The Lakers announced late Saturday that former training camp roster invitees Robert Upshaw and Michael Frazier had made the D-Fenders training camp roster.
Both Upshaw and Frazier were waived on October 20 after appearing in four preseason games. Fans were a bit surprised that Upshaw, a 7-0 center, did not make the team but now the undrafted rookie out of Washington will have a chance to develop and refine his skills in the D-League.
Training camp for the D-Fenders opens on Wednesday.
Two games into his rookie season, D’Angelo Russell’s play has become as much discussion as the Lakers’ struggles as a whole. The guard has as many assists (four) as turnovers.
After scoring 13 points and only turning the ball over once against Sacramento, Russell showed fewer nerves and more improvement in head coach Byron Scott’s eyes, especially in his decision making.
“He’s 19 years old and played in two professional games. It’s going to take a while to understand what this league is all about,” Scott said.
Continue reading “Byron Scott preaches patience on D’Angelo Russell and young players” »
After watching the tape of last night’s 132-114 loss to Sacramento, Lakers head coach Byron Scott found an unusual culprit aiding his team’s defensive struggles. Fatigue.
It’s a bit unusual to hear that two games into the regular season and something Scott said he hadn’t noticed in years past coaching.
But upon review and talking with the team, tired legs may have been a factor in the team falling behind by as many 31 last night.
“What I did see was guys making the effort but they just looked fatigued,” Scott said.
Continue reading “Lakers: Byron Scott says team was “fatigued” in loss to Sacramento” »
Lakers rookie D’Angelo Russell, seen celebrating Thursday with center Roy Hibbert, is moving back to point guard after playing the opener at shooting guard. (John McCoy/Staff Photographer)
SACRAMENTO — As Lakers rookie point guard D’Angelo Russell stood on the basketball court, Lakers coach Byron Scott stared at him with amusement and offered him a challenge. Scott issued a $150 bet that Russell could not bank on a corner 3-pointer. Moments later, Russell proved Scott wrong, though the Lakers’ coach insisted Russell did not agree to the terms before making the shot.
“You didn’t bet that,” Scott said after the Lakers’ morning shootaround on Friday in preparation for tonight’s game against Sacramento at Sleep Train Arena. Scott then turned to reporters, “That was the first in seven tries. He missed the other six.”
The Lakers are banking that Russell will shed his summer league, training camp and early-season struggles. They also became intrigued with Russell’s playmaking and confidence during pre-draft workouts. But Scott also revealed that Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak and executive Jim Buss partly drafted Russell because of other external circumstances.
Scott described the crop of free-agent point guards as only “okay,” including Sacramento’s Rajon Rondo and Miami’s Goran Dragic. Rondo faced question marks about his behavior after frequently clashing with Dallas coach Rick Carlisle. Although Dragic had publicly expressed interest in entertaining the Lakers’ interest, there was a sense Dragic felt more inclined to re-sign with the Heat after acquiring him in a mid-season trade from Phoenix. Scott also described the free-agent point guards as “a lot thinner at that position than at the big man position.”
“We saw in the free agent market that there were a ton of big guys,” said Scott, before alluding to missing out on the Lakers’ top target in LaMarcus Aldridge. “If we didn’t get him, there were still a number of big guys we could go after. It made it that much easier to go out in the draft and get a point guard. D’Angelo was that guy.”
Kobe Bryant warms up before the game. The Lakers played the Minnesota Timberwolves in the opening game of the 2015-16 NBA season. Los Angeles, CA, 10/28/2015 (photo by John McCoy/Los Angeles News Group)
SACRAMENTO — Kobe Bryant missed the Lakers’ morning shootaround on Friday, but it hardly elicited concerns about the 37-year-old’s durability. He simply had a sore throat.
The Lakers (0-1) will not determine Bryant’s availability for tonight’s game against the Sacramento Kings (0-1) at Sleep Train Arena until prior to tipoff. But Lakers coach Byron Scott believes Bryant will “be all right.”
“He’ll play, we know that,” Scott said. “But he might be a little under the weather.”
That hardly compares to what Bryant experienced in recent years, including season-ending injuries to his left Achilles tendon (April 2013), left knee (Dec. 2013) and right shoulder (Jan. 2015).
Said Scott: “He’s gone through a whole lot worse than a sore throat and a little bit of a cold.”
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Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle #30 gets tied up by Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins #22 and Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett #21 in the second quarter. The Lakers played the Minnesota Timberwolves in the opening game of the 2015-16 NBA season. Los Angeles, CA, 10/28/2015 (photo by John McCoy/Los Angeles News Group)
Well before Minnesota forward Kevin Garnett darted his piercing eyes and directed his loud mouth at Lakers second-year forward Julius Randle, Kobe Bryant already knew it was coming.
“I know KG,” said Bryant, who remembers battling against Garnett his entire career including the 2008 and 2010 NBA Finals. “He loves testing young guys just to see what they’re made of.”
It turns out that Randle is made of a lot in the Lakers’ 112-111 season-opening loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday at Staples Center. Randle refused to shy away from Garnett. Randle talked back. Shortly after Garnett picked up a technical foul with 3:14 left in the second quarter, Randle inbounded the ball off of Garnett’s back without the 21-year-old NBA veteran looking.
“He responded like Julius Randle. He responded like a grown ass man. KG has a lot of respect for him because of it,” Bryant said. “He’s laying the foundation. He wants to build his reputation around the the league. He’s certainly doing that. He’s not intimidated by anybody.”
Continue reading “Lakers’ impressed with Julius Randle standing up to Kevin Garnett” »
Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant #24 shoots over Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns #32 in the first quarter. The Lakers played the Minnesota Timberwolves in the opening game of the 2015-16 NBA season. Los Angeles, CA, 10/28/2015 (photo by John McCoy/Los Angeles News Group)
Rarely will Lakers coach Byron Scott question Kobe Bryant on much. Scott has admired Bryant’s work ethic ever since mentoring him his rookie season. Scott often defended Bryant’s high-volume shooting last season both because of his talent and lack of supporting cast.
But Scott has taken issue with Bryant going 3-of-13 from three-point range in the Lakers’ 112-111 season-opening loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday at Staples Center. Scott also said it was a “little too much” for the Lakers to go 9-of-35 from the perimeter. Scott ideally wants his team to take about 20 to 25 3-pointers per game, but what about Bryant?
“If he’s making them, he can take 13,” Scott said, smiling. “That’ll be great. I don’t know if there’s an ideal number. What we talked about earlier is to get to those three spots – the post, mid post and elbow area – a little bit more. He can be more effective down there.”
Continue reading “Lakers’ Byron Scott wants Kobe Bryant to dial back on 3-point shooting” »
Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell #1 drives to the hoop against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio #9 in the 3rd quarter. The Lakers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves 112-111 in the opening game of the 2015-16 NBA season. Los Angeles, CA, 10/28/2015 (photo by John McCoy/Los Angeles News Group)
The five men convened at half-court. Lakers coach Byron Scott and guard Kobe Bryant began talking. Lakers rookie guard D’Angelo Russell, second-year guard Jordan Clarkson and second-year forward Julius Randle listened intently. All of which presumably entailed something they had discussed earlier in Wednesday’s practice.
Scott’s experiment to feature Russell as an off-ball guard will become a one-hit wonder. Russell will start point guard and assume ball-handling duties when the Lakers (0-1) visit the Sacramento Kings (0-1) on Friday at Sleep Train Arena.
“The one thing I have to get D’Angelo to get better at is pushing the tempo,” Scott said. “He’s probably a better decision maker even at 19 years old and it’s his rookie year. So we’ll have him on the ball right now.”
Continue reading “Lakers’ D’Angelo Russell moving back to point guard” »
After slightly turning his head, Lakers forward Julius Randle saw an imposing figure that remains consumed with physically and verbally taunting his opponents. That man also represents one of Randle’s childhood idols.
It was Kevin Garnett.
But instead of the second-year player cowering under Garnett’s intimidation, Randle did something else. Randle confronted the Minnesota Timberwolves forward and chirped back. Garnett was then soon called for a technical foul. Randle maintained Garnett is “laughing more” because of the Lakers’ 112-111 loss to Minnesota on Wednesday at Staples Center than their exchange with 3:14 left in the second quarter. But Randle could also express amusement about Garnett’s tough tactics, namely because they didn’t work.
“I’m not scared of anybody,” said Randle, who posted 15 points on 5-of-13 shooting and 11 rebounds in 30 minutes. “The main thing is we know that’s his thing. That’s what he does, try to get in people’s heads. I’ve been watching him my whole life so I knew what to expect.”
Continue reading “Lakers’ Julius Randle says he’s not scared of Kevin Garnett” »
Kobe Bryant begins his 20th and perhaps final NBA season with the Lakers tonight at Staples Center against the Timberwolves. MARK RALSTON — AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Lakers coach Byron Scott knew the question was coming. He smiled. And for what has seemed to be the millionth time since training camp started, Scott offered the same answer?
Can you say how many minutes Kobe Bryant will play in the 2015-16 season?
“Nope,” Scott said, chuckling. “It’s less than last year.”
Well, duh.
Bryant averaged 34.5 minutes per game last season through 35 contests before suffering a season-ending right shoulder injury. Scott became self critical of himself both before and after Bryant’s injury, saying that he overestimated Bryant’s ability to overcome a left Achilles and left knee injury that kept him out in the 2013-14 season for all but six games.
Scott appears unlikely to make any grand announcement on how he will limit Bryant’s playing time in hopes to keep him healthy for his 20th and perhaps final NBA season. Bryant has missed the past three exhibition games because of a bruise in his lower left leg. But after phasing Bryant back into practice in the past week, Scott plans to start Bryant without restrictions in the Lakers’ season opener against Minnesota on Wednesday at Staples Center.
“Tonight might give you a pretty good indication,” Scott said, smiling.
Continue reading “Lakers’ Byron Scott still mum on Kobe Bryant’s minutes” »