Lakers’ Julius Randle unfazed during fall in preseason loss to Utah

HONOLULU — Nothing stood in Julius Randle’s way as he leaped toward the basket.

The Lakers’ forward had an open lane to throw down a thunderous dunk after D’Angelo Russell threw a no-look bounce pass. Randle felt fully comfortable bulldozing his way inside with his brute strength. And he no longer looked limited with a surgically repaired right leg that left him sidelined for nearly his entire rookie season.

But then Utah forward Trevor Booker fouled Randle from behind, sending the Lakers’ forward crashing down on the same leg that he injured nearly 11 months ago. Hence, Lakers guard Kobe Bryant could not leap out his seat fast enough to attend to Randle.

“You damn right I did,” Bryant said following the Lakers’ 90-71 preseason loss to the Utah Jazz on Sunday at Stan Sheriff Center. “If I was fast enough to catch him, I would.”

The incident may have left the Lakers skittish. But it left Randle amused as he recalled thinking “nothing” as he took a fall that sparked gasps among the nearly partisan 10,300 watching in person and the countless purple and gold faithful observing around the world.

“I was fine,” Randle said. “I didn’t think I hurt myself or anything. I came down on my right leg, didn’t I? I think I came down on my right leg. I was more worried about getting back up.”

Continue reading “Lakers’ Julius Randle unfazed during fall in preseason loss to Utah” »

Lakers’ D’Angelo Russell adjusts to Byron Scott’s conditioning drills

HONOLULU — The players lined up on one side of the court, waiting for Lakers coach Byron Scott to blow his whistle to signal the beginning of yet another arduous exercise. Then it happened, the shriek of Scott’s whistle prompting all of his players to run up and down the court.

Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson finished the drills first, prompting Scott to say “the kid seems like he can run all day.” Lakers guard Kobe Bryant sat on a trainer’s table, but Scott reported Bryant “remained ahead of the pack” in conditioning drills he participated before the Lakers permitted reporters to view practice. And then there was Lakers rookie guard D’Angelo Russell, who completed the drills adequately before admitting afterwards he hardly enjoyed them.

“Running is punishment to me,” Russell said after the Lakers’ first day of training camp on Tuesday at Stan Sheriff Center. “I don’t think anyone wants to run for fun unless you’re a track star. I don’t think they enjoy it either.”
Continue reading “Lakers’ D’Angelo Russell adjusts to Byron Scott’s conditioning drills” »

Byron Scott has nothing but praise for Chris Paul and the Clippers

Chris Paul

Chris Paul/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers, NBA.com

 

The Lakers (20-55) have their hands full with virtually every team in the NBA. They’ll be extra full Sunday when they square off with their hallway-neighbor Clippers (50-26) at 6:30 p.m. at Staples Center. Coach Byron Scott knows it, too.

Chris Paul is probably the best leader in this league and he’s probably the most competitive guy I’ve ever been around,” said Scott, who coached Paul at New Orleans. “He’s going to bring an attitude. And then, to go along with that, Blake (Griffin) and DeAndre (Jordan) and J.J. (Redick) is great as well. So right now they’re just playing great basketball.The challenge for us is to keep them out of the paint, keep them out as much as possible. Of course, when they shoot jump-shots, they’re contested. The biggest challenge after that is rebounding the ball.”

Paul is averaging 19.2 points, a league-high 10.2 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.9 steals.

Lakers assistant coach Paul Pressey ready to assume head coaching duties

With Lakers head coach Byron Scott leaving the team on Tuesday and Wednesday to grieve the passing of his mother, assistant coach Paul Pressey will coach the team against Oklahoma City and Minnesota.

“He knows me and the players know him,” Scott said Monday at practice. “Paul will do a great job and he’ll be demanding just like I am.”

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Wayne Ellington sheds positive light on just-concluded road trip

Wayne Ellington

Wayne Ellington/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Lakers, NBA.com

 

Guard Wayne Ellington on Monday at practice was asked if he took anything positive out of the Lakers’ just-concluded four-game Grammy road trip, in which the Lakers lost all four games. They did, however, take Milwaukee and Orlando into overtime. A positive sort, Ellington answered in the affirmative

“Yeah, there were a few postitives, definitely, we took out of the trip, especially in those overtime games,” Ellington said. “Unfortunately, obviously we didn’t pull them out. But at the same time, young group, we’re still learning. We took some positives away.”

Moments before Ellington spoke to reporters, coach Byron Scott mentioned Ellington as someone who has proven himself on the court. That appeared to be music to Ellington’s ears.

“I just feel like I’m taking every game like it’s an experience, an opportunity that I’m thankful for and trying to make the most of it,” Ellington said. “Trying to leave it all out there on the floor, man. With that, I’ve had some success.”

Ellington has raised his season scoring average to 9.0 after averaging 11.8 points in January and 12.0 so far in February. He is shooting just 35.7 percent in the four games this month, but he shot 45.8 percent from the field in January.

Ellington, 27, also plays very hard and seems to bring a lot of energy to the team.

 

 

 

 

Byron Scott: What did Jordan Hill have to eat before going off on Chicago Bulls on Thursday?

Jordan Hill

Jordan Hill/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Lakers, NBA.com

 

Jordan Hill had a season-high 26 points along with 12 rebounds in the Lakers’ thrilling 123-118 double-overtime victory over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday, which marked Pau Gasol’s return to face his former team at Staples Center. Hill shot 11 off 22 from the field and also had three assists, two blocks and a steal. Coach Byron Scott would love to see more of that from Hill, who averages just 12.5 points, 8.1 rebounds and 0.9 blocks on the season.
“I told somebody I’ve gotta find out actually what he had for lunch or for breakfast or dinner the night before, find out how we’ve gotta keep him playing that way, you know, with that type of energy,” Scott said.

Byron Scott called conversations with Kobe Bryant “interesting”

Kobe Bryant and Lakers coach Byron Scott continue to take steps to lesson Bryant's workload, and Scott said he "can't argue with the results." (Jae C. Hong/The Associated Press)

Kobe Bryant and Lakers coach Byron Scott continue to take steps to lesson Bryant’s workload, and Scott said he “can’t argue with the results.” (Jae C. Hong/The Associated Press)

By Tony Ciniglio
Daily News Staff Writer

Lakers coach Byron Scott had texted Kobe Bryant that he did not need to come to practice on Saturday.

Bryant arrived anyway.

“By the time he got my text, he was already on his way,” Scott said. “Once he got here, I told him to get something to eat, get back out and I’d see him tomorrow.”

So Bryant did not officially practice, part of Scott’s plan Continue reading “Byron Scott called conversations with Kobe Bryant “interesting”” »

Tarik Black practices Saturday, but no timetable for his Lakers debut

Recently acquired Tarik Black practiced Saturday with the Lakers, but Lakers coach Byron Scott still does not have a timetable for Black's debut with the Lakers.  Photo by John Raoux/AP

Recently acquired Tarik Black practiced Saturday with the Lakers, but Lakers coach Byron Scott still does not have a timetable for Black’s debut with the Lakers. Photo by John Raoux/AP

By Tony Ciniglio
Daily News Staff Writer

Newly acquired Tarik Black practiced with the Lakers on Saturday, but Coach Bryon Scott said he did not have a timetable for when Black might make his debut.

“It’s just me trying to find him playing time, and I will,” Scott said. “I don’t know Continue reading “Tarik Black practices Saturday, but no timetable for his Lakers debut” »

Byron Scott still not biting when baited about Magic Johnson’s hope that Lakers lose all their games

Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson/Photo by Associated Press

 

Try as they might, reporters still haven’t been able to get coach Byron Scott to express any anger toward Lakers great Magic Johnson, who this week said he wants the Lakers to lose every game so they can get the highest possible pick in the draft next year.

“I got a good kick out of it because I know him; if he was on the court, there is no way in the world he would concede a basketball game,” Scott said Thursday after practice. “That’s how competitive he is. So, again, that’s why it makes me laugh.”

Jim Hill, sports anchor for CBS, kept trying, asking Scott if it irritated him.

“It really didn’t,” Scott said. “Like I said, these guys (beat reporters) asked me and I started smiling and, really, inside just laughing about it. So, no, it didn’t irritate me at all.”

 

Byron Scott talks about what Jeremy Lin must do to thrive in reserve role

Jeremy Lin

Jeremy Lin/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Lakers, NBA.com

 

Power forward Carlos Boozer and point guard Jeremy Lin were removed from the starting lineup two games ago. Boozer has responded well with 12 points on 6 of 12 shooting in a loss to New Orleans on Sunday and 15 points on 6 of 13 shooting Tuesday in a win over Sacramento.

Lin has suffered. He had just three points on 1 of 5 shooting against New Orleans and three points on 1 of 5 shooting against Sacramento. He did have four assists in each game.

“He has to be aggressive, but you’ve gotta be smart,” coach Byron Scott said, when asked what Lin needs to do to thrive. “As a point guard, he has to understand the situations, he has to understand the guys he’s playing with, who needs a shot, when they need a shot, who’s hot and things like that. But still have an aggressive mind-set. I think right now that’s the one or two things that he’s struggling with.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s as a starter or as a reserve, those are the things he has to implement into his game.”