Draymond Green blasts D’Angelo Russell for Lakers’ loss vs. Nuggets

The Los Angeles Lakers fell to the Denver Nuggets 114-103 in Game 1 of the two team’s NBA Playoffs first-round matchup on Saturday.

Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell had a rough shooting night against the Nuggets, and Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green is pinning a lot of the blame for the loss on him, per Green’s podcast ‘The Draymond Green Show.’

Said Green, “The Lakers may be in some trouble, because Bron had a great game, A.D. had a great game, and they never stood a chance at winning the game after the first half. So that’s trouble for the Lakers.

They’re going to need a better D’Angelo Russell, you can’t just say ‘oh man shots [didn’t] go in’ when that’s starting to be a trend in these 16 games. Can’t just say that. Shots got to go in. They need a better Austin Reaves, you on the scouting report now, get in your bag now, gotta play better.

But D’Angelo Russell makes shots, Lakers win games. D’Angelo Russell don’t make shots, Lakers don’t win games. That’s the reason the Lakers were in the position that they were in.”

Green elaborated on the Lakers’ need for Russell to step up and be the third option after a Game 1 performance where he finished with 13 points and went 1 for 9 from 3-point range.

Said Green, “Talking about D’Angelo Russell on the trading block because they needed a better D’Angelo Russell.  D’Angelo Russell on the trading block showed up the rest of the season. Guess what it’s no longer 82 [games], it’s 16 now, got to show up.

So D’Angelo Russell play better, Lakers have a chance, D’Angelo Russell don’t play better, Lakers don’t stand a chance.”

Lakers look to bounce back against the Nuggets