News 'n Views - Mar 2016: D'Angelo Russell affair just the latest sign the Lakers are losing their identity
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 08, 2016 7:25 am    Post subject:

Lakers praise Marcelo Huertas through ups and downs
by Mark Medina - dailynews.com

The alley-oop lob sent the crowd into a frenzy. So did the touch pass that set up an open dunk.

Hence, the surprise reactions went beyond the Lakers securing an upset win over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday at Staples Center. It also involved backup point guard Marcelo Huertas posting career-highs in points (10) and assists (nine). Yet, the 32-year-old Brazilian native called those numbers “irrelevant.”

“The most important thing is the way you affect the game when you’re out there and how the team works,” Huertas said. “I could’ve had zero points and zero assists and still be important for the team to win a game.”

There marked very few times the Lakers (13-51) have won games entering Tuesday’s contest against the Orlando Magic (27-34) at Staples Center. But there marked plenty of times Huertas finished his game with donuts by virtue of a coach’s decision (29).

After starring for 11 seasons in Spain, Huertas’ rookie season in the NBA also entailed ending up on highlight shows for the wrong reasons. He has often appeared overwhelmed defending quick guards, while averaging only 3.4 points on 42.3 percent shooting and 2.8 assists in 13 minutes.

“A lot of people try to give him a lot of crap. But that man is good,” Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell said of Huertas. “They don’t see what we see in practice every day.”

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PostPosted: Tue Mar 08, 2016 7:26 am    Post subject:

3 Questions Lakers Must Answer Before 2015-16 NBA Season Ends
by Hannah Kulik - lakersnation.com

One could excuse the Los Angeles Lakers front office for looking ahead to the off-season when the team will have unprecedented cap space to spend on free agents to go along with a possible top-three draft choice. There was hope that after the All-Star break, the team would turn a corner and show signs of real improvement. Instead, the Lakers are still heading ingloriously toward another mark for the worst record in franchise history.

It is tempting to want to go into hibernation for the rest of the season, but that would be a mistake for the Lakers. Painful as it is to lose night after night and look so bad doing it, the remaining games provide an important platform for the younger players to learn and grow. Practice is a poor substitute for playing in a real NBA game, so the remaining contests should not be wasted.

The team should have spent the year on a thorough, accurate evaluation of their young talent while focusing on building a solid future. Instead, the lingering image will be of Kobe Bryant struggling through injury and fatigue to perform at a diminished skill level for a losing team, just so NBA fans have one last opportunity to watch him play. The truth is, because of the focus on doing what is best for Bryant, not a single young player has had a bona fide opportunity (until recently) to showcase his full talents, leaving the Lakers uncertain about their current assets going forward. This is regrettable going into an off-season when so many crucial decisions will have to be made.

Hopefully, the Lakers will make effective use of the remaining games this season. There are in infinite number of questions which have not been answered, but here are three that are critical to the team’s future:

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PostPosted: Tue Mar 08, 2016 7:28 am    Post subject:

ESPN Insiders Address If D’Angelo Russell Is the NBA’s Next Super Star PG
by Eric Yee - lakeshowlife.com

ESPN Insiders discussed whether or not Lakers rookie, D’Angelo Russell, is the NBA’s next superstar point guard

Every season, journalists are quick to peg the rookie class against each other — Karl-Anthony Towns or Kristaps Porzingis, D’Angelo Russell or Emmanuel Mudiay — but this time the Insiders over at ESPN asked a simple question solely about the Lakers young guard.

Despite getting off to a slow start, Russell has turned it around since after the All-Star break, averaging 21.4 points per game on 55 percent shooting, 62 percent from three, 4.8 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game (stats taken before the Denver Nuggets’ game).

That said, with his recent 39 point outburst, ESPN figured that now was the ideal time to question if super stardom is in the young guard’s future.

In a piece entitled, “Is D’Angelo Russell the NBA’s next superstar point guard,” insiders, Chad Ford and Kevin Pelton, came to an interesting conclusion.

After comparing him to the likes of Kyrie Irving, Derrick Rose, John Wall and other point guards drafted in the top ten, they came to the conclusion that “current evidence points to him being a potential All-Star but not necessarily a superstar.”

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PostPosted: Tue Mar 08, 2016 12:58 pm    Post subject:

D'Angelo Russell is blossoming for the Lakers
by Drew Garrison - silverscreenandroll.com

Spring is coming and D'Angelo Russell is blossoming just in time.

The Los Angeles Lakers selected D'Angelo Russell with the No. 2 pick knowing he would need time to grow. Rarely are point guards ready out of the box, and rarely is potential as tantalizing as his. That's just one of the reasons why, when it came down to picking between a plug-and-play big man in Jahlil Okafor and the dream of what Russell can become, the Lakers decided it was time to invest in a new point guard.

Russell's since been jostled from the starting lineup, to a reserve role, to sitting out of the closing minutes in close games, all to come back to the starting lineup as the season comes to a close. For a kid who turned 20 just a few weeks ago, that's the kind of winding path that leads to late arrivals.

But arrive he has, blossoming just in time for spring.

D'Angelo has taken the reins of the Lakers since being granted the opportunity -- a word he's used quite a bit since head coach Byron Scott gave him the nod with the starting unit -- and it's led to the best stretch of his young career. To boil it down to a single game, the 39-point outburst he unleashed on the Brooklyn Nets to open the month of March stands as the signature moment of his rookie season. Russell set a new season-high for points scored by any member of the 2015 NBA Draft class, and a new franchise high for points scored by a rookie in a regular season game. He became just one of 12 rookies in NBA history to drain at least eight three-pointers in a single outing, something he did as he tore the Nets apart. Literally and figuratively.

It's all starting to come together for Russell and it's a pleasure to watch. He plays with a measured calmness that's deceptive, seemingly probing the game of basketball in his mind while handling the ball on the court. Some question if he's stuck in neutral because of his pacing, but watching him outplay a defense after piecing the puzzle together in his head is blissful. Patience will be a keyword with Russell through his foundational years in the league. Patience needed to allow him a chance to figure out how he can make an impact against the best basketball players in the world night in, night out.

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PostPosted: Tue Mar 08, 2016 12:59 pm    Post subject:

TDIKH: March 8, 2013
by nba.com

Kobe Bryant had just nailed a pair of clutch 3-pointers, so the Toronto Raptors knew what was coming next — they just couldn’t stop it.

Double-teamed on the inbounds pass, Bryant pump-faked the first defender, then shot over the second one, sinking an overtime-forcing triple with 5.5 seconds left.

Tied in the extra period with 10.6 seconds remaining, Toronto once again sent a double-team at the Lakers superstar, but he simply drove around both Raptors and threw down the game-winning dunk.

Bryant finished with 41 points, 12 assists and six rebounds in Los Angeles’ 118-116 win. Despite committing nine turnovers, he also shot 11-of-22 from the field, 5-of-10 on 3-pointers and 14-of-16 at the free throw line.

The Lakers trailed by as many as 15 points just two days after rallying from 25 points down in New Orleans.

“It’s like: ‘Damn, are you kidding again?’” Bryant told reporters. “Do we collectively have the energy to do this again? And we did.”

The Lakers tripped up early, trailing by 12 after one quarter. It took a 30-20 fourth period and some Bryant heroics to avoid defeat.

Bryant scored 15 points in the frame and began a classic finish by hitting a shot clock-beating 3-pointer with 1:40 left. A minute later, he hit a catch-and-shoot triple from the far corner to cut L.A.’s deficit to one.

Of course, Bryant saved his best for the final seconds, connecting on his final 3 to force overtime.

The Lakers slipped in the beginning of the added frame, but Steve Nash hit a trey of his own with 45 seconds remaining to set up Bryant’s for-the-win slam.

Nash provided 22 points for the Lakers, while Dwight Howard racked up 24 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks.

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PostPosted: Tue Mar 08, 2016 1:00 pm    Post subject:

Nick Young Stars In ‘The Mystery Of Swaggy P’ (Video)
by lakersnation.com

Nick Young of the Los Angeles Lakers has arguably one of the best nicknames in all of sports. Nobody really knows the origin story of why Young started to refer to himself as “Swaggy P,” but that has not stopped people from trying to find out.

Young’s swagger is apparent both on and off the basketball court, from the way he confidently shoots and makes contested jumpers to his untouchable fashion sense in the locker room. This explains the “Swaggy” part of Young’s popular moniker, but what does the “P” stand for?

This has been an interesting topic for quite some time and all basketball minds have been trying to solve the mystery of his nickname. The debate may finally be coming to an end, as Footaction teamed up with Young to uncover the real meaning.

Young claims “Swaggy P” came to him in a dream, but do you believe him? What do you think the “P” really stands for?

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PostPosted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 1:50 am    Post subject:

Lakers' young core dominates in 107-98 victory
by Drew Garrison - silverscreenandroll.com

No Kobe, no problem for the Lakers' youth movement.

The Los Angeles Lakers made it back-to-back wins in a 107-98 victory over the Orlando Magic. Kobe Bryant sat out, but the young core held down the fort in a very entertaining game. A 39-point third quarter fueled by D'Angelo Russell was the highest-scoring quarter of the season for the Lakers, and one of the funnest stretches of the year to watch.

This was the first game that Randle, Clarkson and Russell all scored at least 20 points together, an important milestone in a game that felt dictated by the trio. Randle tied his career-high with 23 points, muscling his way into the paint for most of his scoring opportunities. Julius made nine of his 16 attempts en route to a double-double with 11 rebounds. Clarkson had another one of his fiery nights from deep, going 5-of-12 from deep. He ended the night with 24 points and buried a three late in the fourth quarter that felt like the knockout blow.

Russell's third quarter surge changed the momentum of the game though, turning a halftime deficit into a fourth-quarter lead by the time it was over. D'Angelo scored a game-high 27 points, going 11-of-19 from the field with three assists.

The trio combined for 74 of the Lakers' 107 points. Quite the stat for quite a showing from what the franchise hopes is the future. Whether it was Jordan turning Evan Fournier into a melted popsicle on the court with a crossover, Randle going coast-to-coast for buckets or D'Angelo attacking the Magic's interior defense, it was a dominant performance from the youth.

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PostPosted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 1:52 am    Post subject:

After Game Videos - Magic at Lakers
by lakersnation.com

Russell, Clarkson, Randle Shine in Lakers Win Over Orlando Magic

Julius Randle After Lakers Win Over Magic: 'We Took Big Steps'

D'Angelo Russell: 'Reads Are Becoming More Second Nature'

Jordan Clarkson On His Ankle-Breaker Over Evan Fournier
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 1:53 am    Post subject:

Lakers’ young players show promise in win over Orlando
by Mark Medina - insidesocal.com

The ball splashed into the net for what felt like the millionth time. But with victories so rare and feel-good moments so precious, Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson could not help himself.

His 3-pointer as the shot clock expired became the dagger in the Lakers’ 107-98 victory over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday at Staples Center. So when he made his shot that gave the Lakers a 103-88 lead with 2:48 left, Clarkson moved his arms around mimicking an airplane landing. He then bumped chests with Julius Randle. Clarkson then performed a handshake exchange with D’Angelo Russell.

After stomaching losses that piled up by the day, the Lakers (14-51) are finally relishing the wins no matter if it only marks a two-game winning steak.

“I just had real good energy and a vibe when I let it go,” Clarkson said. “It was just fun. We were out there having fun and really playing hard.”

All of which provided significant meaning for the Lakers beating the Magic (27-35). They did not show any signs of complacency after upsetting the Golden State Warriors two games ago. After trailing 51-45 at halftime, the Lakers unleashed a season-record 39 points in the third quarter. And while Kobe Bryant missed his second consecutive game with a sore right shoulder, Russell, Randle and Clarkson all logged 20-point games for the first time together in their young NBA careers.

“Those are the three guys we’re trying to prime to get to the next level and take that challenge every single night,” Lakers coach Byron Scott said. “So I’m really happy with the outcome.”

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PostPosted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 1:55 am    Post subject:

Nick Young goes scoreless despite rare start in win over Magic
by Bill Oram - ocregister.com

It was a great night for the young guys, less so for that Young guy.

Veteran forward Nick Young was thrust into a starting role for Tuesday’s 107-98 win over the Orlando Magic, but the 3-point-love swingman failed to take advantage of it.

He matched his jersey number, scoring zero points in 23 minutes. He played so poorly, that in the third quarter coach Byron Scott turned to rarely-used Ryan Kelly, who proved last year he is not a fit at small forward, to replace Young.

“He’s just not playing well,” Scott said of Young.
In the span of just a few moments, Scott used the term “not playing well” to describe Young’s current state.
He is averaging a career-low 7.4 points per game, despite playing nearly 20 minutes a night. Tuesday marked the second time this season – and in his career – that Young went scoreless in more than 20 minutes, according to Basketball-Reference.

The other instance was on Christmas against the Clippers when, like Tuesday, Young shot 0-for-5.

The Lakers have few options at small forward in games that Kobe Bryant sits out. Anthony Brown is likely out for the season due to a stress fracture in his foot, essentially leaving Scott with the choice of Young or veteran Metta World Peace.
Hardly an embarrassment of riches.

“He’s just one of those guys right now that’s not playing well,” Scott said, “and we’ve got a few young guys obviously that are playing well.”

While Young’s struggles were rightly overshadowed by standout performances by D’Angelo Russell, Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson – the trio combined for 74 of the Lakers 107 points – they do raise interesting questions about his future.

The Lakers signed Young to a four-year contract two summers ago, but the marriage has hardly been a good one. Scott has often been at odds with the swingman, demanding greater effort on the defensive end and has often appeared fatigued by Young’s antics.
The Lakers are looking to the future with their collection of talented young players. At 30, Young no longer really qualifies.
If he hopes to be a part of what the Lakers are building, he could stand to take better advantage of opportunities such as the one he fumbled on Tuesday.

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PostPosted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 1:57 am    Post subject:

This D'Angelo Russell pregame trick shot is amazing (Video)
by Drew Garrison - silverscreenandroll.com

D'Angelo apparently stole Stephen Curry's soul.

D'Angelo Russell helped the Lakers shocked the world in their upset over the Warriors, and now he's trying to steal Stephen Curry's pregame trick-shot thunder. Our own Harrison Faigen is covering the game at Staples Center and caught this awesome moment:

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PostPosted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 4:15 am    Post subject:

lakersfreak wrote:
TDIKH: March 8, 2013
by nba.com

Kobe Bryant had just nailed a pair of clutch 3-pointers, so the Toronto Raptors knew what was coming next — they just couldn’t stop it.

Double-teamed on the inbounds pass, Bryant pump-faked the first defender, then shot over the second one, sinking an overtime-forcing triple with 5.5 seconds left.

Tied in the extra period with 10.6 seconds remaining, Toronto once again sent a double-team at the Lakers superstar, but he simply drove around both Raptors and threw down the game-winning dunk.

Bryant finished with 41 points, 12 assists and six rebounds in Los Angeles’ 118-116 win. Despite committing nine turnovers, he also shot 11-of-22 from the field, 5-of-10 on 3-pointers and 14-of-16 at the free throw line.

The Lakers trailed by as many as 15 points just two days after rallying from 25 points down in New Orleans.

“It’s like: ‘Damn, are you kidding again?’” Bryant told reporters. “Do we collectively have the energy to do this again? And we did.”

The Lakers tripped up early, trailing by 12 after one quarter. It took a 30-20 fourth period and some Bryant heroics to avoid defeat.

Bryant scored 15 points in the frame and began a classic finish by hitting a shot clock-beating 3-pointer with 1:40 left. A minute later, he hit a catch-and-shoot triple from the far corner to cut L.A.’s deficit to one.

Of course, Bryant saved his best for the final seconds, connecting on his final 3 to force overtime.

The Lakers slipped in the beginning of the added frame, but Steve Nash hit a trey of his own with 45 seconds remaining to set up Bryant’s for-the-win slam.

Nash provided 22 points for the Lakers, while Dwight Howard racked up 24 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks.

Continued....


I can't believe this was 3 years ago. I remember this game so clearly. I came home for a weekend and watched with my family. I remember going berserk when Kobe hit those 3s, and I was emphasizing to all my friends & family that Dwight deserved equal credit for control the defensive end (he had a few blocks to end the game) equally like Kobe controlled the offensive end.

Really thought we had our offensive & defensive superstars set in stone, and I started to consider an 8-seed run to the Finals. That Achilles tear, man.
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 4:19 am    Post subject:

tox wrote:
lakersfreak wrote:
TDIKH: March 8, 2013
by nba.com

Kobe Bryant had just nailed a pair of clutch 3-pointers, so the Toronto Raptors knew what was coming next — they just couldn’t stop it.

Double-teamed on the inbounds pass, Bryant pump-faked the first defender, then shot over the second one, sinking an overtime-forcing triple with 5.5 seconds left.

Tied in the extra period with 10.6 seconds remaining, Toronto once again sent a double-team at the Lakers superstar, but he simply drove around both Raptors and threw down the game-winning dunk.

Bryant finished with 41 points, 12 assists and six rebounds in Los Angeles’ 118-116 win. Despite committing nine turnovers, he also shot 11-of-22 from the field, 5-of-10 on 3-pointers and 14-of-16 at the free throw line.

The Lakers trailed by as many as 15 points just two days after rallying from 25 points down in New Orleans.

“It’s like: ‘Damn, are you kidding again?’” Bryant told reporters. “Do we collectively have the energy to do this again? And we did.”

The Lakers tripped up early, trailing by 12 after one quarter. It took a 30-20 fourth period and some Bryant heroics to avoid defeat.

Bryant scored 15 points in the frame and began a classic finish by hitting a shot clock-beating 3-pointer with 1:40 left. A minute later, he hit a catch-and-shoot triple from the far corner to cut L.A.’s deficit to one.

Of course, Bryant saved his best for the final seconds, connecting on his final 3 to force overtime.

The Lakers slipped in the beginning of the added frame, but Steve Nash hit a trey of his own with 45 seconds remaining to set up Bryant’s for-the-win slam.

Nash provided 22 points for the Lakers, while Dwight Howard racked up 24 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks.

Continued....


I can't believe this was 3 years ago. I remember this game so clearly. I came home for a weekend and watched with my family. I remember going berserk when Kobe hit those 3s, and I was emphasizing to all my friends & family that Dwight deserved equal credit for control the defensive end (he had a few blocks to end the game) equally like Kobe controlled the offensive end.

Really thought we had our offensive & defensive superstars set in stone, and I started to consider an 8-seed run to the Finals. That Achilles tear, man.


I still believe that if Kobe had not injured his achilles, we would have beaten the spurs in the first round. Kobe always beat the spurs
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 11:07 am    Post subject:

Setting the Record Straight With D’Angelo Russell
by Will Reeve Jr - todaysfastbreak.com

Los Angeles Lakers rookie D’Angelo Russell has endured: public scrutiny of his play and relationship with the head coach, a benching, fans being misled on his game, on-court slumps and finding himself smack-dab in the center of the Kobe Bryant farewell tour — yet he keeps quietly defeating common perceptions.

That said, it’s truly been a roller coaster rookie campaign of LA proportions for any 20-year-old to endure, and with Russell set to start the rest of the season, a deep dive into the tape and analytics seemed in order.

Russell’s offensive game has slowly progressed throughout the course of the season as he’s somehow found a way to settle into his awkward role under Scott. The encouraging thing throughout has been Russell’s work ethic. Never one to shy away from spending extra time in the gym, Russell has also recently been seen overtly trying to glean as much information as he can from all-time great Kobe Bryant before he’s gone.

It’s this work ethic and drive to be great on the offensive side of the ball that should warm the hearts of most Lakers fans. That said, Russell’s offensive game does need work, and a look at some of the numbers makes that fairly evident.

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PostPosted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 11:09 am    Post subject:

Metta World Peace, 36, plans to stick around as a player a bit longer
by Mike Bresnahan - latimes.com

Kobe Bryant and longtime Lakers trainer Gary Vitti will retire next month. Metta World Peace isn't ready to join them.

"I still want to get in the playoffs again. I want to do a couple more years," the Lakers forward said Tuesday. "This year I didn't play much so I kind of saved myself. I'm going to come back next year strong."

World Peace, 36, is averaging 4.3 points in only 22 games. His one-year contract expires after this season.

He likes the way he feels, finds hope in certain box scores.

He had 14 points against Miami, one of only three starts for him this season. He had 12 points against Phoenix, another start. He particularly liked his game at Cleveland last month.

"I had no points but was plus-10. That was encouraging. I played well against LeBron James," he said.

The season hasn't been fun for World Peace, or the Lakers, but you'd never know it by talking to him.

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PostPosted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 11:09 am    Post subject:

TDIKH: March 9, 2012
by nba.com

The Lakers needed all they could get out of Kobe Bryant, who got what he needed from the free throw line, going 10-of-10, including on a pair of foul shots within the final 17 seconds.

Down by one, Bryant cashed in at the charity stripe with 16.4 seconds remaining. Just 13 ticks later he hit two more to ice Los Angeles’ 105-102 win over Minnesota.

Bryant finished the night with 34 points, while Andrew Bynum did his part with 26 points — half of which came in the second quarter — and 10 rebounds.

It wasn’t easy for L.A., which trailed by a dozen after the first quarter. But the purple and gold clawed back, as Bryant added 14 points in the third quarter alone — minutes after passing the career 29,000-point mark.

Despite Kevin Love sitting out with back spasms, six Timberwolves finished in double figures, including three with double-doubles, like Nikola Pekovic (25 points, 13 rebounds) and Derrick Williams (22 points, 10 rebounds).

Nevertheless, Bryant managed to fuel the Lakers’ 18th consecutive win over Minnesota.

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PostPosted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 9:36 pm    Post subject:

Will free agents pay attention to rise of Lakers' young guns?
by Mike Bresnahan - latimes.com

The Lakers wonder if Kevin Durant has been watching.

They hope Hassan Whiteside has taken notice. DeMar DeRozan too.

Few teams will have the salary cap space of the Lakers when free agency begins June 30, and you have to wonder who has seen their late little imprint on the 2015-16 season.

Beat Golden State? Check.

Have your top three young players each score 20 points in a follow-up victory over Orlando? Yes.

It's not a lot, especially when the overall record still shows 14-51, but it's something.

"I think most players that are free agents probably look at our roster and look at our young guys and see if those guys developed over the year and see what their type of potential is before they make a decision," Lakers Coach Byron Scott said Wednesday.

Scott didn't name names, and couldn't because of NBA guidelines. He didn't need to fill in the blanks.

The Lakers will have about $55 million to spend on free agents this summer, thanks to the expiring contracts of Kobe Bryant ($25 million this season) and Roy Hibbert ($15.5 million), not to mention the massive jump in the salary cap with all the extra money coming in from the NBA's new TV deal.

They'll have to save something for restricted free-agent guard Jordan Clarkson, their best player this season, but their spending pot will be a lot.

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PostPosted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 9:37 pm    Post subject:

Lakers Young Core Could Play A Role In NBA Free Agency
by Serena Winters - lakersnation.com

It’s much too late for a turning point in the Los Angeles Lakers 14-51 season, but it could be the perfect time to start the unofficial process of attracting free agents. For the Lakers, that starts with proving progression and showcasing future potential to players around the league.

When the Lakers drafted D’Angelo Russell with their No. 2 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, it was with the intention that he would be a crucial cornerstone to the franchise finding success in a new era of basketball for years to come. An era without Kobe Bryant and a style of play transitioning to a faster-paced, guards-driven league.

Granted, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak also cautioned upfront that results would take time, but that their vision involved Russell and Jordan Clarkson in the future backcourt for “10-12 years,” as he told Sirius XM NBA Radio.

Then, the Lakers started 3-21 and the debut of the future was off to a rocky introduction. An introduction that saw a 19-year-old rookie and sophomore forward Julius Randle demoted to the second unit after 20 games into the season.

But, the Lakers brass continued to voice their faith in the young core and a day before February’s NBA trade deadline, Kupchak stressed their priority shift to player development.

“Make sure our young players develop,” Kupchak said of their priority to end the season.

Four days later, head coach Byron Scott reinserted Russell into the starting lineup to develop alongside Clarkson and Randle, and the wheels started to turn. Five games in, the rookie goes off for 39 points. Then, Russell and Clarkson outscored Steph Curry and Klay Thompson to upset the Golden State Warriors. Against Orlando, Russell, Clarkson and Randle combined for 74 points. And suddenly, their collective success is starting to turn some heads.

For the Lakers, this could mean players around the league starting to take notice.

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PostPosted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 9:40 pm    Post subject:

Practice Videos - Mar 9, 2016
by lakersnation.com

NBA Free Agency 2016: Will Lakers Young Core Attract FAs?

Byron Scott On 'Tough Love' Approach, Final Kobe Vs. LeBron Matchup

Jordan Clarkson On The Careers Of Kobe Vs. LeBron

D'Angelo Russell On Trading Careers...Kobe Or LeBron?
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lakersfreak
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 9:41 pm    Post subject:

Jordan Clarkson Creates Swag Bros Nickname for Him and D'Angelo Russell
by Vanessa de Beaumont - bleacherreport.com

A few, fateful days ago, the Los Angeles Lakers shocked the NBA by staging an improbable 112-95 victory over the Golden State Warriors.

To what do they owe the success? The young, emerging duo of D'Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson.

Together, the pair notched 46 points, and they haven't looked back since.

So naturally, after defeating the association's hottest backcourt in Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, famously referred to as the Splash Brothers, the L.A. one-two punch resolved to create a moniker of their own.

Clarkson's selection? The "Swag Bros."

New nickname? Jordan Clarkson called him and D'Angelo Russell the "Swag Bros."

There's only one problem.

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PostPosted: Thu Mar 10, 2016 7:13 am    Post subject:

How The Lakers Are Ready For The Post-Kobe Era
by lakersoutsiders.com

Three years ago, the Los Angeles Lakers were in a very different state as a franchise. In fact, on this day, March 8, in 2013, Kobe Bryant had one of his last, great moments of his career by canning a trio of threes in the final minute against Toronto to save the Lakers.

At that time, the Lakers were in a win-now mode with the likes of Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard and Steve Nash on the roster. In the aforementioned Raptors game, the youngest players to make appearances for the Lakers were Jodie Meeks and Earl Clark, both who year 26 years old. The “best” prospects, and I use that term loosely, on the roster itself were Devin Ebanks and Darius Morris.

In the blink of an eye that season, everything changed. As we fast-forward to the present-day Lakers, the only holdover on the roster, sans Kobe, is Robert Sacre.

In the span of three years, the Lakers have completely overhauled their roster and are in an entirely different state as a franchise. Long gone are the days of dreaming of NBA titles as the Lakers look toward a bright future.

Dwight Howard (fortunately) turned down the Lakers, who swapped him out for Julius Randle. Steve Nash retired (many years too late) and the Lakers replaced him with D’Angelo Russell. Pau Gasol darted for greener (and more championship-friendly) pastures and was replaced by Jordan Clarkson.

And the likes of Clark, Meeks, Steve Blake and a younger Metta World Peace have been swapped out for Anthony Brown, Tarik Black, Larry Nance, Jr. and an older Metta World Peace.

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PostPosted: Thu Mar 10, 2016 7:13 am    Post subject:

Jordan Clarkson Should Be Considered One of Lakers’ Long-Term Building Blocks
by Taylor Smith - todaysfastbreak.com

One of the few shining lights amid the Los Angeles Lakers’ season of sadness has been the continued development of Jordan Clarkson.

Once he was given a real chance toward the end of last season, Clarkson showed that L.A. may have landed a real steal with the 46th pick in the 2014 draft. In 38 games as a starter last season, the former Missouri Tiger averaged nearly 16 points, five assists and four rebounds on solid 46 percent shooting from the floor.

Playing out the season on a team headed nowhere is one thing, but how would he deal with the added pressure of expectation heading into his second campaign?

His averages this season don’t look a lot different (15.7 points, four rebounds, 2.8 assists), but one area in which he’s improved considerably is his three-point marksmanship. After making only 31.4 percent as a rookie, Clarkson’s upped his three-ball percentage to more than 38 percent this season on more attempts. He shot a little more than two triples a game last year, but is up to 3.3 per game this season.

He’s been particularly ablaze from beyond of late, as he shot 16-for-27 (59 percent) over the first four games following the All-Star break. He tripped up a bit with an 0-f0r-7 showing from three Friday night against Memphis, but the fact that he’s taking more of them is a positive sign.

Per NBA.com, here’s Clarkson’s shot chart from his rookie season:

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PostPosted: Thu Mar 10, 2016 7:15 am    Post subject:

D'Angelo Russell is still having fun, even while his game matures
by Harrison Faigen - silverscreenandroll.com

The Lakers second-overall pick is showing he can have fun and success at the same time.

Los Angeles -- Around four hours before D'Angelo Russell put the finishing touches on a 27-point performance in the Los Angeles Lakers 107-98 win over the Orlando Magic, the rookie guard made his most difficult shot of the night.

"Did you get that on video?" Russell asked witnesses after he danced in celebration of the miraculous halfcourt shot he made while doing a rapid sit up from a lying position on the Lakers' halfcourt logo. The innocent joy served as yet another reminder that Russell is still barely 20-years old, a baby in NBA terms. Still, over the last month Russell's game has clearly matured, serving notice that success and fun are not mutually exclusive concepts.

It wasn't quite his career-high against the Brooklyn Nets, but Russell and his fellow young co-stars had Staples Center rocking once again on Tuesday night. Russell was especially electric in the third quarter, scoring 14 of the Lakers season-high 39 points in the period.

"A lot of reads are coming more second nature to me," Russell admitted after the game. "I just feel like I'm getting better, as far as individual progress and knowing when I mess up, and getting better from game to game."

That ascent has been evident over the Lakers' last seven games, with Russell scoring more than 20 points in all but one, all while shooting 47.9 percent from the field and a scorching 44 percent on three-pointers. The Lakers are also scoring 107.9 points per 100 possessions while Russell is on the floor over that period, with Russell using a team-leading 29.2 percent of possessions.

"Our young guys have been getting better and better each month," said Lakers head coach Byron Scott. "I think from the start of the season we knew it was going to take these guys time, it's just a matter of how much time."

The answer is apparently about four months. And despite rumblings earlier in the season that Russell's issues were that he didn't take things seriously enough, if anything, the exuberant guard is having more fun now while he's having success.

"It was fun," said Russell. "Especially when you know you got the win."

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PostPosted: Thu Mar 10, 2016 7:16 am    Post subject:

Byron Scott Claims D’Angelo Russell’s Play Calling Has Decreased
by Ryan Ward - lakersnation.com

A couple of weeks ago, head coach Byron Scott decided to shake things up for the Los Angeles Lakers by implementing a new offensive set. Although the new wrinkle in the offense wasn’t an instant success with the Memphis Grizzlies crushing the Lakers in the team’s first game with the new set, things have started to turn around with the team winning three out of the last six games.

One player that has benefited more than most with the new offensive set is rookie D’Angelo Russell. The 20-year-old has been on a tear as of late with one impressive performance after another, but even though Russell appears to flourish in new set, Scott says the rookie calls plays less via Mark Medina of the L.A. Daily News:

Byron said that Russell's play calling has actually decreased in new offensive set. Byron said its more about making reads

Last week, Russell set a career-high with a 39-point performance against the Brooklyn Nets. D’Angelo has scored 21 points or more in six of the last seven games and appears to be as confident as ever as the starting point guard on this team.

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PostPosted: Thu Mar 10, 2016 7:18 am    Post subject:

TDIKH: March 10, 2005
by nba.com

The Lakers entered the fourth quarter trailing by four, but — thanks largely to a pair of big plays from Kobe Bryant — they finished the night by dispatching Dallas, 1009-95.

Bryant provided a dozen points in the final quarter, including on a coast-to-coast layup to increase Los Angeles’ lead to 96-93. He followed by swiping the ball from Nowitzki and providing a put-back hoop to seal it.

Bryant finished with 36 points on 14-of-22 shooting in Dallas, while also providing eight rebounds.

Meanwhile, Lamar Odom finished with 15 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists.

Nowitzki kept his team afloat with 25 points and 11 rebounds, though Dallas shot just 36.7 percent.

Nonetheless, the Mavs led by four entering the final quarter before the Lakers scored eight straight to capture the momentum for good.

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