JJ Redick Thinks Lakers Offense Is Peaking After Dropping 134 Points On Memphis..
The Los Angeles Lakers have officially found their offensive groove, and head coach JJ Redick believes the timing couldn’t be better. After a thrilling 134-127 road win over the Memphis Grizzlies, Redick acknowledged that this may be the most in-sync the Lakers have looked on the offensive side of the ball all season.
“Yeah, I would agree with that. I think there’s always stuff you can improve on, and you don’t want to say, like, ah, this is the best we can play offensively. We’ve played as well as we have played so far offensively.”
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“A big part of that, I thought, was not just those three guys but Doe, Rui, Gabe—their shot-making, particularly at times when we played a five-laser lineup. And just, you know, Doe missed a couple, I told him to keep shooting, and he made a couple, and I thought that was great.”
“Rui had the big one in the corner over there opposite their bench, and then Vando, you know, his—because of their overhelps—like he was able to operate a little bit in that first half, which was great. Offensively, like, I think it was a good game for us.”
“Because we didn’t just see one thing either. They played a small lineup with switching. They played Edey in a heavy drop. They did a bunch of different stuff. They played Jaren Jackson Jr. at the five—like, they did a bunch of stuff—and we were able to channel change when they channel changed.”
He wasn’t just talking about the stars, though. Redick praised the contributions from role players like Dorian Finney-Smith, Rui Hachimura, and Gabe Vincent, especially when the Lakers went to their smaller “five-laser” lineup.
The Grizzlies threw a variety of defensive coverages at Los Angeles. From running a small lineup with heavy switching, to using Zach Edey in a deep drop, to inserting Jaren Jackson Jr. at the five, Memphis tried just about everything. But Redick praised his team’s ability to “channel change” and adjust on the fly.
While the role players provided crucial support, the engine of this offensive explosion was once again the Lakers’ Big 3—LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves.
All three had at least 25 points, six rebounds, eight assists, two three-pointers made, one steal, and three turnovers. It marked the first time in NBA history that a trio put up those stats in a single game.
Reaves led the way with 31 points on 76% true shooting. Doncic followed with 29 points, nine assists, and eight boards, while LeBron chipped in with 25 points and eight dimes. Together, they combined for 85 points, 21 rebounds, and 25 assists while accounting for 120 of the team’s 134 total points.
Earlier in the year, it was the Lakers’ defense that was carrying them during a strong stretch between late January and early March. But lately, that elite defensive form has cooled off. Fortunately for L.A., the offense has picked up the slack—and if they can rediscover even a portion of their defensive identity in the postseason, this team could be terrifying.
With just eight games left in the regular season and the Lakers sitting at 45-29, firmly in the fourth spot in the West, Redick’s squad is rounding into form at the perfect time. The pieces are clicking. The stars are shining. And if this offense truly is peaking, no team will want to see the Lakers in a seven-game series.
Austin Reaves Applauds LeBron James For Yelling At Lakers During Timeout..
Austin Reaves liked LeBron James yelling at the Lakers during their win over the Grizzlies.
Gautam Varier12 hours ago
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The Los Angeles Lakers bounced back from their heartbreaking loss to the Chicago Bulls with a 134-127 win over the Memphis Grizzlies at FedEx Forum on Saturday. While the Lakers were all smiles after the game, there were tense moments during it, like when LeBron James yelled at the team during a fourth quarter timeout. Austin Reaves was asked about that incident postgame, and he liked what James did.
“It’s the first time I’ve heard him yell in a while,” Reaves said. “… It was refreshing to be honest. I don’t remember exactly what he said, but it just shows how much he cares. His attention to detail is probably the standard. So, if all of us can lock into that every single possession, you can create something special.”
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It’s perhaps not ideal that Reaves doesn’t remember what James had to say during that timeout. Regardless, the two, along with the rest of the team, did lock in to help the Lakers get the win.
The Lakers led by as many as 20 points at one stage, but the Grizzlies stormed back and took a 111-107 lead with 8:35 left in the game. It looked like we might witness another disappointing defeat, but the visitors closed out the game on a 27-16 run to improve to 45-29 this season.
James finished with 25 points (10-21 FG), six rebounds, eight assists, three steals, and one block against the Grizzlies. It wasn’t a perfect game from the 40-year-old, but it was his best by far since he returned from a groin injury.
James had put up 17.8 points on 42.4% shooting from the field in the four games prior to this one, and you wondered how long it was going to take before he got back to his best. This game against the Grizzlies suggests it won’t be much longer.
As for Reaves, he had 31 points (8-16 FG), seven rebounds, eight assists, one steal, and one block against the Grizzlies. The 26-year-old continues to impress and is certainly showing why many are starting to believe he is the best third option in the NBA.
LeBron James Wanted The Lakers To Treat This Game As A Must-Win
Reaves stated that he hadn’t heard James yell in a while, and there might be a good reason for that. In his courtside interview postgame, the guard revealed that LeBron wanted the Lakers to treat this contest against the Grizzlies as a must-win game.
“Bron said it before the game, we’re going to play this as a must-win,” Reaves said.
This was indeed a crucial game. Both the Lakers and Grizzlies came into it with a 44-29 record and the winner was going to end the night at fourth in the Western Conference standings.
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