Lakers: 3 Takeaways From the Preseason Loss vs Nuggets

D’Angelo Russell Bounces Back From the Preseason Opener

D’Angelo Russell looked like the Russell everyone’s been talking about this summer.

Winter is just around the corner in sunny Los Angeles, California, but the ice in D’Angelo Russell’s veins is already starting to freeze.

In his second game of the season, Russell was easily the best player on the court. He finished the night with 21 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists. Russell, who couldn’t get it going from behind the arc, found his range against the Nuggets, shooting 50 percent from deep.

Russell credited the teams defense for the success on the opposite end of the floor.

“We had fun out there. We were getting stops, you know and that lead to everyone having fun on the offensive end,” Russell said.

If the Lakers want to win games this season, Russell is going to have to contribute on both ends of the floor. Russell also had the chance to face off against the second point guard taken in the 2015 NBA Draft, Emmanuel Mudiay, which might have given him an extra fire in his belly.

One thing fans have yet to see in the preseason is Russell’s post game that he teased in this year’s Summer League. At 6’6, Russell is one of the bigger points guards in the NBA, and he can use his size to bully smaller guards in the paint.

Next: What Does a Successful 2016-17 Season Look Like?

Look to see Russell continue his hot streak when they play the Denver Nuggets against, Sunday at Citizens Bank Arena. Hopefully, Luke Walton won’t call of the dogs this time.