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lakersfreak Franchise Player
Joined: 11 Apr 2001 Posts: 12389 Location: Riverside Rescue
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 5:54 am Post subject: Lakers in the News 7/29/15: How Julius Randle Is Shaping the Los Angeles Lakers' Future |
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How Julius Randle Is Shaping the Los Angeles Lakers' Future
by Josh Martin - bleacherreport.com
Julius Randle has played just one game as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. Yet, he's already managed to change the trajectory of the entire organization.
That one game—the 2014-15 season opener against the Houston Rockets in which Randle broke his leg—played a part in Gary Vitti's decision to retire after 32 years as the Lakers' head trainer, per the Los Angeles Times' Mike Bresnahan. Randle's devastating injury set the tone for the rest of what became a dismal campaign, one marred by setback after setback on the way to a franchise-worst 21-61 record.
But out of that din came the All-Rookie arrival of Jordan Clarkson and the lottery luck that bore D'Angelo Russell as the fruit of the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NBA draft.
No longer will Randle's impact be judged by his absence. Now, with his leg healed, Randle, the No. 7 pick in 2014, will not only have an opportunity to make a difference on the court, but will be expected to as one of tent poles of the Lakers' bright but murky future.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2533186-past-to-present-how-julius-randle-is-shaping-the-los-angeles-lakers-future |
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lakersfreak Franchise Player
Joined: 11 Apr 2001 Posts: 12389 Location: Riverside Rescue
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 5:55 am Post subject: |
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Can Roy Hibbert Transform the Los Angeles Lakers' Broken Defense?
by Dylan Murphy - bleacherreport.com
Say what you will about Roy Hibbert's offense, but his dominance as a rim protector cannot be denied. Over the past several seasons for the Indiana Pacers, he anchored one of the best defensive units in the league.
Now that he is heading to a Los Angeles Lakers team that ranked 29th in defensive rating last year, according to NBA.com, he has his work cut out for him. The Lakers' paint protection was a virtual layup line. Opponents shot 60.1 percent within five feet, good for the fourth-worst rate in the league.
No longer will Hibbert be aided by long-armed perimeter stoppers in Paul George and Lance Stephenson or a slowly paced, half-court offense. Outside of Kobe Bryant, the Lakers' biggest strength is a young, energetic and athletic backcourt featuring Jordan Clarkson, Lou Williams and D'Angelo Russell.
Still, Hibbert's ability to alter shots without fouling is an asset that any team—no matter the style of play—can use. Last season, Hibbert ranked fourth in defensive field-goal percentage around the rim (minimum five attempts per game), according to NBA.com's player tracking data.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2533104-can-roy-hibbert-transform-the-los-angeles-lakers-broken-defense |
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lakersfreak Franchise Player
Joined: 11 Apr 2001 Posts: 12389 Location: Riverside Rescue
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 5:56 am Post subject: |
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Jordan Clarkson In Line For Big Minutes Next Season
by Brendan Patel - rantsports.com
The Los Angeles Lakers decided to take D’Angelo Russell with the second pick despite other options available to them. They could have gone for size with a number of big men, or even possibly taken a gamble on a high-risk, high-reward perimeter player. Even with Jordan Clarkson in the mix, they decided to take Russell because they liked his long-term potential, and truly believed that he and Clarkson can have a future together.
While both players have a lot of room to grow, they will be given plenty of playing time in the upcoming season, especially Clarkson.
Clarkson is an athletic combo guard who fell to the second round of the draft last season. Although he did not get much time at the beginning of the year, injuries and a lack of depth thrusted him into extensive playing time and he shined. He was one of the top rookies last season, and utilized his explosiveness to become one of the team’s best scorers.
http://www.rantsports.com/nba/2015/07/29/los-angeles-lakers-jordan-clarkson-in-line-for-big-minutes-next-season/ |
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lakersfreak Franchise Player
Joined: 11 Apr 2001 Posts: 12389 Location: Riverside Rescue
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 5:58 am Post subject: |
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Ronny Turiaf Expresses ‘Gratitude’ Towards Lakers Paying For His Heart Surgery
by Corey Hansford - lakersnation.com
Ronny Turiaf was never a major player for the Los Angeles Lakers, but he did spend his first three seasons in the NBA with the team and became a fan favorite due to his non-stop motor and excellent celebrations on the bench. Turiaf also dealt with a very serious heart issue before he ever played a game which required open heart surgery.
Even though the Lakers had to void Turiaf’s contract, they retained his rights so that they could re-sign him after he recovered and even paid for his surgery. In a piece he penned for The Players’ Tribune, Turiaf expressed gratitude for everything the team did for him:
http://www.lakersnation.com/ronny-turiaf-expresses-gratitude-towards-lakers-paying-for-his-heart-surgery/2015/07/28/ |
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lakersfreak Franchise Player
Joined: 11 Apr 2001 Posts: 12389 Location: Riverside Rescue
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 6:00 am Post subject: |
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Jabari Brown Can Be More Than Just Insurance for Los Angeles Lakers Next Season
by David Murphy - bleacherreport.com
The guy in goggles lighting it up for the Los Angeles Lakers recently in Las Vegas Summer League, the one who might look familiar from the blur that was last season—that was Jabari Brown. On a team with a deep backcourt, the 22-year-old is trying to prove he can be more than an insurance policy.
After missing two games with a scratched cornea, the 6’5” shooting guard made up for lost time by making every shot in sight.
Brown led L.A. in scoring with 17 points per game in 30 minutes, noting, per Lakers.com: “I’m just trying to improve every game, just show that what I did at the end of the year wasn't a fluke.”
The “end of the year” was 19 games, including five starts, in which Brown averaged 11.9 points on an injury-ravaged squad that was well on its way to a 21-61 campaign.
Undrafted a year ago, Brown received a training camp invite from the Lakers, appearing in four preseason games before being cut. He wound up signing with the organization’s D-League affiliate, the Los Angeles D-Fenders.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2533272-jabari-brown-can-be-more-than-just-insurance-for-los-angeles-lakers-next-season |
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lakersfreak Franchise Player
Joined: 11 Apr 2001 Posts: 12389 Location: Riverside Rescue
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 8:06 am Post subject: |
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Julius Randle is dreaming big about the Lakers and their young talent
by Drew Garrison - silverscreenandroll.com
The sun beamed down on the blue courts at Venice Beach as a crowd filled with people ready to forget about the near-record heat and mind-numbing traffic across the always-jammed freeways of Southern California gathered. They enjoyed the likes of Guy Dupuy serving as a cool breeze through the sky with dunks like this that nearly caused the roaring waves to devastate beachgoers.
Still, guest judge Julius Randle was the biggest presence among the sea of people gathered to watch the 7-Eleven, Brisk L.A. City Slam. Randle made his return to competitive play in Las Vegas during Summer League, and there were plenty of flashes of how tantalizing a prospect he is. Once again he showed why he's so important for the Lakers' future. The franchise's success has cultivated a culture that demands championships, and Julius knows he's one of the key components in bringing that back to the city.
"To have us three young guys coming in together and trying to change the ways of the organization as far as winning, and getting the Lakers where they're used to being, it's definitely exciting," Julius said when asked about his outlook on playing alongside Jordan Clarkson and D'Angelo Russell. "We're all excited for the process."
http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2015/7/27/9046901/la-lakers-julius-randle-dangelo-russell-jordan-clarkson |
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lakersfreak Franchise Player
Joined: 11 Apr 2001 Posts: 12389 Location: Riverside Rescue
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 8:24 am Post subject: |
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Los Angeles Lakers Summer League Review: The Veterans
by Jackson Sanders - hoopshabit.com
Summer basketball for professionals is mostly meaningless. The results of games played really don’t matter, and more focus is spent on honing specific skills than putting together a complete game that jumps out of the boxscore.
The same rings true for the handful of veterans on the Los Angeles Lakers’ Summer League roster, even if a few fans won’t admit it. A 1-4 record the Lakers comprised over the summer didn’t sit well with the fan base, especially considering that many of those participating will be counted on to play when the games actually count.
Jordan Clarkson, Jabari Brown, and Tarik Black all appeared in a chunk of games for the Lakers last season. Julius Randle counts too, even if he only was able to put forth 14 minutes of game time before an unfortunate leg injury.
All four of the aforementioned players made statements with their summer league play. From displaying their physical prowess to putting forth their potential roles, the young veterans began writing the prologue to the 2015-16 season.
The following slides are a few takeaways from the Los Angeles Lakers’ summer session, broken down player-by-player, as well as a few things to look for as the preseason draws nearer.
http://hoopshabit.com/2015/07/28/los-angeles-lakers-summer-league-review-veterans/ |
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