Russell Returns for the Lakers: Rose is sweeter for the Knicks

Before last night's game against the New York Knicks I tweeted that it wasn't his offense I was worried about but it was D'Angelo's defense that had me concerned especially coming off of a knee injury.

I should have used some of the 140 characters more wisely.

Lakers turned and looked a lot on D last night vs the Knicks. 

It is pretty easy to look at a box-score and define how easily a team "could have won" when the loss is by as few as SIX POINTS. That's three layups or two threes.

Kristaps Porzingis continues to make the argument that he could have easily been the Number One Pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.  Certainly no lower than the pick number two, behind only Towns, where the Lakers decided upon young D'Angelo.  Jahlil Okafor went third and Porzingis was four.  He had 7 BLOCKS against the Lakers, most of which were around the rim.

D'Angelo, in his "minute-restricted" return after missing 12 games, played 16 minutes and took 8 shots.  He went 1-8 from the floor.  The make was a three.  He shot three of those.  He also had five assists, 2 steals and turned the ball over 4 times.

Ingram also went 1-8 and 1-3 from three.  These two combined for 2-16 FG, 2-6 3pt for 6 points.

So, if one of those 7 Blocks by Porzingis ends up and "and-one," and Russell and Ingram each hit one more shot, the Lakers Win.  There is certainly more to it than that, but it could have been that simple.  It also could have been as simple as playing proper defensive positioning.  The Lakers have reverted to their "DEFENSIVE SYNDROME" once again with guys getting beat and help-side defense either not being present or the rotation falling short.  They were lethargic at times, lacking energy and communication, and seemed to almost be without "purpose."

Someone called the game that Luol Deng had a "break-out" game as a Laker.  I will call it perhaps his most productive and he was maybe the most efficient he has been with 62.5% shooting from three (5-8) and 8-13 for 61%  overall for 22 points.  Deng added 2 steals which he has consistently done this season regardless of point production.

Will Deng continue playing at this level of efficiency?

Unlikely.

But, he can play close to that each time out and the Lakers need productivity from his position, especially considering the $18M per.

There was so much (media) emphasis on the "Return of Russell" that people forgot that Nick Young, Tarik Black and Jose Calderon have all been missing in action as well.

Young returned and looked good, particularly in the first half when he ended with ten points in twelve minutes.  He finished with 15 in 20 on 54.5% from the floor.

On a night when Nick Young and Luol Deng were feelin it and were very efficient, especially in the first half, perhaps young D'Angelo should have "looked" for his mates more as opposed to launching so many bricks?

Speaking of Bricks.. Derrick Rose did NOT have many. He finished 12-16 for 25 points.  Many of those were either a running shot or layup. Defense? Having D'Angelo Russell on the floor, coming off a knee injury, playing defense on Derrick Rose is like.. like.. well, it was like the best cure for an ailing back.

D'Angelo needs extensive wall drills and lunge work.  This will only benefit his "injured" knee (it's weak), but will help him in shooting as well..

D'Angelo" What did you say?"

Me: I said you need to strengthen your knees by doing lunges and the wall drill

D'Angelo: Nah, man.. the part about shooting?

Me: Oh.. yeh, this will also benefit you as a shooter.

The (Defensive) Bad Habits need to end...soon

Next Man-UP! The Lakers Mantra being tested

The Lakers find themselves testing the limits of the "next man-up" mantra and attitude that begins with Lakers Head Coach Luke Walton and ends with the last men on the bench.  It has been some of the last men on the bench, literally, that have filled in nicely for the team.

Walton has demonstrated on more than one occasion that he would much rather keep one of the NBA's best five, the Lakers' Second Unit, in tact.  Thomas Robinson, Jose Calderon, Metta World Peace and Marcelo Huertas are all players that with a "healthy" starting backcourt would ordinarily not be seeing the floor much, if at all.

Much is being made of the loss of D'Angelo Russell.  When you factor in his 4.8 assists each time out, you can say that he has a part of at least 26 points per contest.  Nick Young is fourth on the list of Lakers Top Scorers and Russell is two.  Losing two of your top four scorers hurts ANY team.  Marcelo Huertas filled in nicely last game with 7 assists and five steals last game.  Huertas replaced the injured "back-up point guard" Jose Calderon.  Calderon had previously filled-in for D'Angelo and had been playing steady basketball.

When T-Rob, Thomas Robinson, got the start when Julius Randle missed a game due to a "hip-pointer" injury he grabbed 10 rebounds.

So, the "next-man UP" IS stepping UP for the Lakers.

They are just running out of available players to back-up those back-ups.  And, players like Jordan Clarkson and Luol Deng are not stepping up enough.  Clarkson has had moments but has been inconsistent, including a 3-13 performance against the Rockets.

Deng?   Luol is still doing the intangibles.  He is hustling and making plays on the ball that do not show up in the stat sheet.  However, at some point your highest paid player and "leader" needs to take the bull by the horns and ball.  Luol has not done that yet.

 He has complained about playing time yet when given added opportunity he seems to take "steps-back," while  those around him seem "step- UP."   Surrounded by his youthful and more energetic Lakers Teammates, Deng seems to fade away into an obscurity of sorts.  Almost forgotten about.

But, Luol Deng is STILL on this team and he is STILL a starter.  I don't think the Lakers have anymore "protected-picks" to lose for so at some point the Coaches have to look long and hard at Deng.  Thomas Robinson has already shown that when called upon he exceeds expectations, brings energy and hustle and also produces.  These are ALL things the Luol Deng is NOT doing.

Lou Williams has stepped up, hit big shots, played consistently and put his team on his back.

Jordan Clarkson has... well, Jordan Clarkson has worn a kilt.

He has to do more than that.

Way more than that.

Tarik Black's energy and defense in the middle has been missed but the Lakers have Nance Jr. back who knows he has to step-up in Black's absence.  Robinson can also help fill that void.

It is easy to look at a 39-point loss and say that you need to play better defense.  They also shot poorly (39% vs HOU 54 %).  This includes Clarkson and Deng combining at 4-18 from the field totaling nine points.

Next MAN-UP!

Step IN, Step-UP.. Defend the perimeter against the quick guards of Phoenix and contain the middle against the Suns'active Bigs.

D-Fend Home Court

With the lack of productivity for the Lakers will players like Thomas Robinson continue to shine?

Luol Deng is a solid veteran and solid guy.  14th season.  A two-time all-star.  A guy the Lakers have sought before and end up getting "now" on a young team with perhaps multiple budding all-stars.

Was Deng an insurance policy?  A mentor to the young Lakers? Was he acquired 3 or 4 years later than ideal considering his NBA age? 

He certainly reaped full benefit and reward of the Lakers not fetching an upper tier NBA Free Agent, yet again, so they opted to pay Deng the $18 or so Million over the next four years.

Recently, in an interview with Mike Bresnahan, Deng said,

"I have never been a volume guy.  My role on this team is something different for me.  It is something I am not used to.  I need more minutes to produce."

Deng ended last season with Miami averaging  12.3 points and 6.0 REB, just slight fractions above his rookie season in 2004-5.  Deng played 32.4 minutes per game last season.

This season, Deng is playing 24.2 minutes per game with averages of 6.6 and 5.4.

So, stars seemed to align with Luol's wishes as three Lakers were "out" in the last contest with Golden State:   D'Angelo Russell, Julius Randle, and Nick Young.  With all that fire power out this meant that not only did other guys have to step up but that there might be increased opportunity for players like Deng.

Unfortunately, Deng looked lethargic.  He played 22 minutes, had 4 points on 2-9 shooting, Had 4 REB, and 4 Assists.

Whether it was his overall "play" or effort that saw him (Deng) sit more in the second half or Coach Walton wanting to give more reps to other guys, we saw Thomas Robinson capture 15 minutes of PT.  Walton may have been rewarding Robinson for HIS effort.  He brought energy and hustle (as he generally does) that no one on the Lakers was providing.

Robinson ended up with 6 points (3-8 FG), 10 REB (3 OFF), 1 block and 1 steal.

If we are playing "money ball:"

     Thomas Robinson 2016-17: $1,050,961.

     Luol Deng 2016-17: $18,000,000.

Thomas Robinson forced the Lakers this season to make the tough decision to drop players like draft pick Anthony Brown

So, on a (young) Team where guys like Huertas, Tarik Black, Larry Nance and now Thomas Robinson make the most of their limited minutes, why is it that Deng, seemingly, cannot?  Even Jose Calderon who's playing time is few and far, maximizes his efforts in his very limited role and he is a veteran like Luol.

Deng's Contract is for FOUR YEARS at $72 Million with no options.

Trade Rumors (there always IS in LA LA Land):

There might be "rumblings" of a trade but the $18M with limited productivity, should this persist, will make it difficult to "move the contract."

Look for teams wanting one of the young studs in order for the Lakers to "get out" of the deal.

And, the Lakers will more than likely have to absorb another team's perceivably "bad contract"

Until then...

If Deng keeps playing and "producing" like he has, we will be seeing more frustration from him like we did last game when he was on the bench.