LA Lakers vs Chicago Bulls 01/28 7:30 PT TNT

[DEEP3CL]

It's weird coming here now is now even about analyzing the game for me, we suck so back there's nothing to really break down. It's the same MO every game, start slow, fall back double digits, make a mini run to pull game into decent range, Scott breaks momentum and team falls back....game over. But it's like I said....it's going to take more than a Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram and free agents to fix this team.

[Sofa King]

We need a new coach. So many choices on the market now and for next season.

[tugs]

Not sure if this has been mentioned before but Young has a tattoo on his right arm?

[dub81]

Clarkson has some ugly attitude brewing - I don't like whatever problem he had with Nance and after the timeout. He's not good enough to dog his teammates

Clarkson really has an "entitled" attitude and I really don't like it. Seems like he enjoys the lifestyle more than the game.

His defense is horrible

undersized two guard

2nd year and is still taking bad shots.

[TylersLakers]

Damn, all that trade speculations got into DLo's mind.

For such a cocky kid, I doubt it...he struggled tonight against their speed and defense

Shot awful but that's not a big deal, it's his floor game and decision-making - didn't impact the game, wasn't a threat at all

So far, D-Russ seems to play well and feel well when his shot is going down - becoming a one-dimensional player

To be fair, Scott's been cuffing his passing game by trying to take the flavor out of his 'fancy passes' but that's when point guards with a lot of flavor -Jason Williams, Jason Kidd, Nash, etc. are at their best - you have to give them that freedom - he doesn't have that with Scott

Russ won't be a system player that's for sure, that's not who he is

But is he good enough to build an offence around?

He really reminds me of like a star quarterback with an unconventional style. He reminds me of a Michael Vick or Cam Newton or something. Someone you can't exactly plug into being a "West Coast" QB or something of that nature. He needs to have the freedom to be him and do what he's comfortable with and plug in pieces that FIT with him.

My question is.. is he good enough for that role? It's early and he's talented. But like you said on the last page or so, his hustle/energy concern me.

What we need to do is find a coach who can either a) have the balls to hire the people needed to coordinate the O that specializes and empowers his talents or b) hire a coach who's an offensive genius and willing to adjust his strategy to fit Russell's style. But this is a complete non issue until he PROVES he's THAT good.

Going back to the football reference -- Michael Vick had a great year in a "Run and Shoot" O that really capitalized on his talents and gave him a run/throw option on nearly every play. Then the coach was fired and they tried to fit him into being a conventional QB under Jim Mora and Greg Knapp and it was inconsistent results for a few years. After the prison sentence, he landed in Philadelphia with Andy Reid who also ran a West Coast offence, however, he was great with quarterbacks and really adjusted the O to fit Vick's style and he had a magical run in 2010-2012. Cam Newton on the other hand got with a coaching staff immediately that believed in him (through some ugly moments) and now you see the results this year of what he did.

Crucial coaching decisions this coming summer. And also a crucial off-season for Russell. In a years time, I COULD see him being on the block if it's the same sort of thing as this season.

[Kilroy]

It's weird coming here now is now even about analyzing the game for me, we suck so back there's nothing to really break down. It's the same MO every game, start slow, fall back double digits, make a mini run to pull game into decent range, Scott breaks momentum and team falls back....game over. But it's like I said....it's going to take more than a Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram and free agents to fix this team.

Yeah, it's not just a talent issue, and I'm not totally on the Ben Simmons is the next MJ or LeBron bandwagon... But I do think it's Simmons or trade the pick. TyCobb said this earlier too, and I agree. If we don't find ourselves in a position to land Simmons, we should trade down and stockpile assets again. In all honesty, I'm thinking this might not be the best season to be killing ourselves for a top 3 pick. Maybe it's a good year to give it up and get an unrestricted pick next year.

Not 100% on the Whiteside bandwagon either... He's not really been a good player outside of last season, and he seems like he might have maturity issues... Fined and suspended for altercations... Not sure we should put all our eggs in that basket...

But that said, if we could land Simmons AND Whiteside, without giving up anything, we might be in pretty decent shape... Just add a coaching staff and tweak the roster here and there...

But I agree that I don't see any simple solutions right now, and my interest level in this team is at an all time low... In fact, my interest in the NBA is at an all time low. Not really a fan of the 'new NBA'... Maybe guys need to stay in college longer. It's become a weak-sauce league lately... Small-ball always sucked... Now that's basically all we get.

[Kilroy]

Damn, all that trade speculations got into DLo's mind.

For such a cocky kid, I doubt it...he struggled tonight against their speed and defense

Shot awful but that's not a big deal, it's his floor game and decision-making - didn't impact the game, wasn't a threat at all

So far, D-Russ seems to play well and feel well when his shot is going down - becoming a one-dimensional player

To be fair, Scott's been cuffing his passing game by trying to take the flavor out of his 'fancy passes' but that's when point guards with a lot of flavor -Jason Williams, Jason Kidd, Nash, etc. are at their best - you have to give them that freedom - he doesn't have that with Scott

Russ won't be a system player that's for sure, that's not who he is

But is he good enough to build an offence around?

He really reminds me of like a star quarterback with an unconventional style. He reminds me of a Michael Vick or Cam Newton or something. Someone you can't exactly plug into being a "West Coast" QB or something of that nature. He needs to have the freedom to be him and do what he's comfortable with and plug in pieces that FIT with him.

My question is.. is he good enough for that role? It's early and he's talented. But like you said on the last page or so, his hustle/energy concern me.

What we need to do is find a coach who can either a) have the balls to hire the people needed to coordinate the O that specializes and empowers his talents or b) hire a coach who's an offensive genius and willing to adjust his strategy to fit Russell's style. But this is a complete non issue until he PROVES he's THAT good.

Going back to the football reference -- Michael Vick had a great year in a "Run and Shoot" O that really capitalized on his talents and gave him a run/throw option on nearly every play. Then the coach was fired and they tried to fit him into being a conventional QB under Jim Mora and Greg Knapp and it was inconsistent results for a few years. After the prison sentence, he landed in Philadelphia with Andy Reid who also ran a West Coast offence, however, he was great with quarterbacks and really adjusted the O to fit Vick's style and he had a magical run in 2010-2012. Cam Newton on the other hand got with a coaching staff immediately that believed in him (through some ugly moments) and now you see the results this year of what he did.

Crucial coaching decisions this coming summer. And also a crucial off-season for Russell. In a years time, I COULD see him being on the block if it's the same sort of thing as this season.

I think Russell has the potential to be a really good Westbrook to prime Durant... With Durant being the dominant player...
I don't see him as THE GUY on a team. He's Boy Wonder to some Batman we haven't found yet.

And I'm not saying he's the next Westbrook either... I honestly don't see that in him either... I just mean, he's a all-star second fiddle to a super star franchise player.

He's good enough to be a major factor in the offense you build, but not center piece you build around... Not unless something major changes this off season.

Right now we got sort of a broke-dick San Antonio core going... Randle/Clarkson/Russell to Duncan/Ginobili/Parker... But even if we give them the biggest benefit of a doubt that we can as far as potential goes... I don't think any of our guys can touch those guys.

[oldschooled]

Right now we got sort of a broke-dick San Antonio core going... Randle/Clarkson/Russell to Duncan/Ginobili/Parker... But even if we give them the biggest benefit of a doubt that we can as far as potential goes... I don't think any of our guys can touch those guys.

The biggest thing you forgot was there's GOAT-level coaching involved in those 3




...and we have Byron.