The Lakers were never going to be good this year, but the defence has improved significantly. The offence is completely hamstrung by a lack of prowess from behind the arc, but they're playing competitive basketball right now, and that's all I can ask from this roster.
I haven’t seen a lakers game this year but how is Ingram ? I thought he looked durant lite at college but he struggles from the 3 still? I really like the little I have seen from Kuzma
Ingram is a bigger project than I thought coming out of college. He's good driving to the rim, but his jumpshot is still struggling and other than a solid ripthrough move he doesn't have a lot of NBA-calibre moves. Just looks awkward out there. He does have great tools though, and I do see connsistent improvement in a lot of small things that add up, so I'm not prepared to give up on him yet.
Ingram doesn't have a great first step but even when he does get it off and create a bit of space he struggles to have the strength to finish through contact/good physical d. He seems to never get by people, and his jumper isn't great. That said he's good in transition and is having a pretty good year and he's what 21? Room to improve. But he's no Durant 2.0, that's for sure.
Ingram's weight was one thing he could have improved and yet he still looks skinny and weak. I don't get it. He gets pushed around near the rim and only seems effective on fast breaks. We add him to another on the list of "guys who Lonzo will make better." blah, blah, blah. How much can Ball do with this roster? We go small until someone comes up with a better idea. Nance, Jr Kuzma PCP 'Zo Randle the rest I got no need to see anymore.
Ingram already looks better than he was last season, and towards the end of last season he was better than he was to start last season. The progression is there. As much as it's disappointing to see him so raw and flawed to start his career as a second overall pick, I'm taken aback by how quickly Laker fans are writing him off. It reminds me alot of how Lakers fans wrote off Russell. We now desperately need a player like Russell who can actually shoot and is able to score in the halfcourt. We threw that away to create cap space to chase FAs in 2018. It's a very Knicks-esque mindset. Chaing pipe dreams while failing to develop players.
I'm not surprised to be honest. Simmons already seemed NBA ready from the get go, while Ingram seemed lacking in the physical department. Also the passing and basketball IQ. Surprised me as a scorer though. With Fultz healthy, that will be one promising group.
What's up with Fultz changing his shot? That is... troubling. Weird situation around that dude right now.
His shoulder is hurt I think he played because of the previous picks being out for full seasons when he shouldn’t of
That risks making the injury worse though right? Seems odd a team would make this kind of decision based on public perception/opinion... but I can see how it would be a sensitive issue for that franchise.
Ingram with the nice drive to close the half out. I like the fact that we battle every night. A lot of nights a lot of recent Laker teams would've given up after the Blazers hit everything they threw up in the 1st quarter. This team kept their heads and didn't quit. We're right back in this game. But we still can't hit a jumpshot to save our lives.
Arrghh... Lillard is simply too good... Sometimes you just got to shake your head and accept that sometimes the offensive player can do things no amount of defence can stop. That was a good contest by Ingram on that last shot, but dammit, Lillard too clutch.
They probably thought it was the type of injury you could play through. But since he couldn't raise his elbow higher than his shoulder, they should've made him sit it out. I like Fultz. Reminds me of a young(er) Lillard.
I'm saying it now - if he's healthy, Griffin will be in discussion for MVP. Obviously it will ultimately depend on their record (that is up in the air), but numbers wise, he's going to be there. Also have I mentioned his three point shooting? Insane.
Speaking of Simmons and Ingram, still happy you took the latter? Too soon for me to do the BigSoccer self-congratulating post dive into I wuz right?
They can play through him now. Still not getting to the WCF. But yeah, his stats will be better if he stays healthy.
... actually his numbers aren't even that different. I was expecting a much bigger bump to be honest. He's shooting more 3s a game than ever before but it's only manifesting as a little over 1 ppg increase. Buying into that new-look NBA I guess... more 3s fewer 2s.
I kinda hate when big men fall in love with the 3, unless they are KD or Nowitzki, I want my 7 footers rebounding. (not that he would be confused with a 7 footer)