JJ Redick has hit the ground running in his Lakers coaching debut. The rookie HC led his team to a 110-103 win against the Timberwolves on Tuesday’s opening night. Among the factors that stood out were LA’s playcalling and execution rates, which is a testament to the detail-oriented focus Redick has shown throughout the preseason.
Redick’s nuanced understanding was on display again during his post-game press conference. The former NBA 3-point sharpshooter pointed out one of the key factors that may have led to the Lakers’ shooting struggles from 3-point range against the T’Wolves despite getting open looks after LA shot 5 of 30 from deep.
“I’m gonna send in a request to the league tomorrow that we can play with worn-in basketballs … I’m being dead serious, I’m not sure why we’re playing in real games with brand new basketballs,” Redick told reporters (h/t Arash Markazi).
(You may listen to Redick’s comments starting from the 3:15 mark).
JJ Redick explained that he got to handle the game ball after a long rebound fell in his hands before a timeout was called. The Lakers coach felt the players should have the opportunity to play with a good basketball because the touch and feel are much different with a brand new one.
It may be related to players practicing with older balls, which can be easier to grip compared to newer balls that are stiffer and rougher, altering the long-range shots.
JJ Redick’s Lakers impress in 2024-24 NBA season debut
The JJ Redick era couldn’t have started in a better way for the LA Lakers. The team seemingly figured out a lot of their woes from last year and Redick’s coaching had a lot to do with it. Everything he said or preached during his press conferences came to fruition in the Lakers’ first official game under his leadership.
LA ran everything to star big man Anthony Davis, who finished with 36 points, 16 rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal. That was one of the key aspects Redick aimed to focus on when he took the job. As good as Davis is, the Lakers went through several stretches under Darvin Ham’s reign, where they failed to get the center involved in crunch situations and for long stretches.
The other aspect the Lakers thrived in was the rebounding. LA was one of the worst offensive-rebounding teams in the league last year but with the same group, it managed to outrebound the Timberwolves on offense by a 15-12 margin. It was almost an anomaly last year for the Lakers to pull off something like this.
The turnovers also cut down significantly as the Lakers lost the ball only seven times while forcing the Timberwolves to commit 15 turnovers. The playcalling and execution rate also seemed elite as JJ Redick’s schemes led to a quality shot profile, with which LA managed 72 paint points.
Transition defense was an area, where the Lakers struggled last year and in the preseason. But with the starters available and regular rotations the Purple and Gold restricted the Timberwolves to only seven fastbreak points.
It’s only the first game, so the sample size is not as encouraging. However, JJ Redick’s instant influence on the team’s structure and organization can’t be ignored. The Lakers took nearly half the season to reach this level last year, so the signs are positive for LeBron James and Co. with Redick in charge.
