Head Coach JJ Redick Discussion: Spazzing Out

I like JJ and think he did a lot of good things this season. I have a question about this game that I've seen other people reference elsewhere, but I haven't seen an answer to.

In the 4th Q, from about 6 minutes on, Rui had 9 pts & 2 rebs. He shot 3-4 including 2-2 from 3. JJ stuck with the lineup of Smart, Reaves, Rui, LeBron, and Hayes the entire rest of the way, until 12 seconds to go.

With 12 seconds left and the Lakers down by 3 but have the ball, why did JJ then pull Rui, the best playoff 3P% shooter in NBA playoff history, and put in Maxi Kleber who had played 0 minutes all game?

I understand that the play was for Austin, and Maxi screened for him, but Maxi was screening Shai far away from where the play ended up, which Rui could have done and then popped out if the play for Austin went bad, and then Rui would be there for the 3. I also would have just preferred the play be for a Rui 3, given his history, his shooting this series and this game esp in the 4th. Anyway, I can understand a play for Austin, but I don't understand Rui not being out there at all. Is there any good rationale for this, or was it just a terrible decision?

 

Haven't watched the game yet but that decision looks awful in isolation. If nothing else, Rui's gravity would justify him being on the court.
I'll watch it and comeback to confirm

 

Because Maxi is the best screener on the team by far and he screened for Reaves and got a completely open 3, it rimmed out. If it goes in, JJ is getting props.

Rui, for as good of a 3pt shooter as he is, isn't a movement shooter and doesn't have a quick release. At the end of the day, we got exactly the shot we wanted, it was a great look, it just didn't go down.

 

I'm still mixed on JJ but his coaching performance was way better than it was last playoffs. We upset Houston and did as good a job on skinny soften as you can do.

Ultimately OKC had too much talent.

That last play was a head scratcher though.

 

this answers why they went back in the game and how that convo with Bron about being 3rd banana came about.

 

This is a failure of the organization, and Walter better correct this.

Yes, Kobe would have done this. And Kobe would have been wrong. He and Antoni destroyed the rest of his career after age 34 due to this line of thinking and decision making.

 

Agree on both accounts. Depth helps us win more games and not lose steam in a playoff shoot out. While better defense over the season doesn’t mean we’re chasing the dragon in March and can get to the playoffs healthy.

It’s a good sign that JJ understands what the team needs.

Have to give props to all parties with how they managed the Lebron situation. Hopefully his ego can take more of the same for another chance at a ring. There isn’t a contending team out there where it makes sense to pay him 30m+ and let him be the top option.

 

Lakers Press Conference: Rob Pelinka & JJ Redick

 

Lakers Rob Pelinka & JJ Redick Live Press Conference Reaction!

 

Better job overall this year. Needs to improve in some areas, but if he does, I can see JJ becoming a top 5-10 head coach. Real potential. I thought he needed to be fire earlier in the year, but he really proved me wrong. Glad he did. Tired of going through the coaching carousel.

 

Watched the game yesterday and have an unpopular opinion. I agree the optics are wrong but it made sense to do it?

They had a clear ATO play prepared based on a strong screen by the center to free AR near the throw in while the other 2 guys spread the floor. They seemed to want to go quickly, I think to avoid OKC elite defense and basically get a clean shot as soon as possible. So anyone outside of AR/screener didn't matter.

From that prism, Kleber was the best screener option and it proved to be, he got Wallace locked and got AR the look he needed. Then you had Bron and Luke. Who are you taking out? Certainly not Bron and Luke is a much better movement shooter than Rui if you needed a plan B. He could have put Rui for the optics but I agree Luke is, even if slightly, a better option for this particular play. You could also put Bron inbounding and sit Smart but I think you absolutely want Bron on the floor and impacting more the play than just inbounding.

Now, it can be argued he could have drawn a different play and take advantage of Rui's historical 3pt efficiency and good momentum on the game. That's fair. Rui is not a movement shooter nor able to create it off the dribble so I think he's not best suited for this particular circumstance so I really didn't got mad on this one.

But I do understand the frustration and Luka himself apparently voiced it in the moment too

 

Thanks for your and @svtzr ’s view on that … hadn’t seen any other discussion here yet and was wondering about it, like Luka.

 

The thing about JJ is that he is going to be a great coach. You hire a guy with no experience you have to be willing to let him develop the same as players. Painful at times, but we got a shot that could have easily gone in. IMO where we need to see JJ improve, hopefully quite a bit, is his vision for the season going into it. How is he going to identify players that he needs to develop for the playoffs and how is he going to develop them and still win games. Whatever level you coach at, those are big decisions that decide the path of your season and how far you will go. This next season is where I would expect to see that growth. When the coming season starts and JJ is giving time to players and some don't understand why, we will know he has made his decisions.

 

Yeah, I got it in the moment and didn't see the issue with it or think it would've became a thing.

Maxi is the best screener we have. Not a brush screen, but a f*** you up and you're out of the play screen.

Yes, Rui was on one but I'm not sure i sub him in over anyone out there.

 

You can’t leave LeBron and Reaves on the bench. Smart is your best inbounder, Kennard is your best movement shooter.

So if you bring in Rui, who is screening? Lebron? Maybe I guess…

At the end of the day, the goal was to get a wide open 3. We got a beautiful shot out of it. It was a phenomenal play. Reaves is a clutch guy and was 3/6 on the night before that shot. The shot didn’t fall - you move on.

The Rui not being on the court is silly.

 

Jovan Buha: Rob Pelinka & JJ Redick Exit Interview Reaction: Team Needs, LeBron & AR, Front Office Additions