While Dalton Knecht is getting all the attention for his stellar performance against the Jazz, Lakers coach JJ Redick made sure to mention that D’Angelo Russell set the rookie up for success.
All the conversation about the Lakers’ win against the Utah Jazz has surrounded the play of Dalton Knecht.
This is understandable, given that the rookie scored 37 points and was hotter than lava in the third quarter, scoring 18 straight in just over three minutes of game time.
Even so, it takes a team to help create an environment where a shooter can find and stay in rhythm. After the win, Lakers coach JJ Redick pointed out how D’Angelo Russell contributed to Knecht’s success.
“They tried to run that zone and we kind of shot them out of it,” Redick said postgame. “That was all D’Lo. We had talked during a free throw, ‘Hey just get to this and DK is gonna be open.’ D’Lo hit him two or three times in a row…I don’t know what his stats are offensively, but D’Lo was great tonight. Orchestrating, defensively, his activity. The guy had a low-man blocked shot against John Collins. That stuff does not go overlooked. He was great tonight.”
Russell was integral in Knecht’s scoring outburst midway through the third quarter. He was handling the ball in all of the possessions and earned the assist on four of the five straight 3-pointers Knecht made.
Thanks to him feeding and finding Knecht, the Lakers cruised to victory and D’Lo ended the night with eight points, six assists and six rebounds in his 26 minutes of play.
Knecht obviously deserves credit for his play, but given that he’s not a great ball-handler, he needs someone like Russell who can run an offense and put him in advantageous spots.
Together, Knecht and D’Lo currently have the best plus-minus of any two-man lineup the Lakers have used, with a +6.3 in their 10.9 minutes on the court.
Russell has had to sacrifice on this team, moving from being a starter to coming off the bench, but he has been a pro and has even excelled as a reserve player.
With his play being so good, Redick commending Russell for his efforts and the team currently on a six-game winning streak, it seems everyone is on the same page in Los Angeles.
The Lakers’ offense runs best when Russell has the ball and if he keeps finding Knecht, their chemistry will only increase as the season progresses.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88.
