- OCD Hoops -

Finally.  The NBA preseason has been underway as teams are pacing and spacing the floor.  This newer, faster, smaller, NBA basketball overall is a tad different than the way the game was played a decade or two ago.  A lot more "European", if that makes any sense (you'd have to watch the Euro/ACB Leagues or Olympics a lot).  Teams are living by the 3, deciding not to take that long two-point shot, and playing smaller for a majority of the games as a result of the Warriors winning the title in that fashion. With the game ever evolving and team elements increasing, one can't help but wonder what will become of the Lakers in future years. So how will the men in purple and gold fair this year?  Is it fair to expect them to make the playoffs? Sadly, even as a big Laker fan, I do not see playoff games again this season.  Luckily, that doesn't bother me as the Lakers finally have a nice young core group of players full of untapped potential, as well as Kobe's...

The surprise pick of the 2015 draft wasn't the Timberwolves taking athletic 7 footer Towns, who had been projected as the top pick in nearly every mock draft, but rather the Lakers stirred up the entire lottery and draft picking one and done Point-Guard D'Angelo Russel with the 2nd overall pick. Every projection had Towns going first with the other 7 footer Jahill Okafor going next, while Russel was in the top 3 picks anywhere up to near the 10 pick on all the mock drafts going in. As a Laker fan, though extremely objective, I did hope the Lakers would take either Russel or Muiday, a future PG with size that complements young Jordan Clarkson, last years 2nd round pick of the Lakers who made All Rookie First Team and finished the year with a bang. Russel, like Clarkson, is a 6'5'' tall and long point-guard who can also play the 2 spot as well. Other than their similar sizes and ability for the Lakers to start the 2 guys together with a 3 guard lineup (because o...