Lakers News: Julius Randle, D’Angelo Russell React To Benching
Usatsi_8981263_153179170_lowres

Before taking on the Toronto Raptors on Monday night, head coach Byron Scott made some drastic changes to the starting lineup for the Los Angeles Lakers.

D’Angelo Russell and Julius Randle will come off the bench for at least the next five games for Lou Williams and Larry Nance Jr.

As expected, Randle and Russell weren’t thrilled they’d be coming off the bench. Randle was asked about the benching and admitted it isn’t his decision to make whether he starts or plays in the second unit via ESPN’s Baxter Holmes:

Although both players expressed frustration with Scott’s decision to have them come off the bench, Russell’s frustration may be on another level altogether. Russell felt as if he was finally starting to figure things out after a slow start and then was demoted to a bench role, via Holmes:

Coach Scott justified having Russell and Randle coming off the bench by simply admitting the current starting lineup isn’t working. Scott claims Randle and Russell haven’t done anything wrong over the course of the first 20 games, but he wants to mix it up because things haven’t gone as planned, via Holmes:

With the Lakers now sitting at 3-18 following the loss to the Raptors, things obviously haven’t been going their way. The team may have had a couple solid wins over playoff-caliber teams like the Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards, but consistency has been a major problem for this team.

Along with Kobe Bryant playing the worst basketball of his career, the team can’t seem to put it together even after showing signs of promise in their three wins this season. It remains to be seen whether inserting Williams and Nance Jr. will have any impact on this squad moving forward. If not, Scott will continue to be the fall guy for this team’s shortcomings.

You May Also Like

Kobe Bryant ‘Would Love To Ride Off Into Sunset’ With Gold Medal

The 2015-16 NBA season is looking more and more likely to be…

Warriors Break Lakers Record For Highest 2nd Half Point Differential In NBA Playoffs

With their backs up against the wall, many expected the Golden State Warriors to come out firing against the Houston…

Lakers News: Kyle Kuzma Will ‘Always’ Be Friends With Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, And Josh Hart

Over the last couple of seasons, the Los Angeles Lakers compiled one of the best collections of young talent in the NBA…

Lakers Nation Wishes Happy Birthday to Wilt Chamberlain

After acquiring the next great center in Dwight Howard, the Los Angeles…