There have been a lot of questions about D’Angelo Russell‘s playing time with the Los Angeles Lakers this season, from not playing at the end of games, to his move to the bench. He is still a very young player, and the coaching staff needs to find ways to allow him to be successful. He has started playing better this month, and has actually done a good job of coming off the bench. Russell has more freedom when playing with the second unit, which has allowed him to play with more freedom.

The Lakers have a lot of ball-dominant players, especially at the guard positions. They like to have the ball in their hands, and the team does not have a lot of deadly spot-up shooters, which can create problems on offense. Early on, a lineup of Kobe Bryant, Jordan Clarkson and D’Angelo Russell struggled to consistently create offense. Lou Williams also struggled with his shot, and the coaching staff wanted to make a change.

At first, moving Russell did not seem like a good idea, as the coaches were being inconsistent in the handling of their young point guard. However, he has been able to run the offense with the second unit, and has looked more comfortable and aggressive. He is not afraid to shoot the ball, and has gotten better at creating out of the pick-and-roll. Although he still has a lot to work on, he is starting to show why he was the second pick of the draft.

The team will surely make more changes this season, and it remains to be seen if Russell will stick with the second unit. He is getting a good amount of minutes and may continue to receive more as the coaching staff gets more comfortable with his production. Putting Russell in successful situations is a challenge for the coaches, but something they must try and do to help him develop.