Stephen A. Smith SOUNDS OFF and calls D’Angelo Russell ‘A DISGRACE’ as Lakers fall 0-3 | First Take

ESPN

26 Apr 202408:43

Summary

TLDRThe transcript discusses the Lakers' struggles against the Nuggets, particularly focusing on D'Angelo Russell's lack of performance and commitment. It criticizes Russell for his zero-point game and his behavior during the match. The speaker expresses disappointment in the Lakers' overall performance, emphasizing their inability to maintain leads and make crucial plays. The script highlights various moments where the Lakers failed to capitalize on significant opportunities, leading to frustration among fans and analysts.

Takeaways

🏀 The Lakers are facing a challenging series against the Denver Nuggets, which is seen as a bad matchup for them.
🤔 The speaker believes that if the Lakers were facing different teams like OKC or Phoenix, the conversation would be different.
💪 Despite the tough situation, the speaker emphasizes the importance of fighting until the end, reflecting a never-give-up attitude.
📉 D'Angelo Russell's performance is criticized for scoring zero points and appearing disengaged during the game.
👎 The lack of involvement from D'Angelo Russell is seen as a sign of selfishness and a slap in the face to the Lakers organization.
🚫 The speaker suggests that such behavior from a player should not be tolerated and could affect their standing on the team in the future.
🏆 The Lakers' franchise is highlighted as one of the most storied in basketball, with high expectations for its players.
📊 Statistically, LeBron James and Anthony Davis are performing well, but the rest of the team is not contributing enough to win.
😡 The speaker expresses frustration with the Lakers' inability to maintain leads and make crucial shots, particularly from the three-point range.
🤳 The video of D'Angelo Russell allegedly not being engaged during the game is a point of contention and disappointment.
📱 There's a hypothetical scenario where a strict coach like the late Jerry Sloan would have removed a disengaged player from the game immediately.

Q & A

Why does the speaker believe the Lakers are on the verge of being swept by the Nuggets?
-The speaker thinks it's a bad matchup for the Lakers due to the Nuggets' strong players like Michael Porter Jr., KCP, and Aaron Gordon, who physically dominated the game.
What was the speaker's main takeaway from the game?
-The speaker was appalled by D'Angelo Russell's performance, particularly his zero points and lack of involvement during the game, which the speaker considers selfish and a slap in the face to the Lakers organization.
How did the speaker feel about D'Angelo Russell's attitude during the game?
-The speaker was very critical of D'Angelo Russell's attitude, mentioning a video where Russell appeared to check out of the game and not be involved in the huddle.
What does the speaker suggest about the Lakers' performance as a whole?
-The speaker suggests that the Lakers are not playing cohesively, with LeBron James and Anthony Davis carrying the team while the rest of the team, including D'Angelo Russell, is underperforming.
What was the speaker's opinion on the Lakers' three-point shooting?
-The speaker was disappointed with the Lakers' three-point shooting, noting they were 5 of 27 from the three-point range in the game discussed.
Why does the speaker feel D'Angelo Russell is not a good fit for the Lakers?
-The speaker believes D'Angelo Russell has shown an inability to perform under pressure and has not demonstrated the necessary focus and prioritization to be a reliable teammate for LeBron James.
What does the speaker suggest should happen to D'Angelo Russell?
-The speaker suggests that D'Angelo Russell should be removed from the Lakers, implying that he is not a valuable asset to the team, especially in high-stakes games.
How does the speaker describe the Nuggets' performance against the Lakers?
-The speaker describes the Nuggets' performance as dominating and toying with the Lakers, suggesting that the Nuggets are in control and can easily manipulate the game's outcome.
What is the speaker's view on the Lakers' defensive capabilities?
-The speaker criticizes the Lakers' inability to get stops during the game, indicating a significant weakness in their defense.
What does the speaker imply about the Lakers' attitude and effort?
-The speaker implies that the Lakers need to show more pride and effort, suggesting that their current attitude is not reflective of the storied franchise's history.
How does the speaker feel about the Lakers' situation with their losses?
-The speaker expresses disappointment and frustration with the Lakers' losses, particularly because they are happening during significant moments for the franchise.

Outlines

00:00

🏀 Lakers' Struggles Against the Nuggets

The speaker expresses no surprise at the Lakers being on the brink of a sweep by the Denver Nuggets. They discuss the mismatch in play styles and how the Lakers would have fared better against other teams. The analysis highlights the superior physicality and performance of the Nuggets' players, such as Aaron Gordon's dominant game. A major point of criticism is D'Angelo Russell's lack of involvement and zero points, which is seen as a sign of disinterest and a slap in the face to the Lakers organization. The speaker calls for accountability and teamwork, suggesting that players who don't perform should not be part of the team next year.

05:01

📉 Lakers' Inability to Capitalize on Leads

The second paragraph focuses on the Lakers' repeated failure to maintain double-digit leads and halftime advantages against the Denver Nuggets. The speaker describes the Nuggets' players, Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon, as being in control and dominating the game. They lament the Lakers' inability to secure defensive stops and make three-point shots, which is critical in their series loss. The paragraph also touches on the emotional impact of the losses, particularly on significant nights for the Lakers, and the need for leadership and accountability from players like D'Angelo Russell, who is criticized for his performance and attitude during the game.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Lakers

The Lakers refer to the Los Angeles Lakers, a professional basketball team in the NBA. They are a storied franchise with a rich history and are central to the discussion in the video, which revolves around their performance and recent challenges against the Denver Nuggets.

💡Swept

To be 'swept' in the context of basketball refers to a team losing a playoff series in a complete manner, with no wins against the opposing team. The video discusses the possibility of the Lakers being swept by the Nuggets, indicating a significant underperformance.

💡Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets are another professional basketball team in the NBA. They are highlighted in the video as the team that is on the verge of sweeping the Lakers, showcasing their strong performance against the Lakers in the series.

💡NBA basketball landscape

This term refers to the current state and dynamics of the National Basketball Association, including team standings, player performances, and overall trends. The video uses this concept to discuss why the matchup between the Lakers and the Nuggets is unfavorable for the Lakers.

💡Michael Porter Jr.

Michael Porter Jr. is a professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets. In the video, he is mentioned as having a significant advantage over the Lakers, showcasing his impact on the game and the series' outcome.

💡Aaron Gordon

Aaron Gordon is highlighted as a player who performed exceptionally well in a game against the Lakers, scoring 28 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. His performance is used in the video as an example of the Nuggets' dominance in the physical matchup.

💡D'Angelo Russell

D'Angelo Russell is a professional basketball player who is criticized in the video for his lack of performance in a crucial game. The video discusses his zero points scored and perceived disengagement, which is seen as detrimental to the Lakers' efforts.

💡LeBron James

LeBron James is a renowned basketball player for the Lakers and is often considered one of the greatest players of all time. The video discusses his high average points and shooting percentage in the series, indicating his strong performance despite the team's struggles.

💡Three-point shooting

This refers to the act of shooting the basketball from beyond the three-point line, which is a distance set in the NBA where successful shots yield three points instead of the usual two. The video mentions the Lakers' poor three-point shooting performance as a factor in their games.

💡Crypto.com Arena

Crypto.com Arena, formerly known as the Staples Center, is the home venue for the Los Angeles Lakers. The video references the arena in the context of the Lakers' performance being an 'absolute disgrace' in front of their home fans.

💡Jerry Sloan

Jerry Sloan was a former coach of the Utah Jazz and is mentioned in the video as someone who would have taken a hard stance on a player's disengagement during a game. His coaching style is contrasted with the current situation involving D'Angelo Russell.

Highlights

The Lakers are facing a potential sweep by the Nuggets, which is surprising to many but not to those who have been closely following the NBA landscape.

The matchup between the Lakers and the Nuggets is considered unfavorable for the Lakers, with the Nuggets having a significant advantage.

Aaron Gordon's performance in the game was outstanding, scoring 28 points and grabbing 15 rebounds, dominating the physical aspect of the game.

D'Angelo Russell's lack of involvement and zero points in the game is seen as a major disappointment and a sign of disinterest.

The video of D'Angelo Russell not being engaged during the game has sparked criticism and questions about his commitment to the team.

The speaker expresses strong disapproval of D'Angelo Russell's attitude and suggests that it reflects poorly on the Lakers organization.

LeBron James and Anthony Davis are averaging 58.7 points on 59% shooting from the field in the series, while the rest of the Lakers are significantly lower.

The Lakers' inability to maintain leads and make three-point shots is a significant issue in their performance against the Nuggets.

The Nuggets are described as toying with the Lakers, showing a clear dominance in the games played.

The Lakers' loss streak and their performance are seen as disgraceful, especially considering the franchise's storied history.

D'Angelo Russell's past performance and lack of awareness during crucial moments are highlighted as ongoing concerns.

The speaker calls for a change in the Lakers' roster, suggesting that certain players, including D'Angelo Russell, are not reliable under pressure.

The importance of having players who prioritize and focus on the team's success is emphasized, with the current situation seen as detrimental to the Lakers.

The Lakers' losses are particularly painful as they occur during significant moments for the franchise, such as the unveiling of the Kobe Bryant statue and LeBron James scoring 40,000 points.

The Nuggets' victories are seen as ruining the celebratory moments for the Lakers, adding to the frustration and disappointment.

The speaker reminisces about the late Jerry Sloan's coaching style and how he would have handled a situation like D'Angelo Russell's disengagement.

The need for the Lakers to show pride and win their next game to avoid a sweep is emphasized, as is the importance of players stepping up in leadership roles.