Final Score: Lakers: 68, Sixers: 60
I guess we could call this one a defensive struggle. Both the Lakers and Sixers looked like two teams who met just outside the gym before the game. The end result: Some of the ugliest basketball you’d continue watching.
There were bright spots, though. For one, D’Angelo Russell looked a lot more comfortable for longer stretches of the game. As I said yesterday, rhythm should continue to improve as the players he runs pick-and-roll sets with are come accustomed to the spots he prefers on the court. A minor criticism is his tendency to dribble himself into awkward situations. He’ll need to adjust to the smaller attack spaces as he competes more against NBA athleticism.
Jordan Clarkson continued his stellar play, again distancing himself as the best player on the court. Something I’ve noticed these last couple days: At least at this level: Clarkson in transition is good for at least a couple free throws. Usually, though, he finds a way to finish. If the Lakers do play with pace this season, Clarkson will spearhead much of that style of play.
Larry Nance’s third quarter is easily the best he’s looked all weekend. For much of that period, he was contesting everything at the rim and wreaking havoc with any kind of loose ball. If he hopes to earn a rotation spot, he’ll have to do so with all the “little things.” At one ppoint during that quarter, Nance earned “La-rry, La-rry, La-rry” chants. We can add that o the list of things I did not expect to hear in Las Vegas.
Heading into the game, I wanted to pay closer attention to Robert Upshaw. He signed a two-year deal with the Lakers last night and would be matched up against Jahlil Okafor – easily the best offensive post presence in Vegas. Okafor definitely got his, though Upshaw’s length appeared to bother Okafor, especially compared to Tarik Black, who, again racked up five fouls in the first half. Okafor definitely impressed, tallying 19 points and 11 rebounds.
The Lakers won the game, as they found ways to score down the stretch as the Sixers’ one-dimensional offense sputtered in the final minutes. The fans were out in droves again Saturday, at one point cheering “We want La-kers” repeatedly as the game before the one they were there to see apparently was taking too long to end. Gotta love Lakers fans.
Stat of the day: At one point, Clarkson and Russell combined for 23 of the Lakers 33 points.
Vasheed says
Impressive game from Lance, lots of energy. Upshaw continues to be a defensive force. Russell despite poor shooting managed to score by getting to the line.
Craig W. says
Game Report:
First quarter: Not exciting, ugly, Clarkson & Nance were noticed.
Second quarter: Upshaw is able to defend both Oakfor & Towns, but the Lakers keep having stinko 2nd qtrs.
Third quarter: Finally we worked as a team. Nance secured his place as an AC Green type player – he has been better than Randle so far, but he isn’t recovering from injury, either. Clarkson had another good qtr.
Fourth quarter: A Brown can play good defense. If you were expecting star playing from Russell, you have been disappointed, but he is only 19. Clarkson is a steadying influence on this team and needs to play as many minutes as possible.
We are getting better, but our later draft picks are showing their worth.
Gunslinger says
I just got back from a day of summer league. I sat right behind Nerlens Noel.
Brown and Nance both impressed me with their defense, and Upshaw has the defensive size and tools also.
Clarkson was clearly the best player on the floor, at another level.
Russell showed flashes of brillance but plenty of mistakes also.
Okafor looked WAY better on free throws than I expected, both in makes and form ( that had been the biggest reason I preferred Russell ).
Overall, I have to say things are looking up for us Laker fans.
Joe Houston says
Deangelo Russell’s ceiling is Superstar franchise player, however his floor is Kendall Marshall.
Keno says
Re watched both games. Okofer by far the best looking of the top 3. Towns second. Russell bit disappointed. Yes I know it’s just 2 sloppy games but Russell turn overs and outside shot is unimpressive. On other hand Okofer looks like number one pick
Clarkson looks great. Nance was s very good pick. Black may set summer league record for fouls and offense looks like summer league.
See what happens Monday vs NY but right now I wonder if they got that got that pick right?
rr says
Keno,
After the Lakers drafted Russell, Byron Scott said that Okafor is going to be a good center, but “D’Angelo can be a star.” That, essentially, is why I think the FO made the call: they think that Russell can be a star, and a charismatic, exciting one that people want to see play to boot.
That said, I think it is very likely that Okafor’s first 25-30 NBA games, and maybe his whole first year, will be better than Russell’s. Okafor already has some low post moves, and you know the old saying: you can’t teach size. Russell is going to have a longer learning curve than Okafor is.
So, the fanbase is going to need patience. Looking at posts here and elsewhere, and looking at the reactions to getting Hibbert, Williams and BB, some people seem to think that the Lakers are in the middle of a rebuild, since the team has been awful for two years. But actually, this is the beginning of the rebuild, not the middle. The last two years were mostly clock-watching, and the Lakers are down three draft picks. This is going to take time and luck, and I think Mitch’s statement about the playoffs was ill-advised and that it will come back to KO Byron (maybe Mitch planned it that way–who knows?)
And, I think some people need to temper their expectations for Julius Randle a bit. Randle’s absence creating a mini-mystique, Clarkson’s emergence, and the fact that a few very vocal, somewhat confrontational posters are big fans of Randle’s game seem to have some people thinking he is going to come in and go all Charles Barkley on the NBA his first year. I hope so, and I am no scout, but I think Randle is going to have some growing pains as well.
That is not to say that things are not better now than they were at this time last year. They are. The last two years, I have been dismissive of the idea that the Lakers were going to surprise people, were better than people thought, needed time to gel etc. It was pretty clear from the get-go that the 2014 and 2015 teams just weren’t going to be very good and had little future.
This team is different–they will need time to gel, and I think they could surprise some people over the second half of the season. But I think the first 30-40 games are going to be rough in some ways.
Paris says
Good post, RR
It’s amazing how all of a sudden we forgot that it takes time for young players to develop, and are making such quick doom and gloom projections after two summer league games. That tells me is that we either have not seen any other summer league game before of any eventual star, or more importantly (and most concerning) we already have our biased opinion and narrative written that Russell will be a bust and using these two games as confirmation of that. Sort of like Ah ha I knew it!!
Calm down everyone. Watch and enjoy the games. Nothing is happening out of the ordinary. None of these guys have played with other nba players before, let alone together.
I can guarantee you that even our own Kobe Bryant went through rough stages as an 18 and 19 year old, I bet some of you were writing him off back then 😉
Ryan P says
Remember Kobe didn’t even start his first year and West expected him to be great. Chill and let the players and team develop.
Rence says
I know it’s only 2 games and it’s summer league – but I am concerned with Russell’s ability to get to the rim – or lack thereof. He has thrown up some floaters, and hit some nice step backs, as well as drawn plenty of fouls by creating contact – but he seems to lack a step or some explosion to get to the hoop. At 19 I would think he would have the gears and the gas to get there. His passing is otherworldly – but his lack of spring and push is a bit of a red flag. Hopefully, he can get in the gym and find that next gear.