Byron Scott hopeful solid Monday practice pays dividends Tuesday

New York Knicks forward Derrick Williams, left, collides into Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson during Sunday’s game at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Knicks forward Derrick Williams, left, and Jordan Clarkson of the Lakers collide during Sunday’s game at Staples Center/AP photo by Alex Gallardo

Lakers coach Byron Scott made no bones about it Monday at practice. If a player doesn’t give the effort he wants, he won’t be on the floor during winning time.

Scott wasn’t happy with the effort of young guns Jordan Clarkson, D’Angelo Russell and Julius Randle in Sunday’s 90-87 loss to the visiting New York Knicks at Staples Center. So they sat in the fourth quarter when the Lakers were trying, yet failing, to pull out a win.

Scott said he was pleased with the way his team practiced Monday, however, and he’s interested to see how that will play out Tuesday night when the Lakers (14-53) host the Sacramento Kings (25-40).

“It was pretty good today,” Scott said. “Obviously, we talked about the lack of energy and lack of effort in the first half of the game, and the difference from the first half and the second half. We showed a few clips of the second unit and how they played compared to the first unit, so today’s practice was pretty spirited.

“Guys got after each other pretty well and we’ll see if it translates into tomorrow.”

Marcelo Huertas gets kudos from D’Angelo Russell, Lou Williams

Marcelo Huertas

Marcelo Huertas/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Lakers

 

Lakers point guard Marcelo Huertas, a 32-year-old rookie out of Brazil, was on the court in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 90-87 loss to the New York Knicks at Staples Center, instead of 20-year-old rookie D’Angelo Russell.

Huertas scored nine points and doled out two assists while grabbing four rebounds. Guard Lou Williams, who played for the first time after missing five games with a hamstring injury, liked what he saw from Huertas and the rest of the second unit.

“It’s just that we play together,” said Williams, who scored 15 points off the bench. “I think Marcelo does a great job of keeping everything organized. For whatever reason, we’re just a selfless group. We don’t really care who gets the credit. Everybody has a role on that second group and we just go out and try to execute the best we can.”

Russell also praised Huertas.

“He knows the game,” Russell said. “People look at him and, I don’t know, you probably would say he doesn’t fit the eye test. But the guy knows his game. He knows basketball. He makes the right play 90 percent of the time.”

Lakers’ Byron Scott: “We don’t trust each other on the floor”

Los Angeles Lakers head coach Byron Scott against Portland, during the second half at the Staples Center.  Los Angeles Calif., Sunday, November,22, 2015.         (Photo by Stephen Carr / Daily Breeze)

Los Angeles Lakers head coach Byron Scott against Portland, during the second half at the Staples Center. Los Angeles Calif., Sunday, November,22, 2015.
(Photo by Stephen Carr / Daily Breeze)

The Lakers rank 29th out of 30 NBA teams in offensive efficiency and 28th in defensive efficiency. Other than that, everything has gone well for the Lakers.

“We don’t have chemistry problems. Our guys get along,” Lakers coach Byron Scott said after practice Friday at the team’s facility in El Segundo. “We just don’t trust each other on the floor.”

Scott then mentioned how the team has several ball-dominant players, including Bryant, D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle, Lou Williams and Nick Young.

“Guys sometimes want the ball in their hands and they don’t trust making passes to other guys. We have to get to the point where the ball doesn’t stick and we find open guys,” Scott said. “When you have young guys that are so used to having the ball, getting rid of it is sometimes an issue. That’s what we’re trying to break.”
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Lakers’ Kobe Bryant preaches importance of ball movement, developing young players

The concept caused Kobe Bryant to laugh loudly. The Lakers’ star went on a monologue stressing the importance of ball movement and developing the team’s young players. Then the irony hit him.

Isn’t Bryant the same player who cemented a reputation as a high-volume shooter with little regard for team play?

“Can you believe I’m saying this [stuff]? Are you kidding? I’m a kid that grows up and suddenly sounds like his parents,” Bryant said with a loud chuckle following the Lakers’ 102-91 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Friday at Staples Center. “I never thought I’d see the day where I become the voice of ball movement-reason. I never thought I’d see the day where I’m preaching that stuff. That’s crazy.”
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Byron Scott preaches patience on D’Angelo Russell and young players

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.

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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.”
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