DETROIT -- While the Los Angeles Lakers' pursuit of a title this season has largely revolved around the team's efforts to redeem itself after last year's disappointing exit from the playoffs,
Game 1 against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday, in which Russell scored 13 points while missing 13 of his last 16 shots, brought back some of his previous troubles. The final score was 114-103.
In an interview, Lakers coach Darvin Ham credited D-Lo as a major factor in the team's success.
Just because my guy isn't making the shots he usually does not mean I'll give up on him. He has played in previous games that have brought us to this point, such as the play-in tournament versus New Orleans, where he made the identical shots. It was clearly not his night.
Russell re-signed with the Lakers in the offseason after having his role diminished during last year's four-game sweep at the hands of the Nuggets and losing his starting position before to the final game.
He made it through the trade deadline without traded, and his performance from the beginning of January until the end of the regular season was a shining light for the Lakers, who entered the first round with a 12-game winning streak and the seventh seed in the league.
When compared to his May 2017 performance against the Nuggets, in which he scored 6.3 points on 32% shooting (13% from 3-point range) and 3.5 assists, his current output is light years ahead.
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