The 11-8 record up until the end of November might not be the start JJ Redick had in mind. Struggles from the bench as well as leading superstar LeBron James‘ dip in scoring and uptick in turnovers have remained a problem. Tonight, against the Utah Jazz, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar showed another problem he was struggling with.
However, that game was too close for comfort as the third worst team in the league kept pace with them for much of the game. They could have even embarrassed the men in purple and gold, if not for a head scratching timeout from their head coach.
Tonight’s win came courtesy of a few positives with Anthony Davis playing to his dominant best leading the line. The win also brought out some decent performances from bench players who were thrust into the lineup owing to injuries to Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Rusell.
Thanks to that overall contribution, they could offset LeBron James‘ nine misses from three. In fact, he has missed fourteen of them in the past three games. With such lack of production from beyond the arc, JJ Redick should have seen something that he could help the 39-year-old down the line.
1. Focus on LeBron James’ playmaking
LeBron James has been averaging 9.4 assists this season and looked like a triple double machine for many games. If his three-point shooting has been that worse this season, the playmaking part has not diminished. Against the Jazz he dished out 14 assists which happens to be close to his season high.
If anything, Redick should see this as a positive. There is no one in the NBA who has a higher IQ than the 39-year-old. If anything, the first-year head coach should focus on exploiting that every game. If he concentrates on playmaking, it will help the Los Angeles Lakers in two ways.
One is that he can conserve a lot of the energy he uses to shoot threes. The second is it forcefully puts the pressure on the rest of the Los Angeles Lakers to score. The second part is easier said than done after the entire squad has been facing the heat in this six-game stretch.
But Redick has to think about the team long term. He needs LeBron James fresh during the playoffs and his team confidence in his offense. Those two birds can only be killed with one stone if he limits his former podcast partner on offense.
It is easier said than done, but he has to sell the movie to the all-time leading scorer with a few trailers. Tonight’s win was by default one, but a couple of games where their usual starting five excels with James concentrating on playmaking will be huge.
2. Give more minutes to those who need it most
Usually, the starting five of James, Davis, Reaves, Rui Hachimura and either Dalton Knecht or Russell get most of the minutes. But in tonight’s game, Gabe Vincent played his best game of the season and Max Christie showed he is good at exploiting foul calls.
The former Miami Heat star has been much maligned for not stepping up. However, if tonight’s game showed anything, it is that Vincent needs minutes to get into rhythm. JJ Redick should see this as a sign and rethink the current minutes distribution.
If some of his players need time on the ball, the 40-year-old head coach should give them that. The only way to build confidence is by allowing them to feel confident on the ball. 10-15 minutes a game is not enough for someone who has not played almost all of last season.
It will also bode well if Redick can help other G-League players get some time playing with the first team. Even if they don’t produce big numbers, their work can help the Los Angeles Lakers leading two superstars some time to catch their breath.
3. Bring in some FIBA style schemes
Bringing in those G-Leaguers and bench players will surely help the starters rest. But it can also help JJ Redick bring another aspect into the Lakers playing style. Multiple championship winning head coach Steve Kerr had asked his team of superstars to resort to FIBA basketball when the going went tough at the Paris Olympics.
It would not hurt the Los Angeles Lakers if they resorted to that style whenever facing tough opponents. Not that the starters need to do it, rather their bench with their fresher legs could implement some FIBA schemes.
This will help the team either stop or go toe to toe with elite squads whenever their starters rest. The Lakers have some possibilities that JJ Redick could exploit. Their performances from these six games have given enough proof that he needs to think differently.
