Head Coach JJ Redick Discussion: Spazzing Out

This was an atrocious coaching job IMO
No offensive playcalling
Kept going with the Gobert switch hunting. Did not attack Conley every time he was in the game
Refusal to play Hayes with DFS in foul trouble
The stupid stupid soft blitz on Edwards which he killed

I do not understand this at all after that stink job of playing only 5 an entire half

 

Some people call him a great coach even though he hasn't done anything. The Lakers have a better chance next year, but for them to go all the way, they need to get someone else. We do not have the time for him to learn on the job.

 

JJ picked the worst time to show he was a rookie coach. Just not a good series at all IMO

 

Got out-coached rather easily

 

He got out coached. But also… the size thing. We got beat up by size, if you can’t assert your will by playing small ball, that’s what tends to happen.

It’s why Draymond green is such an important player ever though everyone hates him. His ability to defend bigs at his size is unique.

 

Yea out rebounded every gm n decides to play small ball all gm....

 

It's the playoffs bro...you can't win a series on concept, you have to be able to make adjustments. We went into the playoffs with a regular season gameplan. Unfortunately Luka and Lebron weren't enough to overcome that mistake.

 

If the FO knew we were getting Luka... JJ wouldn't be hired. It is what it is now, gotta be patient i guess.
Lets just hope, Luka signs that extension asap so we can relax a bit.

 

On a more positive note...JJ has absolutely put Rob on the hot seat, to actually go out, and do more, than just sign vet min bigs, and picking up fringe G League players as big prospects. Look around the West...every contender has decent to quality bigs...except US. AD complained about that for most of his time here. Perhaps Rob will listen now.

 

I think doubling Edwards in the first half was a mistake. It gave Gobert a lot easy buckets and got him going. Reddick stayed small even after Gobert got going, I have no idea why we didn't hack Gobert. Would've slowed down their offense and reduce their athletic advantage vs us. Gobert is a bad FT shooter and maybe Finch pulls him and we have better matchups. Not sure why this wasn't considered. He definitely got out coached and this series was not a great look on him. He gets a pass because of the roster ofc. But I'd really like us to run more real offensive sets with motion. I've had enough of these LeBron/Luka isos or p&r to create our offense. We are so predictable. Minny was jumping the passing lanes because everyone knows what's coming. We need more diversity and actual offensive sets. Luka can play off ball as a scorer much more and his production won't dip and we'll conserve his energy. JJ has his work cut out for him.

 

I was so impressed with JJ through 85% of the regular season. Then, he started shifting into this obsession with small ball the latter part of the season and the playoffs. Where was all the creativity he shown throughout the year? He stubbornly chose to die on this small ball hill which is concerning.

 

^ who should he play though? Have you seen our bigs? I was screaming for a big the whole f***ing season, knew this would happen. Small ball pisses me off as much as chucking 3's, hate that s***

 

The decision in game 1 to double and triple ANT was a Mistake. Instead of letting ANT get his numbers. They let everyone else get wide open, and build confidence. Also the team came out without any energy to match Wolves.

Everyone expected the Lakers to win game 5, the Wolves basically sucked in game 5 and we managed to lose the game!

 

the gradual shift to isoball offense was also just gross. he had a nightmare finish to what was a good year for a first year coach.

but mostly all this:

if jj the podcaster watched this series, he'd be asking these questions, imo.

 

There was a time where he was using a Hayes/Jemison combination that was working quite well. Somewhere around late March/April he just abandoned it totally in favor of Dantoni ball.

 

Doubling Edwards all game was stupid. You’re just at a numbers disadvantage the entire game especially with our lack of size. Refusing to play size when it was clear to anyone with a brain and eyes that can see we could not rebound the basketball with that small ball lineup. JJ went full D’Antoni you never go full D’Antoni. Sincerely hope he learns from this.

What bothers me is how JJ is getting overly sensitive with the media and seems to be justifying his decision to go small. Just own up to your mistakes and move on dude.

 

Jaxon Hayes even if he’s struggling is still a big body I refuse to believe he wouldn’t have been able to get some rebounds out. Also leaving Jemison and Koloko off the playoff roster was a huge mistake.

 

…. and the gawddam “hold my beer” succession of pound the ball ISO / PnR offense from our Big 3. Not at all what I expected from the “best ever passing trio” on the same team in the history of the league and the combination of all 4 of THEMS’ basketball intellect.

 

this. and i want answers on this. the iso matchup hunt is so lazy, and it's especially bad if you keep going to the wrong well. as someone else said, mike conley was right there!

 

I bet JJ will obsessively watch film on this series over the Summer and come back a better coach. Personnel matters, but this was a tough matchup.

Lebron is 40
Luke is still ROUNDING into shape
Reaves was exposed under defensive pressure
No POA defender
No reliable big man to grab boards who could generate offense

Next year maybe the parts all fit better and they have more time to gel. The reality is that this version of the team wasn't together that long while healthy. We had some great moments when in rhythm, but not long enough to overcome a really solid defensive team like TWolves.