“They played random” – JJ Redick casually takes shot at Darvin Ham’s previous season with Lakers

JJ Redick was hired to bring major improvements to game plan, schemes and player development.

“They played random” – JJ Redick casually takes shot at Darvin Ham’s previous season with Lakers

JJ Redick casually takes shot at Darvin Ham's inability to design schemes in previous season with Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers fired Darvin Ham after the conclusion of their previous season for basketball reasons. More specifically, the inability to make quick adjustments to their game plan, not pushing the younger players to perform and make proper substitutions to impact the game. The incoming head coach, JJ Redick, is expected to do much better than that.

Today, he was present as the Los Angeles Lakers youngsters played their first game of the NBA 2K25 Summer League. For a few minutes, he sat alongside his former ESPN colleagues at the commentary table. While talking about his hiring and what he wants to improve, he commented on the random approach of the previous regime.

One thing we worked on was an early on system. One thing last year was they played random. When they played sets, they had a higher efficiency. We have LeBron and AD, but we are gonna play with more movement and cutting.
JJ Redick via NBA 2K25 Summer League broadcast
YouTube video

Redick, in short, suggested that Darvin Ham did not have a game plan. The superstars and the rest of the players were forced to play random basketball. That speaks a lot to the abilities of superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Set plays make or break a basketball team. If good set plays are efficient, it elevates a team’s performance as a whole. As such, Redick hopes to implement that approach.

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It also shows good coaching. Without good coaching, it is difficult to win in the league today. Gone are the days when the ability of superstars to play random basketball was enough to win. Now, the teamwork approach is more important to win an NBA title, as witnessed by the recent success of the Boston Celtics.

JJ Redick can unlock the Lakers current roster with good coaching

The Los Angeles Lakers have so far not signed any new player on to their roster. This means that all they have are the players from last season, along with draftees Dalton Knecht and Bronny James. The 2nd Apron and prioritizing their future has become the franchise’s focus. All of this suggests that JJ Redick has to make the most of what is available.

He can improve the roster in two ways. One is good coaching, and the second is player development. If he can develop the existing younger players to be better at their game, it will immensely help superstars Anthony Davis and LeBron James. Redick must also implement all the knowledge of playbooks he has garnered over the years.

Most of the championship-contending teams in the league have managed to get better. JJ Redick’s focus should be on identifying weaknesses and bringing out solutions. Only then can the Lakers hope to contend for NBA titles.

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