The Lakers enter the first year of their new era built around a high-performing guard combination Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves. However, the head coach Jay Jay Reddick currently more interested in how the two sneaky scorers look separately than together, Law Murray writes for The Athletic.
With a lot of rotation changes from last season to this one, Redick and the Lakers are still figuring out how to best utilize the players on the roster.
“We really just focused on our early attack and being able to play from things other than drag” Redick said.To be honest, we didn’t collect offensive groups. … And yeah, the new personnel, all of those things, it’s really just about getting the offense organized early than it is about manipulating matchups and finding what works and finding combinations that work. We have time to do it.”
Despite the changes, Reaves has a feeling where the team will find its footing in the attack.
“I would expect us to have (a higher percentage of) possessions where we touch the paint” Redick said.I expect us to be a higher three-point shooting team. And I would expect us to be a better offensive rebounding team. How all of that (translates) into our offensive rating, we’ll figure it out. We’ll figure out ways to get good footage.”
We have more from the Lakers:
- The Lakers’ preseason begins Monday, but they’re without several key contributors, according to The Athletic’s Dan Woyk (Link to Twitter). Walker Kessler was extended after hitting his finger on the board, according to Hobie Price of The California Post (via Twitter), while Reeves sat out due to a repaired ankle. Colin Sexton and Arthur Callum also missed the game, though Redick called all injuries minor. Sexton was earlier seen with his right calf wrapped during the shootout, Price writesand got some extra strength and conditioning work in after practice.
- Fast forward to the second year Goodbye Thiero sees roster changes and his healthy offseason as a chance to carve out a role for himself, Price writes in a separate article. “I feel like I have a pretty great opportunity in front of me considering the guys that are gone– said Tierra.And now everyone is still trying to figure out where to be. So it gives me an opportunity (to earn a spot in the rotation).“Redick spoke about Thierry’s “unbelievable last two months of development,” noting that an athletic wing that maximizes his talent could be something of an x-factor for the team. “If we can develop Ada and develop (rookie Cameron Carr) and turn those guys into a functional rotation of NBA players over the next 12-24 months, that’s going to change our ceiling,” Redick said.
- As fans get their first look at the new-look Lakers, Woike outlines five things to look for during the preseason (subscriber link). Among them: how the Lakers look with and without Kessler on the court, how the perimeter defenders like Mathis Tiboule, Ziair Williams, Bronnie James, Quentin Grimesand Sexton can hinder opponents who have the ball and who fall out of the rotation and into the danger zone, as Los Angeles must shed at least one guaranteed contract before the season begins.
