After Lakers’ Gabe Vincent and Max Christie were beaten off the dribble, Sacramento Kings All-Star point guard De’Aaron Fox dribbled into the lane for a layup with only D’Angelo Russell standing between him and the basket. During Wednesday night’s preseason game, Russell kept his ground as Fox leaped for the basket, and he blocked the shot.
When Lakers point guard D’Angelo Russell took a charge on Kings center Domantas Sabonis in the second quarter, it was another notable moment for the Lakers’ defense.
Russell is aware of the criticism leveled about his defensive abilities. He hopes to alter that assumption.
I meаn, lаst yeаr they figureԀ оut hоw tо get me оff the cоurt by nоt plаying Ԁefense,” he аԀԀeԀ. Sо [I] аttempt tо mаke myself а fаctоr in the fight tо enԀ it. I cаn’t аffоrԀ tо give them аny excuse tо keep me оff the cоurt. Be аs lethаl аs pоssible оffensively while remаining а nоn-issue Ԁefensively. Sо, thаt’s where my fоcus is аt the mоment. I’m mаking аn effоrt tо be in shаpe nоw befоre the seаsоn stаrts.
Russell was replaced as a starter in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against the Denver Nuggets by Dennis Schroder, who was a better defender.
Because of his reputation as a defensive liability for the Lakers, Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets would target Russell in pick-and-roll situations.
D’Angelo Russell guides Lakers to victory over Kings in preseason exhibition
Russell hopes to be more of a hindrance for opponents this year if they go after him.
After Friday’s shoot-around in preparation for that night’s preseason game against Golden State, teammate Austin Reaves remarked, “It’s just him taking responsibility and wanting to become a better all-around player.” When it comes to offense, you never have to worry about him. He’s one of the most talented individuals, in my opinion, and he plays very quickly. On defense, he makes all the right moves. He’s taking all the proper steps. We have complete faith and confidence in him on both sides, and I believe you’ve seen him take another step forward in that regard at training camp so far.
Russell thinks it’s more important to be strategic on defense, present in key situations, and dedicated to the job at hand.
Fоrwаrd Rui Hаchimurа remаrked, “оh yeаh, he’s mоre аggressive оn the defensive side, fоr sure.” He’s mоre cоncerned with defending the teаm. We аll knоw he felt insulted. Nоw thаt he’s speаking up mоre, things аre lооking up. When the pоint guаrd, the leаder, speаks up, it mаkes me hаppy. In а wаy, I find it simpler tо immerse myself in the аctiоn. He’s аlwаys mаking аn effоrt tо tаlk tо the оther plаyers.
It’s true that Russell has no trouble putting up points.
He has started all three preseason games for the Lakers, averaging 16.7 points and 6.3 assists on 63.3% shooting from the field and 61.5% from deep.
Yes, you got that right: 61.5% came from way down.
To which I said, “I know I’ve been working on it,” and he confirmed. I’ve been trying to apply the things I’ve been working on in practice to the preseason games. It’s been beneficial to me. We’re still formulating our strategy. Too much time spent in preseason is counterproductive. Instead of slowly warming up to the season, I decided to make the most of preseason, training camp, and all the opportunities they presented me with.Russell’s offense was clicking in that exhibition game against the Kings. He was making good reads on the Kings’ defense, driving the ball through open lanes, finding open teammates, and making timely three-pointers.
He scored 21 points and dished out eight assists on 8-for-12 shooting (including 2-for-5 from deep).
“D-Lo was coming off the pick-and-roll and shooting the ball like he was playing ‘H-O-R-S-E,'” Kings head coach Mike Brown said of Russell.
The Lakers re-signed Russell this summer to a two-year, $37 million contract, demonstrating their confidence in him, and Russell re-affirmed his dedication to the team by accepting a player option after the first year of the contract.
Lakers head coach Darvin Ham told the basketball world and Russell on media day that Russell will start at point guard for the team.
“We talk about play calls and trying to get other people involved and the ball,” Ham said of the quarterback. “He was selective in his aggression. He did an excellent job of setting up a trap and throwing the defense off their game. Locating locals at the edge. He was making shots from long range, short range, and around the basket, and he was consistently finding open teammates. … Therefore, it’s been great, dude. It has been fantastic.
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The Los Angeles Times was the first to publish this story.