JJ Redick refused to let his starters relaxation in Sport 4, prompting comparisons to New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau.
In Sport 4 of their first-round sequence in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Los Angeles Lakers misplaced 116-113 to fall 1-3 in opposition to the Wolves. Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 38 factors, however the Wolves had been in a position to take a lead within the ultimate minute after trailing for a lot of the sport.
Lakers’ head coach JJ Redick grew to become the primary coach in NBA historical past to play solely 5 gamers in a complete half of playoff basketball, utilizing solely Doncic, LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Dorain Finney-Smith, and Austin Reaves within the ultimate 24 minutes.
After the sport, Redick’s unrecruited rotation drew comparisons to an NBA coach who has been referred to as “abusive” for his tendency to depend on his starters.
Tom Thibodeau, regardless of his clear excellence as an NBA coach, is extra well-known for his refusal to relaxation his gamers. Three New York Knicks–Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, and OG Anunoby–are all within the prime 5 of complete minutes performed this season.
Redick made it clear that he meant to depend on his starters for the whole second half, making the Lakers’ lack of depth much more obvious.
“Essentially the most outstanding factor was him saying ‘We determined this within the locker room at half-time,’” stated ESPN’s Tim Bontemps. “I’m sorry, if Tom Thibodeau did this and didn’t pull one starter the whole second half, the whole metropolis of New York would have pitchforks out, and can be coming for him. It will be the largest story going.”
Whereas the sport was necessary to the grand scheme of the Lakers’ season and postseason success, there was ample time within the ultimate 24 minutes to relaxation one of the best gamers.
“The Lakers are up by 10 at first of the fourth, you’ve obtained LeBron James at 40 years outdated on a 36-hour turnaround, you’ve obtained Luka Doncic coming off having meals poisoning and throwing up within the locker room,” he continued. “You can not play these guys the whole second half with out a break.”
Redick, a first-year head coach, has largely been profitable this season, however he has had his justifiable share of blunders. It’s his first postseason, and he seemingly is feeling the strain that comes with the playoffs, however he overreacted to the lights being the brightest.
“I don’t care if that they had 4 days off, and so they weren’t sick, you don’t do it in Sport 4 of a playoff sequence,” stated Brian Windhorst.
Thankfully for Redick and his staff, the Lakers could have two full days off earlier than enjoying Sport 5 on Wednesday, April 30. By then, Doncic and James ought to have recovered from their marathon this weekend, though with their again pressed in opposition to elimination, Redick gained’t give them a lot of a break in the course of the subsequent sport.
Doncic, it appears, was affected by a abdomen bug in the course of the sport and James, at 40 years outdated, can’t be tasked with enjoying 46 minutes evening in and evening out, even within the postseason.
The Timberwolves are merely youthful than the Lakers, and whereas their lack of expertise has been obvious at instances, they will keep contemporary for the whole sport. Nothing would make Anthony Edwards happier than knocking James out of the playoffs, and he’s anticipated to play with a drive within the upcoming elimination sport.
