D’Angelo Russell: ‘This Lakers squad will most definitely be a playoff team’
The evidence is right there in the bounce passes, in the crossovers, in the pull-up jumpers and pick-and-roll playmaking: D’Angelo Russell clearly does not lack for confidence.
The Ohio State standout, whose combination of flash and substance made him the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft and the newest purple-and-gold-suited star for the Los Angeles Lakers, had a bit of a rough introduction to the NBA game, shooting just 37.7 percent from the field during his maiden voyage with L.A.’s Las Vegas Summer League squad while posting more turnovers than assists during his stay in Sin City. But that hasn’t deterred the 19-year-old from Louisville from thinking big as he heads into his first professional season, according to Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders:
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While some rookies might doubt themselves or buckle under the extreme pressure, Russell is so confident that he isn’t afraid to predict he’ll have a monster 2015-16 season.
For example, when asked if winning Rookie of the Year is among his goals this upcoming season, Russell responds as if the answer is obvious.
“Of course,” Russell said. “I have been grinding all summer to put myself in that position.”
As far as team goals go, Russell essentially guaranteed L.A. will make the postseason next year.
“Expectations are high,” Russell says, “but this Lakers squad will most definitely be a playoff team.”
That’s … well, that’s just dynamite, D’Angelo. I love your moxie. Get out there and reach for your dreams. Shoot for the moon; even if you fall short, you’ll still wind up searching for your wallet in El Segundo.
It will be an awfully tall order, of course, for a Lakers team that has gone a combined 48-116 over the past two seasons to crack the top eight of a conference competitive enough that a 45-win Oklahoma City Thunder team didn’t make the postseason last year. That’s especially true considering that while two of last year’s playoff teams (the rebuilding Portland Trail Blazers and the DeAndre-devoid Dallas Mavericks) seem to have taken a step back, the Thunder are getting “the best player in the world” back, the Utah Jazz have their sights set on taking a major step forward after a strong finish to the 2014-15 campaign, and the Phoenix Suns could boast a stronger squad, provided they can straighten things out with their starting power forward.
We’re not talking about just putting one or two pieces together for a little extra boost that puts a team over the top; the Lakers ranked 23rd among 30 NBA teams in offensive efficiency last season while posting the league’s second-worst defense. An awful lot of improvement needs to happen in an awfully short period of time for the Lakers to catapult themselves from the bottom of the conference to the lower reaches of postseason contention.
Then again, the Lakers have taken some steps to field a more competitive squad next season. Maligned as he was during his latter days with the Indiana Pacers, offseason trade import Roy Hibbert ought to provide an organizing defensive principle capable of erasing the mistakes made by L.A.’s litany of porous perimeter defenders and limiting opponents’ easy looks at the basket. Rookie Russell, rising sophomore Jordan Clarkson and veteran European star Marcelo Huertas offer an intriguing mix of playmaking talent on the ball.
There won’t be very many reservations about letting it fly on the wing, with a healthy-again Kobe Bryant returning to pair with Nick Young and reigning Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams. Exciting 2014 lottery pick Julius Randle’s on track to return to the court after breaking his leg in his first professional game, and will share time at the four spot with steady veteran Brandon Bass, purported floor-spacer Ryan Kelly and Russell’s fellow first-year pro, Larry Nance Jr. The 2015-16 Lakers, on paper, seem to be a better, deeper and more talented team than last year’s model, and Russell’s not the only one in La-La Land trumpeting his team’s chances of competing for a playoff spot.
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The rook’s riding with general manager Mitch Kupchak:
Q: On whether he thinks the team can make the playoffs:
Kupchak: It’s a little early, but I would say yes. I have to go through the rosters in the West. So much has happened in the last three or four games. I’ve been most concerned with our team. I want to see who’s gotten better and who hasn’t improved themselves, and kind of project and say, “Who’s going to be in the top eight?” I don’t see why we don’t contend for a playoff spot, but our young players have to grow beyond their years, and we have to stay healthy.
… and backcourt mate Clarkson:
“We definitely want to win games and hopefully make the playoffs. Taking it one day at a time.” –@JClark5on on his outlook for the #Lakers
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) July 29, 2015
… and, of course, the Black Mamba:
Q: Can this Lakers team make the playoffs?
Kobe: “Of course it can. Absolutely. We have talented players in their respective positions. We have some really young players. How exactly will the pieces of the puzzle fit? We really don’t know. We are going to [training] camp trying to piece this together just like every other team does. We have to figure out what our strengths are, figure out what our weaknesses are. And every time we step on the court we are going to try to hide our weaknesses and step up to our strengths.”
You’ll note, however, that Kupchak, Clarkson and Bryant all offered some level of hedge (“it’s a little early,” “hopefully,” “it can”), as opposed to D’Angelo’s full-throated “most definitely.” Ah, rookies. They don’t know what they don’t know, you know?
At least Russell’s latest bold and skepticism-inviting statement doesn’t seem likely to rankle his new superstar teammate. That shows quite a bit of growth in a short timespan from the young fella, at any rate.
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Dan Devine is an editor for Ball Don’t Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
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