JJ Redick was recruited to make changes for the Los Angeles Lakers. However, he is maintaining one significant aspect.
The new head coach of the Lakers disclosed in an interview on ESPN’s “The Lowe Post” podcast that he intends to start with the team’s most frequently used lineup from the previous season:
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Anthony Davis
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Rui Hachimura
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LeBron James
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Austin Reaves
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D’Angelo Russell
“Yes, it will be the starting five that achieved a 23-10 record last year,” Redick confirmed.
Despite the fact that Lakers’ training camp is still a week away, Redick is convinced that he already knows what will be most effective for the team. Last season, the lineup led by James played the most minutes, 388, per Basketball Reference, and outscored opponents by 6.8 points per 100 possessions.
While sticking with what worked last season seems logical, Redick was brought in precisely because of how poorly last season went under the previous head coach Darvin Ham. The Lakers finished eighth in a competitive Western Conference with a 47-35 record but were swiftly eliminated by the Denver Nuggets in the first round.
Redick elaborated on the changes he plans to implement with the lineup and the team as a whole, emphasizing taking more shots in the paint and from the 3-point line, as well as aiming for more offensive rebounds:
“I believe there will be a good amount of movement in terms of what the offense will look like. The shot selection will hopefully see improvement. We’ve discussed ways to increase paint touches and shoot more threes.
“We’ve also talked about giving certain players more leeway with their mid-range shots, whether in the post or isolation. Hopefully, there will be an improvement in shot selection. From a possession standpoint, one of the key areas this team excelled in last year, and historically with this group, was free throws.
“Apart from that, there hasn’t been much margin creation, so we aim to create some margins. One aspect we will emphasize is offensive rebounding, with a focus on corner crashes.”
Redick’s options are limited to teaching an existing lineup new strategies after a quiet Lakers offseason where few significant contributors were added. The team faced constraints in terms of cap space, especially after Russell exercised his $18.7 million player option, and all veterans willing to take a pay cut for James signed with other teams. James eventually signed a two-year, $104 million max contract.
The Lakers’ notable additions came through the draft, with Dalton Knecht as the 17th pick and Bronny James as the 55th pick. Knecht, a 23-year-old sharpshooter from Tennessee, is expected to see more playing time this season. Redick mentioned that the G League would play a significant role in developing the younger James into an NBA player.
Redick provided an intriguing response when questioned about Anthony Davis’ shooting struggles:
“I have a theory about that. A theory I’m not ready to share publicly … And you know what, if my theory proves to be correct, I’ll share it with you later in the season. But I do have a theory about it.”
The Lakers will have an opportunity to showcase their improvements on October 4 in their preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.