The video below starts out promising.
The slow-motion and focus on D'Angelo Russell has you thinking the young Laker is about to take Jimmy Butler to school.
Then, the opposite happens.
“Get that weak stuff out of here, young blood.” – Jimmy Butler, probably.
D'Angelo Russell vs. Jimmy Butler
Advantage: Jimmy 'No' Bucketshttps://t.co/RRaLtcilXt
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 20, 2016
This play took place during the Team USA basketball practices this week in Las Vegas. Butler will be on the Olympic team headed to Rio in about two weeks while Russell is a member of the Select Team working there to practice against the real squad.
Post touches like this might start becoming more of a thing now for Russell. We saw a lot of it in summer league, and he did pretty well from inside. He can hit a turnaround (as long as Butler isn't checking him) and he also displayed some crafty up-and-under moves. D'Angelo's also a pretty good passer, setting teammates up for some good looks while posting in Vegas.
Luke Walton should be implementing a lot of Golden State philosophies in L.A. next season, which may include guards like Russell posting up more. Shaun Livingston has been great doing so for the Warriors the past few seasons, and their assist-leader last season, Draymond Green, did much of his playmaking with his back to the basket as well.
It looks like Russell has a ways to go before he can get on that level, though.
[button width=”full” button size=”bigger” color=”custom” align=”center” textcolor=”#ffffff” texthcolor=”#ffffff” bgcolor=”#8b0000″ link=”https://clutchpoints.com/draymond-green-apologized-to-his-team-usa-teammates-for-his-arrest/”]NEXT: Draymond Green apologized to his Team USA teammates for his arrest[/button]
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