Lakers coach JJ Redick challenged the Lakers to prioritize connectivity and communication on Wednesday before playing the Heat, but they faced a big deficit at halftime. According to Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times, Redick got it through to his team that they needed to talk more and play harder.
The Lakers fared better against Miami’s zone defense in the second half and came back to register their first win since Jan. 3.
“I challenged the team across the board today in our meeting about leadership,” Redick said. “And leadership — people think about talking, obviously being vocal, talking in the huddles, whatever it may be. That certainly is a form of leadership. But leadership takes many forms. And I think talk is a requirement of the job as a basketball player. Talk is a requirement of the job.”
According to Woike, Los Angeles’ Wednesday win was a sign of growth, with players taking accountability for things they hadn’t been doing.
We have more from the Lakers:
- Guard Austin Reaves played a huge role in the win against Miami and he’s continuing to grow as a play-maker. Reaves is averaging 9.6 assists per game since Christmas, including a career-high 16 on Dec. 29 and 14 against the Heat. According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin (Twitter link), Redick said Thursday that Reaves is playing at an “All-Star level.” His season-long averages of 17.9 points and 6.2 assists per game would be career highs if they hold.
- LeBron James continues to be thrilled about having Bronny James on the roster, even if the younger James isn’t playing much, Chuck Schilken of the Los Angeles Times writes. “Bronny doesn’t have to play basketball at all,” LeBron James said on the New Heights podcast (YouTube link). “It’s not like he needs the money. He can do whatever he wants to do. Like, if he wants to be the CEO of my company, he could be that. I’ll start teaching him right now to be that if he wants to. But he’s like, ‘This is my career … my goals and … aspirations and I want to play ball. This is something I love.’ I love that kid. He’s awesome.” Bronny has played sparingly at the NBA level, but he’s averaging 14.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game in the G League.
- The Lakers signed Trey Jemison to a two-way contract on Wednesday, replacing Quincy Olivari. That deal is for two years, tweets Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
- According to McMenamin (Twitter link), the addition of Jemison coincides with the coaching staff’s desire to play Anthony Davis with another center on the floor. Outside of Jemison, the Lakers’ centers on the roster consist of Christian Wood, Jaxson Hayes and Christian Koloko. Wood hasn’t played all season due to a knee injury, while Hayes has also battled health issues and Koloko (on a two-way) has had a limited role.
It is a joke that Bronny is on the roster. It is also joke that Lebron has that control.
That you are bothered by either fact makes you the joke. LOL hating on another man’s success.
No idea why Jj hasn’t gone to Koloko over Hayes yet .
Koloko at least has some good to go along with the obvious bad , Hayes is helpless
This team would be on the surgery table if not for Christie’s new found perimeter defense
He’s playing better then Austin rn and probably there 3 rd most valuable player lately , never thought that be true a month ago
Dwight Howard was played with Ant at the 4 when Lakers won the bubble chip. Oops, I mean hardest championship ever won lol. Is Stevie Wonder coaching this team? Of course Bron is happy, they’ve hustled, swindled the organisation out of money. It’s a legal con job, daylight robbery. Same goes for Stevie JJ Wonder.
Who swindling who? I can almost guarantee you both LeBron and Bronny bring more money in with merch and ticket sales then with make off their salaries.
How can you almost guarantee anything? Dudes not an nba level player and JJ isn’t an nba level coach. Bron got both paid. You can’t think of any players or coaches more deserving?
By all means, why don’t YOU think of some players and coaches more deserving
Should be easy for you!
You may not like the guy but think rationally. LeBron is the most famous American athlete in sports. He flat out drives revenue.
As of a month ago over 500,000 Bronny jerseys had been sold which is more than his dad. It’s $72 minimum to go a South Bay Lakers home game and they charged $139 minimum for his debut G-League game. Bronny’s salary is $1.15 million. I can’t guarantee it because I don’t know the percentages the Lakers get for merch and ticket sales as the NBA does revenue sharing but I’m willing to bet he’s already brought in more than they’ve paid him.
Reddick has the Lakers at 21-17 with a horrible roster outside of James, Davis, Finney-Smith and Reaves. Those four are great to fine but after that the talent level drops way off.
Lebron is the most underpaid athlete in modern sports. He has brought way more wealth to other players and to the owners pockets with his fame. If it weren’t for the NBA’s salary structure he would have been making 60-100 million a year just in salary for most of his career. It is so easy to hate….
Oh please….and yes, I do despise him…and? Oh no, please don’t call me a hater.
HATER
And?
There is absolutely nothing wrong with opening doors for your kids. Everyone would.