JJ Redick`s first season as an NBA head coach has exceeded many expectations. Under his guidance, the Los Angeles Lakers transitioned from a Play-In Tournament team for three years to securing the third seed in the Western Conference. While the arrival of Luka Doncic certainly contributed to this improvement, Redick appears to have successfully adapted to his head coaching responsibilities and is seemingly maximizing the potential of the Lakers` roster.
Although Redick`s strategic understanding was not in question, a crucial aspect of coaching is getting players to buy into the message. So far, he has managed to achieve this, as evidenced by the Lakers` significantly improved defensive performance in Game 2, a stark contrast to their effort in Game 1.
Redick`s background as a player provides him with instant credibility when directing his team. As clearly demonstrated in Game 2, he is not hesitant to challenge his players if he`s dissatisfied with their effort or execution. In the third quarter, after the Timberwolves had reduced the Lakers` lead to 11 points, Redick called a quick timeout before an inbounds play and could be heard using strong language as his players walked towards the bench.
It was evident that Redick was highly displeased with how the team was preparing for the upcoming inbounds play action. He displayed a clear moment of frustration, stepping onto the court in visible annoyance after requesting the swift timeout.
Following the game, Redick attempted to frame the incident as “not frustration, just coaching,” explaining that he observed the Lakers` offense losing its sharpness and structure and wanted to intervene immediately to prevent it from becoming a larger issue.
Despite his explanation, it`s challenging to entirely dismiss the “not frustration” claim when a coach uses profanity towards his players heading to the bench. Nevertheless, his timing for the timeout was arguably accurate. The Lakers were indeed beginning to falter and perhaps lose concentration, and his impassioned address undoubtedly conveyed the necessary message.
LeBron James reacted calmly to Redick`s emotional display, remarking with a chuckle that the Lakers players have become accustomed to JJ occasionally having a “spazz out” moment. James emphasized that the players need to focus on the substance of the message rather than the delivery style. In this particular instance, the core message was for the team to regroup, lock in, and continue executing their offensive plays effectively.
The team`s response was immediate and positive. Following the timeout, the Lakers went on a quick 7-0 run, pushing their lead back closer to 20 points and maintaining a comfortable distance from the Timberwolves. While the offense struggled to maintain Redick`s desired crispness in the fourth quarter, their defense proved sufficient to secure the win, tying the series at 1-1 before heading to Minnesota for the next games.
Jasper Hawthorne