Tuesday, July 21, 2015
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!!!
Thursday, July 16, 2015
SPL: Laker vs Mavericks Impressions (07/16/15)
The Lakers young guns looked MUCH better Wednesday night as they took on the Dallas Mavericks SPL team. In the second half of the game the Lakers finally abandoned some of their archaic Princeton sets which have been very troublesome for the younger players to grasp. For those that remember, Mike Brown was trying to run a similar offense with Nash and Howard on board. It was unsuccessful then, and it's not the ideal system to run now when you have a lot of athletes who can create their own shots. Once the Lakers got into more traditional pick and roll offense with a few horns sets thrown in, they began to play a lot more freely. This is hopefully an adjustment the coaching staff makes soon. But don't count on it. Byron is as stubborn as they come.
Here's what I saw from each player:
D'Angelo Russell
- Russell had far fewer turnovers in this game than the previous one. By relaxing some of the Princeton sets he looked a lot more comfortable. He had one crucial turnover where he tried to split the double team on one of the final possessions. Just a rookie mistake that he will learn from.
- His shooting was off target all night. Looks like his legs might be a little gassed at this point, which is normal for a rookie.
- He had some more dazzling passes in this one. I really can't wait until the chemistry between Russell and his teammates is built up and we start running better sets
Julius Randle
- Julius Randle found a much better rhythm and diversified his game with drives to the basket, kick-outs to teammates, post ups, and his mid range jumper.
- He had one sequence where he did a jab step into a step back fade away from 20 feet out. That's very encouraging as that is what will open up the floor for the rest of his game.
- Randle was switched onto guards several times defensively and showed good effort. He led the team in the NBA's new "hustle" stat.
- Julius needs to consistently box out on the defensive glass and set better picks.
Jordan Clarkson
- Clarkson sliced and diced to rim for layups pretty much whenever he wanted. I think he is often on cruise control for much of these games.
- He and Russell looked much more comfortable as dual initiators when the Lakers ran a simpler, more efficient offense.
- He tried to force it in some of the final possessions. He likely got fouled on his final drive, but it wasn't called.
Robert Upshaw
- Upshaw didn't play a ton of minutes. He gets called every game for illegal screens.
- He had a nice turnaround jump shot today that shows he won't be a liability on offense in the future. His free throw form also looks good.
- Robert just needs to continue to add strength and conditioning in addition to staying away from distractions off the court.
Anthony Brown
- Anthony Brown was taken out of the starting lineup for Jabari Brown.
- The way the Lakers play doesn't afford much opportunity for Brown to score. I'd like to see him run off some screens to create catch and shoot situations for him. Or have him waiting to launch a corner 3 on a drive and kick.
Tarik Black
- Tarik could not contain Jeremy Tyler. He's just too undersized. He's going to have to exert more energy if he doesn't want to be a liability defensively.
Larry Nance Jr.
- Nance Jr. didn't do much in this contest. Like Black, he must use his tremendous motor to impact the game.
The Lakers will play again on Friday afternoon at 3pm against the Jazz SPL team. I'll likely have to DVR that one. There'll be a write up to follow. After summer league finishes, I'll give my thoughts on the results of the Lakers free agency: Roy Hibbert, Lou Williams, and Brandon Bass.
Also, coming up soon 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 65% 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!!!
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
SPL: Lakers vs Knicks Impressions (07/14/15)
Sunday night the Lakers SPL team took on the Knicks and things got ugly quickly. The Lakers offense sputtered from the get go as the ball never made it farther than one or two passes. This led to highly contested shots, sloppy turnovers, and easy scoring opportunities for the other team. Pretty much all of the Lakers young players played poorly in this game. They were able to make some adjustments after the first quarter and even climbed back into the game, but they couldn't get over the hump.
However there isn't a need to panic yet, as some fans have done, lol. Summer league is not about wins and losses. It's more about seeing if your rookies can show flashes of talent in an NBA environment. All of the Lakers young guys have already done that. So there is nothing to worry about on that front. The Lakers are also trying to implement a very complicated Princeton offense in a very short amount of time. That's a move I disagree with completely. This team is not built for the Princeton offense. They need be running a modern space and pace offense that allows them to get out and run. The team is full of athletes! Something similar to what GSW, SAS, and ATL run. But alas, for the time being we are stuck suffering under Byron Scott's outdated 1980s basketball philosophies.
Here's what I saw from each player:
D'Angelo Russell
- Russell had a few bright spots where his shooting was on display. He also threw a few passes that his teammates weren't ready for. They really need to learn to be ready for a pass at all times with him on the floor.
- He also had some more careless turnovers like in the last game.
- I think he'll come around. But I don't think the Lakers trying to get him to implement the Princeton this early into his career is a good idea. That system is a bad fit for our team and it can be pretty discouraging when you start each game in a hole because your offense can't generate any good looks.
Julius Randle
- Julius started off terrible. He was forcing the issue too much.
- He played at one speed (full speed) and kept attacking the rim. The great thing is that he could get to the spots he wanted to at will. The bad thing is it was incredibly predictable and allowed the defense to focus in on it and stop him.
- He made an adjustment in the 2nd half and began using the drive and kick game. This worked well and got open shots for his teammates. He even picked up his effort defensively.
- He's still rusty, having played only about 40 mins of competitive ball in the last 8 months, but he's definitely still got all the tools. I want to see him start to incorporate his jumper back into his game like he did last SPL and preseason.
Jordan Clarkson
- He had an off night by his standards thus far, but then again so did the entire team
Robert Upshaw
- Upshaw altered a few shots and may have gotten one block if I recall. Quite game from him in this one
Anthony Brown
- Showed more of that fire by battling for rebounds and contesting shots. I thought Brown played well in this game
Tarik Black
- Tarik was one of the rare Lakers who had a good offensive showing. He kept the Lakers in the game in the 2nd quarter
Larry Nance Jr.
- Nance Jr. couldn't get much going in this game either, but he competed hard.
The Lakers will play again on Wednesday night. The time hasn't been determined yet. It will be tournament style to determine a summer league champion. All teams will play a minimum of two more games.
Also, coming up soon 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 57% 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!!!
Monday, July 13, 2015
SPL: Lakers vs. 76ers impressions (07/13/15)
The Lakers summer league team was back in action Saturday night. This time they faced off against the 76ers and a guy they were expected to draft, Jahlil Okafor. Julius Randle did not play as a precaution set by the training staff. He's completely healthy to play, but they don't want to rush him back. He will play tonight against the Knicks.
Here's what I saw from each player:
D'Angelo Russell
- In this game Russell had some struggles with turnovers. There were a few times where he dribbled into heavy traffic or tried a risky pass
- He tried to get in the lane more this game. He's got a euro step in his arsenal. Would love to see him work on his first step and get some more explosion out of it.
- His shooting looked good even on the misses. And he had threw a few beautiful passes that his teammates weren't expecting. They'll learn to be ready for anything when Russell is on the floor.
Julius Randle
- DNP
Jordan Clarkson
- There's almost no point to covering Clarkson here. His game is too advanced for the SPL level. He shook a defender out of his shoes at one point and just made him look silly. As I said previously he's playing to get reps with the rest of the Lakers young core.
Robert Upshaw
- This was another solid defensive effort by Upshaw. He's a guy who will be able to change the complexion of a game with his defense. He did it in this one as he stuffed Okafor several times.
- You can tell that he's still really rusty and is far behind in the strength training as compared to other rookies. But with time he'll get it together
- One very encouraging thing about him, he runs the floor pretty well for his size
Anthony Brown
- This game showed more of that fire from him that I wanted to see. He had a few blocks and locked up the opposing PG on one possession
- His outside shot looks pretty reliable to me
- I'm impressed with Anthony Brown thus far
Tarik Black
- Nothing new to report still on Tarik. He's doing a solid job.
Larry Nance Jr.
- "Larry!! Larry!! Larry!!" The crowd was chanting his name so I guess he was doing something right haha.
- This game shows why the Lakers drafted him. Larry was all over the floor. Pinning Okafor's shot against the glass and skying in for putback dunks got the crowd going wild. That's his game. Hustle plays, athleticism, and defense. If the other team doesn't box him out....look out below!!
- Good performance by Nance Jr.
The Lakers will play again tonight at 5:30pm PST against the Knicks summer league team. I'll have analysis up on that as soon as I can.
Also, coming up soon 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 54% 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!!!
Saturday, July 11, 2015
First Impressions: Lakers Summer League (07/11/15)
They say first impressions are the most important. Well if that's true, then in this humble blogger's opinion the Lakers have a very bright future ahead. All of the Lakers rookies took the floor for the first time last night as professionals. The team ended up losing the game, but each player showed flashes of what they can be in this league, and that's pretty much what you want to see out of summer exhibition play.
Here's what I saw from each player:
D'Angelo Russell
- Cooler than the other side of the pillow, he came out calm and collected. The moment wasn't too big for him.
- He hit shots, showed his bball IQ with his passing, and looked more than comfortable running the offense
- He competed defensively.
- Russell made a few rookie mistakes like getting a backcourt violation when he didn't realize the NBA rules were different from college.
- Overall Russell will continue to adjust to the pace of the NBA and become one of the main offensive orchestrators on the team.
Julius Randle
- Got to whatever spot he wanted on the court when he wanted. He was by far the strongest player playing.
- Looked really rusty and missed easy shots he normally makes. He was out of rhythm until the end of the 4th
- He didn't let the game come to him and tried to force the issue a little bit
- His conditioning is much improved and he looked very athletic, getting a putback dunk and a driving dunk over Payne
- Overall this was promising for Randle. As he gets more time we'll see him back to the level he was at in the preseason last year. That was when he was mixing up the jumper with his driving game nicely.
Jordan Clarkson
- This dude was on a whole other level from everyone else on the court. He had a nice duel with Zach Lavine too.
- He looked poised, athletic, and his jumper is getting deadly
- Clarkson was just better than everyone last night. His experience and the work he has been putting in shows. Check out the highlights
- Overall he's mostly playing in SPL to gain chemistry with the rest of the Lakers young core. He's doing a great job
Robert Upshaw
- He looked awkward and out of shape at times, but above all else this kid competed. He went right at the number 1 overall pick in Karl Anthony Towns. They had a nice battle that got a little heated.
- Even out of shape he impacted the game defensively by getting 3 blocks
- He has a little bit of a nasty attitude when he competes. Like MWP did. The kind of dude you love on your team and hate when he's not.
- Overall I was impressed. And so were the Lakers because they signed him to a contract! Exactly what I wanted to happen. Bye Sacre.
Anthony Brown
- Played his role well. Hit open shots and played solid defense
- He made a few mistakes lie everyone else but he did what is asked of him.
- Overall I like him and his game. I want to see if he has that fire to compete or if he is laid back all the time
Tarik Black
- Overall he looks much the same as last year, which isn't a bad thing. He should be a solid backup center until Upshaw is ready or if the Lakers want to run small ball
Larry Nance Jr.
- A lot of what he did won't show up in the highlight reel unless they show his poster dunk attempt.
- Overall he hustled a lot and showed his tremendous motor. He'll get mor playing time tonight with Julius Randle held out as a precaution by the training staff
The Lakers will play again tonight at 5:30pm PST against the 76ers summer league team. I'll have analysis up on that as soon as I can.
Also, coming up soon 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 48% 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!!!
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
What to look for in Summer League (07/08/15)
The first chance to see the Lakers play basketball this year will be in the Las Vegas Summer League. They'll tip-off at 5:30 PST against the Minnesota Timberwolves. You'll be able to catch the games on TWC Sportsnet or NBATV. The Lakers full summer league roster is posted below.
Some of these players don't have much of a shot of making the Lakers team during the regular season. They will be competing to make other rosters of find a job overseas. For the players that are expected to remain on the Lakers after the summer league ends, let's discuss three questions to watch for in their play.
D'Angelo Russell
1) Will his elite passing and shooting displayed in college translate, with more athletic defenders guarding him?
2) Will he be able to defend point guards and shooting guards without being a liability?
3) Can he lead a team at this level?
Julius Randle
1) Has his jumper become consistent?
2) Has he improved his conditioning, pick setting, and pace of play (knowing when to attack and when to hold back)?
3) Is he healthy?
Jordan Clarkson
1) Has his 3 point shooting improved?
2) Has his on ball defense improved?
3) How does he adjust to playing off ball with Russell?
Robert Upshaw
1) Can he be an elite defensive center as he was in college?
2) How does he gel with Randle, Russell, Clarkson?
3) Can he mature and not regress to drugs or breaking rules?
Anthony Brown
1) How well does he shoot from 3?
2) Can he defend other perimeter players well?
3) How good is he at picking up the offensive concepts?
Tarik Black
1) Has he added any outside range to his game?
2) Does he still have that high motor that makes him effective?
3) Is his defense improving?
Larry Nance Jr.
1) What does his jump shot look like?
2) Will he do all the dirty work to make the team more effective?
3) Can he posterize at least one person in summer league?
As a team
1) How does the young core gel on/off the court?
2) Do they play a brand of basketball that will equate to wins down the line?
3) Do they compete as hard as they can regardless of the outcome?
I plan on watching as much of summer league as I can. It should be a lot of fun. This is the most talented summer league team the Lakers have probably ever had. And while the end result doesn't matter much, expect the Lakers players to compete hard. These are all highly competitive guys who want to win no matter what the stakes. Next article will be a summary after the first game :)
Also, coming up soon 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. 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!!!
Tarik Black, C, 6-9, 250, Kansas/USA
Anthony Brown, G/F, 6-7, 210, Stanford/USA
Jabari Brown, G, 6-4, 215, Missouri/USA (out with eye injury)
Dwight Buycks, G, 6-3, 190, Marquette/USA
Jordan Clarkson, G, 6-5, 185, Missouri/USA
Will Davis II, F, 6-8, 210, UC Irvine/USA
Tony Mitchell, F, 6-6, 216, Dolomiti Energia Trento (Italy)/USA
Xavier Munford, G, 6-2, 180, Rhode Island/USA
Larry Nance, Jr., F, 6-9, 230, Wyoming/USA
Julius Randle, F, 6-9, 250, Kentucky/USA
D'Angelo Russell, G, 6-5, 195, Ohio State/USA
Robert Upshaw, C, 7-0, 258, Washington/USA
HEAD COACH: Mark Madsen (Stanford)
ASSISTANT COACHES: Larry Lewis (Morehouse), Thomas Scott (Pasadena CC)
ATHLETIC TRAINERS: Marco Nunez (Cal Poly Pomona), Nina Hsieh (Cal State Fullerton)
Some of these players don't have much of a shot of making the Lakers team during the regular season. They will be competing to make other rosters of find a job overseas. For the players that are expected to remain on the Lakers after the summer league ends, let's discuss three questions to watch for in their play.
D'Angelo Russell
1) Will his elite passing and shooting displayed in college translate, with more athletic defenders guarding him?
2) Will he be able to defend point guards and shooting guards without being a liability?
3) Can he lead a team at this level?
Julius Randle
1) Has his jumper become consistent?
2) Has he improved his conditioning, pick setting, and pace of play (knowing when to attack and when to hold back)?
3) Is he healthy?
Jordan Clarkson
1) Has his 3 point shooting improved?
2) Has his on ball defense improved?
3) How does he adjust to playing off ball with Russell?
Robert Upshaw
1) Can he be an elite defensive center as he was in college?
2) How does he gel with Randle, Russell, Clarkson?
3) Can he mature and not regress to drugs or breaking rules?
Anthony Brown
1) How well does he shoot from 3?
2) Can he defend other perimeter players well?
3) How good is he at picking up the offensive concepts?
Tarik Black
1) Has he added any outside range to his game?
2) Does he still have that high motor that makes him effective?
3) Is his defense improving?
Larry Nance Jr.
1) What does his jump shot look like?
2) Will he do all the dirty work to make the team more effective?
3) Can he posterize at least one person in summer league?
As a team
1) How does the young core gel on/off the court?
2) Do they play a brand of basketball that will equate to wins down the line?
3) Do they compete as hard as they can regardless of the outcome?
I plan on watching as much of summer league as I can. It should be a lot of fun. This is the most talented summer league team the Lakers have probably ever had. And while the end result doesn't matter much, expect the Lakers players to compete hard. These are all highly competitive guys who want to win no matter what the stakes. Next article will be a summary after the first game :)
Also, coming up soon 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. 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!!!
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
The Lakers select...who?? Larry Nance Jr. & Anthony Brown (07/07/15)
While much of the attention post draft has been drawn by the Lakers number 2 overall pick, D'Angelo Russell, the Lakers also selected two other players on June 25th. As first team all-NBA rookie Jordan Clarkson proved last year, sometimes it doesn't matter where you're drafted but how hard you work. Let's take a look at the Larry Nance Jr. and Anthony Brown.
Larry Nance Jr. (Selected #27)
Position: Forward
Height: 6-8 ▪ Weight: 235
College: Wyoming
Career: 123 G, 11.3 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 1.4 APG
Nance is guy who is really athletic. He comes from a basketball background since his father played in the NBA for 13 seasons and was a 3 time all-star. He describes himself as a hustle player who will do all the dirty work necessary to secure a win. Once he matures and gets used to the NBA, I see him a high energy guy off of the bench who can change the momentum of the game with a big time dunk or a dive on the floor for a loose ball. Think of him as a much more coordinated and athletic Mark Madsen. He'll be the glue guy that keeps everyone together. Check out the videos below to see some of his dunks in college and get a feel for his personality. He has a decent jumper even if the release is a little awkward. I think his playing time will largely be dependent on if he becomes a liability on the offensive end.
Anthony Brown (Selected #34)
Position: Forward
Height: 6-6 ▪ Weight: 215
College: Stanford
Career: 145 G, 10.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.6 APG
Anthony Brown grew up as a life long Laker fan. Being from LA he saw all of the Kobe era championships. This kid was in awe even when he did the pre-draft workout for the Lakers. He worked out with other potential prospects on a day where Kobe happened to stop by the facility. In his interview afterwards he stated he could "feel Kobe's presence" LOL. That's a Laker fan through and through. On the court he wants to be a "3 & D" small forward. He wants to focus on taking opportunities as they come to him since this team has a lot of shot creators, and on defending the other teams' best perimeter players. Brown has been studying the games of players like Khris Middleton and Demare Carroll. Those are good guys for him to emulate. He has the talent to follow their game patterns. If Brown can be a dead eye shooter from 3 and a solid defender, the Lakers will have made an excellent pick. See the videos below.
The Lakers will start summer league play this Friday at 5:30pm PST. This will be our first look at all of the Lakers' young talent together. The roster has D'Angelo Russell, Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson, Robert Upshaw, Anthony Brown, Tarik Black, and Larry Nance Jr. Stay tuned. My next article will covering what we should look for and expect from each player in summer league. Should be very excited for the Lakers!
Also, coming up soon 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. 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!!!
Larry Nance Jr. (Selected #27)
Position: Forward
Height: 6-8 ▪ Weight: 235
College: Wyoming
Career: 123 G, 11.3 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 1.4 APG
Nance is guy who is really athletic. He comes from a basketball background since his father played in the NBA for 13 seasons and was a 3 time all-star. He describes himself as a hustle player who will do all the dirty work necessary to secure a win. Once he matures and gets used to the NBA, I see him a high energy guy off of the bench who can change the momentum of the game with a big time dunk or a dive on the floor for a loose ball. Think of him as a much more coordinated and athletic Mark Madsen. He'll be the glue guy that keeps everyone together. Check out the videos below to see some of his dunks in college and get a feel for his personality. He has a decent jumper even if the release is a little awkward. I think his playing time will largely be dependent on if he becomes a liability on the offensive end.
Anthony Brown (Selected #34)
Position: Forward
Height: 6-6 ▪ Weight: 215
College: Stanford
Career: 145 G, 10.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.6 APG
Anthony Brown grew up as a life long Laker fan. Being from LA he saw all of the Kobe era championships. This kid was in awe even when he did the pre-draft workout for the Lakers. He worked out with other potential prospects on a day where Kobe happened to stop by the facility. In his interview afterwards he stated he could "feel Kobe's presence" LOL. That's a Laker fan through and through. On the court he wants to be a "3 & D" small forward. He wants to focus on taking opportunities as they come to him since this team has a lot of shot creators, and on defending the other teams' best perimeter players. Brown has been studying the games of players like Khris Middleton and Demare Carroll. Those are good guys for him to emulate. He has the talent to follow their game patterns. If Brown can be a dead eye shooter from 3 and a solid defender, the Lakers will have made an excellent pick. See the videos below.
The Lakers will start summer league play this Friday at 5:30pm PST. This will be our first look at all of the Lakers' young talent together. The roster has D'Angelo Russell, Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson, Robert Upshaw, Anthony Brown, Tarik Black, and Larry Nance Jr. Stay tuned. My next article will covering what we should look for and expect from each player in summer league. Should be very excited for the Lakers!
Also, coming up soon 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. 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!!!
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Target Acquired, Permission to Fire - 2015 Free Agency (06/30/15)
Now that the draft is over the Lakers can focus their attention on NBA free agency. Free agency starts tomorrow, July 1st, and there's about a week moratorium when teams can officially sign players to contracts. So who is available and who should the Lakers target? That's probably a question best answered by first knowing how much spending money the Lakers have. LA should have about $23m in cap space this summer. There is a small chance that they could trade Nick Young and Ryan Kelly which could get them in the ball park of $29m to spend. However that is unlikely to occur. So assuming the Lakers will have about $23m in space (plus a small $2.8m exception), let's look at their roster and see where the needs are:
Roster as of 06/30/2015
Guards (PG or SG)
Jordan Clarkson
D'Angelo Russell
Kobe Bryant
Nick Young
Jabari Brown
Wings (SF)
Anthony Brown
Bigs (PF or C)
Julius Randle
Tarik Black
Ryan Kelly
Larry Nance Jr.
Robert Sacre
The Lakers have the most need at the wing position and at the center spot. At the moment they don't have starting quality NBA talent at those positions. It is possible for them to play other players in those spots, for example Kobe and Nick Young are capable of playing SF if need be, but it is less than ideal. Mitch Kupchak will look to fill these holes as best he can this summer. But he will go into free agency with the understanding that he may not be able to fill all the holes in one offseason, and that it's not possible to get an all star at every position either.
So let's a take a look at some of the names the Lakers have been linked to in rumors. Remember that rumors are worth about as much as we pay for them. In this case they're free so...take from that what you will lol :). I'll also include if I think that player would be good for this team or not and why. In the last section I'll discuss my top 2 hopes for this summer's FA signings.
Player Rumored to be signed by the Lakers
Kevin Love - Do not want - Most people would say why don't you want Love? My answer is simple. He's injury prone and doesn't play much defense. In addition to that he commands $19m in salary. We only have $23m to spend. I'll pass on him. 2 years ago I would have loved to have him.
Rajon Rondo - DO NOT WANT - Notice I put this one in all caps? It's for emphasis. He can't play effectively anymore, shoots free throws worse than Dwight Howard, has an attitude worse than Dwight Howard's, and would take playing time away from our young guards in Clarkson and Russell. Even if the league paid us to take him I still wouldn't sign him. Puke.
DeAndre Jordan - Yes please - He fills the gaping hole we have at center. He's a rim protector and he's athletic enough to run on the break. He's also an excellent rebounder. He finishes everything within reach of the basket at a high percentage. He'd take up nearly all of our $23m in cap space but he'd be worth it because he brings a lot of things we desperately need. The only downside is his free throw shooting. But it's been statistically proven that strategy actually works against the team using it. Would love to have DJ on this team.
LaMarcus Aldridge - I guess - I'm on the fence about this one. He's an all-star player with lots of experience. My reservation only comes from the fact that he doesn't have the rim protection that we need and in the past he's been hesitant to play at center. Like Love and DJ he would take up essentially all of the open space we have. It's worth noting that while I'm on the fence about this I don't think the Lakers are, they would sign him in a heart beat if given the opportunity.
Greg Monroe - No thanks - Monroe will likely wind up on the Knicks which is a good thing because I certainly don't want him here. He is too slow to be a good defender at the power forward or center position. And his offensive game is really inefficient.
Those are some of the more well known players rumored to be pursued by the Lakers. For a full list of 2015 NBA free agents go here: http://www.nba.com/freeagents/2015/
My plans for the Lakers free agency are very simple. Go after the best player available. If you don't get him, then get complimentary role players/pieces since Kevin Durant, Mike Conley, etc. will be free agents next year.
Plan A: Sign DeAndre Jordan ($19m), Sign a SF with the remainder Alfariq Aminu/Rudy Fernandez/Dorrell Wright ($4m)
Plan B: Sign Tyson Chandler ($12m), Sign Danny Green ($11m)
Let me explain Plan B a bit because I haven't talked about those players before. Tyson Chandler is pretty much the same style of player as DeAndre Jordan. He is much cheaper than Jordan because he is much older. He's 32. However he can still be a solid contributor, and he'd serve as the perfect mentor to a player like Robert Upshaw who is currently signed to the Lakers summer league team. Chandler would get a chance to finish off his career in his hometown and make one last decent contract. Danny Green would be able to play SF or SG. His specialty is shooting 3 pointers at a high percentage and playing pretty good defense. He is a solid veteran with championship experience from San Antonio. Adding another vet to the locker room helps Kobe and he'd also be a good mentor for Anthony Brown who the Lakers drafted at #34. To me there wouldn't be much of a drop off from Plan A to Plan B. Although Plan A makes a much bigger splash in marketing and ratings.
The next article will cover the Lakers other two draft picks this year, Larry Nance Jr. and Anthony Brown, so stay tuned!
Also, 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. 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!!!
Roster as of 06/30/2015
Guards (PG or SG)
Jordan Clarkson
D'Angelo Russell
Kobe Bryant
Nick Young
Jabari Brown
Wings (SF)
Anthony Brown
Bigs (PF or C)
Julius Randle
Tarik Black
Ryan Kelly
Larry Nance Jr.
Robert Sacre
The Lakers have the most need at the wing position and at the center spot. At the moment they don't have starting quality NBA talent at those positions. It is possible for them to play other players in those spots, for example Kobe and Nick Young are capable of playing SF if need be, but it is less than ideal. Mitch Kupchak will look to fill these holes as best he can this summer. But he will go into free agency with the understanding that he may not be able to fill all the holes in one offseason, and that it's not possible to get an all star at every position either.
So let's a take a look at some of the names the Lakers have been linked to in rumors. Remember that rumors are worth about as much as we pay for them. In this case they're free so...take from that what you will lol :). I'll also include if I think that player would be good for this team or not and why. In the last section I'll discuss my top 2 hopes for this summer's FA signings.
Player Rumored to be signed by the Lakers
Kevin Love - Do not want - Most people would say why don't you want Love? My answer is simple. He's injury prone and doesn't play much defense. In addition to that he commands $19m in salary. We only have $23m to spend. I'll pass on him. 2 years ago I would have loved to have him.
Rajon Rondo - DO NOT WANT - Notice I put this one in all caps? It's for emphasis. He can't play effectively anymore, shoots free throws worse than Dwight Howard, has an attitude worse than Dwight Howard's, and would take playing time away from our young guards in Clarkson and Russell. Even if the league paid us to take him I still wouldn't sign him. Puke.
DeAndre Jordan - Yes please - He fills the gaping hole we have at center. He's a rim protector and he's athletic enough to run on the break. He's also an excellent rebounder. He finishes everything within reach of the basket at a high percentage. He'd take up nearly all of our $23m in cap space but he'd be worth it because he brings a lot of things we desperately need. The only downside is his free throw shooting. But it's been statistically proven that strategy actually works against the team using it. Would love to have DJ on this team.
LaMarcus Aldridge - I guess - I'm on the fence about this one. He's an all-star player with lots of experience. My reservation only comes from the fact that he doesn't have the rim protection that we need and in the past he's been hesitant to play at center. Like Love and DJ he would take up essentially all of the open space we have. It's worth noting that while I'm on the fence about this I don't think the Lakers are, they would sign him in a heart beat if given the opportunity.
Greg Monroe - No thanks - Monroe will likely wind up on the Knicks which is a good thing because I certainly don't want him here. He is too slow to be a good defender at the power forward or center position. And his offensive game is really inefficient.
Those are some of the more well known players rumored to be pursued by the Lakers. For a full list of 2015 NBA free agents go here: http://www.nba.com/freeagents/2015/
My plans for the Lakers free agency are very simple. Go after the best player available. If you don't get him, then get complimentary role players/pieces since Kevin Durant, Mike Conley, etc. will be free agents next year.
Plan A: Sign DeAndre Jordan ($19m), Sign a SF with the remainder Alfariq Aminu/Rudy Fernandez/Dorrell Wright ($4m)
Plan B: Sign Tyson Chandler ($12m), Sign Danny Green ($11m)
Let me explain Plan B a bit because I haven't talked about those players before. Tyson Chandler is pretty much the same style of player as DeAndre Jordan. He is much cheaper than Jordan because he is much older. He's 32. However he can still be a solid contributor, and he'd serve as the perfect mentor to a player like Robert Upshaw who is currently signed to the Lakers summer league team. Chandler would get a chance to finish off his career in his hometown and make one last decent contract. Danny Green would be able to play SF or SG. His specialty is shooting 3 pointers at a high percentage and playing pretty good defense. He is a solid veteran with championship experience from San Antonio. Adding another vet to the locker room helps Kobe and he'd also be a good mentor for Anthony Brown who the Lakers drafted at #34. To me there wouldn't be much of a drop off from Plan A to Plan B. Although Plan A makes a much bigger splash in marketing and ratings.
The next article will cover the Lakers other two draft picks this year, Larry Nance Jr. and Anthony Brown, so stay tuned!
Also, 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. 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!!!
Sunday, June 28, 2015
Lakers #loading (06/28/15)
With the 2nd pick in the 2015 NBA draft, the Los Angeles Lakers select...D'Angelo Russell from The Ohio State University." NBA commissioner Adam Silver uttered these words Thursday night as the Lakers used their highest draft pick since James Worthy in 1982.
It's safe to say most Lakers fans were a bit surprised by the pick. Not because Russell was undeserving, but because it had almost been a forgone conclusion that the Lakers would simply select whichever big man prospect that was not picked at #1. This is because the Lakers have a rich history of talented big men who have helped them produce championships. Additionally the Lakers have a gaping hole at the center spot on their roster right now. I could actually start at center for the Lakers, and you wouldn't notice a drop off in performance from last season. Putting two and two together, most fans and sports writers believed the Lakers would select a center since we need one, and the two available were projected to be really good.
Enter D'Angelo Russell.
I'll admit I was surprised they picked him too. But not in a bad way. Like in the way you're surprised when you leave work on a Friday, and there's no traffic on the way home. It was a pleasant surprise! I didn't think the Lakers would go against conventional wisdom that says you should pick a big over a small. Ever since Russell was brought to my attention last year, it was clear this dude can play the game of basketball. But we'll get to that in the next section. Even better still for the business side of the house, D'Angelo has that LA personality. He has a ton of natural charisma and isn't afraid of the spotlight. In the end I think that, combined with his skills, made him a can't miss pick for the Lakers. One which I agree with. (I had him at #2 on my personal board after Towns).
The Lakers also had two other draft picks which they used on Larry Nance Jr (#27) and Anthony Brown (#34). They also offered summer league contracts to forward Branden Ashley and center Robert Upshaw. I will cover these players in a follow on post :). I'm really excited about Upshaw. We're desperate for a center and he's got all the skills we would need at that position. His only question mark is if he can get his head on straight. Much more or follow on that. He has the potential to be an even bigger steal than Jordan Clarskon...
So let's take a look at D'Angelo Russell and see what kind of player he was in college, and what type of player he can be in the NBA. Here are some of his strengths and weaknesses:
Strengths
Passing ability/IQ
Shooting
Ball handling
Unselfish but not afraid to take over
Weaknesses
Doesn't have elite athleticism
Lacks strength
Needs better moves for finishing at the rim
NBA comparison (play style): Stephen Curry, James Harden, Manu Ginobli
Russell plays the game very smoothyly. What I mean by that is he's always in control. He controls the pace and tempo of the game. He's able to manipulate the defense with his high basketball IQ, and sees plays develop before they happen. He always makes the right pass at the right time. Whether it leads directly to he assist or it is the pass the leads to the assist he usually has his hand in it. Additionally, because he is a deadly shooter off the dribble or in catch and shoot situations it makes the defense have to respect him. They can't give him too much space so it opens up lanes for his passing game.
D'Angelo is equally adept at playing up tempo as he is at playing in a half court offense. With him, Jordan Clarkson, and Julius Randle the Lakers have 3 promising younger players who can all initiate the offense by creating for themselves or others. It will make for EXCITING basketball a few years down the road. Without further ado, here's a great highlight video showing Russell's play style:
Laker fans should be excited about the future with D'Angelo Russell on board. They obviously saw enough talent in him to take a risk in drafting him against conventional wisdom over Jahlil Okafor. More posts to follow on his development. The next two articles will be on what moves the Lakers should make in free agency and a look at the other two draftees from Thursday night.
Also, in a month 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. If you'd like to give you can at the link below:
www.wateroflifecc.org/gorgive
Register and then select Kenya Team 1 and my name is Jason
Thank you SO MUCH for your help. Any amount counts :)
Go LAKERS
It's safe to say most Lakers fans were a bit surprised by the pick. Not because Russell was undeserving, but because it had almost been a forgone conclusion that the Lakers would simply select whichever big man prospect that was not picked at #1. This is because the Lakers have a rich history of talented big men who have helped them produce championships. Additionally the Lakers have a gaping hole at the center spot on their roster right now. I could actually start at center for the Lakers, and you wouldn't notice a drop off in performance from last season. Putting two and two together, most fans and sports writers believed the Lakers would select a center since we need one, and the two available were projected to be really good.
Enter D'Angelo Russell.
I'll admit I was surprised they picked him too. But not in a bad way. Like in the way you're surprised when you leave work on a Friday, and there's no traffic on the way home. It was a pleasant surprise! I didn't think the Lakers would go against conventional wisdom that says you should pick a big over a small. Ever since Russell was brought to my attention last year, it was clear this dude can play the game of basketball. But we'll get to that in the next section. Even better still for the business side of the house, D'Angelo has that LA personality. He has a ton of natural charisma and isn't afraid of the spotlight. In the end I think that, combined with his skills, made him a can't miss pick for the Lakers. One which I agree with. (I had him at #2 on my personal board after Towns).
The Lakers also had two other draft picks which they used on Larry Nance Jr (#27) and Anthony Brown (#34). They also offered summer league contracts to forward Branden Ashley and center Robert Upshaw. I will cover these players in a follow on post :). I'm really excited about Upshaw. We're desperate for a center and he's got all the skills we would need at that position. His only question mark is if he can get his head on straight. Much more or follow on that. He has the potential to be an even bigger steal than Jordan Clarskon...
So let's take a look at D'Angelo Russell and see what kind of player he was in college, and what type of player he can be in the NBA. Here are some of his strengths and weaknesses:
Strengths
Passing ability/IQ
Shooting
Ball handling
Unselfish but not afraid to take over
Weaknesses
Doesn't have elite athleticism
Lacks strength
Needs better moves for finishing at the rim
NBA comparison (play style): Stephen Curry, James Harden, Manu Ginobli
Russell plays the game very smoothyly. What I mean by that is he's always in control. He controls the pace and tempo of the game. He's able to manipulate the defense with his high basketball IQ, and sees plays develop before they happen. He always makes the right pass at the right time. Whether it leads directly to he assist or it is the pass the leads to the assist he usually has his hand in it. Additionally, because he is a deadly shooter off the dribble or in catch and shoot situations it makes the defense have to respect him. They can't give him too much space so it opens up lanes for his passing game.
D'Angelo is equally adept at playing up tempo as he is at playing in a half court offense. With him, Jordan Clarkson, and Julius Randle the Lakers have 3 promising younger players who can all initiate the offense by creating for themselves or others. It will make for EXCITING basketball a few years down the road. Without further ado, here's a great highlight video showing Russell's play style:
Laker fans should be excited about the future with D'Angelo Russell on board. They obviously saw enough talent in him to take a risk in drafting him against conventional wisdom over Jahlil Okafor. More posts to follow on his development. The next two articles will be on what moves the Lakers should make in free agency and a look at the other two draftees from Thursday night.
Also, in a month 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. If you'd like to give you can at the link below:
www.wateroflifecc.org/gorgive
Register and then select Kenya Team 1 and my name is Jason
Thank you SO MUCH for your help. Any amount counts :)
Go LAKERS
Friday, October 10, 2014
Pre-season Impressions (vs Nuggets & Warriors) 10/10/14
The dawn of another Lakers season is upon us and there is a lot to be excited about!! :) :)
The Lakers have a completely overhauled roster from last season. Which is good news for those who don't enjoy setting franchise records for losses. 2013-2014 was an injury filled year for our Lakers (led the league by a wide margin in that category). It's one that we'd all like to quickly forget.
So this year we have some new young talent, and a rejuvinated old guy named Kobe Bean Bryant. I'm really looking forward to watching the development of Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson, and Jeremy Lin. They all are being put into a good position to succeed thanks to the mentorship of Kobe, Nash, and Carlos Boozer. Additonally the Lakers hired a new coach in Byron Scott who is looking to bring back the championship culture of the Laker brand which evaded the last two head coaches.
Impressions
For full game analysis check the one and only Dancing Barry threads over at Lakers Ground. I won't be doing more detailed anlaysis until the regular season starts. This is because the team is experimenting with different lineups, players, schemes, etc. instead of being focused on winning the game. Instead I'll focus on the impression I've gotten from each player through training camp and the pre-season games.
vs. Nuggets: http://forums.lakersground.net/viewtopic.php?t=170280
vs. Warriors: http://forums.lakersground.net/viewtopic.php?t=170325
Nash - Played well in his 20 minutes of action vs. Denver. They sat him out to rest against Golden State. He seemed to be moving well and was more agressive shooting the ball than he was last season. It appears to be a point of emphasis from coach Scott.
Bryant - He is operating from the free throw line extended just like he said he would. He's doing much less ball handling. He is running the offense from the post positions. His ability to score and draw fouls still exists despite his elevation on the jumper not being as high. I look to see him get in even better shape as the season progresses and start to test the waters with his slashing game. Defensively he's had good and bad spots. But he looks capable and I don't think he will get abused on that end.
Johnson - Still has minimal impact on the games. He'll do probably 2 things a game that make you notice him. Other than that you forget he is playing. Wesley needs to play better.
Boozer - His 15 footer has been automatic. His defense has been below average. And most of his drives to the basket have been blocked. Maybe it's just because of pre-season, but I'd like to see him play with more fire.
Hill - Looked good in the first game against Denver. Didn't do much in the second game. If this trend continues he will lose his starting spot to Ed Davis.
Lin - Looks a little shaky at times while trying to find his role in the offense, but overall I've liked his play. He is crticial to the Lakers making the playoffs. I think when he settles in he will have a good season. He has the talent.
Clarkson - He has made some rookie mistakes when it comes to shot selection and defense, but his effort is unquestionable and he's made some good things happen on the court in both games. He's looking to be the scorer of the 2nd unit with Swaggy P being out. Unfortunately he strained his calf in the last game and is expected to miss at least a week. Get well soon Jordan!
Ellington - Has been competing as the backup 3 even though he is a 2. I think he's demonstrated that he can shoot the basketball (which is why the Lakers signed him as a Jodie Meeks replacement). I think he's performed slightly above expectations so far.
Randle - Looked good in both games. He got off to a rocky start in the 2nd one though after taking forced shots and then hesitating on wide open jumpers. He cleaned up his mistakes toward the end of the game and showed flashes of the superstar caliber player that he can be. The best part about it is that he recognizes his weaknesses and he works on them.
Davis - He has impressed many with his play in the first two pre-season games. He had great pick and roll chemistry with Lin in game 1, then he continued to impress with his defense and effort in against the Warriors. If he keeps this up he will be starting.
Price - Did not play against the Nuggets. Showed some defensive hustle in the second game. He can shoot if open, but he can't really orchestrate an offense.
Sacre - Looks the same as last year except with a slightly improved jumper.
Tyler - Got a few mins to play in the Warriors' game, but did not show anything other than bricked jumpers. In his defense he was in the game with all 3rd stringers though.
Smith - See Tyler.
Swaggy - Injured (Wrist)
Kelly - Injured (Hamstring)
Henry - Injured (Back)
The next game will be Sunday against the Warriors again at 6:30pm.
The Lakers have a completely overhauled roster from last season. Which is good news for those who don't enjoy setting franchise records for losses. 2013-2014 was an injury filled year for our Lakers (led the league by a wide margin in that category). It's one that we'd all like to quickly forget.
So this year we have some new young talent, and a rejuvinated old guy named Kobe Bean Bryant. I'm really looking forward to watching the development of Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson, and Jeremy Lin. They all are being put into a good position to succeed thanks to the mentorship of Kobe, Nash, and Carlos Boozer. Additonally the Lakers hired a new coach in Byron Scott who is looking to bring back the championship culture of the Laker brand which evaded the last two head coaches.
Impressions
For full game analysis check the one and only Dancing Barry threads over at Lakers Ground. I won't be doing more detailed anlaysis until the regular season starts. This is because the team is experimenting with different lineups, players, schemes, etc. instead of being focused on winning the game. Instead I'll focus on the impression I've gotten from each player through training camp and the pre-season games.
vs. Nuggets: http://forums.lakersground.net/viewtopic.php?t=170280
vs. Warriors: http://forums.lakersground.net/viewtopic.php?t=170325
Nash - Played well in his 20 minutes of action vs. Denver. They sat him out to rest against Golden State. He seemed to be moving well and was more agressive shooting the ball than he was last season. It appears to be a point of emphasis from coach Scott.
Bryant - He is operating from the free throw line extended just like he said he would. He's doing much less ball handling. He is running the offense from the post positions. His ability to score and draw fouls still exists despite his elevation on the jumper not being as high. I look to see him get in even better shape as the season progresses and start to test the waters with his slashing game. Defensively he's had good and bad spots. But he looks capable and I don't think he will get abused on that end.
Johnson - Still has minimal impact on the games. He'll do probably 2 things a game that make you notice him. Other than that you forget he is playing. Wesley needs to play better.
Boozer - His 15 footer has been automatic. His defense has been below average. And most of his drives to the basket have been blocked. Maybe it's just because of pre-season, but I'd like to see him play with more fire.
Hill - Looked good in the first game against Denver. Didn't do much in the second game. If this trend continues he will lose his starting spot to Ed Davis.
Lin - Looks a little shaky at times while trying to find his role in the offense, but overall I've liked his play. He is crticial to the Lakers making the playoffs. I think when he settles in he will have a good season. He has the talent.
Clarkson - He has made some rookie mistakes when it comes to shot selection and defense, but his effort is unquestionable and he's made some good things happen on the court in both games. He's looking to be the scorer of the 2nd unit with Swaggy P being out. Unfortunately he strained his calf in the last game and is expected to miss at least a week. Get well soon Jordan!
Ellington - Has been competing as the backup 3 even though he is a 2. I think he's demonstrated that he can shoot the basketball (which is why the Lakers signed him as a Jodie Meeks replacement). I think he's performed slightly above expectations so far.
Randle - Looked good in both games. He got off to a rocky start in the 2nd one though after taking forced shots and then hesitating on wide open jumpers. He cleaned up his mistakes toward the end of the game and showed flashes of the superstar caliber player that he can be. The best part about it is that he recognizes his weaknesses and he works on them.
Davis - He has impressed many with his play in the first two pre-season games. He had great pick and roll chemistry with Lin in game 1, then he continued to impress with his defense and effort in against the Warriors. If he keeps this up he will be starting.
Price - Did not play against the Nuggets. Showed some defensive hustle in the second game. He can shoot if open, but he can't really orchestrate an offense.
Sacre - Looks the same as last year except with a slightly improved jumper.
Tyler - Got a few mins to play in the Warriors' game, but did not show anything other than bricked jumpers. In his defense he was in the game with all 3rd stringers though.
Smith - See Tyler.
Swaggy - Injured (Wrist)
Kelly - Injured (Hamstring)
Henry - Injured (Back)
The next game will be Sunday against the Warriors again at 6:30pm.
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Insider Info on the Lakers Coaching Choice & Cool Vids (08/05/14)
Welcome back everyone. In two days I'll be heading out of the country on a mission trip to Kenya with my church. I had hoped to have analysis of the new coaching staff by then, but as of now only head coach Byron Scott has been announced. For now I'll leave you all with some insider info from Lakersground.net forum poster Luca Brasi. He has been vetted by moderators over there and I find him highly credible. Here is what he had to say regarding Derek Fisher as a coaching prospect:
In regards to John Calipari:
Interesting stuff for sure! I think Madsen will be head coach one day, but he needs more time and experience right now.
Also, here are some really cool Lakers videos to keep you happy until the season starts. The first is a real tear jerker about Kobe's battle back from injury. The second shows some down right scary comparisons of Kobe and Jordan. And last but not least is a great 6 minute interview with our new rookie Julius Randle. I highly recommend watching it as I think he's a great guy and I'm happy to have him on the squad. Enjoy and let me know which one you liked the most! :) Go Lakers!!!
"For those wondering about Dfish the Lakers had serious interest, but alas we figured the prospects of teaming with Phil would be too persuasive, and he also wasn't interested in keeping with the Lakers timeline to hire a coach.
The goal as stated a couple years ago was to hire a younger coach with Laker legacy. Mission accomplished. "
In regards to John Calipari:
"Calipari was always on the radar, but he took himself out of the running when he committed to the Harrison twins. If he turned his back on those kids, I'm not sure the lakers would be interested, that's a horrible thing to do."And before Scott was hired he mentioned this about Mark Madsen:
"One option is hiring Mark on an interim basis till someone else becomes available.
*Backs away slowly. Fearing fan reaction.* "
Interesting stuff for sure! I think Madsen will be head coach one day, but he needs more time and experience right now.
Also, here are some really cool Lakers videos to keep you happy until the season starts. The first is a real tear jerker about Kobe's battle back from injury. The second shows some down right scary comparisons of Kobe and Jordan. And last but not least is a great 6 minute interview with our new rookie Julius Randle. I highly recommend watching it as I think he's a great guy and I'm happy to have him on the squad. Enjoy and let me know which one you liked the most! :) Go Lakers!!!
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Summer League Summary & Roster Update 07/19/14
The Lakers played their last summer league game yesterday. They defeated the Denver Nuggets summer league team 83-77, and had a final record of 2-3. Just as in pre-season, the final outcome of each game is not as important a getting a good look a different players and how they perform individually. For the Lakers there were two players who clearly stood out from the rest. It was none other than their two picks from this year's draft: Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson.
Julius Randle
To put it simply, this kid is a bully. If you met him on the playground he would take your lunch money. And if you got the courage to tell a teacher they wouldn't help you because they'd be scared of him too. That's not to say he isn't a good guy because he definitely is...but this guy is like a built like an ox. When you watch him drive to the rim you just see defenders bouncing off of him in every direction. It's like watching bumper cars. To give you an example there was one play in Summer League where a defender tried to stop a Randle drive. He got caught with an elbow and needed 3 stitches on his forehead. And the foul was called on him! LOL. Randle is that good.
Here's some highlight clips of his play against the 76ers:
Obviously he's still a rookie so there will be much for him to learn, and there are a few things he needs to work on a lot. However, he is oozing potential right now and Laker fans should be excited! Here are the top three skills he demonstrated in SL, and the top three things he needs to improve.
Skills:
Adept at getting to the basket due to ball handling and quickness
Has the ability to finish through contact and draw fouls
Has excellent court vision and makes good passes
Areas for Improvement:
Conditioning is not where it should be thanks to being 3 months removed from the college season
Only attempted 2 jump shots in summer league and missed both, will need one to continue offensive success in the NBA
Set very poor screens which never provided opportunity for anything in pick and roll situations
Jordan Clarkson
The Lakers spent $1.7M to buy this pick from the Washington Wizards. Right now that is looking like money well spent. Clarkson is a 6'5" guard who can play the point guard and shooting guard roles. He's been the Lakers' highest scorer in summer league. He averaged 15.8 pts, 5 reb, and 1.2ast. Like Randle he plays with a chip on his shoulder and has a knack for getting to the basket. He surprised the Lakers with just how good his shooting has been. Clarkson even had a game winning tip in vs. the Warriors. He was projected to go in the first round of the draft but somehow fell to the mid second round where the Lakers got him. Good pick by Mitch and Co.
Here's some highlights from his best summer league game:
Here are the top three skills he demonstrated in SL, and the top three things he needs to improve.
Skills:
Fearless attacking the basket and effective once he gets there
Has the ability to knock down open shots off the pass or dribble
Seems to be a leader orchestrating the offense
Areas for Improvement:
Could improve his ball handling
Defensive intensity could improve
Distributing the ball on offense
Roster Update
The Lakers have signed several more players making their roster all but complete for the start of the 2014-2015 season. GM Mitch Kupchak was quoted as saying the roster would be at 13 players. He could change his mind but that is where the current count stands.
Without a head coach or a system in place it is difficult to predict what the Lakers depth chart will look like. Here's how I would place it.
PG: Lin, Nash, Clarkson
SG: Bryant, Young
SF: Johnson, Henry
PF: Randle, Boozer, Kelly
C: Davis, Hill, Sacre
It should be noted that some players can play multiple positions. Bryant, Young, and Henry can all play SG/SF. Clarkson can play PG/SG. Kelly can play SF/PF. Davis and Hill can play PF/C. So the Lakers have some flexibility in their lineups. It will be up to the coach to put them in the best position to succeed.
This roster doesn't scream championship contender (not enough interior D or shooting on paper), but I think it is an entertaining squad that can make the playoffs. It should be a far better team than last year. There are several shot creators who will make it interesting on offense. Lin, Bryant, Nash, Young, and Randle can make plays. That is plenty to make sure the offense doesn't get stagnant. The Lakers also have a good mix of pick and roll and post players which gives even more options on offense.
The major concern here will be defense. There is only 1 shot blocker on the roster (Davis) and 1 player known as a "defender" (Johnson) who was inconsistent last year. The Lakers will have to play consistent team defense if they want to make the playoffs. That means they will have to communicate and work well as a unit on that end of the floor since they don't have a Serge Ibaka type player who can erase the mistakes of others.
All in all it should be a fun team to watch and I can't wait until training camp. I'll bring more articles as things develop :) ... GO LAKERS!!!
Julius Randle
To put it simply, this kid is a bully. If you met him on the playground he would take your lunch money. And if you got the courage to tell a teacher they wouldn't help you because they'd be scared of him too. That's not to say he isn't a good guy because he definitely is...but this guy is like a built like an ox. When you watch him drive to the rim you just see defenders bouncing off of him in every direction. It's like watching bumper cars. To give you an example there was one play in Summer League where a defender tried to stop a Randle drive. He got caught with an elbow and needed 3 stitches on his forehead. And the foul was called on him! LOL. Randle is that good.
Here's some highlight clips of his play against the 76ers:
Obviously he's still a rookie so there will be much for him to learn, and there are a few things he needs to work on a lot. However, he is oozing potential right now and Laker fans should be excited! Here are the top three skills he demonstrated in SL, and the top three things he needs to improve.
Skills:
Adept at getting to the basket due to ball handling and quickness
Has the ability to finish through contact and draw fouls
Has excellent court vision and makes good passes
Areas for Improvement:
Conditioning is not where it should be thanks to being 3 months removed from the college season
Only attempted 2 jump shots in summer league and missed both, will need one to continue offensive success in the NBA
Set very poor screens which never provided opportunity for anything in pick and roll situations
Jordan Clarkson
The Lakers spent $1.7M to buy this pick from the Washington Wizards. Right now that is looking like money well spent. Clarkson is a 6'5" guard who can play the point guard and shooting guard roles. He's been the Lakers' highest scorer in summer league. He averaged 15.8 pts, 5 reb, and 1.2ast. Like Randle he plays with a chip on his shoulder and has a knack for getting to the basket. He surprised the Lakers with just how good his shooting has been. Clarkson even had a game winning tip in vs. the Warriors. He was projected to go in the first round of the draft but somehow fell to the mid second round where the Lakers got him. Good pick by Mitch and Co.
Here's some highlights from his best summer league game:
Here are the top three skills he demonstrated in SL, and the top three things he needs to improve.
Skills:
Fearless attacking the basket and effective once he gets there
Has the ability to knock down open shots off the pass or dribble
Seems to be a leader orchestrating the offense
Areas for Improvement:
Could improve his ball handling
Defensive intensity could improve
Distributing the ball on offense
Roster Update
The Lakers have signed several more players making their roster all but complete for the start of the 2014-2015 season. GM Mitch Kupchak was quoted as saying the roster would be at 13 players. He could change his mind but that is where the current count stands.
Without a head coach or a system in place it is difficult to predict what the Lakers depth chart will look like. Here's how I would place it.
PG: Lin, Nash, Clarkson
SG: Bryant, Young
SF: Johnson, Henry
PF: Randle, Boozer, Kelly
C: Davis, Hill, Sacre
It should be noted that some players can play multiple positions. Bryant, Young, and Henry can all play SG/SF. Clarkson can play PG/SG. Kelly can play SF/PF. Davis and Hill can play PF/C. So the Lakers have some flexibility in their lineups. It will be up to the coach to put them in the best position to succeed.
This roster doesn't scream championship contender (not enough interior D or shooting on paper), but I think it is an entertaining squad that can make the playoffs. It should be a far better team than last year. There are several shot creators who will make it interesting on offense. Lin, Bryant, Nash, Young, and Randle can make plays. That is plenty to make sure the offense doesn't get stagnant. The Lakers also have a good mix of pick and roll and post players which gives even more options on offense.
The major concern here will be defense. There is only 1 shot blocker on the roster (Davis) and 1 player known as a "defender" (Johnson) who was inconsistent last year. The Lakers will have to play consistent team defense if they want to make the playoffs. That means they will have to communicate and work well as a unit on that end of the floor since they don't have a Serge Ibaka type player who can erase the mistakes of others.
All in all it should be a fun team to watch and I can't wait until training camp. I'll bring more articles as things develop :) ... GO LAKERS!!!
Sunday, July 13, 2014
The Roster and Randle 07/13/14
Before we get to the fun of discussing the potential of the Lakers' #7 draft pick, Julius Randle, let's go over the current roster and see what we have.
As of today:
Point Guards
Steve Nash, Jeremy Lin, Kendall Marshall
Shooting Guards
Kobe Bryant, Jordan Clarkson
Small Forwards
Nick Young
Power Forwards
Julius Randle, Ryan Kelly
Centers
Jordan Hill, Robert Sacre,
Obviously this is far from a championship roster. In fact it's far from a complete roster with only 10 players. Nevertheless the biggest holes I see are:
Interior size, Shot blocking/rim protection, Perimeter defense
This team will struggle to stop people from scoring. The Lakers need an athletic wing player or two who put effort into defense. They also need a center who can do the same thing. Javale McGee might not be a bad option for the center position is the Lakers can trade Nash for him (it would depend on how desperate the Nuggets are to get rid of him). He has had maturity issues on the court in the past so the Lakers would need to take a gamble that he could fix those.
The strengths of this team would definitely be on the offensive end. Here are my top 3:
Shot creating, potential for good shooting, potential for good rebounding.
Notice that 2 of the top 3 are labeled as "potential". That lies a lot on what type of system the Lakers run and if Nash is actually able to contribute at all.
JULIUS RANDLE (#30)
6'9" PF 250lbs
All year long I wanted the Lakers to get the Aussie Dante Exum with their #7 pick. He was selected by Utah at #5. But when it was announced that we were picking Julius Randle I wasn't really disappointed. After watching his post draft interview and his introductory press conference I was flat out excited! I do like his game, but perhaps most of all I have been impressed by his upbringing, his maturity, and his old school attitude. One of his first comments after being drafted was that he was going to" Make other teams pay for not picking him." When another reporter asked him if he wanted to play with LeBron James, Randle responded by saying he'd rather play against him because he's a competitor. Does that sound familiar at all? It should because Randle's favorite player growing up was none other than Kobe Bryant. As a freshman, Randle led Kentucky to the national championship game. They lost a close one, but Randle was impressive throughout the tournament.
Here are Randle's strengths as a player:
Motor (hustle and energy)
Quickness and speed for size
Strength
Agility
Touch around the basket
Competitive drive
Post moves/footwork/face up game
Ball handling
Here are things he needs to work on:
Defensive effort/intelligence
Consistency with jumper (has a nice stroke)
Conditioning
Below is a nice welcome video that shows some of his standout plays from college. However the system he played in was a little restrictive for his game so his high school highlights may actually be more relevant to the NBA.
Welcome home Julius!!
The Lakers also drafted guard Jordan Clarkson with a 2nd round pick that they bought from Washington. He has impressed so far in Summer League. If he makes the team I will have a write up on him as well.
Go Lakers!!!
As of today:
Point Guards
Steve Nash, Jeremy Lin, Kendall Marshall
Shooting Guards
Kobe Bryant, Jordan Clarkson
Small Forwards
Nick Young
Power Forwards
Julius Randle, Ryan Kelly
Centers
Jordan Hill, Robert Sacre,
Obviously this is far from a championship roster. In fact it's far from a complete roster with only 10 players. Nevertheless the biggest holes I see are:
Interior size, Shot blocking/rim protection, Perimeter defense
This team will struggle to stop people from scoring. The Lakers need an athletic wing player or two who put effort into defense. They also need a center who can do the same thing. Javale McGee might not be a bad option for the center position is the Lakers can trade Nash for him (it would depend on how desperate the Nuggets are to get rid of him). He has had maturity issues on the court in the past so the Lakers would need to take a gamble that he could fix those.
The strengths of this team would definitely be on the offensive end. Here are my top 3:
Shot creating, potential for good shooting, potential for good rebounding.
Notice that 2 of the top 3 are labeled as "potential". That lies a lot on what type of system the Lakers run and if Nash is actually able to contribute at all.
JULIUS RANDLE (#30)
6'9" PF 250lbs
All year long I wanted the Lakers to get the Aussie Dante Exum with their #7 pick. He was selected by Utah at #5. But when it was announced that we were picking Julius Randle I wasn't really disappointed. After watching his post draft interview and his introductory press conference I was flat out excited! I do like his game, but perhaps most of all I have been impressed by his upbringing, his maturity, and his old school attitude. One of his first comments after being drafted was that he was going to" Make other teams pay for not picking him." When another reporter asked him if he wanted to play with LeBron James, Randle responded by saying he'd rather play against him because he's a competitor. Does that sound familiar at all? It should because Randle's favorite player growing up was none other than Kobe Bryant. As a freshman, Randle led Kentucky to the national championship game. They lost a close one, but Randle was impressive throughout the tournament.
Here are Randle's strengths as a player:
Motor (hustle and energy)
Quickness and speed for size
Strength
Agility
Touch around the basket
Competitive drive
Post moves/footwork/face up game
Ball handling
Here are things he needs to work on:
Defensive effort/intelligence
Consistency with jumper (has a nice stroke)
Conditioning
Below is a nice welcome video that shows some of his standout plays from college. However the system he played in was a little restrictive for his game so his high school highlights may actually be more relevant to the NBA.
Welcome home Julius!!
The Lakers also drafted guard Jordan Clarkson with a 2nd round pick that they bought from Washington. He has impressed so far in Summer League. If he makes the team I will have a write up on him as well.
Go Lakers!!!
Rebuilding the Franchise... 07/13/14
"There's a storm coming, Mr. Wayne. You and your friends better batten down the hatches, because when it hits, you're all gonna wonder how you ever thought you could live so large and leave so little for the rest of us."
It's funny how a classic quote from the latest Dark Knight movie can sum up the state of the Lakers today. Simply put the league was tired of being dominated by the Lakers. Sixteen championships (actually 17 since there is one the league won't recognize) and appearing in 31 finals tends to make the other girls at the party a little jealous. To completely understand why the team is in a rebuilding phase today all one has to do is look back 3 years ago to the NBA lockout in 2011.
The average fan doesn't understand the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and how it affects a team's management strategy. This document controls the rules of the NBA involved with trades, salary cap, and free agency. That's not even to mention how it governs the money distribution between the owners and the players, which is perhaps the most important part. After the 2011 lockout the players and owners signed a new CBA which had a new set of rules written to stop the Lakers and other big market teams from acquiring high talent players easily. The new rules are so effective that large market teams can no longer just pay more money for the players they want. They have to do more with less.
Before the ink had time to dry on this new CBA, Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak had already figured out a way to succeed. He traded Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom for Chris Paul. Not only had he gotten the best player in the trade, but the team was saving enough money to afford Dwight Howard and David West as well. Of course sadly we all know what happened from there. In a never before seen move the NBA blocked the trade. From that point forward the Lakers have been making high risk moves to try to put a contender around Kobe and give him one last shot at a ring. Unfortunately their injury history has been horrible, and their coaching hires have almost been as bad.
The Lakers gave it one last shot this summer to get Bean another superstar to play with. They went for Melo. They even went for the long shot of LeBronze. They struck out on both. Despite what ESPN might tell you Lakers' management/ownership is not to blame on this one. This new CBA makes it far more lucrative for players to stay with their current teams (Melo), or for them to go to a team with young players on rookie contracts (LeBronze). Kevin Love is a lost cause at this point as well. The Lakers don't have the pieces to get him, drafted a talented rookie who plays his position, and he wouldn't stay here unless the team was closer to winning.
With no real shot at a contending team the Lakers were forced to adjust to the strategy of re-building. The best way to do that is to acquire young talented players on affordable contracts until you can attract a superstar to carry your franchise. That's why the Lakers traded for Jeremy Lin. Sure, he could miraculously improve from being average to all-star point guard, but the real benefit of getting him was the two draft picks Houston gave us. They will explore other similar deals throughout the rest of summer and the season.
It's funny how a classic quote from the latest Dark Knight movie can sum up the state of the Lakers today. Simply put the league was tired of being dominated by the Lakers. Sixteen championships (actually 17 since there is one the league won't recognize) and appearing in 31 finals tends to make the other girls at the party a little jealous. To completely understand why the team is in a rebuilding phase today all one has to do is look back 3 years ago to the NBA lockout in 2011.
The average fan doesn't understand the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and how it affects a team's management strategy. This document controls the rules of the NBA involved with trades, salary cap, and free agency. That's not even to mention how it governs the money distribution between the owners and the players, which is perhaps the most important part. After the 2011 lockout the players and owners signed a new CBA which had a new set of rules written to stop the Lakers and other big market teams from acquiring high talent players easily. The new rules are so effective that large market teams can no longer just pay more money for the players they want. They have to do more with less.
Before the ink had time to dry on this new CBA, Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak had already figured out a way to succeed. He traded Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom for Chris Paul. Not only had he gotten the best player in the trade, but the team was saving enough money to afford Dwight Howard and David West as well. Of course sadly we all know what happened from there. In a never before seen move the NBA blocked the trade. From that point forward the Lakers have been making high risk moves to try to put a contender around Kobe and give him one last shot at a ring. Unfortunately their injury history has been horrible, and their coaching hires have almost been as bad.
The Lakers gave it one last shot this summer to get Bean another superstar to play with. They went for Melo. They even went for the long shot of LeBronze. They struck out on both. Despite what ESPN might tell you Lakers' management/ownership is not to blame on this one. This new CBA makes it far more lucrative for players to stay with their current teams (Melo), or for them to go to a team with young players on rookie contracts (LeBronze). Kevin Love is a lost cause at this point as well. The Lakers don't have the pieces to get him, drafted a talented rookie who plays his position, and he wouldn't stay here unless the team was closer to winning.
With no real shot at a contending team the Lakers were forced to adjust to the strategy of re-building. The best way to do that is to acquire young talented players on affordable contracts until you can attract a superstar to carry your franchise. That's why the Lakers traded for Jeremy Lin. Sure, he could miraculously improve from being average to all-star point guard, but the real benefit of getting him was the two draft picks Houston gave us. They will explore other similar deals throughout the rest of summer and the season.
Monday, May 19, 2014
And the 1st pick in the 2014 NBA draft belongs to....(05/19/14)
The NBA Draft Lottery is upon us! Tomorrow at 5:00 pm PST on ESPN the league will broadcast the order of the 2014 NBA Draft. After an abysmal season full of injury and disappointment, this is an exciting time for Lakers fans.
The Lakers finished the 2013-2014 season with a record of 27-55. It was the 6th worst record in the NBA. Unlike the NFL however, the NBA does not seed the draft directly by record. It has a draft “lottery” where any of the 14 teams that missed the playoffs have a chance to win the #1 - #3 picks. The first 3 picks are determined by the lottery, and picks 4-14 go in order of worse record to best. Essentially the Lakers will either pick at 1, 2, 3, or 6, 7, 8, 9. For more details see the list below:
Lakers draft position odds:
1) 6.3%
2) 7.09%
3) 8.10%
4) 0%
5) 0%
6) 43.99%
7) 30.44%
8) 3.96%
9) 0.1%
Let’s pray the Lakers get a good pick! The better their pick is there will be more quality players available to draft. Who they draft will also affect who they choose for their head coach. It’s not everything, but a lot of the Lakers’ future hinges on the success of this draft.
I’ll have more on the potential coaches as things get closer to being ironed out. At the moment I’m rooting for UCONN coach Kevin Ollie…Until next time…GO LAKERS!!!
The Lakers finished the 2013-2014 season with a record of 27-55. It was the 6th worst record in the NBA. Unlike the NFL however, the NBA does not seed the draft directly by record. It has a draft “lottery” where any of the 14 teams that missed the playoffs have a chance to win the #1 - #3 picks. The first 3 picks are determined by the lottery, and picks 4-14 go in order of worse record to best. Essentially the Lakers will either pick at 1, 2, 3, or 6, 7, 8, 9. For more details see the list below:
Lakers draft position odds:
1) 6.3%
2) 7.09%
3) 8.10%
4) 0%
5) 0%
6) 43.99%
7) 30.44%
8) 3.96%
9) 0.1%
Let’s pray the Lakers get a good pick! The better their pick is there will be more quality players available to draft. Who they draft will also affect who they choose for their head coach. It’s not everything, but a lot of the Lakers’ future hinges on the success of this draft.
I’ll have more on the potential coaches as things get closer to being ironed out. At the moment I’m rooting for UCONN coach Kevin Ollie…Until next time…GO LAKERS!!!
Friday, March 28, 2014
Can a pick buy you Love? (03/28/14)
ESPN is currently running an article on how the Lakers are thinking about attempting to trade their draft pick this offseason for Kevin Love. Whether or not the Lakers are actually thinking that way, let’s analyze this possible move:
Upside – The Lakers would get a proven all-star caliber player. Kevin Love is a guy who is talented enough to be the second option on a championship team.
There could also be a miracle scenario where the Lakers use the pick to trade for someone like Love or of that caliber, and also sign LeBronze. But that is HIGHLY unlikely so I won’t go into detail.
Risk – Kevin Love would still be a free agent next offseason unless he signed an extension. And as Dwight Howard proved, players are willing to leave extra money if they feel like they are in a better situation. What would happen to the Lakers if they traded for Love, and when he came the team stunk or Kobe got hurt again, and he walked to another team? I shudder to think. That would be a disaster.
Also the Lakers would miss out on the chance to develop a good player on a cheap contract. With the way the salary cap restrictions are good players on rookie contracts are more valuable than ever! It allows you to put more money towards supporting players or stars.
One intangible aspect is that giving up the pick means giving up the chance at another home grown star. Part of the fun in watching Laker HOFers like Magic Johnson, James Worthy, & Kobe Bryant is watching them grow up right in front of our very eyes. We see them start off as mistake making rookies, explode into super stardom, and then finish as Champions. I think now more than ever Laker fans need a guy like that to root for. We need someone for Kobe to pass the torch to.
Bottom Line – The chances are incredibly slim that as a result of trading for Love the Lakers could be contenders next year. So my vote is for “no”. “No” makes exponentially more sense when you realize the Lakers can have both Love AND their draft pick if they just wait one more season.
Patience.
Upside – The Lakers would get a proven all-star caliber player. Kevin Love is a guy who is talented enough to be the second option on a championship team.
There could also be a miracle scenario where the Lakers use the pick to trade for someone like Love or of that caliber, and also sign LeBronze. But that is HIGHLY unlikely so I won’t go into detail.
Risk – Kevin Love would still be a free agent next offseason unless he signed an extension. And as Dwight Howard proved, players are willing to leave extra money if they feel like they are in a better situation. What would happen to the Lakers if they traded for Love, and when he came the team stunk or Kobe got hurt again, and he walked to another team? I shudder to think. That would be a disaster.
Also the Lakers would miss out on the chance to develop a good player on a cheap contract. With the way the salary cap restrictions are good players on rookie contracts are more valuable than ever! It allows you to put more money towards supporting players or stars.
One intangible aspect is that giving up the pick means giving up the chance at another home grown star. Part of the fun in watching Laker HOFers like Magic Johnson, James Worthy, & Kobe Bryant is watching them grow up right in front of our very eyes. We see them start off as mistake making rookies, explode into super stardom, and then finish as Champions. I think now more than ever Laker fans need a guy like that to root for. We need someone for Kobe to pass the torch to.
Bottom Line – The chances are incredibly slim that as a result of trading for Love the Lakers could be contenders next year. So my vote is for “no”. “No” makes exponentially more sense when you realize the Lakers can have both Love AND their draft pick if they just wait one more season.
Patience.
Friday, March 21, 2014
Jim Buss, Phil Jackson & the Dangers of Desperation (03/21/14)
Lakers fans are in a bit of a fix as of late and maybe for good measure. Our captain is injured, our record is among the worst in the league, and our Hall of Fame coach just signed with another team somewhere on the east coast. Perfect time to panic right? Well before we start grabbing our pitchforks and torches allow me to shed some light on the situation. Besides, there’s too much traffic to get to Staples and I’m not sure a pitchfork will fit in my car.
Phil Jackson
Last week former Lakers head coach Phil Jackson signed with the New York Knicks to be the President of Basketball Operations. No, he will not be coaching the Knicks. He is too old for that much work, and frankly he has nothing left to accomplish as a head coach in the NBA (11 titles). Phil wanted an opportunity to run a franchise from the front office and not from behind the bench. Now he finally has an opportunity. So what are his responsibilities? He will be making decisions like coaching hires, setting the training staff, and have near final say on personnel moves. The only person above him in decision making will be the Knicks’ owner James Dolan. He won’t be a GM in the sense that he negotiates contracts and talks to agents, but he will dictate which players he wants or get signed. Will Phil be successful in his new role? Who knows? He’s never had the job before. One saving grace for Knicks fans is he can’t be any worse than what they’ve had. ;)
Jim Buss
Naturally, Laker fans are asking why couldn’t he do that job on the Lakers?? Simple. The job is already filled by owner Jim Buss who is the son of the late Dr. Jerry Buss. (This is where all reading this blog let out a big sigh and say, “Ughhh I hate Jim Buss!!”) But not so fast! How much do we really know about Buss other than what ESPN tries to convince us of? Like his father Jim Buss does not communicate with the media much. A lot of media members are turned off by this and make certain assumptions about him that may or may not be true. The fact is Jim Buss has been involved in the Lakers’ organization since the early 2000s. He has been heavily involved in major decisions that constructed out past two title teams from 2009-2010. He and Mitch had nearly pulled off the steal of the century in acquiring CP3 before the NBA intervened. Don’t forget about acquiring Howard and Nash which were good trades at the time. He can be criticized for his coaching hires, but Dr. Buss was involved in those decisions as well.
Dangers of Desperation
The key for the Lakers franchise and their fans at this juncture is to not rush or panic. The team was well on its way to contending again before unfortunate circumstances happened (CP3 veto, then unprecedented injuries). The decisions were mostly sound. However, now it is time for a complete rebuild. In our case the house has to be completely torn down before it can be renovated.
The worst thing the Lakers could do would be to spend all of their cap space this summer trying to field a championship team. Unless the 0.0005% chance occurs that LeBron signs here, whatever team we put together will likely lose in the 2nd round. There just aren’t enough good players available. Additionally the financial implications of spending big on long term deals this summer will cost us in the future. That means we should keep our draft pick this year and not trade it for a current all-star (Kevin Love). It would be smarter to wait another year and then add someone like Kevin Love to our draft talent. That’s how we can get back to contention, but it may take a few seasons. Patience is key.
Go Lakers!!!
Phil Jackson
Last week former Lakers head coach Phil Jackson signed with the New York Knicks to be the President of Basketball Operations. No, he will not be coaching the Knicks. He is too old for that much work, and frankly he has nothing left to accomplish as a head coach in the NBA (11 titles). Phil wanted an opportunity to run a franchise from the front office and not from behind the bench. Now he finally has an opportunity. So what are his responsibilities? He will be making decisions like coaching hires, setting the training staff, and have near final say on personnel moves. The only person above him in decision making will be the Knicks’ owner James Dolan. He won’t be a GM in the sense that he negotiates contracts and talks to agents, but he will dictate which players he wants or get signed. Will Phil be successful in his new role? Who knows? He’s never had the job before. One saving grace for Knicks fans is he can’t be any worse than what they’ve had. ;)
Jim Buss
Naturally, Laker fans are asking why couldn’t he do that job on the Lakers?? Simple. The job is already filled by owner Jim Buss who is the son of the late Dr. Jerry Buss. (This is where all reading this blog let out a big sigh and say, “Ughhh I hate Jim Buss!!”) But not so fast! How much do we really know about Buss other than what ESPN tries to convince us of? Like his father Jim Buss does not communicate with the media much. A lot of media members are turned off by this and make certain assumptions about him that may or may not be true. The fact is Jim Buss has been involved in the Lakers’ organization since the early 2000s. He has been heavily involved in major decisions that constructed out past two title teams from 2009-2010. He and Mitch had nearly pulled off the steal of the century in acquiring CP3 before the NBA intervened. Don’t forget about acquiring Howard and Nash which were good trades at the time. He can be criticized for his coaching hires, but Dr. Buss was involved in those decisions as well.
Dangers of Desperation
The key for the Lakers franchise and their fans at this juncture is to not rush or panic. The team was well on its way to contending again before unfortunate circumstances happened (CP3 veto, then unprecedented injuries). The decisions were mostly sound. However, now it is time for a complete rebuild. In our case the house has to be completely torn down before it can be renovated.
The worst thing the Lakers could do would be to spend all of their cap space this summer trying to field a championship team. Unless the 0.0005% chance occurs that LeBron signs here, whatever team we put together will likely lose in the 2nd round. There just aren’t enough good players available. Additionally the financial implications of spending big on long term deals this summer will cost us in the future. That means we should keep our draft pick this year and not trade it for a current all-star (Kevin Love). It would be smarter to wait another year and then add someone like Kevin Love to our draft talent. That’s how we can get back to contention, but it may take a few seasons. Patience is key.
Go Lakers!!!
Friday, February 21, 2014
Trade Deadline Completed and Draft Prospects (02/21/14)
Steve Blake Traded
The NBA's trade deadline ended at 12pm PST yesterday. The Lakers were looking to trade for young players, cap relief (saving money), or draft picks. These are the things that they need to start rebuilding the team. They were willing to part with Pau Gasol, Jordan Hill, Chris Kaman, and Steve Blake. That doesn't necessarily mean they don't like or want these players themselves, rather that these are players that other teams want from the Lakers.
In the end they were only able to trade Steve Blake for cap relief and a couple young players on expiring contracts. The Lakers received Kent Bazemore and Marshon Brooks from the Warriors. This trade does a few good things for the Lakers and one good thing for Steve Blake:
- Saves the team money
- Gives them a chance to see if these young players can improve like Xavier Henry and Jodie Meeks have already
- Makes us a worse team this season which increases the chances of a better draft pick
- Gives Steve Blake a chance to win this year
It sucks to see Steve Blake go, but the Lakers did the trade in such a way where it was a favor to Steve as well. He'll be a free agent this summer and he was quoted as saying he wouldn't mind returning to the team. Win-win. It's unclear yet whether Bazemore or Brooks will stick with the team. It likely depends on how they play for the remainder of the season.
2014 Top Draft Prospects
This draft class is touted as being a strong one. That's why the Lakers were trying to get another pick, and also why other teams were reluctant to give them one. Fortunately we do have our own 1st round pick. And with our record it's likely to end up in the top 3. Below are the 3 players I'd like to see us draft (in order of my favorites) if we get a top 3 pick.
1) Dante Exum
Many of you might not have heard of this guy before, and there's a reason for that ;). He's a 6'6" guard who's just coming out of high school. His dad played in the NBA, but he was raised in Australia while his dad played professionally there. Does this story sound familiar to you? Replace Australia with Italy and you've got Kobe Bryant's bio. The background of both athletes are eerily similar. It's even more scary when you realize that Exum has signed Kobe's agent, the Lakers are his favorite team, and Kobe his favorite player. He was even at the Lakers vs Rockets game of Wednesday since he's in LA working out until the draft. This kid has got future Laker written all over him!
Strengths:
Basketball IQ, ball handling, passing, gets to the basket, finisher, a will to compete, footwork, leadership
Question marks:
Inferior competition, vertical leap, lack of scouting tape available
Exum has great potential. He even interviews well. If he ends up here I think the sky is the limit. Kobe will mentor him, and he will be willing to listen.
2) Joel "JoJo" Embiid
Embiid is a 7'1" 19 year old center from Cameroon. He's another Lakers fan as well and Pau is one of his favorite players :). This kid is quick and agile. Think Andrew Bynum in the '07-'08 season before he ever got hurt. He was running the floor, catching lobs, and blocking shots. These are all things Embiid does. Only he looks like a gazelle doing it rather than a dinosaur with a sprained ankle like Bynum did lol. Embiid has incredible footwork and defensive instincts for such a yound age. He's a little taller than Anthony Davis, and there games are similar. He has better post moves while Davis is better from the perimeter.
If he reaches max potential he really can be the modern Hakeem.
Strengths:
Size & quickness, shot blocking, rebounding, footwork, post moves competitor
Question Marks:
Foul proneness, injury concerns (only because of the stereotype with 7 footers)
3) Andrew Wiggins
He's the guy everyone has probably heard about. He's being touted as the next LeBronze, but you can't really tell from his play at Kansas. That could be due to the system they run there however, which doesn't really allow one player to be dominant on offense. We can see is extremely athletic and is already a lockdown defender. If his offense flourishes in the NBA, look out! He very well could be a T-Mac or Paul George type of player.
Strengths:
Crazy athleticism, perimeter defense, rebounding, do-it-all player
Question Marks:
Aggression, ball handling, leadership
Wiggins' ceiling is T-Mac level with better defense, and his floor is Igoudala without the ball handling.
I'll save my other prospect for next time and I'll also provide some videos of them in action.
Until the next entry...farewell Steve Blake...and go Lakers!!!
The NBA's trade deadline ended at 12pm PST yesterday. The Lakers were looking to trade for young players, cap relief (saving money), or draft picks. These are the things that they need to start rebuilding the team. They were willing to part with Pau Gasol, Jordan Hill, Chris Kaman, and Steve Blake. That doesn't necessarily mean they don't like or want these players themselves, rather that these are players that other teams want from the Lakers.
In the end they were only able to trade Steve Blake for cap relief and a couple young players on expiring contracts. The Lakers received Kent Bazemore and Marshon Brooks from the Warriors. This trade does a few good things for the Lakers and one good thing for Steve Blake:
- Saves the team money
- Gives them a chance to see if these young players can improve like Xavier Henry and Jodie Meeks have already
- Makes us a worse team this season which increases the chances of a better draft pick
- Gives Steve Blake a chance to win this year
It sucks to see Steve Blake go, but the Lakers did the trade in such a way where it was a favor to Steve as well. He'll be a free agent this summer and he was quoted as saying he wouldn't mind returning to the team. Win-win. It's unclear yet whether Bazemore or Brooks will stick with the team. It likely depends on how they play for the remainder of the season.
2014 Top Draft Prospects
This draft class is touted as being a strong one. That's why the Lakers were trying to get another pick, and also why other teams were reluctant to give them one. Fortunately we do have our own 1st round pick. And with our record it's likely to end up in the top 3. Below are the 3 players I'd like to see us draft (in order of my favorites) if we get a top 3 pick.
1) Dante Exum
Many of you might not have heard of this guy before, and there's a reason for that ;). He's a 6'6" guard who's just coming out of high school. His dad played in the NBA, but he was raised in Australia while his dad played professionally there. Does this story sound familiar to you? Replace Australia with Italy and you've got Kobe Bryant's bio. The background of both athletes are eerily similar. It's even more scary when you realize that Exum has signed Kobe's agent, the Lakers are his favorite team, and Kobe his favorite player. He was even at the Lakers vs Rockets game of Wednesday since he's in LA working out until the draft. This kid has got future Laker written all over him!
Strengths:
Basketball IQ, ball handling, passing, gets to the basket, finisher, a will to compete, footwork, leadership
Question marks:
Inferior competition, vertical leap, lack of scouting tape available
Exum has great potential. He even interviews well. If he ends up here I think the sky is the limit. Kobe will mentor him, and he will be willing to listen.
2) Joel "JoJo" Embiid
Embiid is a 7'1" 19 year old center from Cameroon. He's another Lakers fan as well and Pau is one of his favorite players :). This kid is quick and agile. Think Andrew Bynum in the '07-'08 season before he ever got hurt. He was running the floor, catching lobs, and blocking shots. These are all things Embiid does. Only he looks like a gazelle doing it rather than a dinosaur with a sprained ankle like Bynum did lol. Embiid has incredible footwork and defensive instincts for such a yound age. He's a little taller than Anthony Davis, and there games are similar. He has better post moves while Davis is better from the perimeter.
If he reaches max potential he really can be the modern Hakeem.
Strengths:
Size & quickness, shot blocking, rebounding, footwork, post moves competitor
Question Marks:
Foul proneness, injury concerns (only because of the stereotype with 7 footers)
3) Andrew Wiggins
He's the guy everyone has probably heard about. He's being touted as the next LeBronze, but you can't really tell from his play at Kansas. That could be due to the system they run there however, which doesn't really allow one player to be dominant on offense. We can see is extremely athletic and is already a lockdown defender. If his offense flourishes in the NBA, look out! He very well could be a T-Mac or Paul George type of player.
Strengths:
Crazy athleticism, perimeter defense, rebounding, do-it-all player
Question Marks:
Aggression, ball handling, leadership
Wiggins' ceiling is T-Mac level with better defense, and his floor is Igoudala without the ball handling.
I'll save my other prospect for next time and I'll also provide some videos of them in action.
Until the next entry...farewell Steve Blake...and go Lakers!!!
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Draft or Free Agency? 01/29/14
Anyone still hoping for the Lakers to make the playoffs this year is going to be very disappointed.
For the rest of us fans that leaves us pondering the question: should the Lakers rebuild through the draft or free agency?
It's been the hot topic this week on ESPN radio and other sports outlets. The Lakers own announcer John Ireland is a strong advocate for building through free agency. He states that historically that's what has won the Lakers championships. Many fans are arguing to build through the draft since the 2014 draft class is highly regarded. My answer is simple: do both.
Ireland is inaccurate when he says free agency is what the Lakers have always done. He lists Kareem, Shaq, and Gasol and examples of players they got through free agency/trades. Well what about Magic Johnson, James Worthy, and Kobe Bryant? All drafted by LA. (Kobe was technically traded for, but the Lakers traded for the number 13 pick, they told charlotte to pick Kobe.)
The truth is there's no advantage to limiting yourself to only using one method to build a team. Especially with the new collective bargaining agreement. The Lakers can't build a team by collecting a bunch of stars anymore. The most that teams can afford before they have to fill the roster with role players is two. That is why players on rookie pay scale contracts who can make an impact are so valuable. They perform well but they're cheap and allow you put good players around them. How do you get those players? By drafting them. It's essentially the only way since no team will trade them because of their value.
Here are the steps the Lakers can take to get back into contention:
-Get a top 5 draft pick (then develop them)
-Sign a top free agent next offseason when K love is available. Unless for some miracle they get a shot at LeBronze then you take that. Pass on Melo because he costs too much. At $17M and under then sign him.
-Have a cohesive plan and direction for the organization. Everyone from the front office, to the coaching staff, to the players need to be on the same page. They need to have an identity. We can't have players not buying into the system or coaches throwing players under the bus. We need chemistry AND talent to win another championship.
Next I'll be covering the top 7 or so draft picks. The draft is always a crapshoot, but there sure are some intriguing players!! Until next time. GO LAKERS!!!
Sunday, January 12, 2014
State of the Lakes (01/12/14)
Currently the Lakers record stands at 14-22. They're about 6 games back of making of the playoffs, and their best players continue to be injured. It would be a pretty safe bet to assume they won't make the playoffs. The team was certainly good enough to do so if they could have stayed healthy. Unfortunately, as we all know too well, they haven't been able to do that these past two seasons. I know it's not what Lakers fans want to hear, but you can't win every year. We need to start from the bottom and climb the mountain top once more.
At this point there it's less relevant to discuss the team's play on the court as it is their moves as a franchise moving forward.
The benefit of not making the playoffs means the Lakers will get a better draft pick. Even better still is that the draft next year has some really good young players in it. The Lakers should be able to get a nice prospect on an affordable contract. Then they'll have some cap space to sign other quality players to fill out the roster.
I look for the Lakers to put 1 or 2 star names around Kobe in his final two years. Maybe Carmelo Anthony, although I'm not a big fan, if the money is right then that might be a good move. A more likely possibility is Minnesota's Kevin Love. He's always wanted to be a Laker (his dad was in the 70s) and he'll be a free agent in 2015. As long as the Lakers put the right defensive players around them, they just might build another Championship contender within a year or two.
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