Wednesday for the resumption of the game, JJ Redick was finally able to count on an almost complete workforce, since LeBron James was in uniform after being uncertain for a long time. Faced with the Hornets, however, that was not enough to find the key, with a short defeat against one of the league duncres. With the addition of Luka Doncic and the transfer finally canceled with this same team of Charlotte around Mark Williams, the Lakers coach admits it: he still gropes as to how to exploit the new resources at his disposal.
JJ Redick called on ten players against the Hornets, extended management of playing times as much chosen and partly constrained by the expulsion of Austin Reaves in the third quarter. “” We always try to develop our ideal rotation“, Explained JJ Redick before the match. “” But again, as I said all season, the ideal rotation can change from one evening to another, depending on the opponent. So many players will have their chance. »»
On Wednesday, Dorian Finney-Smith, Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht and Alex Len had the right to minutes out of the bench. Not Shake Milton or Cam Reddish, less and less used over the season.
“” We still advance by being a little under work because we have a certain number of recruits, and players left then returned »Insists JJ Redick. “” So we try to understand what this new group is. I do not think we are standard change, that our way of changing. »»
-23 without real pivot against the Hornets
JJ Redick applies for the only constant the will of the Lakers to attempt the “Small Ball”, without real professional pivot.
Faced with Charlotte, three of the quarters five lined up by JJ Redick having spent the most time on the prosecution (11'42 »accumulated) Accounted Finney-Smith or Jarred Vanderbilt as post 5 of circumstance.
For a more than mixed result: -8 over the period in favor of Charlotte. And even -23 on all minutes during which neither Jaxson Hayes nor Alex Len were on the prosecution!
“” You have to build habits with this group “Said the Californian technician. “” In particular recently when Anthony Davis was absent, Max Christie was in these five, now Luka will be part of it. And that doesn't mean you do it 25 minutes per game. We will try as we have done before. And we will continue to modify small details when we are complete, I think it is something healthy to do to prepare long playoffs I hope. »»
With Luka Doncic in these small five, the Lakers limit their deficit to the rebound as the Slovenian is active in this area for a rear.
But they still have to manage to incorporate the former Mavericks player into the defensive patterns, and to protect it, while the Hornets have systematically sought to attack Luka Doncic at the end of the match, with success.
