Lakers second-year forward Brandon Ingram has displayed improvements through the team’s first 19 games. Last year’s second overall pick in the draft is averaging 14.7 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and 3.0 APG in 33.8 minutes — all of those numbers up from his rookie season. As Bill Oram of the Orange County Register writes, Ingram feels there is a lot more progress to be made.
“I think I have some more to show,” Ingram said. “This summer I was super confident in what I wanted to do this season, and I don’t think it’s all came yet.”
Oram mentions in the article that while rookie Lonzo Ball has generated most of the Lakers’ headlines, Ingram has generated most the team’s efficiency. At 8-11, the Lakers occupy 10th place in the Western Conference and are not considered a playoff team. However, if the Duke product develops into the player the team believes he can be, they will have at least one reliable anchor in the lineup.
Check out other news around the Pacific Division:
- Mark Heisler of the Orange County Register outlines the Lakers’ rebuilding approach, likening it to the 76ers mantra of “Trust the Process.” The team has secured several first-round picks in recent years, including Ingram, Ball, Julius Randle, D’Angelo Russell, Larry Nance Jr., and Kyle Kuzma. Russell was traded to the Nets over the offseason but the other young assets remain in the fold. Heisler notes that the Lakers’ plan to compete will have to include luring a big name free agent such as LeBron James. For that to happen, he adds, the current roster will have to show it has sustainable potential.
- Warriors rookie Jordan Bell has played sparingly this season but after the Warriors paid $3.5MM to acquire him from the Bulls after the NBA Draft, he has used it as motivation, Mark Medina of The Mercury News writes. “I use it as motivation as far as me playing for this team, and how much effort and money they spent to try to get me,” Bell said. “They already have such a great team over here and are so deep. But they obviously want me. I use that as motivation. So, now I got to show people that I’m worth the $3.5 million they spent to get me.”
Ball can’t shoot! Becomes a liability real fast in the NBA. He would already be labeled a bust if Magic wasn’t the guy who drafted him. Paul George coming…another guy who can’t shoot!!! The Fakers will stay down for a long time. Loud mouth Daddy will get Luke fired….the circus will need a bigger tent.
Hot take, bro… especially after just 19 games.
Why
He won’t need to shoot if lebron and George come to lakers. Throw it up at rim and let the big dogs eat
Have you seen him in practice? I think it’s scripted so he looks in trouble then turns it on down the stretch. He’s also a premier rebounder and assist so far and if the shots start falling he’s a legit walking triple double. He’s already an upgrade from dlo from a defensive standpoint.
Well they can’t be the new Sixers. They went through their process during the same seasons as the Sixers, and just whiffed on their teams. And a big point of the Process was to have cap flexibility, whereas the lakers had to trade D’lo just to get rid of Mozgov’s process. The lakers have a loooong way to go before they resemble the sixers, which is crazy since they’ve had three straight #2 picks.
Mozgov’s contract*
How is okafor doing for you?
Man what happen to Okafor? I think he still has the chance to be pretty good, but he must have rubbed the sixers wrong with the trouble he got into! Just don’t get it. Why give up on him the way the sixers have?
Lmao if the lakers were in the weakness called the east they be a playoff team too, feasting on terrible teams like the sixers. The sixers are a big what if at the moment they are one injury away from mediocrity. Fultz looks like a big time bust and so was okafor. Simmons was the number one overall so he better be good, shit can’t shoot outside 10-15 feet though. Simmons looks more of Lamar Odom than LeBron James. Only true anchor is Embid and even he’s a walking injury.
….Bell vs. Ball, ORtg-DRtg:
130-98 vs. 87-102…
….. +32 vs. -15… one of the highest vs. one of the lowest 100-possession numbers!
Of course stats don’t measure the true value of a PG, but… whatever approach Jordan Bell has, it is WORKING, like the GSW FO.