Lakers News: D'Angelo Russell Amped To Make Comeback Friday
Los Angeles Lakers starting point guard D'Angelo Russell is excited to (hopefully) make his anticipated return to the team's lineup tonight against the Toronto Raptors, per Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times.
"Took some time off, unfortunately, but ready to get back out there and contribute,” Russell acknowledged.
Russell did not expect to be sidelined for two weeks when he landed uncomfortably on the foot of Golden State Warriors shooting guard Donte DiVincenzo.
"I just thought I rolled my ankle and I’d be back,” Russell said. “But obviously, everybody’s body is different and I need a little longer to get right.”
Los Angeles head coach Darvin Ham reflected on the elements of Russell's game he was most excited to have back in his arsenal today -- again, assuming he returns, as everyone is expecting.
“I mean, just his shooting, man. You can never have enough shooters,” Ham said. “And he’s a high-level thinker, IQ basketball-wise, just his moxie, his ability to control tempo, understand momentum, understand the different strike zones, who has the hot hand. Like all of it. He’s an All-Star, so it’s everything that comes with that. It’ll be good to have that back out there out on the floor in our behalf.”
Ham went on to note that, though Russell's prime backup, Dennis Schröder, will now come off the bench, he remains "in the mix" to join the team's closing lineup.
Considering whom the Lakers are playing today, a very tall, switchable club, it would be a bit risky to employ a late-game lineup tandem that includes two point guards in Schröder and Russell. Prioritizing size should matter.
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