D'Angelo Russell Discussion: Opted In!

The team needs a solid point guard that can lead. It is not Russell. Honestly if he doesn't improve by the trade deadline next season he needs to be packaged while other teams see a upside for him, or he needs to be tried at shooting guard.

 

I'm in the camp of hopefully Ingram growing to be our point forward of the future. That might take some time that we may or may not have but it will allow DAR to play SG.

 

still think russell's a pg, and if he's not, we're in trouble.

 

it's hard to be a point guard in the pros, Magic had to be brought along with Nixon his first 3 years before taking over the position completely

 

Damn trodgers with his facts and preaching patience!

 

QFTMFT.
Not only "we" have trouble seeing it, it looks like the media/"experts" sleep on this guy as well. I guess they want to give him a Kobe treatment plus they probably enjoy our down years.
Wish the kid would shut up though and let his play do the talking. Seen worse (mature wise) at his age though, so im more disgusted than worried.

 

Yeah. Those pesky facts getting in the way of great internet arguments.....

 

:MitchQFT:

 

but I do still wish that he would

 

I believe in his talent, but I'm firmly in the "Russell as SG" camp. It's more of a natural position for him. Wasn't his career high in assists like 8? Ingram and Randle, who aren't primary ball-handlers, have higher career highs. He's a MUCH better scorer than he is a playmaker or ball-handler. That doesn't sound like a natural PG to me.

I've been bringing up this point for months, and every time I'd be labeled a hater. It's an honest observation. I don't understand why everyone is so desperate in shaping him into our PG. Why can't he be our future SG? He has zero weaknesses as a SG and his strengths (coming off screens, scoring) would only be amplified.

 

He has a height advantage at PG, at not so much at SG. He has great vision, and like stats show, will improve with age. Great vision and some great passes. The learning curve sucks though.

this also happens when you only have and as other options.

 

The stats tell some of the story, but not all. The league, current and past, is full of stat stuffers that didn't make much of a difference to winning. The rest of the story is that he needs to be a leader, especially at point guard. That takes time and maturity for sure, but you could see Magic was a leader from game 1.

When the games get tight he has to be able to settle the team and execute. I don't see that with him. Instead I see him riding the pine when it gets tight and Sweet Lou with the ball free styling for buckets.

 

I could see that the height advantage and court vision combo makes him intriguing as a PG. But I feel that he's not really good at making the simple play. Ingram, for example, is excellent at making the simple play at the right time. I think that PG's should try to make a lot of GOOD passes and not necessarily GREAT ones. Some of it comes with experience but a lot of it is just natural feel.

I agree with you that we really don't have a choice though with Huertas/Calderon backing him up.

 

NO2:

 

Again I think this whole he's not a true point guard talk is overstated. Is Westbrook a true point guard? Is Wall really a true point? How about Tony Parker or Steph Curry or Kyrie?

No on all of them. You need multiple playmakers. Randle is capable. Ingram has shown that as well. Russell needs to continue to progress, but statistically he already has.

 

How great it would have been to have Nash around to mentor him.

 

Pathetic showing today. This was a trend in college (too cool for school mentality) and now it's filtering on down to the NBA. Get your sh** together.