stay focused and do the little things on that side. He wants to not be part of an offensive/defensive sub, so we'll see if he is willing to do the work required to close the big games.

 

Haven’t watched, but that’s discouraging to hear. JJ said he talked to him more than anyone, and he’s supposed to be working on being more of a vocal leader. But then again, his game has always looked non-chalant to me.

 

agree. i thought he looked like he was lollygagging on both ends. not sure if that's just not taking the preseason seriously, but you do play like you practice, imo. kevin durant wasn't out there going through the motions.

watching tyus jones (and nurkic chew up and spit out hayes) out there really makes me mad we couldn't find a way to turn dlo or gabe into a starting center and then sign jones.

that's pure hindsight, as nobody knew jones would be available at the minimum, but it still hurts.

 

I don't know if it's preseason, new role or what but he's definitely off. He's been fighting for rebounds some this pre season, that's about all I can give him.

I've noticed when it's the starting group, AR is acting more as the point and DLO as the off guard. Wondering if that's lineup prep for the eventual DLO trade so it doesn't throw off the roster as much by that point.

 

Just camp though. Not the games, right?

That humble pie he ate during media day must've left the system.

 

Yeah I was going to bring this up today. Reaves is clearly orchestrating the offense and DLo is playing as a catch and shoot guy. He then takes the offense when Reaves rests
Also think it's a prep for a trade coming in December, I'm sensing it might be for a center with Max sliding to the lineup and everyone playing up, with likely Max and Knecht playing the majority if not all minutes at the 2. AD plays consistently some minutes at the 4 and Bron at the 3

Reaves | Vincent
Max | Knecht
Rui | Vando
Bron | AD | Wood
AD | center

 

He still had 10 assists. I mean...lol.

 

Yeah, one of those games where the eye test doesn't meet the numbers. We do move the ball a lot with this new offense so, even though he doesn't start the actions, he still touches it, but he still seems off. I remember thinking in the 1st quarter "where the hell is DLo? Oh...he's actually on the court".

He's quite smart and identifies passing lanes quicker than Reaves, so maybe the idea of having him off ball is for him to catch it midway the set and exploit holes in the defense that may open.

 

sounds like he's adjusting to the new offense. Not loving not controlling the ball as much, but maybe it's what also saves his job.

 

We are running the same offense, just with some different emphasis on certain actions. He'll get his shots up once the season starts. I don't doubt that at all. It's a contract year for him.

 

No motor and no athleticism is not a good combination. Hopefully he turns it on when the season starts.

 

We are absolutely not running the same offense. It's night and day in terms of off-ball movement. Cranjis just posted that we are running over more sets and plays than in over 90% of the games with Ham. HUGE difference