For a while, people have been talking about D’Angelo Russell and his ups and downs on the court.
Coach’s Tough Call
During a game against the Memphis Grizzlies on November 6, JJ Redick made a bold decision to cut down Russellโs playing time. He was clear about why he did it, saying it wasn’t to punish but to give the team a better chance at winning. "Just level of compete, attention to detail, some of the things we’ve talked with him about for a couple weeks," Redick said. "At times, he’s been really good with that stuff, and other times, it’s just reverting back to certain habits." Source
Positive Changes
Since then, Russell has been coming off the bench. Surprisingly, this change has worked out well for both him and the Lakers. The team went on a five-game winning streak after this switch-up and climbed up in the Western Conference standings.
Cam Reddish stepped up into Russell’s starting spot. While Reddish isn’t scoring much yet, he’s been great at defense. This lets Austin Reaves save energy for when they need points.
Fans think this new strategy is really working out well!
Bench Boosts
The Lakersโ bench hasn’t been strong this season; they’re 28th in scoring with just 24.1 points per game. But Russell has helped boost those numbers with some solid performances like scoring 18 points against Philadelphia and 15 against Toronto.
His play isnโt perfect thoughโsometimes his shot choices are wildโbut he still manages to make key plays when needed.
Russell now averages 12.2 points and 3.4 assists per game since being benched, shooting an impressive 43.3% from three-point range.
His plus-minus rating of +11.6 shows how valuable his contributions have become during this period!
Defensive Improvements
Russellโs defense is getting better too; there are signs that heโs focusing more on what helps the team win games overall.
He stays positive through all these changes: "I just wanted to win," he said after beating Philadelphia via ESPN.
The Road Ahead
Right now it looks like Russell is focused on helping his team succeedโeven if that means not starting every game himself.
Yet rumors swirl around possible trades by general manager Rob Pelinka aiming at strengthening their roster even further… who knows what might happen next?
