Lakers coach JJ Redick tries to seek out stability between analytics and intuition

JJ Redick, the Lakers new head coach, seemed down at one set of the numbers to find that one in all his rookies, Bronny James, had completed extra shifting within the group’s first follow than anybody else on the roster.

“I went over to Bronny earlier than follow and I used to be like, ‘Dude, you ran six miles.’ And he was like, ‘Yeah, I do know.’ So any individual had already shared that with him,” Redick stated Wednesday. “I believe my expertise as a participant was very useful as a result of I acquired to come back in on the tail finish of all of this monitoring stuff. And it was one thing, particularly as I acquired older, that was necessary to me when it comes to measuring simply my capability and my load. And if a man has acquired a robust buildup, and he is feeling good, that is necessary data for him.”

Nevertheless it’s not necessary to everybody, a needle that Redick goes to have to string with how he makes use of and disseminates data gleaned via wearable expertise, high-definition cameras and sensors close to the edges within the follow facility — all measuring totally different data and logging information.

“I don’t care about numbers,” Anthony Davis stated. “Numbers aren’t something. You might common 50. Should you’re in final place, like, what do you get out of the season, ‘Oh, you averaged 50.’ You get nothing for that. I’m about profitable, profitable championships.

“So, that don’t matter to me.”

It clearly issues to his new head coach — the whole lot does.

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Redick is admittedly susceptible to getting method into the weeds on issues large and small. Earlier this 12 months, LeBron James informed Redick he thought a DJ can be a pleasant contact at follow. Via two days inside the power, the group has had DJ Meel arrange within the nook close to their weight room. And Redick has appreciated the vibe.

“If the gamers are comfortable, I am good,” he stated.

He’s not alone, although, in the case of his ardour for data. He stated he needed to be sure that as he fashioned his first NBA workers, he was surrounded by individuals who needed to study the identical.

“Extra data is healthier,” Redick stated. “That is how I … each particular person we have employed, that is been a key factor that I’ve informed them. ‘Do you wish to get within the weeds?’ ‘Yeah, I do wish to get within the weeds. Yeah.’ In order a lot data as potential.”

However Redick, like every participant who has seen analytics enter the NBA sphere, is aware of that there’s a stability that must be struck, that informational overload could be simply as crippling as bodily overload. And there’s an artwork to sharing issues that matter to you with gamers who may not care as a lot.

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“I believe that is a benefit of him being an ex-player. Clearly, the numbers do not lie. And there is plenty of reality within the numbers. However there’s additionally circulation and really feel within the recreation,” guard Austin Reaves stated. “And for him to be an ex-player, I do know he is aware of the ups and downs in video games and the conditions to go away from the numbers. However such as you stated, he is a giant analytics-numbers man and I am very excited for myself to dive extra into that and see methods I could be higher as effectively.

“… Up to now, I’ve flushed all that. Yesterday was the primary time I really checked out how a lot I ran in follow. It was like 5 miles. I are likely to play extra off of really feel and going with the circulation. However I additionally suppose there are conditions the place there are numbers that provide you with a leg up or a little bit enhance to actually see what works and does not work.”

Notes

Davis shared a enjoyable back-and-forth story from dwell motion on Wednesday between LeBron James and Bronny. “It’s improbable to have the ability to be right here and witness it in follow,” Davis stated. “And Bronny hit a 3 over him immediately. Everyone was speaking smack in Bronny’s favor. Then Bron got here down and simply bullied any individual. Simply took it out on [him] — I forgot who it was — and acquired a layup. Bronny got here down and hit one other three, I believe over Austin. And Bron needed the ball. So you might see, though they weren’t matched up, the competitors is there. And that’s what we like to see.” … Cam Reddish remained a restricted participant with ankle soreness, however his damage has improved since Tuesday. … The Lakers have a plan on how they’ll use their veterans within the preseason, although they’re not sharing it as of but. … The group has an early follow scheduled for Thursday earlier than busing to Palm Springs the place they’ll play their first two preseason video games.

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This story initially appeared in Los Angeles Occasions.