The Lakers hope that swapping coaches is enough to change their fortunes from last season, where they finished with the eighth-best record in the West and lost in the first round.
JJ Redick edick is taking over mostly the same roster as his predecessor, Darvin . Hamm, but plans to change a few things. Redick gave some insights into how the Lakers can play better in an offseason appearance on ESPN’s “The Lowe Post,” sharing how he wants to use LeBron James and shift points of emphasis heading into the 2024-25 season.
Here’s what we learned about Redick’s plan, and how it may be a difference-maker for the team. m m, but plans to change a few things
Redick gave some insights into how the Lakers can play better in an offseason appearance on ESPN’s “The Lowe Post,” sharing how he wants to use LeBron James and shift points of emphasis heading into the 2024-25 season.
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JJ Redick’s starting lineup makes more sense than Darvin Ham’s
The Lakers tried 19 different starting lineups last season, wasting time at the beginning of the year by starting Taurean Prince before finally settling back into the D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimua, LeBron James and Anthony Davis group that led them to the Western Conference Finals in 2023.
That lineup went 22-10 after Hachimura was inserted into the starting lineup on Feb. 3. That is equivalent to a 56-win pace, just one behind the No. 1-seeded Thunder and nine more than the 47 that Los Angeles actually finished with.
Redick cited that closing record to Zach Lowe, noting that the Lakers are going to play that starting lineup right off the bat in Game 1. That change alone should immediately have Los Angeles improving its seeding from last year.
JJ Redick wants to use LeBron James more as a screener
James is deadly with the ball in his hands, but Redick doesn’t necessarily want him starting with it. Instead, Redick hopes to utilize James away from the ball through screening actions.
“It’s funny because I think when people hear that in regards to LeBron playing off the ball, it doesn’t mean he’s not gonna have the ball,” Redick explained to Lowe. “LeBron is one of the smartest players, and I think using him as a screener and finding ways to get him the ball in specific spots on the floor where he can be a facilitator and scorer, that’s what I mean by being off the ball.”
One of those specific spots that James will be utilized is at the elbow. James has said before that when he catches the ball at the elbow, “it’s not for me to score — I see everything.”
James has been a terrific passer from that elbow area in previous years. It gives him the angles to throw a pass anywhere on the floor.
Getting James the ball at the elbows could also lead to more split cuts, which Redick has said is one of his favorite actions. That could lead to the Lakers playing a more motion-heavy Warriors style of offense, with cutters diving to the basket and shooters popping open for more 3s while James and Davis facilitate from the high post.