Baseball Signals in NBA? Major Signs To Look Out For When JJ Redick is Coaching Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick highlighted the team’s use of hand signals to improve execution.

Baseball Signals in NBA? Major Signs To Look Out For When JJ Redick is Coaching Lakers

JJ Redick (Image credits - Firstsportz)

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It has been a stellar start to the 2025-26 campaign for head coach JJ Redick and his men as they notched up a 143-135 win over the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center on Thursday night. Positive signs for the Los Angeles Lakers as they head into Christmas as one of the strongest teams in the league and remain strong contenders to lift the NBA Championship.

Without Austin Reaves in the lineup, most of the offensive burden fell on the shoulders of league-MVP candidate Luka Doncic and LeBron James. But in the end, all five of the starting players recorded double-digit points. Doncic recorded a triple-double and scored a game-high 45 points to go along with 11 rebounds, 14 assists and a season-high five steals.

Meanwhile, James who has had a slow start to the season after missing the first 14 games due to a sciatica nerve issue is slowly finding his form and wind. The 40-year-old recorded 28 points, seven rebounds and ten assists in an impressive display on Thursday night.

The win propelled the Lakers to 19-7 after 26 games as they are currently placed at third in the Western Conference standings. They may be a flawed contender at the moment, but their record does not lie.

JJ Redick was critical of the team’s performance in the first half but lauded their efforts in the second half. He also highlighted the team’s use of hand signals to improve execution.

I don’t know if you guys watch baseball but you know the third basemen giving all the hand signals that’s something we’ve been working on so that we don’t run into the situation we ran into in Philly where I’m trying to call a play, Phoenix I’m trying to call a play, guys don’t know what they’re doing.

Lakers nation will be optimistic of their team’s prospects heading into Christmas but will be wary of the likes of younger and more athletic teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves and the Houston Rockets.

LeBron James on avoiding a serious injury

James is playing in a record-breaking 23rd season in the NBA. A number no player has ever achieved in league history. Injuries have been more prominent in James’ career over the last few seasons as he approaches his 41st birthday.

LeBron James
LeBron James (Image credits – CNN)

During the game against the Jazz, James avoided a serious knee injury after a brief scare.

Sharp pain to the knee. I got kneed on the inside, kind of like the medial side. I told Mike, my trainer, we dodged a bullet there. Same side as the knee that got injured last year.

It occurred when Walter Clayton Jr went for a steal and collided with the four-time champion. James lay on the floor for a few seconds but got up and continued playing, shutting down any concerns for the Lakers.

LA Lakers’ offense creates complacency on defense

There have been claims that the trio of Doncic, James and Reaves is the most lethal backcourt trio in NBA history. While it is still early days for such a claim but the early signs have been promising for the Lakers in terms of offense. Doncic is averaging 35.2 points, James is averaging 18.6 but 25.5 points in his last four games and Reaves is averaging 27.8 points. A lethal trio indeed.

After the win, former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart, who was added to the starting lineup in the absence of Reaves, spoke to the media about the lack of defense in the team.

We have a lot of star power offensively. It is tough defensively, sometimes. That’s why when I’m in the starting lineup, I’m picking up guys full court. The toughest team sets the rules, and I’m trying to set the rules early for us. I gotta continue to do my job. We have a lot of star power offensively, so sometimes it is difficult because we can score the ball.

At the moment, the Lakers are able to stack up the wins, but it will be difficult to win with this style of play in the playoffs because, at the end of the day, defense wins championships.

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