{"id":52000,"date":"2023-07-25T11:00:12","date_gmt":"2023-07-25T15:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=52000"},"modified":"2023-07-25T09:59:01","modified_gmt":"2023-07-25T13:59:01","slug":"dangelo-russell-will-be-the-x-factor-for-the-lakers-next-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2023\/07\/25\/dangelo-russell-will-be-the-x-factor-for-the-lakers-next-season\/","title":{"rendered":"D’Angelo Russell Will be the X Factor for the Lakers Next Season"},"content":{"rendered":"

After their run to the Western Conference Finals, the <\/span>Los Angeles Lakers<\/b><\/a> are set to capitalize on their success with <\/span>a revamped roster<\/span><\/a> that arguably <\/span>won free agency<\/span><\/a>. Aside from the superstar duo of <\/span>LeBron James<\/b><\/a> and <\/span>Anthony Davis<\/b><\/a>, there are other notable names to watch when considering who must step up next season. <\/span>Austin Reaves<\/b><\/a> is back with momentum on his side. Newer Lakers <\/span>Gabe Vincent<\/b><\/a> and <\/span>Jaxson Hayes<\/b><\/a> are rightfully <\/span>in the conversation<\/span><\/a>. But the Lakers\u2019 real \u201cX Factor\u201d for success next year? <\/span>D\u2019Angelo Russell<\/b><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

D’Angelo Russell Will be the X Factor for the Lakers Next Season<\/b><\/h2>\n

Russell\u2019s Immediate Impact and Fit<\/h3>\n

From the year he was drafted to the month he returned, his status as an offensive threat is constant. Russell creates great opportunities for himself and others. Moreover, there have been several games where his contributions have mattered the most. Though the roles have changed in between stints\u2014from leading a young team in a post-<\/span>Kobe Bryant<\/b><\/a> rebuild to being the third option on a title contender\u2014his prowess as a scorer and playmaker cannot be denied.<\/span><\/p>\n

The numbers show that Russell fits like a glove next to James and Davis. Though they only played eight regular-season games together, the trio played well together. They posted an offensive rating of 123.4 and a defensive rating of 103. Their chemistry had taken a slight hit in the playoffs, as their ratings on both sides of the ball were an even 113.1. A rating that is not terrible, but not exceptional, either. Still, there\u2019s no doubt they can continue to gel with a full offseason together. Getting their chemistry right during that time will hopefully spark a trend down the line.<\/span><\/p>\n

Playing Without James and Davis<\/h3>\n

Putting Russell\u2019s fit with James and Davis into context allows for a better examination of how D\u2019Lo performs when the two aren\u2019t next to him. In nine games without James on the floor, Russell averaged 20.2 points and 6.7 assists per game. D’Lo shot 47% from the field and 38% from three. Russell only played one game without Davis, when he recorded 18 points and seven assists against the <\/span>Houston Rockets<\/b><\/a> on Mar. 15. He has faced a myriad of situations throughout his career. For the most part, Russell has stepped up as the top option when called upon. In a season when the supporting cast matters now more than ever, look for the Lakers to turn to Russell if the team\u2019s superstars miss time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Expectation: Turning Weaknesses into Strengths<\/h3>\n

As talented as Russell is, there are still a few hurdles he must jump over heading into next season.<\/span><\/p>\n

Right off the bat, the main sticking point of D\u2019Lo\u2019s game has been his defense. As mentioned earlier, though his defensive rating next to James and Davis was pretty solid, his individual rating (117) leaves a lot to be desired. The solution last season was pairing Russell with AD\u2019s superb shot-blocking skills, which worked well throughout the remainder of the year. Under the defensive mind of head coach Darvin Ham, Russell\u2019s habits on that end of the floor should improve, even in increments.<\/span><\/p>\n

Russell\u2019s expected improvement on defense should translate well for his offense, which took a major hit in the 2023 postseason. His averages of 13.3 points on 42% shooting from the field were the worst of his playoff career. This trend in the wrong direction is disturbing for a franchise with title aspirations. As a result, his performances against last season\u2019s playoff teams will be critical. With enough reps against high-level competition, Russell should be ready for the 2024 playoffs\u2014 if everything goes to plan.<\/span><\/p>\n

Extra Motivation: Starting Slot Not Guaranteed<\/h3>\n

Finally, if Russell needs a little more motivation to thrive next year, the aforementioned addition of Gabe Vincent provides that.<\/span><\/p>\n

Vincent, unlike Russell, is coming in after starting throughout the <\/span>Miami Heat<\/b><\/a>\u2019s Finals run. In 22 games, he averaged a career-best 12.7 points and 3.5 assists per game on 40-37-88 splits. Now, he is currently projected as the sixth man behind Russell, but could give the current starter a run for his money, <\/span>according to The Athletic\u2019s Jovan Buha<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Point guard is one of two starting lineup spots that are up for grabs (James, Davis and Reaves are obvious starting locks),\u201d Buha wrote. \u201cRussell and Vincent will compete for the spot, with Russell projected as the early favorite to start.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, Buha noted that Russell has started \u201c89 percent of his NBA games (435 for 491)\u201d and that LA \u201c<\/span>can also rehabilitate Russell\u2019s trade value by starting him and helping him bounce back to last season\u2019s regular-season production.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Vincent comes in as a better defender and more reliable postseason player, marks that Russell has not hit just yet. As a result, the battle for the starting point guard spot will be worth watching in training camp. It\u2019s one of the biggest tests Russell must pass to make a substantial impact on the team next season.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Last Word on D\u2019Angelo Russell<\/h3>\n

D\u2019Angelo Russell showed he can play well next to LeBron and AD. Nevertheless, he has a ways to go before cementing himself as the true third option. With a full offseason of development under his belt, Russell can be a difference-maker for the Lakers come October. He comes into training camp with a lot to prove, whether it\u2019s his expected growth on defense, the need for consistency in the playoffs, or simply securing his starting spot. Getting to a team\u2019s \u201cX Factor\u201d status isn\u2019t as easy as it looks. However, D’Lo will have enough ice in his veins to make it happen.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After their run to the Western Conference Finals, the Los Angeles Lakers are set to capitalize on their success with a revamped roster that arguably won free agency. Aside from the superstar duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, there are other notable names to watch when considering who must step up next season. Austin […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4265,"featured_media":50176,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,26,62],"tags":[240,4556,307,4921,38,152],"class_list":["post-52000","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-lakers","category-nba","tag-anthony-davis","tag-austin-reaves","tag-dangelo-russell","tag-gabe-vincent","tag-lebron-james","tag-los-angeles-lakers"],"modified_by":"Mike Schretter","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52000","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4265"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=52000"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52000\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/50176"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52000"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=52000"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=52000"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}