Pre-season game # 2 Lakers v Nuggets - Now

[danfantastk32]

I feel like there's a bit of a bias with Randle around here sometimes (hell....it happens to all players I guess). You guys do realize he had a double-double on 50% shooting in 23 minutes. VS 9-points and 2 boards on 30% shooting in 21 minutes from Ingram.

And for the record...Kuzma had more minutes than Randle. But he didn't start.....and seems to really stick with some folks.

If you ask me....Ingram, Zubac and Nance aughta be feeling the fan-bases wrath (Zubac did ok in first game) and not Randle.

Personally...I think we've seen Nance's ceiling. As one guy put it....a tall Shannon Brown. Gonna have 3-4 games a season pushing 20 points...but really so-so the other 70-some games.

Ingram is starting to worry me. Man.....where's the shot? Early preseason....but jeez.

Zubac is super young...only has about 30 games under him. I can understand him struggling with a whole new team. But life in the NBA moves fast.....Bryant looks really good, and faster. Lopez / Bogut will no doubt command starters minutes. Bogut's old, but he's skilled and he's a good friend to Luke. Zubac will find himself put on the shelf in a hurry if he doesn't start showing he can hang with this squad.

Randle looks slim, but I don't see any change to his game. I think he's doomed ultimately. I do think Kuzma will overtake him with time, and he will prob be the "candy" in a package to free up space. But for now....the guy's averaged about 12-points, and 9 rebounds on exactly 50% shooting in 22-minutes (both games Kuzma got more playing time!) <--- I really don't see him as the problem.

Letting your opponent rain down 56% from the 3 is gonna get you beat almost without exception.

[dockingsched]

I feel like there's a bit of a bias with Randle around here sometimes (hell....it happens to all players I guess). You guys do realize he had a double-double on 50% shooting in 23 minutes. VS 9-points and 2 boards on 30% shooting in 21 minutes from Ingram.

And for the record...Kuzma had more minutes than Randle. But he didn't start.....and seems to really stick with some folks.

If you ask me....Ingram, Zubac and Nance aughta be feeling the fan-bases wrath (Zubac did ok in first game) and not Randle...

None of those players are up for an extension requiring a long term commitment, an extension that goes against the stated plan of the front office.

For Nance and Zubac, they weren’t high picks so there is no expectation they ever amount to anything.

Randle however was a top ten pick, so there’s a certain expectation and subsequent disappointment if he fails to meet those expectations. Ingram might get that hate soon, it’ll probably be rough since he was the 2nd pick, but he’s still a few years away from needing a big contract commitment. For now he’s still afforded a chance to develop.

[Sushisensei26]

So happy to see Deng back and playing well. He's still got something left in the tank and will be a key player for us this season.

You're a real optimist bruh.

But I hope he plays well. The better he plays the easier it becomes to offload him on to some other sucker.

[danfantastk32]

For Nance and Zubac, they weren’t high picks so there is no expectation they ever amount to anything.

Randle however was a top ten pick, so there’s a certain expectation and subsequent disappointment if he fails to meet those expectations. Ingram might get that hate soon, it’ll probably be rough since he was the 2nd pick, but he’s still a few years away from needing a big contract commitment. For now he’s still afforded a chance to develop.

Totally hear ya....and I totally agree that Randle would clearly have higher expectations than Zube / Nance / Clarkson.

But Randle has really only played 2 seasons. 1 of those was this chaotic "Kobe year". <----- I bet you can make this case for just about every player in the NBA....everyone has a story. So weight it as you will....but I think it's worth mentioning.

In those 2 years.....12.2points and 9.4 rebounds. So a 'wimpy' double-double, basically. Honest question: is that disappointing? I actually think it is, a little. I'd like to see something more like 15 and 9. But it's 2 years in....and he's pretty close to 15 & 9. So how 'disappointed' in this guy can people really be?

Doesn't fit the offense <-----what offense? Byrons? Lukes? He fit Lukes great the start of the year, and then they all pretty much blew chunks game 21-on, right? Lou-Will taking any shot he wanted....prob the only guy that thrived offensively last year. Randle's averaging a double-double in what incredibly limited sample-size we have this year....which Luke admits there is no offense! It's "wing it" basketball out there, and he's producing.

Look....Im 1000% on board with you, that Randle is gonna have to show something if he wants to stay here. But I just don't think dumping him is gonna fix anything, like some peeps seem to. Ingram can't hit the side of a barn...is getting manhandled out there, and is jacking up shot after shot. <------there I said it! =0) I get he has the green light. I like his aggression. But holy-hell...Ingram is 7-24 shooting. I don't make the "Randle has to go" connection from these 2 games.

[mcscotty]

So happy to see Deng back and playing well. He's still got something left in the tank and will be a key player for us this season.

You're a real optimist bruh.

But I hope he plays well. The better he plays the easier it becomes to offload him on to some other sucker.

Actually, I'm not so much an optimist. I'm quickly losing patience with Brandon Ingram and I don't want to see him annointed into the starting role again this season . In fact, he deserves to have his minutes and role reduced. Kid doesn't even appear to have enough discipline to get in the gym and put on some size. I'd rather see Lonzo surrounded by legit NBA talent. Let Ingram ride the pine or even send him down to the G. He needs a wake up call. The organization has been fawning over him too much. Time to start earning some respect.

[karkinos]

Randle looks slim, but I don't see any change to his game.

yeah unfortunate. was a key point i made in my own notes of this preseason game. was hoping he'd show off something new in his arsenal but it's more of the same. on the plus side, him going left in the post is a mismatch for him to exploit still. i would also say his jumper mechanics look a little smoother so i'm more willing to trust a midrange j. he's def not ready for launching deep 3s though.

---
ingram - really needs to work his repertoire of moves into the flow of the offense so he doesn't have to work so hard to get shots at the bucket. 1v1 it didn't seem like he had the quickness to get by his defenders and rarely did he use the screen to his advantage, whether it was off the ball or on ball. recognizing mismatches like when he posted up against gary harris deep in the paint was one of the few plays he did right.

zubac - great interior defense against jokic. but jokic countered when he flared out to the top of the key for 3s and just rained them all day.

[Slava]

Not sure how to feel about Randle. If I was a teammate and he got the ball in the post, I'm running back on transition D immediately. Denver just let him catch the ball, sat on his left hand and forced turnovers all game long.

[danfantastk32]

Not sure how to feel about Randle. If I was a teammate and he got the ball in the post, I'm running back on transition D immediately. Denver just let him catch the ball, sat on his left hand and forced turnovers all game long.

Yeah, it's a shame. You gotta know the coaching staff has worked with him countless hours on going right....so at this point he either can't or he wont.

This is his 3rd season. This is it for him, as far as I'm concerned. Got alot of things going for him....but no outside shot, and only going left are huge issues. Huge. And if he's not going to address either one, I think we need to move on.

Believe me....I like Randle, I see how close he is to being a legit baller, but I'm not some fanboy. If he doesn't show an outside shot, or the ability to go either hand....I'm the first to say move him. But so far he's had the 2nd best preseson....and I just kinda question the roars in his direction at this point.

Give the guy his 3rd year. If by the trade deadline, he hasn't impressed Magic....then I think we've given him more than a fair go.

[Edrees]

Deng didn't look like absolute trash, he can be a decent rotation player