Is J.J. Redick as much as the duty? Can he draw extra out of similar Lakers roster?

EL SEGUNDO — Dalton Knecht. Bronny James.

That is it for adjustments to this season’s Los Angeles Lakers roster, two rookies who will not be a part of the common rotation (Knecht has an opportunity if he shoots 3s just like the Lakers hope and exhibits he can do extra than simply that). Basically, the Lakers are operating it again with a roster that gained 47 video games final season, landed Within the play-in, then acquired unceremoniously bounced within the first spherical by Denver.

The Lakers are banking on one different change: J.J. Redick as coach.

Lakers administration has wager huge that Redick — a first-time coach at any skilled or faculty stage — is the important thing to each unlocking this roster and getting the Lakers again to the highest of the West, and likewise constructing one thing sustainable to hold them previous each time LeBron James decides to hold up his Nikes.

It is an enormous ask.

Is J.J. Redick as much as the duty?

WHAT IS DIFFERENT UNDER REDICK?

Former coach Darvin Ham’s title was not talked about at Lakers media day, however loads of shade was quietly thrown his manner. It got here out in the way in which gamers praised Redick’s consideration to element.

D’Angelo Russell stated he felt just like the crew was “winging it” final summer season however there was way more construction this yr.

“I am not one to match but it surely’s been actually detail-oriented to date,” Cam Reddish stated.

That is nice for summer season exercises, however what ought to Lakers followers anticipate when the video games begin?

Much more 3-pointers.It should not be stunning that the most effective pure shooters of a technology needs his crew to launch extra 3s. It is also the appropriate tactical transfer — Joe Mazzula’s Celtics launched three extra 3-pointers a sport than any crew within the league final season (a league-high 47.1% of their pictures), and whereas it is not the one purpose they’d the most effective offense within the NBA final season it is a part of it.

The Lakers have been second-to-last within the league within the share of pictures taken from 3 (35.8%). If there’s one factor gamers stated Redick has preached, it is taking extra 3s.

“Even the Olympics once I [made] a 3, he’d textual content me ‘That is what I wanna see,’ issues like that,” Lakers heart Anthony Davis stated. “So for him, it is positively gonna be simply taking pictures extra threes.”

The Lakers shot 37.7% from 3 final season (eighth finest within the league), they’ve the shooters, these guys simply have to take the pictures.

Extra movement within the offense. Redick would not need LeBron James — or D’Angelo Russell, or Austin Reaves — pounding the ball out above the highest of the important thing, calling up a giant for a decide and operating fundamental pick-and-roll units all sport. He needs far more motion off the ball, together with from 39-year-old LeBron.

Extra shot creation from individuals aside from LeBron.Loads is being requested of LeBron as a tone setter and first shot creator — one thing he confirmed within the Paris Olympics he’s nonetheless able to doing on the highest of ranges. But it surely’s one factor to do this taking part in 25 minutes an evening throughout 5 video games with nearly no journey, it is one other to do it over the marathon of of the 82-game NBA season.

Redick is in search of different gamers to step up and create extra shot makes an attempt — LeBron is not all the time going to carry the ball up and provoke the offense or simply run a pick-and-roll. The offense will run by Anthony Davis extra, whereas gamers like Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell will get extra playmaking obligations. Whether or not they’re up for it results in the opposite matter about this crew.

IS THE LAKERS ROSTER GOOD ENOUGH?

Expertise wins within the NBA. Flat out.

It is honest to ask if the Lakers have close to sufficient to win greater than they did a season in the past, or close to the extent they anticipate? If not, will it matter a lot what Redick does as a result of how far he can take this crew could possibly be restricted by what the entrance workplace did not do that offseason?

After all, as coaching camp opens and optimism reigns across the league, the Lakers do not see it that manner.

“We’ve a whole lot of confidence in these 15 gamers,” Laker GM Rob Pelinka stated. “I believe the inverse of change or overhaul is continuity, and I believe continuity may be extremely profitable in sports activities. It is a core group that did make it to the Western Convention Finals [in 2023]. We did not have Gabe Vincent or [Jarred Vanderbilt] final yr for complete seasons. In the event you add two gamers like that, there is a Delta there. I believe there’s going to be inside progress.”

Well being was a giant matter by the Lakers media day and the way they have been reduce off on the knees by a scarcity of it a yr in the past.

It is true the Lakers have been with out key function gamers for a lot of final season, and reserve heart Christian Wooden is out to begin this season following knee surgical procedure. Nevertheless, the Lakers additionally acquired 147 video games out of Davis and LeBron, not a given contemplating their age and damage historical past (the pair performed 108 video games the earlier season, however have been wholesome for the playoffs and the Lakers made a run to the Western Convention Finals underneath the fired Darvin Ham.

“I believe if we’re wholesome and we’re in a position to keep wholesome all through the complete season, we could possibly be a prime crew within the West,” Davis stated.” The stuff that we in a position to do on each ends of the ground, and then you definately add in Gabe and Vando and C Wooden, I believe that helps. But when we, if we get hit by the damage bug once more, then it is gonna be robust.”

FANTASY IMPACT OF REDICK

From Noah Rubin of NBC Sports activities:

Most groups that want to deal with growing old stars aren’t going to herald a primary yr head coach, particularly one which was by no means an assistant coach. The Nets tried it with Steve Nash, and that was a catastrophe. Nevertheless, Redick seems to be as much as the duty.

He has already revealed his beginning lineup, which is able to characteristic D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, LeBron James and Anthony Davis. He has additionally talked about Dalton Knecht being an elite shooter, and what coach could be higher to maximise the Lakers’ first-round decide than the most effective motion shooters in NBA historical past?

They’re operating issues again with principally the identical roster after successful 47 video games final season. Nevertheless, Rob Pelinka did point out that they are going to be open to transferring their future first spherical picks if it would assist them purchase “sustained Lakers excellence”. What does that appear like? It is unclear, but it surely appears they’re open to doing enterprise, which can not occur till the commerce deadline.

This crew is able to successful 50 video games (simply three greater than final yr), however a whole lot of that may fall on Redick’s shoulders. There will not be a training state of affairs that’s extra intently monitored by followers and media this season. Everybody will probably be watching to see if the previous podcaster could make the leap to main an NBA franchise.