He is a calm guy.. That's who he is.. That's how he plays.. That's how he played in Ohio State.
He doesn't get angry. He doesn't panic when things don't go his way. He doesn't force when things aren't falling his way.
He just keeps with his game, and tries to piece it together until he can figure it out.
But just because he isn't giving the Mamba Snarl or screaming after a bucket, doesn't mean he has no passion, or is a diva. Or is not engaged. Some people don't need to act a certain way.
So when you add that he's a rookie.. When you add that he's 19.. When you add that he's still struggling to adjust to certain things.. 3 things that were bound to happen, even if he was balling out, he'd still have these problems..
But then throw on top that the roster is a mishmash of things that don't fit together and not the best fit with him, and a coach who is like the Sandman at the Apollo ready to give him the hook at any moment..
That's when you get what you have.
All the while, guys like Emmanuel Mudiay, Kristaps Porzingis & Justise Winslow are getting hype for their play, but in no way have they really been any better than he is. And Jahlil Okafor is out here putting up 19 & 7. But is so bad on defense, it ends up being a pointless 19 & 7. Yes that can happen. Wherever that stat that I think
@PMatic posted, is a perfect example of that. Sixers went from 12th in Defensive Efficiency Last Year to 29th This Year. Robert Covington being out makes some difference, but not that much. The only guy who really has been head and shoulders above is Karl Anthony Towns and that was a forgone conclusion.
So we can say Russell looks this and that, and he hasn't been great that's fair to say. But he's still performing in line with other rookies around him. And that's a good thing. With all this stuff that isn't going his way, some on him, others not on him. That means when it starts to click for him, he'll be fine.
There's some positives for him, and some things that could be built upon going forward.
1. His defense is better than what was expected. Not elite, not great, not very good. But average. That's good enough for now. Some of that can be learned, and catching passing lanes and correct way to rotate on defense, and how to play the screen. But of course, he has those moments of looking bad, and lost. Which is also a symptom of everyone not named Roy Hibbert & surprisingly (although not to me) Nick Young on this team.
2. He's very good on P&R as a ball handler. There's been a few times he'll come off a pick and roll and catch Clarkson weak side cross court on a perfect pass for 3.
3. He's missing his shots short. But he's not missing them wildly. It's either one of 2 things, he's not used to the range and can't hit it that far, or doesn't have the legs for it. If it's the first that comes with taking that shot. Still shooting 30% from 3, and that's even when looking bad. So that's encouraging. If it's the legs, then hitting the weights more consistently will help.
Mainly if his feet are set, he gets a good look and a good take from 3.
4. He has good passing instincts. Whether in transition or on P&R. He also does not turn the ball over a lot.
5. He can get in the lane, I think he's tentative a bit on it. Just like Julius is now. Both of them are not sure what they want to do when they get into the lane. Julius tries to go bull in china shop, and now that that hasn't worked he's settling more often. Russell likes to have an option to dump it when he's in the paint, so if he doesn't see it there, he won't take it in. Especially through the middle of the paint. Going down the side of the paint he's more comfortable because it's easier to dribble out for him.
