True to his coaching philosophy, Redick is experimenting with more fluid lineups. Last Friday, Redick made the tough call to bench Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell. The decision has paid dividends. Since Russell's benching, the Lakers are 3-0 and LeBron James has racked up three straight triple-doubles. For a team that has struggled with bench productivity all season, the move has been a godsend on both ends of the floor.
Since Russell's benching, the Laker's defensive productivity, three-point shooting percentage, and bench productivity have all risen. LeBron James's 35 points, 12 rebounds, and 14 assists in the victory over Memphis on Wednesday night are further proof that when the Lakers have explosiveness coming off their bench, their superstars perform even better.
Before his benching, D'Angelo Russell had a rough road trip, shooting a mere 30% from behind the arc. As Redick (a three-point sharpshooter throughout his NBA career) has publicly stated that he wants to increase the number and accuracy of the Lakers' three-point attempts, it should come as no surprise that Russell was moved to the bench.
Starting Reddish in place of Russell has balanced out the starting lineup. Switching between the two guards has helped to diversify the Lakers' offensive attack, keeping opposing defenses guessing. Wins and losses are, of course, dictated by players' athleticism, but that athleticism means nothing if the players' are dealing with confidence issues. As a starter, Russell seemed unfocused, making poor decisions with his shooting, often taking low percentage shots when he should have looked for his teammates. On the flip side, coming off the bench, Russell appears much more comfortable. He has played more aggressively, selecting smarter shots, getting into the paint on numerous occasions to draw easy fouls.
In a recent episode of First Take on ESPN, TV personality Stephen A. Smith revealed his enthusiasm for the Redick's decision:
"JJ Redick, I love the fact that he sat D'Angelo Russel and brought in Cam Reddish. If you've noticed, since he has done that, LeBron James's game has elevated, based on what we had seen in earlier parts, along with what we have seen ever since then. He's had a triple double in every game since Cam Reddish has been the guy in there. I'm watching that. Because... if this brother's going to be formidable, that helps the Lakers a lot."
Redick's willingness to experiment with the Lakers' lineups, keeping players fresh and confusing opposing defenses, has proven to be a wise decision. The young coach is already proving that he has what it takes to unify big personalities, making the tough decisions that are necessary for building a Championship caliber team.
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