SPL: Lakers vs. Jazz & Final SPL Impressions (07/21/15)

The Lakers ended their Las Vegas Summer League competition with a record of 1-4. Certain fans may be disappointed by the record, but the focus should be on their improvement. I've said before on this blog that summer league is not about wins and losses. It's about whether your young players show flashes of being able to play basketball at the NBA level. The Lakers' young players showed that in droves. There are various reasons that didn't result in more wins, but none of that should concern Lakers fans, other than the Lakers running the Princeton offense.

Here's what I saw from each player:

D'Angelo Russell
- Russell showed his shooting ability in this game. His mid range jumper off the pick and roll was especially deadly. If he keeps that up he'll be hard to stop.
- His defense has been better than advertised. He moved his feet well.
- Russell obviously had to adjust to several things in SPL, but his leadership ability was on display from day 1.

Julius Randle
- Randle picked up where he left off in the last game. He hit another mid range jumper
- He also was able to get to hoop well and finished better than he has before as the rust comes off
- He contested shots on the defensive end as well. He needs to box out better.
- As SPL went on Randle got much better at finding teammates for kick outs on his drive. He had some really nice assists.

Jordan Clarkson
- Clarkson had a really nice poster dunk in this game (see the highlights).
- He also made some good interior passes. Looking forward to his play once the real season begins.

Robert Upshaw
- Upshaw didn't get much time in this one. His effort was still there though.

Anthony Brown
- He's been even more invisible since being taken out of the starting lineup the last game. But I think he will be a solid player for the Lakers. The Lakers need just need to run some plays that get him good looks from 3.

Tarik Black
- Tarik had some nice baby hook shots in the paint. Not much to talk about, but solid game from him.

Larry Nance Jr.
- Nance Jr. had a running baby hook. Other than that he didn't do much.

SPL is over now. I'll be leaving to Kenya soon! Hopefully I'll have time to give my thoughts on the results of the Lakers free agency: Roy Hibbert, Lou Williams, and Brandon Bass.

On July 23rd I'll be apart of a team doing missionary work in Kenya. We'll be working in Kibera Slums which is the largest slum in Africa and is home to over 2 million people. There is one toilet with plumbing for every 2000 people there. We are in need of prayers and financial assistance. We're at about 92% funded right now. If you'd like to give you can at the link below:

www.wateroflifecc.org/gorgive

Register and then hit the give to teams button to select "2015 - Kenya Team 1" and my name is Jason

Thank you SO MUCH for your help. Any amount counts :)

Thanks for reading, go Lakers!!!