Official D'Angelo Russell Thread

[Paradise]

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[J_LA]

I won't pretend like Mozgov is great but he was definitely solid for us last season before he was benched in favor of the tank.
I'm cautiously optimistic he can do more of the same In Brooklyn with a fresh start.

[MrDollarBills]

HAHA Mozgov was soooooooo happy when they asked him if he will be shooting three point shots. He's been wanting to shoot them since last summer. I'm guessing Luke Walton didn't want him to.

He can shoot threes???

[Paradise]

The press conference

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[Karate Diop]

Is Gilbert Arenas a good comparison for his upside?

I think what differentiates Gil and Russell was Gil's ability to get to the line. I'm not sure D'Angelo has proven he has that in his game yet.

Will it come with more shot attempts? Can't say - but I just checked the stats and for that short period of time when Gil was a legitimate star...

https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3540/

He could get to the line with the best of them.

I honestly thought about that too. But if that came, solid comparison?

There may be a better comparison out there, I'd have to think about it... I watched some highlights of both during the lunch break and one of the things that's noticeable when comparing the two players is that Gilbert, like most elite players, tended to attack the basket in a straight line fashion (and that's probably one of the reasons why he averaged more free throws).

Russell is a bit more methodical and isn't necessarily driving to basket thinking "I'm going to go all the way or get contact". That's both good and bad - as while the upside with this approach is that D'Angelo is probably less susceptible to the devastating knee injuries that guys like Steve Francis, Gilbert Arenas and Derrick Rose had the downside is that if he can't improve his trips to the line he'll have to become a 37%+ volume three-point shooter (which I think he's capable of) in order to be a true #1 option.

The other difference between the two - and I may be being preemptive here is that I think Russell has a much better feel for the game as a passer. Gilbert had legitimate passing skills but his mentality was always to shoot first, shoot second, and shoot third. Gilbert was one of those guys who "got a lot of assists" simply because he had the ball at all times when on the court.

Russell isn't Ricky Rubio but he seems to have a tremendous feel for the game and is already able to execute advanced passes in traffic.

(Now with all that being said in terms of swagger the comparison still stands )

[J_LA]

I think what differentiates Gil and Russell was Gil's ability to get to the line. I'm not sure D'Angelo has proven he has that in his game yet.

Will it come with more shot attempts? Can't say - but I just checked the stats and for that short period of time when Gil was a legitimate star...

https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3540/

He could get to the line with the best of them.

I honestly thought about that too. But if that came, solid comparison?

There may be a better comparison out there, I'd have to think about it... I watched some highlights of both during the lunch break and one of the things that's noticeable when comparing the two players is that Gilbert, like most elite players, tended to attack the basket in a straight line fashion (and that's probably one of the reasons why he averaged more free throws).

Russell is a bit more methodical and isn't necessarily driving to basket thinking "I'm going to go all the way or get contact". That's both good and bad - as while the upside with this approach is that D'Angelo is probably less susceptible to the devastating knee injuries that guys like Steve Francis, Gilbert Arenas and Derrick Rose had the downside is that if he can't improve his trips to the line he'll have to become a 37%+ volume three-point shooter (which I think he's capable of) in order to be a true #1 option.

The other difference between the two - and I may be being preemptive here is that I think Russell has a much better feel for the game as a passer. Gilbert had legitimate passing skills but his mentality was always to shoot first, shoot second, and shoot third. Gilbert was one of those guys who "got a lot of assists" simply because he had the ball at all times when on the court.

Russell isn't Ricky Rubio but he seems to have a tremendous feel for the game and is already able to execute advanced passes in traffic.

(Now with all that being said in terms of swagger the comparison still stands )

This is a good post. The only thing I would add as far as Gil, he had one of the quickest first steps I've ever seen. It might be the quickest.

[TylersLakers]

Shout out to Russell for not responding with the same type of "class" that Magic Johnson did.

[Princeinrevolt]

HAHA Mozgov was soooooooo happy when they asked him if he will be shooting three point shots. He's been wanting to shoot them since last summer. I'm guessing Luke Walton didn't want him to.

He can shoot threes???

Spoiler:

Watch on YouTube

He is a very good midrange shooter, so I hope he starts shooting threes next year.

[B-Scott]

Lakers fan. Im still shocked we traded D'Angelo. Wow

[hood30]

The guy the most similar to D'Angelo is Jalen Rose..Rose was a bit taller at 6'7 and a good defender but crafty with the ball while not having an explosive first step.

DLo will be a better shooting version of Jalen Rose who can hit 3's but will be an inferior defender.

[MrDollarBills]

HAHA Mozgov was soooooooo happy when they asked him if he will be shooting three point shots. He's been wanting to shoot them since last summer. I'm guessing Luke Walton didn't want him to.

He can shoot threes???

Spoiler:

Watch on YouTube

He is a very good midrange shooter, so I hope he starts shooting threes next year.

haha we were spoiled last year. Lopez was knocking down the deep ball at a nice clip. if Mozgov can give us some at least 33% i'd be happy lol

[CalamityX12]

I want Mozgov around that bloody rim!

[Paradise]

I can't wait to order my D'Lo jersey lol

It looks and sounds like he’s ready for Brooklyn. Asked if he wants to be the face of the franchise he quickly answered, “Yeah.” Then, he talked like a leader.

“I just can't wait to get this team back where it's supposed to be. We've got a lot of young talent, including myself, we've got great vets sprinkled in there, and a coach that's really hungry. When we put that together, it's gonna be something special.”

“I’m tired of talking about what I do or what I’m gonna do. I want to show it. I wanna get in right away and let my actions speak.”

[Princeinrevolt]

I guess Metta World Peace believes in Russell....

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[Ror1997]

If MWP doesn't have a problem with DLo, who in that Lakers locker room (besides Swaggy P) does? I feel like MWP is the easiest guy to rub the wrong way.

[Prokorov]

HAHA Mozgov was soooooooo happy when they asked him if he will be shooting three point shots. He's been wanting to shoot them since last summer. I'm guessing Luke Walton didn't want him to.

He can shoot threes???

percentage wise he was better then brook on long twos and has a pretty stroke. he can certainly make that transition

[Prokorov]

I want Mozgov around that bloody rim!

werent you saying that about brook last offseason?

[Princeinrevolt]

If MWP doesn't have a problem with DLo, who in that Lakers locker room (besides Swaggy P) does? I feel like MWP is the easiest guy to rub the wrong way.

I think nowadays its the opposite... One of MWP's nicknames is "Panda's Friend".

[DartboardT]

Ooooh, that's decent form and arc.

Don't know about how quick the release is in game reps yet but that's what Preseason Mad Scientist Tinkering™ is for!

Let's see it, Stretch 5 Mozgov!

HAHA Mozgov was soooooooo happy when they asked him if he will be shooting three point shots. He's been wanting to shoot them since last summer. I'm guessing Luke Walton didn't want him to.

He can shoot threes???

Spoiler:

Watch on YouTube

He is a very good midrange shooter, so I hope he starts shooting threes next year.

[DartboardT]

Delightfully random, that Panda's Friend. We'll take it!

I guess Metta World Peace believes in Russell....

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