Yaksel Landeborg started so promisingly that I changed warriors outlook, host Joe Lacob said in an interview with 95.7 FM Game. (tip to Taylor Wirth of NBCSportsBayArea.com).
“Everyone makes mistakes and we didn’t get the project right, or maybe we didn’t get a few other higher-end projects right in the past. Okay, criticize us for that, but project is hard, guys.” said Lacob. “It’s tough, and not everybody gets it. Some teams never get it right, and we got it right. I was 100 percent convinced that this was the guy we wanted in the draft, we were, not just me, and there were some other really good players in that draft. The only question was, ‘Will he go No. 11?’ just love their 18- and 19-year-olds. We’ve all been guilty of looking at ‘Some of these guys have great upside,’ but this guy looked like a champ ready to play.”
The University of Michigan product is averaging 21.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists, including a 37-point outburst against the Clippers.
“The amazing thing is that everything we thought he could be, he came in and kind of surpassed it,” said Lacob. “I think (Steve Kerr) stated this. He must have surprised Steve. I would say he has no flaws.”
Here’s more from the Pacific Division:
- Is it time for The sun shake up your starting five? With Phoenix off to a 1-4 start, Gerald Burge suggests a Post by Sports360az.com three potential lineup changes, from one change to three. In each of these proposed changes in composition, Very Igadara replaces Haman Maluach in the center. Burge believes that Igadaro would help with the playmaker’s responsibilities while freeing up his teammates with smart screen setup. Igadara is also less error-prone than Maluah, who is in his second season in the league.
- Lakers security guard Luka Doncic is off to a great start and is even loved by NBA officials. His technical foul in the second quarter against Miami on Monday was overturned after a review by the league office, an NBA official tweets. That ties him to just one tech on his record this season.
- Clippers pthe second year of the guard Kobe Sanders averaged 11 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.3 steals. Sanders, who was elevated from a two-way deal to a standard contract at his start-up company, says adaptability is key to success. “Just knowing how to play a role and adapt from that role in college where you’re the main guy to coming to the NBA where you’re not.” he said Janice Carr of the Orange County Register.
- Max Strus made his own Clippers made his debut Monday after missing four weeks with a partially torn plantar fascia in his right foot with 11 points and six assists. But the team outscored Toronto by 16 points in its sixth straight loss. “I don’t think there’s any reason to hit the panic button” – said Strus, trans Athletic Murray’s Law. “We got guys out, guys were in and out. Lose guys every once in a while. I mean, it’s growing pains. We will be fine. I mean, I don’t think it’s, “Do we need to start panicking when this is going to happen?” We’re going to keep building and we’re going to find a way to contribute and get wins and build on that.” Strus was traded to Cleveland in August in a five-team deal.
