I don't know that there will be a clear cut first or even second option because nobody has really separated themselves on this team as that go to guy. Our offense will be a lot more balanced which is good, but we need somebody to emerge and be that guy. Whether it's Russell, Clarkson, Randle, Ingram I don't really care, but we're gonna need someone who can take over games and be that 1A type guy. Right now I'd say the best equipped to me is Russell. I expect him to be the leading scorer this season. Russell - 17 ppg. Clarkson - 15 ppg. Randle - 13 ppg. Ingram - 13 ppg. Lou - 11 ppg. Deng - 10 ppg. Nance - 9 ppg. Movgov - 7 ppg. Black - 5 ppg. Calderon - 3 ppg.
Agree on Clarkson's ability to score with less effort and difficulty. We'll see on how Randle has progressed offensively and how extensive Walton utilizes him.
Yeah it would be nice to have a young new guy like Mike below. Hell I'd even take a young new guy on the right.
I think there are like a handful NBA players that score more than 25 consistently. Actually last year only 6 players averaged more than 25. Cousins, Lillard, Harden, KD, Steph, LeBron. My guess (all players +/- 1ppg) Russell 17 ppg Clarkson 16 ppg Randle 13 ppg Ingram 10 ppg Deng 10 ppg Mozgov 9 ppg Nance 7 ppg Lou 13 ppg Calderon 6 ppg Black 4 ppg
That's 105 ppg. I'd love that and I wonder why we weren't pushing the pace in summer league, this team is perfectly suited to run and gun. Unfortunately they didn't really run during summer league but I hope it's coming. I do worry how many points we give up to score 105.
Speaking of Drew ..... NO not ...... Silly!! (Warning may not be suitable for Lakers fans ..... a Nick Young pic with Jordan contained in link) http://www.lakersnation.com/lakers-...hts-up-drew-league-with-33-points/2016/07/25/ Lakers News: Jordan Clarkson Lights Up Drew League With 33 Points By Nathaniel Lastrapes - 07/25/2016 All the excitement in the offseason for the Los Angeles Lakers has come to pass now that Summer League and Team USA Camp has concluded. D’Angelo Russell, Julius Randle, and Brandon Ingram were all invited to participate in training camp for the US Men’s Olympic Basketball program as part of the Select Team. With all of the hype surrounding those guys it can sometimes be easy to forget about Jordan Clarkson, however. Clarkson is the Lakers leading returning scorer and would have led last year’s squad in scoring had Kobe not gone off for 60 points in his career finale. Clarkson has had a pretty busy offseason himself after re-signing with the Lakers on a four year, $50 million contract. Clarkson has also been a constant in the gym and recently played in a game in the Drew League with his Lakers teammate, Nick Young (via lakersworld16): Young is a regular in the Drew League during the NBA offseason, which has become a hot spot for NBA players to play in glorified pickup games during the summer. Clarkson joined up with Young and put up 33 points in a losing effort at the Nike Air Hangar in Oregon. The third-year guard is determined to become a dominant force in the NBA someday, and he had some highlights at The Drew that perhaps showed a glimpse of what Lakers fans may see this coming season: Lakers legend Kobe Bryant once made a surprise appearance at the Drew League in South Central Los Angeles where he added another game winning buzzer-beater to his resume over James Harden. Clarkson had no such highlight in his appearance, but it is encouraging that the rising star is working to improve his game this summer. It has been a busy summer for the Lakers’ young core, but all the work that they put in during the offseason will be apparent once the season tips in late October. TAGS DREW LEAGUE JORDAN CLARKSON LOS ANGELES LAKERS
With the CRAZY A** money being thrown at mediocre talent in free agency, Jordan's contract is starting to look like the deal of the decade relatively speaking.
Yeah I won't pretend Jordan is as good as CJ McCollum, but the gap isn't enormous. I'm going to use @Doc Brown 's trick on these Per36 numbers: Player A: 17.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.2 steals Player B: 20.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.2 steals Obviously the second one is McCollum, but the numbers aren't staggeringly different and it helps that Player B wasn't being coached by Byron Scott. Player A: 103 Offensive Rating, 114 Defensive Rating Player B: 108 Offensive Rating, 110 Defensive Rating The fact those numbers are even in the same stratosphere while Jordan was on the worst Laker team of all time is impressive to me given the enormous amount of growth Jordan can, should, and will show this season under competent coaching. The real difference between them is that CJ is a much better shooter. CJ has never shot less than 37% from the three point line while Jordan hasn't yet shot over 35%. Still the point I'm making is that while CJ is better, it's not twice as much. Jordan at 50 million compared CJ at 106 million to is an absolute steal.
McCollum has more leeway in Portland than does Clarkson. He and Lillard have to carry most of the burden scoring. Clarkson this season will play in a better system but still will have to concede shots to Russell and Randle.
Absolutely. I think if you put Jordan where CJ is today, Jordan would be able to approximate CJ's value pretty well. Obviously Jordan is not the shooter CJ is, but Jordan is also a greater athlete and is more able to get to the bucket than CJ is. CJ is probably a better defender just by default, but again the gap is not crazy. It's certainly not a 50 million dollar gap.
Clarkson's defense was sub par last season, got rightfully called out for it and set out to make himself better. Agree that he is a better athlete than McCollum so no reason his defense is where it was.
Hate to say it but height and length are part of the reason. Love Clarkson, his work ethic/experience will continue to round his game.
Chillbongo...in theory that is 105 ppg lol. But usually the averages are higher than the team total because of injuries. For example if someone gets hurt and another guy scores 20...his average will go up and the other guys average will stay the same...if that group comes close to 100 points that would be amazing. Because thats only 10 players. We will have a few other guys that will also average 2-4 ppg I assume like Anthony Brown or Huertas or Zubac. Who knows...Zubac might average 7 ppg... But injuries are to be considered definitely.
