Knicks · OT: Holy crap! D'Angelo Russell seems like Farah Fawcett in this interview - WHAT THE HELL? (page 1)

He’s about midway through his first 82-game season, so let’s go ahead and give D’Angelo Russell the benefit of the doubt and just chalk this up to him hitting the proverbial rookie wall. That’s really the only explanation for the bizarre post-game interview he gave to reporters after the Lakers’ loss to the Houston Rockets Sunday night.

Someone in the scrum initially asked Russell about Kobe Bryant’s seven first-quarter assists and what it was like to be a part of that, to which he responded “I don’t think I was out there. I just watched it.” The only problem is that Russell, indeed, checked into the game with 5:40 remaining in the first and played the rest of the quarter. Granted, Kobe racked up four of those dimes while Russell was on the bench, but the next three came after the rookie point guard checked in. Russell, however, wasn’t the recipient of any of those assists, so perhaps this is his passive-aggressive way of complaining that Kobe doesn’t pass him the ball.

The rest is basically him delivering multiple, clueless “I don’t know” responses to various questions, along with momentary lapses of memory regarding who the Lakers played the previous night (and subsequently letting a curse word slip when he’s reminded), as well as what day of the week it currently is. It’s tempting to read too much into this, but he should probably just get some rest before whoever it is they have to play sometime later this week.

He seems checked out and miserable. The Lakers are a mess. I understand the impulse to do a Kobe farewell tour - but the way they are doing it is killing their young guys. They have the completely wrong coach for this, too.

crzymdups wrote:He seems checked out and miserable. The Lakers are a mess. I understand the impulse to do a Kobe farewell tour - but the way they are doing it is killing their young guys. They have the completely wrong coach for this, too.

byron coach is not just a bad coach but he seems like a very bad person

mreinman wrote:

crzymdups wrote:He seems checked out and miserable. The Lakers are a mess. I understand the impulse to do a Kobe farewell tour - but the way they are doing it is killing their young guys. They have the completely wrong coach for this, too.

byron coach is not just a bad coach but he seems like a very bad person

bad person? stretch.

bad coach? absolutely.

Yeah, I don't know anything about Byron as a person. But he seems like a bad coach and certainly the wrong coach for that team right now. He seems miserable, too. Something is wrong in that Lakers organization since Dr. Buss passed away.

crzymdups wrote:He seems checked out and miserable. The Lakers are a mess. I understand the impulse to do a Kobe farewell tour - but the way they are doing it is killing their young guys. They have the completely wrong coach for this, too.

Farewell tour? This is playing an overaged (once great) player more minutes than he deserves in order to get a high lotto pick and it is sick.
Since when did basketball become about that (outside of Philly's modification)?

mreinman wrote:

He’s about midway through his first 82-game season, so let’s go ahead and give D’Angelo Russell the benefit of the doubt and just chalk this up to him hitting the proverbial rookie wall. That’s really the only explanation for the bizarre post-game interview he gave to reporters after the Lakers’ loss to the Houston Rockets Sunday night.

Someone in the scrum initially asked Russell about Kobe Bryant’s seven first-quarter assists and what it was like to be a part of that, to which he responded “I don’t think I was out there. I just watched it.” The only problem is that Russell, indeed, checked into the game with 5:40 remaining in the first and played the rest of the quarter. Granted, Kobe racked up four of those dimes while Russell was on the bench, but the next three came after the rookie point guard checked in. Russell, however, wasn’t the recipient of any of those assists, so perhaps this is his passive-aggressive way of complaining that Kobe doesn’t pass him the ball.

The rest is basically him delivering multiple, clueless “I don’t know” responses to various questions, along with momentary lapses of memory regarding who the Lakers played the previous night (and subsequently letting a curse word slip when he’s reminded), as well as what day of the week it currently is. It’s tempting to read too much into this, but he should probably just get some rest before whoever it is they have to play sometime later this week.

He's frustrated and having a miserable season- as you know when you're down in the dumps, it's hard to think clearly. Plus I think he's more focused on indirectly communicating his dislike of the coach than answering the questions that were asked.

earthmansurfer wrote:

crzymdups wrote:He seems checked out and miserable. The Lakers are a mess. I understand the impulse to do a Kobe farewell tour - but the way they are doing it is killing their young guys. They have the completely wrong coach for this, too.

Farewell tour? This is playing an overaged (once great) player more minutes than he deserves in order to get a high lotto pick and it is sick.
Since when did basketball become about that (outside of Philly's modification)?

I'm not a fan of tanking, but in this case it absolutely makes sense for the Lakers. If they don't land a top 3 pick, they lose their pick all together. Plus they are a bad team anyways- let the fans say goodbye to Kobe whilst getting a top pick- they're screwed without it.

Personally I wish the Sixers and Lakers would just work out a trade between themselves of Russell for OK4- do both players a favor.

All I know is that i'm glad that we have a better environment for nurturing and developing our young talent this year. It's a tough thing to adapt to this league and young players can be crushed by the weight of losing, the media and pressure to perform. It's hard to know for sure how they're doing things in LA, but it doesn't seem like they are really focused on their youth, but that's hard to really know from here. Last year was tough on our young guys in NY last year with all the losing, but they did maintain a somewhat positive attitude and we saw some progress. This year is even better. The struggles of Jerian i'm sure are tough for him but I don't know if he's ever sounded as out of it as Russell did. Maybe he was just tired.

smackeddog wrote:

earthmansurfer wrote:

crzymdups wrote:He seems checked out and miserable. The Lakers are a mess. I understand the impulse to do a Kobe farewell tour - but the way they are doing it is killing their young guys. They have the completely wrong coach for this, too.

Farewell tour? This is playing an overaged (once great) player more minutes than he deserves in order to get a high lotto pick and it is sick.
Since when did basketball become about that (outside of Philly's modification)?

I'm not a fan of tanking, but in this case it absolutely makes sense for the Lakers. If they don't land a top 3 pick, they lose their pick all together. Plus they are a bad team anyways- let the fans say goodbye to Kobe whilst getting a top pick- they're screwed without it.

Personally I wish the Sixers and Lakers would just work out a trade between themselves of Russell for OK4- do both players a favor.

I just think it is bad for the team (e.g. look at how it destroyed the chemistry on Phili, until D'Antoni came!), but sure, if they get Simmons, then all bets are off. But I will snicker if they get pick #4. We got to be careful about Instant Karma as that one Beetle said...

Interesting trade you suggest. (We have nothing to offer, KP is not going anywhere for anyone, not even Towns, tbh.)
Yeah, that works out for both teams and both players are limited defensively and gifted offensively. They probably can do it straight up even though Okafor is looking like the better player due to where they were picked.

Russell would be really good in the Triangle.

I think the Lakers should have picked Okafor. Okafor's a natural scoring bigman, and would have fit in great with their history. They develop their bigmen really well. Russell would have been great in Philly, especially with Mike D'Antoni there now.

For his attitude, I've never been a fan. From what I've seen he's the type of guy who has a few expectations and doesn't react well to not being handed things. You look at that interview, you clearly see the attitude factor I'm talking about.

He's going to be a heck of a player. His skills are very good. Byron Scott does make Fisher look like a very good coach. You look at the Lakers, man, they have no culture and no identity. Knicks aren't great, but they're in a better spot. Can you guys imagine Byron coaching the Knicks?

THANK THE HEAVENS WE AVOIDED THIS DIVA!!!

I don't care how bad things are...19 year old rookies shouldn't sound like this unless someone just ran over your dog.

If Philly is smart, they will propose a trade to acquire Russell. They have many assets that they can offer. He would fit well in a D'Antoni run system. Send Embiid and other talents to the Lakers for Russell

nyknickzingis wrote:Russell would be really good in the Triangle.

I think the Lakers should have picked Okafor. Okafor's a natural scoring bigman, and would have fit in great with their history. They develop their bigmen really well. Russell would have been great in Philly, especially with Mike D'Antoni there now.

For his attitude, I've never been a fan. From what I've seen he's the type of guy who has a few expectations and doesn't react well to not being handed things. You look at that interview, you clearly see the attitude factor I'm talking about.

He's going to be a heck of a player. His skills are very good. Byron Scott does make Fisher look like a very good coach. You look at the Lakers, man, they have no culture and no identity. Knicks aren't great, but they're in a better spot. Can you guys imagine Byron coaching the Knicks?

How do they develop big men well? The water? Coach's change so its not cultural?

We got back to Mikan? Wilt was traded for. Kareem was traded for. Shaq was a free agent. Divac's was a great pick and developed and Bynum yielded a chip or two in his era. Pau was a trade.

Lakers have a great history, but not developing big's.

How is Russell LIke Farrah? LIke a character she played?

Give the kid a break and not judge a 19 year old who might not be the brightest. Clearly burnt out and Scott is messing with him but he might still be a great player.
Got to look at the potential and OKA4 might have had some ceiling concerns.

I do agree with you and think you go big when ever it warrants. I love we got KP and had him over Russell because His size intrigued me, but Truth be told if OKA4 was there I think that was the pick to make.

Halfway thru the rookie season hardly makes a career.

Had a Farrah Fawcett poster in my bedroom when I was a kid. Damned Farrah haters!

Russell is hyper-competitive. I remember a story about him playing a game and Russell yelling at a friend who didnt try to complete a pick and roll because he thought there was no room for Russell to pass. Russell's friend said he told him he could have threaded the needle.

Thats not a selfish player, the kid loves to makes his teammates better. Russell has been told by his coach that his rookie year, building a foundation, is secondary to Kobe's curtain call. Kobe believes that taking a bow is more important than passing the torch.

Thought Russell should have kept quiet, at the same time, he is the number 2 pick, the future of their franchise, and he's being treated like a bit player.

can you imagine what our state of affairs would be 5 years from now if KP was going to be a 19 year old rookie at that time dealing with some other version of Melo and not ThisMelo??

Cartman718 wrote:can you imagine what our state of affairs would be 5 years from now if KP was going to be a 19 year old rookie at that time dealing with some other version of Melo and not ThisMelo??

So now we get to have "RetroHate"!!!!

I love it. Lets hate on melo for what he would have done in the past.

In an alternate universe lets throw in Starbury as well!

Might not seem like much now, but this poster sold 20million copies!!!

She had a bad interview in the 1990's on Letterman and came off sounding bad. Could have been a bad mix of medicine.

Nalod wrote:

Cartman718 wrote:can you imagine what our state of affairs would be 5 years from now if KP was going to be a 19 year old rookie at that time dealing with some other version of Melo and not ThisMelo??

So now we get to have "RetroHate"!!!!

I love it. Lets hate on melo for what he would have done in the past.

In an alternate universe lets throw in Starbury as well!

huh?? chill out dude...no melo hate here. Just thinking that we are lucky to have KP come in and have the ThisMelo version playing for us. if Melo was instead in a primadonna state like Kobe...we'd be in trouble.

You are reading too much into my statement. Phil speaking with Melo. Fisher motivating Melo to be ThisMelo...it's all helped KP's transition to the NBA. Byron Scott and Kupchak on the other hand...let's placate the Hall Of Fame player in his last year at the risk of alienating the future.

Caseloads wrote:

mreinman wrote:

crzymdups wrote:He seems checked out and miserable. The Lakers are a mess. I understand the impulse to do a Kobe farewell tour - but the way they are doing it is killing their young guys. They have the completely wrong coach for this, too.

byron coach is not just a bad coach but he seems like a very bad person

bad person? stretch.

bad coach? absolutely.

He definitely is a bad coach. But that is a bad look for Russell (who did we play last night?). Scott has some known flaws that should just make him not a head coach candidate. He seems to have only picked up on the hard practice aspect of Pat Riley's coaching. He doesn't prepare, favors vets and his fox hole guys no matter the situation. His rotations in NJ seem to come at the same minute of the game every night no matter what was going on on the court. I can't imagine he will have another year in LA.

GustavBahler wrote:Had a Farrah Fawcett poster in my bedroom when I was a kid. Damned Farrah haters!

Bottom part of her hair allegedly spelled out "Sex."

Sad ending for poor Farrah.