D’Angelo Russell unintentionally stole the show during the Los Angeles Lakers’ much-needed victory over the Phoenix Suns on March 22, with his comments about referee Scott Foster during a timeout garnering attention. Despite this, the Lakers’ win was largely due to their domination in getting to the free-throw line, with the team taking 46 attempts compared to the Suns’ 20.
D’Angelo Russell made waves during the Los Angeles Lakers’ recent victory over the Phoenix Suns. Caught on a hot mic during a time-out, Russell trolled referee Scott Foster, who is known for his questionable decisions against the Suns.
The Lakers’ win was largely due to their dominance in getting to the free-throw line, with the team taking 46 attempts compared to the Suns’ 20. Russell had an impressive performance against the Suns, scoring 26 points, 6 assists, 1 rebound, 1 steal, and 2 blocks while shooting 69.2% from the field and 50% from three-point range.
Anthony Davis also praised Russell’s performance in his post-game press conference, citing his scoring ability, communication, playmaking, and crowd engagement as crucial for the Lakers.
Davis acknowledged that Russell’s presence on the court takes the pressure off the other players and that the team had missed him during his absence.
While Russell’s hot mic moment may have raised some eyebrows, his performance on the court was undoubtedly a key factor in the Lakers’ victory.
The Road to Redemption: Assessing the Lakers’ Chances for a Championship Despite a Mid-Season Struggle
As of March 24, 2023, the Los Angeles Lakers have a record of 36 wins and 37 losses, putting them in the 10th position in the Western Conference.
Despite the underwhelming record, the Lakers still have a chance to make a push for the playoffs and potentially even the championship. The team has been dealing with injuries to key players like LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but both are expected to return to the lineup soon.
Since becoming a Laker, D’Angelo Russell is…
• shooting a career high 39.5% from 3
• shooting 46.7% on catch & shoot 3sLaser 🎯#LakeShow pic.twitter.com/QKVY4VSyHu
— 🎗NBA•Fan🎗 (@Klutch_23) March 24, 2023
If James and Davis can stay healthy and play at their usual All-Star level, the Lakers could make a late-season run and secure a playoff spot. Additionally, the team has some talented role players like D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves who can provide valuable contributions on both ends of the court.
Of course, making a championship run will be a challenging feat for the Lakers, as they will likely have to go through tough opponents like the Denver Nuggets and the Milwaukee Bucks But with a healthy and motivated roster, anything is possible in the NBA playoffs.
