Andre Drummond is giving the Lakers a lot of what they expected, but he still hasn’t found his scoring touch, writes Dave McMenamin of ESPN. Drummond scored just four points Tuesday in Charlotte and three points Monday at New York. He’s averaging 9.2 PPG in his five games with L.A.
“Offensively, this is probably the worst I’ve played in my career,” he said. “I’m still trying to figure it out here. I’m not allowing it to take me out of my game. I know why I’m here, which is to help this team defensively. Offensively, it will come for me.”
Part of the problem is the absence of Anthony Davis and LeBron James, who have been injured since Drummond signed with the team late last month. Drummond believes he’ll settle into a more natural role once the two stars return.
“We’re going to find a way to get it done when guys come back healthy,” he said. “Because you got to think, we’re playing with a different five every night when we’re stepping on the court. So you can’t expect us to have much chemistry when we don’t know who we’re playing with each and every night. So we’re hanging our hat on defense and allowing that to project us to a win.”
There’s more from Los Angeles:
- Marc Gasol became the Lakers‘ third center after Drummond was signed, but Jovan Buha of The Athletic contends there are games where he should play ahead of Montrezl Harrell. Gasol has outplayed Harrell lately, Buha notes, and is a better fit in certain matchups.
- Clippers forward Paul George is determined to not let his injured toe affect him mentally, according to Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. George knows the pain may last for the rest of the season, but he has learned to accept it, scoring at least 30 points in each of his last four games. “The injury allowed me to kind of make an excuse for myself,” he said. “But then I put it in perspective … if I’m gonna play, then don’t let it limit me. I feel like I’ve had a breakthrough because of that mindset.”
- By playing in 33 games this season, Rajon Rondo is in line for a $750K bonus if and when the Clippers reach the first round of the playoffs, tweets Bobby Marks of ESPN. The bonus was switched from unlikely to likely when Rondo was traded to L.A. last month.
Lakers are built around their two stars. You won’t see the Real Laker team until they are healthy, 100%. Drummond can only help. He gives them depth at a position they need depth.
Andre Drummond is new face of Lakers
Wilt Chamberlain is old face of Lakers
Stats are comparable
Sure they are. Although it’s extremely difficult to compare anyone’s stats with a guy who averaged an unbreakable record of close to 46 MPG for his career. So if you’re looking at Chamberlain’s last two seasons in LA after he turned 35, then his scoring 14 PPG and getting 19 RPG while playing 42 MPG isn’t so great, although the rebound numbers are still really good.
Wilt was the Finals MVP in 1972, the next to last season of his career.
Even though he’s 8 years younger, I don’t see Drummond having any type of impact for the Lakers even close to that. Once AD is back in the lineup during the postseason the minutes for Drummond and Gasol will plummet, probably Harrell’s as well. Everyone goes small in the playoffs these days.
Which is why they should run 2 bigs. Clog the lane, grab every rebound and block shots. Force the outside shot that all wannabe teams are so dependent upon these days.
you don’t know what you are talking about!
I’m tempted to flag your comment for insanity.
Harrell & team based his offense around LJ getting him the ball, coming from behind the rim into a gap in the defense. (LJ does not really do PnRs.). So Harrell’s game is stunted by LJ’s absence.
Drummond’s game is pretty much solo. Stats are not comparable to Wilt’s and I hate to have to respond to Silli’s trolling by putting them in the same sentence. (It seems I am leaving out pronouns at the start of sentences anyway)
Drummond’s low PER will not benefit from LJ’s return; he does not attach to anything going on. He should be set aside when playoffs arrive and his time comes, like with Dwight last year. Occasionally he will have his day.
Clippers keep looking more likely. Paul George keeps sounding more likely to come out on top. Above, talking about controlling his mindset… that is hard to do. Gotta like a release that stays smooth even when quickened or pressured, if that can be pulled off.
You might be right. Just don’t forget that you are talking about “The Clippers”
Drummond’s basketball IQ is below average!
“I know why I’m here, which is to help this team defensively.” Sounds as if he’s practicing for his next career in stand up comedy.
Drummond will feel the wrath of Lebron once he gets back on the floor if he hasnt gotten it yet. Drummond is a garbage, selfish player and a garbage human being.
Wow you sound like he did you wrong personally, I just watch him play and he isnt great in some areas but is a monster inside. I dont know what the guy did to hurt you so much but your post sounds emotional and not based on any facts
Please explain the “garbage human being” comment. It’s important to know from us westerners that only get to see stats. So far he hasn’t been a spousal abuser or called an interview to let us know how important he is.
Since when can you mention Wilt and anybody else in the same sentence? Drummond might be the 3rd best rebounder in history but what about a quinteple double! I still think that if you have the big, talented, center you use him. There are so few that come around. If you have a Joel you make them match up to you. Drums is effecting the game at both ends of the court while in. He’s definitely a presence. What’s up with Markieff Morris throwing desperation passes, before they are necessary, at the ends of quarters.I don’t get stupid from him. Maybe he needs to focus? Who invented the congratulatory low 5 for MISSING a free throw. Will somebody please take that person out to the parking lot and shoot him? Musta been Shaq
Wilt was highly overrated he wasn’t scoring 50 points a game and avg 35 rebounds for a season because the competition was good. What people don’t realize is the pro game was decimated in the 50s and 60s by segregation in college in basketball. Half the colleges would not give scholarships to black players the other half had a gentleman’s agreement to never have more than 2 or 3 black players playing at once. Wilt was talented enough as an athlete to be an all star in any league but he was playing against unappetizing affirmative action white guys 6 inches shorter than him. Joel Embiid is way better than Wilt. And I am a lifelong laker fan. ps Celtics your 60s titles are as asterisks laden just like our 50s titles are.
link to youtube.com
Embiid is not nearly as mobile as Wilt nor stays as healthy. Nor does he carry as much representation weight. Black athletes today are coddled by a now-rich industry. Things were a struggle then. He wasted time with the Globetrotters.
As for champs in the 50s & 60s, everyone was playing by the same rules. Still had to be a champ to be a champ.
Note I oppose your dismissive conclusions not most of the facts.
Kansas for 4 years was more of a time loss than 1 year with the trotters.
4 years in college sounds crazy now! Players should be able to move on if the situation warrants it… even in HS.
Wilt could not shoot from outside 5 feet. He was a great player who could be a dominant player in any era, I know a lot about his incredible athletic ability. And followed the rules like everyone else? That cop out logic looks ugly when all of the best players except a handful were locked out of college and then pro basketball. The basketball sucked in the 60s, it was a mostly segregated sport those were the rules everyone followed.
I changed the thread to being more philosophical & modern… WC was not known as a rules-follower and I did not say that. But you just like a different tough topic and are willing to shape words to get there, not a good sign.
But Wilt gave the greatest post-game interviews during the 33 game winning streak. LeBron puts me to sleep.
GettyImages-515248562-85582
I went to GettyImages but it did not take that number. WC was so skinny once.
Jokic: link to yardbarker.com
I checked it before I posted. I copied it and pasted it in Google and it was the 1st picture to come up.
Who invented the congratulatory low 5 for MISSING a free throw. Will somebody please take that person out to the parking lot and shoot him? Musta been Shaq
I’m having a thought. Is it possible that the “injuries” to LeBron James and Anthony Davis are really just their off season? That’s very Greg Popovichesque.