JJ Redick’s debut campaign as head coach for the Los Angeles Lakers has been anything but smooth.
The Purple and Gold started the season strong, with fans immediately recognizing how exciting the team’s offense is under the rookie head coach. Anthony Davis stands out as the team’s primary offensive pillar, LeBron James continues to contribute at 39 years old, and the rest of the squad is performing well.
However, any positives brought about by the team’s offense were immediately negated by the team’s defensive inefficiencies. Redick is yet to crack the code on how his roster will stop their opponents from scoring. It’s reached the point that the rookie head coach openly talked about his frustrations to the media.
With such a public outburst, it was reasonable to expect the coaching staff to tweak how the team operates defensively. One of the team’s core players let everyone in on the changes being implemented, and he promises a new-look defense for the Lakers.
Austin Reaves reveals JJ Redick’s focus on physical defense after Lakers’ embarrassing loss to the Nuggets
Austin Reaves shared the changes the Purple and Gold’s head coach implemented during training to turn the Lakers into a more defensive unit, and it’s one that might have the referees looking out for how they address their opponents.
Per Athlon Sports’ Nick Wright:
“I think if you watch basketball for a long time, the teams that are ‘physical defensive teams’ might get away with a little more just because every possession you can’t call a foul,” Reaves explained. “So we’re trying to get to that where we’re physical every possession and we have to make the refs call fouls. Our personnel, if we’re honest with ourselves, isn’t the best defensively.”
The stats show why Redick thought it’s imperative to establish a more physical brand of defense for Los Angeles. The Purple and Gold ranked fourth-worst in the league in defensive rating at 117.9. They were equally terrible at allowing second-chance points (24th) and fastbreak points (29th).
Defense wins championships, and the current state of Los Angeles’ defensive schemes are enough to make Redick enact major revisions to their defensive game plans. Finding the right scheme to contain their opponents is vital if they are serious with their championship aspirations.
If the Lakers fail to find the solution, they will be in for an easily break come playoffs.
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