Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

D’Angelo Russell Hopes for the Playoffs/Championship Very Soon

Los Angeles Lakers sophomore D’Angelo Russell says he wants to see the Lakers reaching the playoffs this year and making it all the way to the NBA Finals, too.

Los Angeles hasn’t made the postseason in three consecutive seasons. The team last featured the playoffs in the 2012-2013 season, losing in the first-round to the San Antonio Spurs. They’ve yet to win a championship since 2010.

With a 10-16 record, the 16-time NBA champions currently hold the ninth position in the Western Conference.

 

”I don’t want that ever again,” said Russell about a losing record to Baxter Holmes of ESPN. ”I don’t want to come in with a losing record. I don’t want to to go to a losing team and you’ve got guys going every which way after practice — the chemistry just wasn’t there. I feel like with this team and with this organization, people want to be a part of it. People want to be Lakers. There’s just so much pressure, and some guys handle it and some guys can’t. I’ve always been a guy that, I don’t know, just attacks pressure. I want to be a part of this whole thing turning back around. I’ve seen what it was to be at its lowest point. I want to be a part of a playoff run this year … next year, Finals.”

The No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft Russell is currently averaging 15.1 points along with 4.9 assists in 26.1 minutes this season for Los Angeles. The Lakers—who are currently on a winning drought—have a talented young core who is still developing. Russell, along with Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle, Brandon Ingram, and Larry Nance Jr. have been playing well, but lacking certain aspects to lead their team to victory. So far in 2016-17, sharpshooter Lou Williams has held down the fort off-the-bench, being the main reason Los Angeles has won some games this season.

With the team’s bright future, a trip to the playoffs is expected, but maybe not this year. With the powerhouse teams of the Western Conference, it’ll be a challenge for the Los Angeles Lakers to reach the postseason in 2016-17.