Consulting Redick, Bronny and the Lake Show

Sports fans have had plenty to keep them busy lately. The NFL and college football are in full swing, the MLB playoffs have been electric, and the NHL returned to action last week. However, hoop heads haven’t been completely left out in the cold as the WNBA playoffs have been full of drama.

It seems like a long time ago that Team USA, led by Steph Curry and LeBron James, put on a show to win Olympic gold in Paris, but NBA fans don’t have to wait until they can see your favorite stars in meaningful action. one more time

There are only seven days left in the regular season and, as always, the Los Angeles Lakers are one of the main attractions. LA went through one of the most talked about coaching searches in years, flirting with UConn coach Dan Hurley before hiring JJ Redick to replace Darvin Ham. The NBA Draft usually centers around the lottery and the debate over who will be the No. 1 pick, but the Lakers also dominated the conversation as they teamed up father and son by selecting Bronny James in the second round.

Love them or hate them, there’s no denying that the Lakers are the most entertaining reality show in the NBA. There will be no shortage of content all season as trade rumors swirl, LeBron continues to defy Father Time, and Redick deals with the scrutiny that comes with being a first-time NBA head coach in a huge market .

We have months to get into all of this, but today we’d like to kick off our coverage of this upcoming Lakers season with a look at what the team has been up to through three preseason games. What should Lakers fans hope for and who is already causing concern? We deliver our first report card of the season.

It’s always good to see the two best players on the Lakers doing their thing together on the floor, but let’s be real. Besides looking like their skills have deteriorated, which they obviously haven’t, all Lakers fans care about is that both LeBron and AD are healthy and ready for the 82-game grind.

Both players sat out the preseason opener against the Timberwolves, but combined for 75 minutes in the next two games against the Suns and Bucks. That’s more than enough to get the blood flowing before the regular season begins.

The dynamic duo looked terrific against the Suns. Davis posted a 17-8-3 line, while LeBron contributed 19-5-4 with a pair of blocks. Together, they made more than 68% of their shots from the field and 50% from three.

The starters, LeBron and AD included, had a tougher time four days later against the Bucks. Maybe it was because LeBron was clearly unhappy about having to fly to Milwaukee in October, or maybe he was still feeling the effects of being graded by Greg, but neither could find his shot.

Even though LeBron and AD shot just 36%, the bench was able to come back in the fourth quarter to steal the first win of the JJ Redick era.

LeBron and AD have played 33 seasons in the NBA between them, but they look healthy and energized to play under their third coach in three years. That’s all Lakers fans can ask for right now.

One of the most difficult tasks facing Redick is figuring out a rotation that can compete night in and night out in the West. Austin Reaves represents a big part of the starting lineup after playing a game-high 32 minutes last year, though he’s currently day-to-day with a sore ankle.

Reaves’ injury doesn’t appear to be a big deal, which is great news for the Lakers. The fourth-year player saw a dip in his shooting efficiency last year, but Redick is counting on him to regain his 40 percent 3-point shooting as he continues his evolution as a perimeter playmaker. He made just four of 19 shots against the T-Wolves and Suns before resting his ankle against the Bucks, but his seven assists in each game was a positive sign.

Everyone seems to be saying the right things when it comes to D’Angelo Russell. Redick has said the point guard will play “a big role” this season, while Russell himself has said his focus this year is to “stay consistent” after an up-and-down 2023-24 season. He’s been solid if not spectacular in the preseason, but the real question is whether he’ll be traded at some point.

Russell has been the constant subject of trade rumors since arriving in LA. That will only continue now that he has an expiring contract after picking up his player option this summer.

The remaining available minutes are still very much up in the air. Rui Hachimura has made a strong case for the starting power forward spot, especially in light of Jarred Vanderbilt’s surge following offseason foot surgery.

Max Christie has brought a much-needed defensive attitude this preseason, as has Quincy Olivari, with whom we will enter the rookie section. Jaxson Hayes has looked capable as part of a twin-tower lineup with Anthony Davis, and he’ll have plenty of opportunities to prove himself before Christian Wood returns from two offseason knee surgeries.

Gabe Vincent was signed last year to be a difference-making 3-D point guard, but injuries limited him to just 11 games played. He may be the biggest X-factor for the Lakers this year, because if he can return to the form he showed in helping lead the Heat to the Finals two years ago, he could help LA improve its defensive efficiency in the 17th-ranked game.

Grading the Lakers’ rookies is like grading a student who aced a test, did a solid job on the group project, and then said his dog ate his homework.

Quincy Olivari has come out of nowhere to become a Jose Alvarado-like pest as an undrafted rookie, drawing high praise from Redick for the energy he’s brought off the bench. On a roster with many question marks, a strong preseason finish from the former Xavier Mosqueter could be enough to earn him a roster spot and role.

As a huge college basketball fan, I was shocked when Dalton Knecht fell to the 17th pick. NBA teams draft for potential, I get that, and at 23, Knecht is more of a finished product than the 18-year-olds who were drafted before him. This guy was the most complete offensive player in the country, though, and he’s an ideal fit for the Lakers as someone who can come in and contribute some points when LeBron and AD need a hit.

Knecht struggles defensively, but Redick has praised his willingness to learn and follow direction. More importantly, it looks like his scoring ability will translate to the next level. He’s been cold since the 3-pointer, but he looks good and has plenty of minutes to figure it out.

Knecht shot 39.7 percent from three last year, and that was against tougher SEC competition after transferring to Tennessee from Northern Colorado. He’s more than just a 3-point shooter, too, as he averaged 21.7 points per game while leading the Volunteer offense. Knecht will have his moments this year as part of the rotation.

That leaves Bronny James, and as much as everyone has hated him, I think he deserves some grace, because nothing that has happened has been his fault. Did he deserve to be selected based on his skill set? No, not really, and nothing he’s done in Summer League or the preseason has shown he’s close to contributing at a professional level.

Bronny’s +/- in three games is nearly the worst in the league, but here’s the reality: He could grab a cup of coffee in the NBA so he and his dad can share the court together in a historic moment. After that, though, it’s time for the G League, where he can hopefully develop his game without the scrutiny that comes with being LeBron James’ son on the most famous basketball team in the world.

Obviously, LeBron pushed for the Lakers to draft Bronny. As much as I want to destroy the nepotism of it all, however, how often does the No. 55 pick actually contribute? As long as the Lakers aren’t giving him minutes instead of more deserving players, Bronny’s pro basketball existence, at least for now, is just a footnote to the Lakers’ biggest issues.

We will need more time to find out if JJ Redick has what it takes to be the head coach of the Lakers. We’re in the honeymoon period at the moment, where the players are talking about a culture change while throwing the former coach under the bus. This happens every time a new coach takes over in any sport, but the vibes around the Lakers seem really good.

Redick’s youth and fresh voice are a welcome change on this team. Darvin Ham was definitely scapegoated to some extent, but there’s no denying that the Lake Show felt more like an old rehash than must-see TV in the second half of the season. Redick had a long and productive career as a player, earning even more respect as a broadcaster, analyst and podcast host. He understands the modern game and knows how to connect with today’s players. The NBA has a long history of retreading coaches, so giving an exciting rookie a chance seems like a worthwhile gamble.

When it comes to X’s and O’s, Redick’s main stated mission is to make the Lakers more reliant on the 3-point shot. In today’s game, that’s a no-brainer, as the Celtics and Mavericks showed by reaching the Finals while shooting the highest percentage of 3s in the league.

Redick also unveiled a new 3-2 zone with Anthony Davis at point guard, an exciting wrinkle that could let the AD wreak havoc in new ways. He has also shown a willingness to play Davis and Jaxson Hayes together. Twin tower lineups haven’t fared too well in this era of spacing and shooting, but against certain teams it could have a use.

Redick could be the second coming of Pat Riley and still be pilloried for anything less than a Finals appearance this season, even though the Lakers are a very flawed team compared to at least half a dozen division foes. West Conference For now, however, his tenure is off to a good start.