JJ Redick's bold call to foul the Grizzlies despite being 6 points up was risky but proved to be very effective in winning the Lakers the game.
There were many questions surrounding JJ Redick's hiring as Lakers head coach. But he continues to prove critics wrong with his decision-making. In the final 17 seconds of the Lakers' game against the Grizzlies, with the team up 126-120, he called on LeBron James to foul Marcus Smart to prevent the three-pointer.
The Grizzlies almost made the Lakers regret the decision, as Smart made his first throw and missed the second, only for Santi Aldama to grab the rebound and score a two-pointer to cut the lead to just 3 points.
However, it still proved to be the right call as the Grizzlies had no choice but to foul as well, sending Anthony Davis to the free-throw line, where he made both his shots to ice the game with just 10 seconds remaining. With the scoreline now at 128-123 in favor of the Lakers, there wasn't much the Grizzlies could do.
Redick has done wonders with the squad that he has right now. Despite the lack of personnel and roster changes, Redick has the Lakers playing a much more structured and organized style of basketball, as evidenced in this clip where the team set up a brilliant cut pass for LeBron James to drive to the basket with ease.
And Redick's coaching stringency wasn't just seen in his plays, but in the ways he holds players accountable. He was seen visibly scolding LeBron James and Dalton Knecht after the first quarter yesterday, as they failed to cover their defensive assignment during an earlier play.
To show that the Grizzlies' game wasn't an outlier, one need not look far for more examples. Even as far back as opening night against the Timberwolves, it was evident that the Lakers were a far more disciplined team, and adhered to Redick's play calls and set-pieces to perfection.
One of the key highlights of Redick's coaching style is his ability to pivot and adjust when the team is struggling or in a unique situation. Check out this timeout and play-call Redick made in the Lakers' second game against the Suns to provide Gabe Vincent with an open look with just one second on the shot clock.
The difference between Redick's coaching style and Darvin Ham's is night and day. While the Lakers squad was visibly frustrated with Ham, and even stopped listening to him toward the end of his tenure, the players are in tune with what Redick wants, and pay close attention to him during team huddles and timeouts when he calls plays.
There is no doubt the Lakers' offense is thriving under JJ Redick's watchful eye. He has been able to simultaneously open up the offensive envelope for the team while providing them with a solid structure, organizing the attack, and making sure they are all held accountable.
The Lakers currently have the fifth-best offense in the NBA, with an offensive rating of 117.3. They are also sixth in points per game with 117.6. And much of this offensive fluidity can be attributed to JJ Redick's schemes, play-calls, and set-pieces.
It shouldn't be surprising that Redick's coaching brilliance is starting to pay off. Shams Charania recently described Redick as someone who eats, sleeps, and breathes basketball. And Redick has proven that, once even being spotted watching game film at a car wash.
The Lakers are currently 7-4 and have the sixth seed in the Western Conference. While there are still some obvious weaknesses in the roster, such as their defense and their three-point shooting, Redick has done brilliantly with the players he has.
Laker fans will be thrilled that they were able to get him as a head coach, and will try to urge the front office to make some moves to give him a roster that can contend for the NBA championship.
For now, Redick will now rest on his laurels and will make sure that the Lakers are prepared for the NBA Cup, as they take on the San Antonio Spurs tonight in their first group game.
