With Julius Randle not participating in summer league, Larry Nance Jr. has taken on the starting role for the Lakers’ in Las Vegas. Over the first two games, he’s played 68 out of a possible 80 minutes and racked up some pretty good stats in the process.
Against the 76ers, Nance as a key performer in helping the Lakers come back from a big 2nd half deficit, playing strong defense and throwing down some highlight dunks. These are things, of course, Nance is already known for. Coming out of Wyoming and through his rookie season, Nance made his noise as a ferocious finisher above the rim and a guy who took pride in his defense.
Where Nance has opened some eyes — or at least my eyes — is in some of the other things he’s been doing. Against both the 76ers and the Pelicans, Nance hit a three-pointer (he’s 2-4 through two games) and took those shots with confidence and without hesitation. Against the Pelicans he also hit a rhythm mid-range jumper out of the P&R — the type of jumper he did not take often enough last season.
Further, he’s been much more assertive taking the ball off the defensive backboard and pushing it up court himself, looking to attack in the process. After the Philly game, he described this new approach:
We have the freedom to do almost whatever we want now. Coach has given me his blessing to push the ball up the court, take the ball off the rim and push the ball up the court. If they commit to me I’ll kick it. If they don’t I’m coming down the lane. It’s a position I love playing. I love going down-hill with the ball. I hope to continue to play like that.
This isn’t really a style which we saw from Nance often, if at all, last season. Julius Randle was a guy who would grab and go, but Nance would more often look for his guard to outlet to and then get up-court to get into position to run the team’s sets. Now, though, he looks much more like Randle — he’s pushing the ball himself, looking to get into the paint, and if nothing is there, he’ll move the ball onto a guard and then get right into a pick and roll or work backside to get into one of the team’s screen/motion sets.
This type of aggression is welcome, but beyond that it reminds of the versatility Nance showed some flashes of while at Wyoming but did not immediately translate to the pros. It also reminds me of a comment Zach Lowe made to Baxter Holmes when they podcasted last season:
Enough talent evaluators who I respect have told me “just keep an eye on Larry Nance Jr.” And specifically, “he has a little Draymond Green like switch-ability, versatility, just a little whiff of that.” So let’s see if it pans out.
I’m not trying to call Nance the next Draymond, but I’d be lying if I didn’t think of the Warriors’ all-NBA forward when watching Nance push the ball in transition after a defensive rebound, when lining up a three pointer out of the P&R, or when he’s made a quick read off a short roll and hits an open teammate. Nance also continues to flash the type of defensive versatility Green has made his calling card, racking up 4 blocks and 7 (!) steals against the 76ers.
Again, no one should jump to conclusions here. Not only has this only been two games, but they have been summer league games. No one should mistake this environment for actual NBA action.
That said, Nance is showing some flashes of being the type of all-court player who can thrive in Luke Walton’s schemes. With improved assertiveness (something I have written he needed to work on), budding confidence in taking open jumpers, and a decent handle he can be the type of rangy forward who can play 3-point line and in, rather than just someone who will do the dirty work — even though he will continue to do those things to.
After Saturday’s win, D’Angelo Russell said that “Larry is a winning piece on a winning team” and added that “every team needs a guy like Larry” while noting how he’s always positive, giving good energy, and that he just “knows how to play”.
If Nance can continue to build on his promising start this summer league, continue to make strides in his individual skill development when these games start, and carry over his new found aggressiveness into training camp and the regular season, he might just be making that sort of difference and impact for these Lakers.
thisisweaksauce says
Darius, I’ve noticed he’s been more willing to roll after the pick than just pop only. You think it’s something he’s consciously working on?
adamv37 says
Nance has looked great in these past 2 summer league games, but I still want him to come off the bench behind Randle. Not that Nance’s current abilities aren’t on par with or superior to Randle’s but because I think Randle’s confidence and development would be hindered coming off the bench. Nance seems to be more comfortable in accepting a bench role and he has certainly proven that he’s always gunna come out hungry to play.
I know Byron Scott experimented with Nance and Randle up front last year and there were mixed results, but if they both work to improve their rim protection skills, then I see that as the Lakers’ best small ball option. You can play those 2 with Deng and Ingram to have the switch everything scheme that works so well for the Warriors lineup of death. All those long arms of the Lakers can close down passing lanes and provide some deterrence to the rim.
DaneOfTheHill says
If Larry really can space the floor, then it opens up a lot of new lineups. Either with Larry as a 3, when the defensive match ups allow this (would be spots, certain match ups etc, but could give some opportunity for getting really physical and attacking the boards with a big lineup) or with Randle in the front court, with Larry spotting up on offense.
Makes it a lot easier to keep both guys on the team!
matt24 says
Summer league is a great time for nance jr to experiment with his shot against competition, I just like how he’s taking over these two games, ben simmons was trying to avoid him from the beginning of the game, 7 steals shows that he was all over the place, he seems to be moving alot better I think he had some kind of knee issues last year, it’s good to know we have this depth going forward and the fact that he’s a 1st round pick probably means we got him locked for a couple years, he also seems to have a great attitude every time he gets a monster dunk he looks around like, who me, seems to be a great teammate.
lalaker14 says
Larry Nance Jr. has a nice all-around game. I’m expecting big things from this kid.
RobertBass says
We need to take this momentum into the season as much as I want jim buss gone I want a winning season more
FredP says
Nance is showing the difference between coming out of college after four years instead of one. Under a strong coach, he had a chance to develop different facets of his game before going pro. He needed to make minor changes to his game instead of learning new skills. The new confidence in his shooting is a welcome change from last season and it is good to see his leadership in college carrying over. It also highlights the importance of being patient with Randle and Russell since they have had to develop more of their games at the pro level.
tomass1947 says
If I were Randle I’d be looking over my shoulder, Nance has better hands and appears to have a higher motor along with a higher basketball IQ, part of this perhaps is the difference between 1 and 4 years in college and time will help Randle, but I can easily see Nance ahead in Walton’s lineup unless Randle becomes a better shooter along with improving his defense, the good news is that either could turn into the important trade chip in the future.
h david says
darius; prisoner of the moment summer league observations (starting five):
larry nance jr. looking every bit the wily veteran out on the court.
o’angelo russell continues to look good when taking matters into his own hands rather than waiting for the game to come to him.
zubak already a fan favorite.
ingram an intriguing talent that will help to fill butt cheeks in every arena this upcoming nba season.
anthony brown: continues to look good when waiting for the game to come to him rather than taking matters into his own hands.
tonight should be interesting insofar as they take an unbeaten sterak (albeit just two games) into summer league play.
Go lakers
MT87 says
Nance also gives a great interview. Candid, engaging, full of energy. I hope we keep him for a long time.
KevTheBold says
I’m very impressed with Nance.
His teamsmanship is tight, nba i.q.,stellar, hustle = spectacular, defense is lock-down, dunks are Dr. J like; and the fact that he worked on his 3 point range probably makes Walton wonder if he or Randle should start.
Alexander_ says
LNJ is looking every bit of an NBA future starter, athletic/coachable/oozing intangibles, and a higher ceiling that his prognosticators had decreed up to last year. But I am still very high on Randle’s promise too – he’s two years younger and has played three years less college ball and the same pro ball as Nance. I hope that having both earning minutes will be a great problem for us to have for a decade.
Do you guys remember Pat Riley talking back in the 80’s about his dream team formation of five interchangeable (today the word is positionless) 6’9 players? Deng-Randle-Nance-Ingram-DAR could be the 2010’s version of that, or conversely, the uber tall version of small ball.
This will be a fun year. I expect us to struggle early in the season, given new coach, system, new vets to the team, and a ton of youth; but by mid-season, we could really surprise. Next year we’ll have a full 30m slot, and with a gelled team and a superb future ahead, we’ll have a realistic chance to lure in one of Westbrook-Lowry-Griffin 2017 FA prizes. Jim (Mitch really) just might keep his job.
PS-We’ll need a guard next year, but if we could get Griffin and not an elite guard, we can always rebalance the roster with a trade.
PS2- if you replace DAR with AB, you get even closer mathematically to the “Riley” lineup, but I’m not expecting AB to be around next year. Doesn’t look good so far.
A Horse With No Name says
Randle or LNJ as a starter? How about this lineup? (Not your starting lineup per se.)
5 Randle
4 Deng
3 LNJ
2 Ingram
1 Russel
Randle has the ballast to hold his spot defensively. Deng exploits mismatches (as he did this year) by spacing the floor and driving opportunistically against bigs. LNJ does everything at the does at both ends. Ingram exploits his size against smaller players on the perimeter offensively, and defensively smothers perimeter players and sags to provide weak side defense as he has shown. becoming the world’s tallest 2 guard. Russel does his thing. I just want to see this!
A Horse With No Name says
Love Larry, he is going to really help this team in the new system. Such a smart player and great teammate. I am very excited to see Randle this season too. In effectively his rookie season, Randle averaged a double double and was one of the top rebounders in the league. His weaknesses aren’t insurmountable. An improved right hand and a credible mid-range shot (his form on threes is actually solid), will unleash his total game. The guy is a force of nature: absurdly quick first step and top notch lateral quickness defensively. A 250 lb mesomorph (like Metta and Shaq before him), he is a wrecking ball that defenders bounce off of. Can’t wait to see his development and how Luke deploys him.
matt24 says
Warriors summer league team has a player who is 7’6