Coming off of his second year in the NBA, what should Los Angeles Lakers fans expect to see from PF Larry Nance Jr. this season?
When the options at power forward for the Los Angeles Lakers are mulled over, there is clearly enough depth.
Without a doubt, the starter heading into this year will be the brawny Julius Randle. In 2016-2017, Randle not only improved scoring wise but proved more and more his ability to drop dimes.
In spite of that, the 6-foot-9 inch power forward remains a question mark for the Lakers’ franchise. This is largely due to Randle’s ineffectiveness on defense. As a result, this season projects to be a make-or-break one for the Kentucky product.
On account of that truth, there are other players worth keeping an eye on as the fall gets closer. While youngster Kyle Kuzma will get some minutes, Larry Nance Jr. is another PF that should not be overlooked.
With Nance Jr. in the fold, some degree of competition will be there inevitably. However, there are certain areas where there will not be anything of the sort.
When Larry Nance Jr.’s game is thought about, one thing tends to stand out; his incredible leaping ability. New acquisition Brook Lopez would most certainly not meddle with that claim.
Nance Jr.’s ability to fly high will be on display more than ever this year. With rookie Lonzo Ball running the show, the former should be on the receiving end of lots of highlight reel-esque alley-oops.
There is another aspect of Nance Jr.’s game that deserves ample recognition as well. Let alone his ability to glide with grace, the 24-year-old is also adept on defense. Up to this stage in their respective careers, Nance outranks Randle based on sheer effort and hustle alone.
The numbers back it up as well for those who want proof. The rim rocker averaged 1.3 steals a game to go along with 0.6 blocks last year. On the other hand, Randle averaged 0.7 steals and half a block.
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Randle’s numbers on the boards were superior. What is important to bear in mind, though, is that the southpaw started in 73 games last year (so it is expected). Nance Jr. usually played second fiddle, only starting seven times. Thus, it is fair to argue that Nance Jr. is nearly as good at crashing the glass.
Now, one area where Nance Jr. still needs to get better in is his shooting range. Yes, everyone knows he has serious bounce, but a more versatile offensive game is the next step he must take.
Hannah Kulik of Lakers Nation made note of this earlier in the summer. She thinks Nance Jr. is on the right track as the summer is starting to wind down.
"There is reason for cautious optimism: Towards the end of last season, for the first time in his professional career, he was taking shots with more confidence and connecting from mid and three-point range on a more consistent basis. He has continued to work hard on his shooting this summer and the results could show once the season begins."
Headed into his third NBA campaign, expecting greater output is more than reasonable. With former reserves like Nick Young gone, scoring help beyond Jordan Clarkson will be needed.
The development of a solid jumper may seem unwarranted to some extent. However, because so many bigs nowadays are trying to stretch the floor, Larry will need to follow suit.
It is feasible to anticipate that this will occur. Nance Jr. has generally made the most of his minutes whenever he plays, whether it is for 25 minutes or only five.
Speaking of which, the Laker has also been making the most of his summer as well. In a recent video posted by Lakers Nation reporter Serena Winters, it is apparent that Nance. Jr has been spending a lot of time at the beach of late.
Although that is true, his beach excursions have not been soothing, relaxing ones. He has actually been engaging in a lot of rigorous sand workouts.
These exercises are designed to maximize his lower body strength, a region where he has experienced some setbacks during his Lakers’ tenure.
Nance Jr. took the time to explain the benefits of these unorthodox patterns.
"Speed work in the sand is helping me get faster so I can grab a rebound, pass it up to a guard, run out on the wing, then get the ball back and score inside."
This will be more than crucial headed into the 2017-2018 season. The Lakers plan to execute a faster style of basketball with Ball in the backcourt.
Assuming Nance Jr. remains healthy, a steady rise in his productivity is likely. Ideally, if he can average around 10-12 points a game and sustain the rest of his overall game, the ballplayer will be more than an asset to L.A. this year.
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Granted the health part cannot be determined, Nance has always made a big play or two when he is on the hardwood. Keep a sharp eye out for more of the same in the months to come.