Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers
Sports:Basketball
Has D'Angelo Russell Truly Committed to Playing Better Defense for the Lakers?
2023-10-17
Among the better stories of a very strong preseason for the Los Angeles Lakers has been the play of D'Angelo Russell. His offense has been outstanding, including some red hot shooting from the perimeter, and improvements in his ability to attack the rim and finish effectively. The change of speed has been very effective, and he's been a leader in setting up his teammates.
In short, he's a big reason the Lakers offense has been so strong.
But the other thing that has stood out? Russell's work on defense. Not that he's some sort of DPOY candidate, but the attention to detail and an understanding that what happened last year, where defense was a big reason he was played off the floor in the Western Conference Finals, something he does not want to have happen again. On Sunday, Russell noted that he's tried now to pattern his game after Celtics point guard Derrick White, someone who he says doesn't get a lot of credit for simply being a winning player who makes winning plays. Not an All-Star, not an All NBA type, but someone who does the little things that contribute to being a truly great team.
It was a very surprising name, surely, to most NBA fans. But one that makes a ton of sense for a guy like Russell.
Meanwhile, Russell says he's not motivated by making another All-Star team, which, as it turns out, is the best way to actually make another one. The same holds for Anthony Davis and an MVP or DPOY, Austin Reaves and MIP, or Rui Hachimura for 6MOY. The Lakers have talked much more about process and winning, and enough of the latter will open things up for these types of acknowledgements. If the Lakers are a .500 team, nobody's getting votes for anything.
Finally, the Lakers have been remarkably boring this preseason, in the best possible ways. Darvin Ham diffused most of the things that could have created headlines before training camp could even start, but has still managed to maintain a highly competitive environment. In a city and regarding a team where it takes... well, virtually nothing to create controversy or talk radio segments, it's been crickets.
That's a great thing for the Lakers.
HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky
SEGMENT 1: D'Angelo Russell has an intersting role model for this season.
SEGMENT 2: The Lakers have the right attitude when it comes to external rewards like All-Star teams.
SEGMENT 3: Love that drama-free preseason.
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