Following last year’s disappointing 27-55 finish, the Los Angeles Lakers were granted the seventh pick and given the chance to rebuild with a promising young talent. The team ended up drafting Kentucky’s Julius Randle with hopes he would help the team.
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Four games into the preseason, Randle hasn’t been producing what has been expected from him. Lakers head coach Byron Scott wants too see more out of his prized rookie, according to Lakers Nation reporter Serena Winters:
Byron Scott on Julius Randle: "I still don't think the last couple of games he's played as hard as he could play."
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) October 17, 2014
Just spending one year in college, Randle is still getting adjusted to the faster pace and stronger bodies present in the NBA game. Part of Randle’s strengths coming into the league was his ability to attack the rim and finish, something he has had trouble with at the professional level.
Randle left Thursday’s game after getting blisters on his heel. Despite being ruled able to return, Scott didn’t use Randle in the second half during the 119-86 loss. In his 11 minutes of action, Randle registered four points while adding a rebound and an assist.
So far in the preseason, Randle has averaged 7.5 points on 40 percent shooting with 5.5 rebounds per game. The Lakers have four games remaining before the season opener October 28 with the next one Sunday against the Utah Jazz.
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