Earlier this week we covered the type of offensive set which has too often been representative of what the Lakers do on that side of the ball. The slow developing, non-attacking, late clock, long jumper producing set is symbolic of all that can be wrong with how the Lakers operate offensively. The hope, of course, is we see less and less of that as the season goes on.
The flip-side of that type of action is a quick hitting, full-on attacking action which forces the defense to react, putting them in bad positions in the process. We mostly see this when the Lakers are in transition, but not as often in the half court.
Friday night’s Lakers’ loss to the Kings did not offer many highlights, but one play they did run epitomized the latter type of play I would like to see more of.
This play comes after a score, but the Lakers do not simply take the ball out of the net and walk the ball up. No, D’Angelo Russell quickly takes the inbound and pushes the ball up court, crossing the mid-line with 22 seconds left on the shot clock. Rather than calling their “elbow” or “chin” series which, respectively, start with an entry to a big or a guard to guard pass within their two-guard front, Russell immediately sets up a PG/SF sideline pick and roll with Kobe.
Notice the pace Russell is playing with here, too. When he approaches Kobe’s pick, he slows down to try and get a good rub, but then bursts around the edge clearly looking to attack the rim. By doing this, he turns the corner quickly and threatens the rim within one dribble of getting around the screen. Once at the rim, the help comes and Russell quickly diagnoses his options.
On the sideline, the opposite forward (Randle) is sliding down towards the corner. That hard run down the wing brings with him the top side guard who is playing free safety near the top of the key. Russell, seeing all this develop, whips a pass back out to the trailing guard (Clarkson) who is wide open above the arc. Clarkson has enough time to bobble the pass, set his feet, and fire off a jumper before any defender is even within two feet of him.
The shot falls. Three points.
While we’ve typically highlighted Russell’s highlight passes where he’s looking off a defender or threading the needle in the open court to set his man up for a dunk, this is more the type of pass point guards need to make at the NBA level. And it’s not just the pass, but everything that led up to it. The quick action towards the rim. The collapsing of the defense. The quick read within the play to know where his teammates are and then making the right pass on time and on target.
This isn’t to make this out to be more than what it is. It was a very nice play, but nothing extraordinary. That said, this is what Lakers’ fans want from Russell and, on this play, he did show he had it in his tool kit.
Paul says
Darius,
Great Stuff, I enjoy your writing. addressing a previous article, I am a long time Laker Fan, I used to attend games at the Fabulous Forum. (The House that Jack built and Jerry bought as the great Chick Hearn used to say). I am also here in Warrior country (San Leandro) as a former Season Ticket Holder of the Warriors I was happy to see their recent success. Lakers will always be #1. my only comment is Byron Scott’s affiliation with the great Laker Teams of the 80’s will by him more time than Mike Brown received, however a say 2-20 start would force Jim Buss to act, as the pressure of owning the Los Angeles Lakers would dictate change.
Paul
steve0319 says
Russell plays like how I’d guess he would just by looking at him. This is not an insult. His body simply hasnt developed into a full grown man yet. Whereas Randle is a freak of nature, Russell’s body lacks power and explosion, so he appears to be playing lethargically, but that’s his speed right now IMO. Even when he gets stronger he won’t be a Clarkson type of athlete but he should be able to get to his spots easier and use the small openings to get in the lane.
Twenty20 says
Good write up Darius. I think the Lakers problem is the offense. There is no movement. Also I think Russell is slowly finding his rhythm. More ball movement and this team will shine. Our starters all want iso plays. Basically, give this team Karl, Brad Stevens, hell even Pringles and Russell looks like a star. Now defense on the other hand….????????????
Vasheed says
Darius,
“This play comes after a score, but the Lakers do not simply take the ball out of the net and walk the ball up. No, D’Angelo Russell quickly takes the inbound and pushes the ball up court, crossing the mid-line with 22 seconds left on the shot clock. Rather than calling their “elbow” or “chin” series which, respectively, start with an entry to a big or a guard to guard pass within their two-guard front, Russell immediately sets up a PG/SF sideline pick and roll with Kobe.”
Doesn’t this point to a system problem with the Princeton?
rr says
The Lakers are 3rd in Pace Factor and 6th in ORTG. They are also 4th in 3PA, albeit 22nd in 3P%. Not that two games mean much (although people who want Scott gone are basically saying that two games are enough to judge how he will work with this weird roster) but in the first two games the Lakers are doing stuff, statistically, that people want.
That said, I see the complaints about wanting more high PnR, more ball movement and fewer ISOs. But the Lakers are 29th in DRTG. The two opponents, both lottery teams last year, albeit improved ones, have shot .556 on 2s, and that in and of itself will make a team very bad, no matter what they are doing on O. Some of that is Byron–but a lot of it is simply personnel.
I have always been more of a roster guy than a coach guy. In certain situations, like Kerr and Budenholzer last year, and Phil coming back here both times, coaching can have a big impact. But at the same time, we also see an example like Vinny Del Negro and Doc Rivers. Bulls and Clippers fans basically dealt with Del Negro the way a lot of Lakers fans are dealing with Scott–open, seething contempt for his tactics, rotations, quotes, and mannerisms. But the Clippers have not really done significantly better under Rivers than they did under Del Negro, either in the regular season or the playoffs.
Also, Todd made a nice point in the other thread: the FO is still making decisions with an eye toward cap space, rather than roster stability, and that the Lakers seem to be trying to do multiple things at once: rebuild, compete, send Kobe out right, develop the young guys. Byron may in fact be as much of a trashcan fire as a coach as we are being told, but this would not be an easy situation for any coach.
Nick says
Russell may be a work in progress but the signs for success are there. I counted 3 different times Dloading set up a player nicely but the shot was blown. Two other times his passes slipped through what I call stone hand. Even so Russell shot 50% , 12 points and 4 assists in a measly 22 minutes. I can’t explain why Ryan Kelly logs 27 compared to Russell’s 22? Seems idiotic on Byron Scotts side. D’Angelo was playing decently well and instead of Scott letting him get some needed experience in a blow out Scott simply benches him. We’re not a great team yet, building young chemistry is the single most important thing this season. I feel like Scott doesn’t understand this fact and is ruining it for Laker fans everywhere……. Ryan Freaking Kelly, I can only shake my head
KevTheBold says
Incisive post Nick. The kid has the talent, but it seems at least for now, Scott is either trying to protect D’Angelo, or has gone mind blind.
Maybe the front office is behind the leash, hoping to protect their prize, who knows?
Whatever the case, at least Kobe is beginning to speak up on this issue, and he’s the only one that everyone will listen to.
rr says
I think Russell should be out there learning as well, but he does have a PER of 7.0, and is averaging 2.9 AST/36M so far.
J C says
Russell’s PER may look bad and that may be an ominous indicator.
However IMO he isn’t really being a ball-dominant PG when he’s in the game and his low assist rate over two games reflects that.
He frequently defers to Clarkson and Kobe and when he gives the ball up as soon he crosses half court, what happens next shouldn’t count against him.
In the Kings game, he shot better and finished with 13 points in 23 minutes.
I’m still on the Russell bandwagon.
dxmanners says
Anything beats what they are running now, which looks like each man for himself. It’s a trainwreck. BAD drafts, people are delusional if they think D’Angelo and Randle are leading the Lakers out of this mess. Byron means well (2 a days?), but he’s become more of a detriment than a solution.
Darius Soriano says
Kendrick Perkins had a PER of near 30 after two games…
Player stats always need context. After two games the context will almost always be “it’s two games”. This is especially true when we’re talking about a 19 year old playing the role he’s been playing.
In any event, the season is young. That context applies to critiques and to praise.
bleedpurplegold says
Dxmanners:
We saw 2 games from them now…a little bit too early to judge now….
i personally see randle as the real deal and russell can be a conley-type player witg little better vision in this league
The game tonight will tell a lot about our guys…against a weak mavs team with an aged dirk (saw him live in berlin this summer, he isnt the dirk of 11) and without parsons, we have to win….if we allow 110+ again AND lose, i am convinced that even popovich couldnt guide this bunch to .500 ball and we will have a top3 pick again….but until then, i am still hopefull for our season
rr says
Kendrick Perkins had a PER of near 30 after two games…
—
Yes, I know, and in the post you will see that I made that exact point about its just being two games in relation to all the Scott-bashing in terms of how he works with the 15 guys he has now. The point about Russell was simple: when he has been out there the first two games, it is not as if he has been looking great except in brief flashes, as expected.
That said, I think with a team like this, Scott would be better off stabilizing the rotation. Being able to adjust, go small etc is the tactical trend now, but I think that sort of thing matters more to teams that are playoff-caliber. I think the Lakers would be better off with more Phil-style set roles/minutes, and Russell, Clarkson and Randle should be out there 30-35m a game in mostly set patterns barring foul trouble or injury.
But with this roster, that is challenging in that the Lakers don’t have anybody who is really good but have a lot of guys who should reasonably expect burn.
Darius Soriano says
“in the post you will see that I made that exact point” – actually, I don’t see that. What I see is this:
“I think Russell should be out there learning as well, but he does have a PER of 7.0, and is averaging 2.9 AST/36M so far.”
That’s the entirety of the comment. So, yeah.
rr says
So, yeah.
—
Other post.
JC,
I don’t see it as an ominous sign at all. But I think given the timeline issue and Mitch’s playoffs comment, I can see why playing Lou Williams more and Russell less would appeal to Scott right now.
matt says
D’angelo is not putting up big numbers because it looks like the starting unit of kobe, clarkson, and randle are all playing iso ball.. even when he’s out there with Williams , russell can’t make a play because there is no movement, i noticed two particular plays where he looked frustrated trying to tell kobe to get in position, and you know it’s kobe, towards the end of the game i saw russell sternly tell kobe stay over there. Russell would come down the court and just pass it over to clarkson who would iso, our guys would try to iso, drive then get doubled and still not pass, i think Russell looks bad because he’s not been given the keys to the Offense. The whole team has never played together before, think about it only kobe, young, and kelly are the only ones who have played together. Either they buy into the rookie russell is running the floor, he’s our Offensive leader, I’m gonna run a play move around get open set a screen, or play like they are playing, look at me, I’m gonna show everyone how great i am, u know what I mean, kobe showing he still gots it, clarkson showing he is the next great and he is on a contract year, randle is also trying to prove to the world he’s great…