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One Player, One Skill: Brandon Ingram’s Playmaking

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You know the drill. We did this last year and the series lives on with updates for the 2016-17 Lakers’ roster. Next up in our series is Brandon Ingram’s playmaking ability. Enjoy.

When the Lakers ended up not only keeping their top-3 protected lottery pick, but staying put at #2, the collective celebration of Lakers’ fans was only a slight notch below some sort of massive playoff victory. The team had suffered through so many losses and the prospect of snagging a player the caliber of Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram made it all seem (at least somewhat) worth it.

Ingram, of course, became the pick and fans have been giddy with excitement and hope ever since. A SF prospect with a rare combination of size, length, and shooting ability, Ingram not only brings an intriguing skill set but fills a major long term need on the roster.

And while Ingram’s shooting ability and defensive potential offer the most long term upside for a roster sorely in need of both, this upcoming season the rookie might just help the team most with another facet of his game — his playmaking ability.

Ingram may not be the next level passer of Ben Simmons, but his skill as a distributor and setup man should not be overlooked. Ingram is not just a willing passer, but he has good court vision and a strong sense of how plays develop. This recognition — the ability to see a play unfold a beat ahead of real time — is a gift even if it is most often accompanied by execution of a “simple” play rather than some of the more dazzling and creative ones the league’s most dynamic playmakers exhibit.

The great part about Ingram’s playmaking is how he flashes the ability in a variety of play types and by making a slew of different passes. This one, for example, is a great kick-out pass off dribble penetration from the top of the floor:

Igram’s ability to get to the cup and draw multiple defenders is obviously the key part of that pass, but note also how he’s making that read to the opposite side after a hard drive to his left hand. Also, at first glance this pass looks to be off-target. But, in reality, Ingram passed into open space in order to avoid the defender and Russell did a good job of using his wide catch radius to gather and then get his shot off cleanly. (Side note: I love how Ingram relocates to the corner after his pass. Quite the instinctive move to make himself available for the return pass and a wide open three of his own if Russell decided to give it right back.)

This next pass is similar to the one above, but even more deft:

Again, Ingram drives hard to his left hand, beats his man off the dribble, and draws multiple defenders. Here, though, instead of kicking the ball cross-court, he makes a fantastic read in real time to deliver a drop pass to Ivica Zubac. Ingram’s headiness here really is great. When underneath the hoop he senses the defender vacating the restricted area to take away the pass to the corner. Rather than try to force it to his spot up shooter, Ingram makes the right read and executes with the right type of pass. A+ stuff.

Where Ingram might have the most potential as a playmaker is as a ball handler in the P&R. He flashed this ability at Duke and it looked to translate to summer league:

This isn’t some amazing read or pass, but it shows a keen understanding of how to work this action as a passer. Ingram knows his shooting ability will require his own defender to chase over the top and the hedge man to show up high to challenge a jumper or cut off his driving lane. Ingram beats this coverage easily with a bullet to the rolling Zubac for an easy dunk.

Ingram truly does have the full package offensively. While he will need to adjust to the deeper 3-point line he is showing an ability to hit that shot, he can post up smaller defenders, and he has enough of a handle to work in isolation or as a ball-handler in the P&R. These skills should translate well enough for him to be able to work as as spot up threat in the half court and when creating his own shot both in traditional sets or when the team gets out and runs in transition.

However, his passing and ability to get his teammates shots might end up being a skill which translates most quickly to the pro game. His court vision, sense of timing, and unselfishness as a passer were on full display in the summer and, considering he’ll almost always be flanked by teammates who do their best work as “finishers”, he should be plenty of opportunity to help them get theirs.

And based on the clips above, he should be ready to do just that.


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Comments

  2. No doubt that Ingram is a special player. The kid is so skilled in a number of areas. It’s going to be a joy watching this young man bloom into a star.

  3. As of today, I don’t have a jersey of a current Laker.  There’s something about this kid that makes me want to wear his jersey.  His demeanor reminds me of Kawhi Leonard.  Outside of serious injury, I think he will be the face of the franchise for many years.  I think http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3136776 will be a star too just not the guy.  Julius Randle is a freak athlete I just don’t know if he has that something.  I’m not feeling it.  Still think he’ll be a player in the league though.  It’s a good sign not seeing Sacre and Kelly on the roster.  I don’t think we will be any good this year but the talent level and youth on this roster is moving in the right direction.  I’m pretty excited for this season to start.  Already have my Laker schedule wallpaper up.  Can’t wait till Oct. 4th against Sac Town.  Ok, time to goto the nba store and order my jersey.

  4. http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/160920-lakers-ties-santa-barbara

    Nice article on the laker ties to Santa Barbara, my home town.  I attended Santa Barbara High, where both Jamal Wilkes and Don Ford played.  Chris Bertka, Bill Bertka’s daughter, was a classmate of mine. (So were Karch Kiraly and world champion surfer Tom Curren–pardon the brag.) 

    My wife and I are both UCSB alums (I’m also a Berkeley alum), and my two sons currently attend UCSB.   My cousin played  hoops for UCSB.  So we are Gaucho proud and super geeked up that the lakers are returning to UCSB!

     ( My sons are planning on getting into one of the training camp practices by hook or crook.  I hope to post a recap of their impressions if they get into a practice.)  Go lakers!  Go Gauchos!

  6. …but staying put at #2, the collective celebration of Lakers’ fans was
    only a slight notch below some sort of massive playoff victory.
    ___
    hahaha true that!

    Nice piece Darius – add me to those who are giddy!

  8. A Horse With No Name

    Dude, the IV Halloween parties!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  The greatest parties are those we can barely remember………..

  10. FredP A Horse With No Name

    That I did.  The most memorable one was when I was a high school senior.  My buddy and I somehow convinced two girls to go with us to the Dead concert at UCSB.  We hitch-hiked from Montecito to campus.  Two long-haired teenage boys accompanied by two cute, wholesome teenage girls.  They had lied to their parents and said they were spending the day at a friend’s.  We had a bota bag full of red wine and some lawn clippings.  We sat in the sun, wasted by the red wine and the smoky haze around us.  My buddy David got sick at one point.  There was a manic, feral hippie right in front of us who jumped up and down for seemingly ever, crying out, “Sugar Magnolia!, Sugar Magnolia!”  Fortunately the Dead played that tune and he settled down.  After the concert was over, we hitch-hiked back home to our local beach and messed around with the girls in the sand until long after dark.  

    As you might imagine, the girls got busted for lying and everything else, and were put on restriction.  One of them, for two months!  But the hilarious thing was is that both of them said it was worth it. . . .

  12. I think the Thomas Robinson signing is also somewhat interesting.  Youngish player who has bounced around quite a bit.  His career is sort of like a poor man’s Ed Davis.  He still has some potential at 25. He played at Kansas and was the 5th pick in the draft (by the Suckramento Queens) but he has bounced around the league on mostly really short deals…..The Nets, Portland, I recall maybe the Spurs for a spell……..  

    Of course, the RUB here, is that he is another POWER FORWARD.  Doesn’t bode well for his sticking with the Lakers but you never know…………………

  13. A Horse With No Name FredP

    I can’t LIKE this posting enough!!!  Love the story!!!!!! The quintessential CRAZY “ENERGIZED” wild Hippie and the messing around in the sand were the highlights IMO ; ) 

    I never made it to a Dead show as they are somewhat before my time……But I have been to several PHISH shows around the country including in SB. Apparently, a number of DeadHeads or those influenced by that scene started following Phish around like folks followed the Dead.  Either that, or the PhishHeads are emulating the DeadHeads………….

    I saw a 2 night show at the Greek Theater in LA that was basically mobbed at the entrance by TONS of Dirty, Barefooted neo hippies. A lot of hairy armpitted ladies wandered about with their arms raised holding up one finger screaming hopefully, “I NEED A MIRACLE!!!!!!!!!  I NEED A MIRACLE!!!!!!!!!!”  An old Dead Head guy told me, that’s how DeadHead’s ask/beg/panhandle for Tickets to the show.  The subculture is fascinating to me…….. 

    I wish I could have been around in the 60s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It seems the only period of time in our modern history where the younger generation really influenced our country or at least, had a significant if unintended impact.  The Beat Generation on into the hippies with the music, the culture, the lifestyle and the Peace/Love philosophy along with all the psychedelics, the uhhhhh LAWN CLIPPINGS and all the huge social changes at the time must have made for a very unique American existence.     

    P.S.  Horse, Did you go to UCSB with Jim Rome????  I know he is of your apparent era…….

  14. On the Spurs and Thomas Robinson, I was incorrect. He has never actually played for the Spurs.  They have had interest in the past and even as recently as last month in bringing him in but obviously he has signed a camp deal with the Lakers. 

    I guess, we DO beat out the contenders for SOME players!!!!!!

  15. Clay Bertrand A Horse With No Name FredP

    No idea.  I was there in the early eighties.  Rome was probably the kind of guy that was too annoying to pay attention to.