Cut through the hysterics that accompanies anything Lakers, avoid the reflexive response that coach Byron Scott is wrong on everything, just because, skip the plans to organize a march on Staples Center to rescue one of the foundations of the future before it’s too late, and there is this:
D’Angelo Russell is fine.
He might be emotionally wounded after being pulled from the opening lineup, but he’ll get over it and, oh, by the way, may benefit in the long run from Scott’s unpopular decision. Russell is still playing, a lot. That’s the important thing.
The No. 2 pick averaged 28.6 minutes in 22 games as a starter, mostly at point guard, and is at 26.2 in the 10 games as a reserve. (All stats heading into Tuesday’s schedule.) His 27.8 minutes overall is still fourth among rookies and slightly more than Kristaps Porzingis, the second-best newcomer, is getting from the Knicks. Russell is absolutely not being left behind as Scott searches for something, anything, to deliver wins.
Russell is so not being left behind that he is averaging 9.8 minutes in the fourth quarter in the 10 games as a reserve, a huge role down the stretch not that many weeks after Russell spending much or all the final periods on the bench had been an issue. Now, he is a regular closer.
Kobe Bryant went through something similar as a rookie, being kept in a reserve role, and he turned out OK. The Lakers could have sold tickets to watch him stare daggers into coach Del Harris every night, steam almost visibly coming out of Bryant’s ears, but Harris stuck with Eddie Jones as the starting shooting guard, it was the right call amid similar cries for the hot prospect to be promoted, and Kobe was the better for it.
“It used to drive me crazy,” Bryant said, noting he had to endure seeing other rookies get prime roles elsewhere. “Ray Allen was scoring 30 and (Allen Iverson) was scoring 40 and it’s like, ‘I know they’re not that much better than I am. I know it.’ You don’t have the opportunity to show it. But those years were invaluable for me because nothing was handed to me. I had to work for it. If I was getting 15 minutes a night, I had to work for those 15 minutes. I couldn’t go in there and play like (dirt). I’d sit on the bench and not play for the next five games. I really, really had to work for it. I’m very thankful for that.”
Maybe it’s the same thing for Russell now, whether he realizes it or not. Either way, while it may feel like a slap, it’s actually not that bad. He is a reserve, but he is playing.
1. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves (Last week: 1)
The best rookie all along wasn’t close to getting the most time, but the Timberwolves are shoveling minutes at him now. Towns has gone from 27.1 minutes in November to 30.1 in December and 35, 34, 40 and 31 the last four games. He is up to 28.8 overall and about to pass Emmanuel Mudiay (29.1) for second among rookies, with Jahlil Okafor still ahead in the distance at 32.2. Only two players have ever won Rookie of the Year while averaging fewer than 30 minutes, Tom Heinsohn (29.9 in 1956-57) and Mike Miller (29.1 in 2000-01).
2. Kristaps Porzingis, New York Knicks (2)
Porzingis has failed to make at least 40 percent of his shots in eight of the last 10 games, dropping him to 40.9 percent for December. Frustration is starting to set in. On the other hand, he has passed Towns for the rookie lead in blocks and is up to sixth in the league overall, behind only Hassan Whiteside, Anthony Davis,DeAndre Jordan, Serge Ibaka and Pau Gasol.
3. Jahlil Okafor, Philadelphia 76ers (3)
The 76ers are hoping he will return Wednesday at Sacramento after missing the previous two games with a sore right knee. Coach Brett Brown called the decision to rest the No. 3 pick more precaution than sign of trouble, noting the grind of the current six-game trip. Okafor’s minutes had been ticking downward even before that, though, and without foul trouble as a factor. Whether his role continues to shrink along with his shooting percentage just became a January storyline to watch.
4. Justise Winslow, Miami Heat (4)
Winslow started to show signs of breaking out of a prolonged shooting slump, with a very small sample size of converting half his attempts two games in a row, then missed both field goals the next outing, then got hurt. Not a good month for the spark off the bench after such a strong finish to November. The sprained left ankle could keep him out until Friday.
5. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets (5)
The assessment last week that he backed into the top five thanks more to the poor play of others than his own credentials? Never mind. Jokic followed that with 13 points and nine rebounds at Phoenix and 22 and seven at San Antonio. He is shooting 58.6 percent the last nine games with a decent role in the offense and is up to 55.4 for the season. That’s No. 1 among rookies, along with fifth in rebounding, sixth in scoring and tied for sixth in steals.
6. D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers (7)
While ball handling and decision making remain a problem — 59 assists against 47 turnovers in December and 11 assists against 12 turnovers the last five outings — Russell at 40 percent behind the arc the same five games is very encouraging for the Lakers. At the very least, it is a glimpse of the perimeter game teams saw coming into the draft. If it becomes more like a change of direction in that area that lasts, it will change the perspective of his season. L.A. already has seen enough of Russell’s passing skills to know he can be a talented distributor.
7. Frank Kaminsky, Charlotte Hornets (10)
Kaminsky still got good minutes — 26 and 20 — the first two outings after Al Jefferson came back from suspension in a change that will surely impact the big-man rotation. That was with Jefferson at just 18 and 15 minutes, though, numbers that will go up. A lot will depend on Kaminsky as well. After working his way into the rotation with improved defense and the kind of shooting that helped make him the college Player of the Year last season, he was a combined 3-for-12 from the field in the two games with Jefferson back.
8. Stanley Johnson, Detroit Pistons (not ranked)
Newcomers to the party ordinarily slide into the final spot. Johnson entered with an express pass when poor play and injuries around the bottom of The Ladder provided an unusually large opening. His play has something to do with it too. He started to shoot much better, making 48.9 percent overall the last five games and 57.1 percent on 3-pointers. If the improvements from the field hold, and with his big role on a winning team, the climb could continue.
9. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Brooklyn Nets (6)
The inevitable fall out of the rankings has started, now that Hollis-Jefferson has missed 12 of 31 games because of the fractured right ankle at the same time a few others have played well enough to earn promotions. It’s easy to see RHJ reclaiming a spot if he returns healthy and on schedule, around the All-Star. He has been exactly as expected, not a star but solid on many levels and with a chance to build a long career after lasting until No. 23 in the draft.
10. T.J. McConnell, Philadelphia 76ers (9)
First, Kendall Marshall joins the lineup after missing the first six weeks while recovering from knee surgery. Then, the 76ers trade for Ish Smith and make him the starting point guard. This might be the last we see of McConnell. But he stays for now amid dwindling minutes while still No. 2 in the class in assists, No. 1 in assist-to-turnover ratio and No. 2 in steals while shooting 46.4 percent.
Dropped out: Nemanja Bjelica (8).
