DENVER — As a lot because the story of the Los Angeles Lakers’ season has been centered on the group trying to make up for its flameout within the Western Convention finals a yr in the past to chase a championship, there’s additionally been a private redemption arc for level guard D’Angelo Russell.
Nonetheless Saturday’s 114-103 Sport 1 loss to the Denver Nuggets, the place Russell missed 13 of his ultimate 16 shot makes an attempt and scored 13 factors, dropped at thoughts a few of his previous struggles.
“D-Lo is a large purpose why we’re right here within the first place,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham stated. “I am not going to bail out on my participant simply because he is lacking the photographs that he usually makes. So similar photographs had been getting into in opposition to New Orleans [in the play-in tournament] and different video games that he is performed in to assist us get up to now. So it simply wasn’t his evening.”
After seeing his position lowered all through the four-game sweep by the Nuggets final yr and dropping his beginning job earlier than the closeout sport, Russell re-signed with Los Angeles within the offseason. He survived the commerce deadline with out being dealt, and his play from early January via the top of the common season was a vibrant spot for a Lakers group that got here into the primary spherical having gained 12 out of 15 video games to safe the No. 7 seed.
His total manufacturing has been evening and day in comparison with the 6.3 factors on 32% taking pictures (13% from 3) and three.5 assists he put up in opposition to the Nuggets final Might.
However his numbers on Saturday — 30% taking pictures (6-for-20) and 11.1% from 3 (1-for-9) with 3 assists — echoed that nightmare of a sequence for him.
“I imply, I can not be mad,” Russell stated. “I do not recall the final time I bought 20 photographs. So for me to get 20 beauty — not 20 ‘good,’ in all probability 5 – 6 of them had been questionable. I do know what I am able to. So truthfully, I am excited. I am enthusiastic about that.”
Pleasure would appear counterintuitive contemplating the Nuggets have now gained 9 straight video games in opposition to the Lakers and host Sport 2 on Monday at Ball Enviornment, the place they tied for the second-best residence document within the league throughout the common season, going 33-8.
But Russell insisted on taking a practical view.
“I simply really feel like generally the ball simply do not fall,” he stated. “I used to be locked in on the main points and the little issues simply to attempt to keep on the ground defensively and issues like that. And also you search for, your photographs aren’t falling. So no love misplaced. Cannot be upset about that one. Be prepared for the subsequent one.”
Russell’s shot was removed from the one factor that failed the Lakers within the sequence opener. Denver dominated Los Angeles on the boards 49-40 and scored 18 factors off 15 offensive rebounds (the Lakers mustered simply eight second-chance factors). The Nuggets had half as many turnovers because the Lakers, six to 12, and outscored Los Angeles 14-8 following their opponent’s miscues.
Anthony Davis, who led the Lakers with 32 factors, 14 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 blocks however nonetheless noticed the Nuggets outscore his group by 12 within the 45 minutes he performed, stated he’ll encourage Russell to maintain his give attention to the subsequent alternative.
“Simply prepare for Sport 2,” Davis stated. “We won’t do something about this. However you are able to do one thing about Sport 2. We all know what D-Lo brings to our group. Offensively, he can rating, shoot the ball extraordinarily effectively. Simply bought to do it.”
