Lakers new starter Stanley Johnson’s inspired play a silver lining in loss

The basketball left Stanley Johnson’s proper hand, floated towards the basket from the nook and settled into the online for a three-pointer.

Johnson stopped and posed, having fun with adulation from the followers inside Crypto.com Enviornment.

He had been a shiny spot for the Lakers throughout their 126-121 defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday evening.

Stanley was on level on offense. However his predominant job was to play protection.

And he did all of it, scoring 13 factors on five-for-seven capturing, grabbing 5 rebounds and handing out eight assists. Johnson was within the beginning lineup and made his first 5 photographs, together with three three-pointers.

On his offense rising

“I believe it’s simply being right here longer,” Stanley stated. “Looks like you’re a veteran author. The extra you do it, the better it’s, the higher it’s, proper? It’s a type of issues like from the day I bought right here, simply studying like the place we wish to be at and I used to be watching as a result of I used to be on South Bay [Lakers], however I believe small-ball lineup with me in there on the 5 after which guarding level guards, I believe it was just a little completely different for all of us.

“And I believe we’ve accomplished a fantastic job of like honing in on movie work and dealing in small teams to determine what we do good and what you do good to love get the very best out of all of us. It’s March — its been a protracted season — however I bought right here Dec. 25. I want I might have had like a coaching camp or one thing like that to get all these items in and perhaps like in December I’m feeling like I’m feeling proper now. But it surely occurs. God works in mysterious methods. I’m simply blessed to be right here.”

After getting a shot blocked by Joel Embiid, Johnson hit the ground and have become upset at no foul being known as. He stated sufficient to earn a technical foul with 7:17 left within the third quarter.

Johnson was additionally given the defensive project of defend the deadly James Harden.

What did Stanley offer you guys tonight?

“Stanley was nice tonight,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel stated. “Anytime you play in opposition to a man like James Harden, you must work your tail off to protect him. However you must return at him however. I believed Stanley did a fantastic job of that. To start out the sport, actually set a tone for our group when it comes to, ‘We’re going to assault these guys with aggressive offensive basketball as a lot as setting our protection.’ And I believe he guarded James tonight in addition to anyone can guard him. I believed he did a hell of a job.”