12/12 Game Thread: Lakers (3-20) @ Rockets (11-12) | 5:00 PM

[RingsDontLie]

Worth watching just to see a vintage Kobe game.

[Tarik_shaq]

Why the hell are yall on clarksons nuts.

Don't you guys know that at his rookie year, he was 4 years away from college already? (Played 2 then 1 transferring from tulsa).

Dlo is 1 year away.

Dlos freshman year far exceeds that of clarksons freshmen year, and had much more impact.

Im not gonna try and sound smart and get all analytical like some posters here, but just think about that.

Dlo's ceiling and presentable skill set as of now, he will be better that clarkson. Mark my words.

Too many goddamn kids on this lakers board who dont undetstand and see basketball.

[warrenpeace]

at this point last yr Clarkson had played in 13 games, 10 mpg, 38fg%, 4.5 ppg. 0.8 apg

i don't understand why people continue to compare the two, they're on two totally different trajectories.

This is because Clarkson did not get the respect or the benefit of the doubt that's afforded to a lottery pick, because he was a second round draft pick and not the 2nd pick in the entire draft like D'Angelo. In comparison, the way D'angelo played in summer league, pre-season, in practice and in the first 13 games, if D'Angelo had been a second round draft pick, he would have ended up in the D-league or more likely, he would have been waived.

[ArC_man]

Worth watching just to see a vintage Kobe game.

It's too bad that we got blown out even when Kobe drops 25/7/6 on amazing efficiency.

[Slava]

at this point last yr Clarkson had played in 13 games, 10 mpg, 38fg%, 4.5 ppg. 0.8 apg

i don't understand why people continue to compare the two, they're on two totally different trajectories.

This is because Clarkson did not get the respect or the benefit of the doubt that's afforded to a lottery pick, because he was a second round draft pick and not the 2nd pick in the entire draft like D'Angelo. In comparison, the way D'angelo played in summer league, pre-season, in practice and in the first 13 games, if D'Angelo had been a second round draft pick, he would have ended up in the D-league or more likely, he would have been waived.

stop posting nonsense.

[warrenpeace]

Of course, that would have been a gigantic mistake, but there some, including people on this forum advocating sending D'Angelo to the D-League. In hindsight, all of those people were wrong.

[dockingsched]

Of course, that would have been a gigantic mistake, but there some, including people on this forum advocating sending D'Angelo to the D-League. In hindsight, all of those people were wrong.

wait forget the d-league part, you said more likely he would've been waived, LMAO

[Up-And-Coming]

To: Tariq_Shaq

I already said that Clarkson was old for a rookie. And btw, if Russell is 1 year away from being a freshman in college as a rookie, then Clarkson was only 3 years away from being a college freshman as a rookie, not 4.

Also, the NBA is much different than the NCAA. How many college stars end up being busts in the NBA? It's different. Okay, so D'Angelo played better as a college freshman than Clarkson did as a college freshman. That doesn't mean he is going to be a better NBA player.

Just look at a lot of other threads on this forum, and there are a lot D'Angelo nutters that call for the Laker's to trade Clarkson just because D'Angelo banked an awkward jumpshot to tie the game and play in overtime and then scored 23 points and then 24 points but on terrible efficiency.

I'm basing my argument off what I have seen from D'Angelo so far this season, and he honestly has sucked. I already said he can improve a lot because he is still young, but apparently you did not read that.

AGAIN, I hope D'Angelo will be a star, but I have not been impressed with him SO FAR this season. I don't want to prematurely hype up a rookie based off "swag" or composure.

You present zero valid arguments and call us "goddam kids who dont understand and see basketball".

[Up-And-Coming]

at this point last yr Clarkson had played in 13 games, 10 mpg, 38fg%, 4.5 ppg. 0.8 apg

i don't understand why people continue to compare the two, they're on two totally different trajectories.

This is because Clarkson did not get the respect or the benefit of the doubt that's afforded to a lottery pick, because he was a second round draft pick and not the 2nd pick in the entire draft like D'Angelo. In comparison, the way D'angelo played in summer league, pre-season, in practice and in the first 13 games, if D'Angelo had been a second round draft pick, he would have ended up in the D-league or more likely, he would have been waived.

There is some truth to this post. D'Angelo is getting more hype because he is the 2nd overall pick and people want him to live up to the expectations of that. Trust me, if D'Angelo was the 46th pick, he would not be as popular and would be on a much shorter leash. It's the fact that the Laker's have a lot invested in him, that he has to perform or else we really f'ed up. He will get as many opportunities as possible to perform (and truth be told, he is getting a lot of minutes and opportunities for a rookie right now).

C'mon, he is shooting 40% from the field and is shooting 32% from 3 and only shoots 1 free throw a game. Coaches would not continue to play someone who shoots that poorly unless they have a lot riding on him and he is a top lottery pick.

I'm not going to say that D'Angelo would have gotten waived, but he definitely would not be seeing this many opportunities. Maybe in the future he will be a star, but so far I don't see what significantly sets him apart from other past rookie guards besides the opportunities he is getting to develop. The kid has talent, but I think he is being way overhyped by fans.

[Tarik_shaq]

To: Tariq_Shaq

I already said that Clarkson was old for a rookie. And btw, if Russell is 1 year away from being a freshman in college as a rookie, then Clarkson was only 3 years away from being a college freshman as a rookie, not 4.

Also, the NBA is much different than the NCAA. How many college stars end up being busts in the NBA? It's different. Okay, so D'Angelo played better as a college freshman than Clarkson did as a college freshman. That doesn't mean he is going to be a better NBA player.

Just look at a lot of other threads on this forum, and there are a lot D'Angelo nutters that call for the Laker's to trade Clarkson just because D'Angelo banked an awkward jumpshot to tie the game and play in overtime and then scored 23 points and then 24 points but on terrible efficiency.

I'm basing my argument off what I have seen from D'Angelo so far this season, and he honestly has sucked. I already said he can improve a lot because he is still young, but apparently you did not read that.

AGAIN, I hope D'Angelo will be a star, but I have not been impressed with him SO FAR this season. I don't want to prematurely hype up a rookie based off "swag" or composure.

You present zero valid arguments and call us "goddam kids who dont understand and see basketball".

He's 4. He had to sit out a season via transferring rules. He's still allowed to practice with the team.

I do admit he hasnt been impressive, but he's growing into a much better player than what he's carved out in recent months.

Lemme put it this way. Would you draft a 3 year college emeka okafor over a highschool dwight howard? Would you draft a 3 year sean may over a high school bynum? 4 year adam morisson over a high school kobe.

My point is they were drafted at their respected slots for a reason. Although there are busts and steals.

You can see dlo's overall skill set in shooting, pull ups, passing, vision, and ball handling compared to clarksons drive ins and tunnel vision.

Just be patient.

[Slava]

Some of you guys have such unrealistic expectations of rookies that you should really tune out Lakers basketball for another 3 seasons and come back when these guys mature into consistent players that are closer to their potential. I always felt people were trolling when they say Lakers fans are spoilt but now I really see the reason. Most of this fanbase cannot handle an honest to God rebuilding process.

[Goudelock]

Some of you guys have such unrealistic expectations of rookies that you should really tune out Lakers basketball for another 3 seasons and come back when these guys mature into consistent players that are closer to their potential. I always felt people were trolling when they say Lakers fans are spoilt but now I really see the reason. Most of this fanbase cannot handle an honest to God rebuilding process.

This is what I think as well. I mean, according to some of you guy's standards, you probably would've wanted James Harden traded after his rookie season.

BTW Slava, I've more or less come to peace with the fact that the Lakers probably won't be contenders until I've graduated from college.

[what would jack bauer do?]

As far as the age thing goes for Clarkson's potential, I really think it's a moot point.

There are examples of plenty of guards that have gotten better at older ages. Just look at James Harden, people had him dismissed as nearly a "bust" his first couple years in the league in relation to him being the number 3 pick. A guy like OJ Mayo was considered a better prospect for many at the start of that season. At age 21 he averaged 12.2pts, 3 rebs, and 1.8 assists. At age 22 he averaged 16.8 pts, 4.1 rebs, and 3.7 assists.

I think people have a bad taste in their mouth cause D'angelo and Clarkson are both bad compliments to each other on defense. Up until last year Harden was absolute garbage on defense. You can be very successful in this league while being a bad defender. You can be on a contending team or even win championships if the team is built properly if one of your star players is a bad defender. Look at James Harden, Steve Nash, Stephen Curry, Kevin Love. Just remember D'angelo/Clarkson are playing with the corpse of Kobe and backed up by the worst possible vet you could pick in Lou Williams.

Everyone here is acting like D'angelo and Clarkson are as inefficient on offense as the "incredibly sucky Juan Dixon". We actually have incredibly talented offensive players that have LOADS of room to get much better. D'lo's potential is very high and Clarkson is elite in the pick and roll with lots of other strengths on offense. We just need to build our team properly around that the next couple years and possibly trade one just to get the most out of the other.

Offensively, Clarkson has shown incredible efficiency while playing in Byron's horrible offense. In an uptempo offense he would be much better. So if I'm weighing Clarkson or D'angelo in terms of future I really could go either way if we're trying to trade one in the next couple years. One thing is for sure neither is of Lebron/Durant/Kobe/Wade/Westbrook/Curry level so acting like they're both untouchable is foolish. If you keep your eye on the big picture, our only legitimate hope of being relevant again in the near future is winning the lottery and landing a guy that actually is close to a lebron/wade/kobe type of player in Ben Simmons. There is no savior in randle, d'angelo, or clarkson. Realistically if we lose the lottery and go by internal improvement we're looking at a slow climb to the playoffs that I'd liken to all the talent the Hawks had in the 2000's that slowly crescendo'd to be a playoff team.

[Up-And-Coming]

Some of you guys have such unrealistic expectations of rookies that you should really tune out Lakers basketball for another 3 seasons and come back when these guys mature into consistent players that are closer to their potential. I always felt people were trolling when they say Lakers fans are spoilt but now I really see the reason. Most of this fanbase cannot handle an honest to God rebuilding process.

This is what I think as well. I mean, according to some of you guy's standards, you probably would've wanted James Harden traded after his rookie season.

BTW Slava, I've more or less come to peace with the fact that the Lakers probably won't be contenders until I've graduated from college.

You're right. I am being impatient with D'Angelo. It's just that as a Lakers fan for about 10 years, I have never got the chance to witness the development of a top 3 pick first hand. I expected much more for the 2nd overall pick but I know sometimes it's a long process.

I also just don't understand why a lot of fans are super patient and optimistic for Russell, but then impatient and negative about Clarkson when it's only his second season (he is older but I have seen many older NBA players improve).

Anyways, sorry fellas I just wanted to vent some of my frustrations. Best of luck to all our young players and let's hope they all turn out to be stars.

[ALL HAIL]

Rookies these days are teenagers people.

Plus, the Lakers are old school. They believe in young guys learning from old guys, so they bring teenagers along slower than other orgs. I can't say I disagree with that strategy either.

[DEEP3CL]

The problem with these young posters here is that they can only go on what they've seen in the past 5-8 years. You guys have become victims of watching bad teams that had to play their guys more minutes and used as starters very early. You guys think every rookie is going to just get better by just playing the actual games when it's much much more involved in getting better...cause I hate that over used word "development".

Guys like KD, Westbrook, D-Rose and others didn't come into the league playing the way they're playing now and it wasn't just all about them playing the actual games. You have to put time in away from the game from a mental stand point...in terms of learning the game from watching tons of film, working on your body from conditioning to getting stronger.

Stop using this word "development" and thinking it's just all on Scott in terms of that process. Players get better away from the game, then use what they learned and worked on in the games. You youngins have it backwards. 90% of these young guys aren't ready to play NBA ball when they come in, it takes them at least 3-4 years to get to that point of even being considered a future star.

Bottom line is you have to let these guys get it first, hell Kobe didn't get to be who he was until year 3 and by year 4 he was good but even then not the straight assassin he became.

[Slava]

Some of you guys have such unrealistic expectations of rookies that you should really tune out Lakers basketball for another 3 seasons and come back when these guys mature into consistent players that are closer to their potential. I always felt people were trolling when they say Lakers fans are spoilt but now I really see the reason. Most of this fanbase cannot handle an honest to God rebuilding process.

This is what I think as well. I mean, according to some of you guy's standards, you probably would've wanted James Harden traded after his rookie season.

BTW Slava, I've more or less come to peace with the fact that the Lakers probably won't be contenders until I've graduated from college.

You're right. I am being impatient with D'Angelo. It's just that as a Lakers fan for about 10 years, I have never got the chance to witness the development of a top 3 pick first hand. I expected much more for the 2nd overall pick but I know sometimes it's a long process.

I also just don't understand why a lot of fans are super patient and optimistic for Russell, but then impatient and negative about Clarkson when it's only his second season (he is older but I have seen many older NBA players improve).

Anyways, sorry fellas I just wanted to vent some of my frustrations. Best of luck to all our young players and let's hope they all turn out to be stars.

Yeah well, defending Clarkson shouldn't start with attacking Russell either. Both of them play for the team you support.

[tugs]

I just wanna say Curry started off his career by being mostly in the sidelines riddles by injuries. Look where he is now.

[politm]

I just wanna say Curry started off his career by being mostly in the sidelines riddles by injuries. Look where he is now.

Not really. Steph played at least 74 games in each season except for that 11-12 season when he had that ankle injury and that was his 3rd season in the league. Truth be told I think Don Nelson was benching him in the 4th quarter in his rookie season tho...

LE: He played 80 games in his rookie season, with 77 starts averaging 36 mp per game, so I might be wrong about the benching stuff.