D’Angelo Russell, after finally returning from injury, has been desperately searching for a way to add energy back into the team.
He is instead coming along slowly but shaking off the rust in the team's last two losses. Coach Luke Walton plans to give Russell more minutes Wednesday night when the Lakers visit the Brooklyn Nets and he is looking for a way to plug the team's defensive holes.
Russell blames himself for the lack of stops and while it's not completely his fault, those are the kinds of things that make good leaders. No finger pointing, but personal responsibility.
“It’s always my fault. Being the point of the defense and being on the ball and trying to make it tough for the next guard, I blame myself here.”
The Lakers were struggling before Russell's return, but he hasn't been able to help stop the bleeding just yet. Knicks star Derrick Rose scored 25 points on 12-of-16 shooting on one night, and on the next, Kings guard Darren Collison scored 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting.
There is certainly room for improvement. The season will only get harder, but this is an issue coach Walton has stressed to the team all season long.
He isn't down on his players but rather happy that they are starting to get the picture because all of the criticisms are coming from themselves.
“I love it. It’s growth. They’re young players that are going to be leading this team in the future. We’re obviously all in it together and taking accountability and leading as well. Even as leaders, when you make mistakes, you can learn from that. That’s a positive.”
Russell may not necessarily look at it as a step of growth, but he is pushing himself to move forward.
“Everybody is trying to take that next step. We’re talking and not doing it. The next step is doing it. We’re listening to each other and not making the adjustments.”
Now that he recognizes the problem, there is nothing left to do but follow Nike's moniker… Just Do It.
Follow Us
Subscribe