In a surprising move during Sunday’s playoff game, Los Angeles Lakers rookie coach JJ Redick employed a strategy reminiscent of a fifth-grade AAU basketball coach. His approach involved selecting his five most talented players and relying solely on them to secure a championship in the B bracket. Redick’s decision was particularly bold, as it included a 40-year-old player with gray in his beard and another who had recently battled an illness and was still recovering. This strategy left him vulnerable to criticism regarding his personnel choices.
According to statistician Keerthika Uthayakumar, Redick became the first NBA coach since 1997 to use only five players for the entire second half of a game. The Lakers' roster, heavily dominated by stars like LeBron James and Luka Doncic, raises questions about the team’s depth, as it appears thinner than a kiddie pool. Redick’s choice to start the second half with Dorian Finney-Smith instead of regular starter Jaxson Hayes barely made an impact, as Hayes had been underperforming. At that point, the rest of the bench could have easily changed into street clothes.
Redick’s gamble on his "Favorite Five" paid off initially, as the shift to Finney-Smith ignited a shooting spree in the third quarter. The Lakers outscored the Minnesota Timberwolves 36-23, flipping a three-point halftime deficit into a 94-84 lead heading into the final period. However, Redick’s strategy faltered in the fourth quarter when he failed to provide James and/or Doncic with a much-needed breather. His reluctance to trust his bench came off as desperate, as Game 4 felt like an elimination match.
Despite having limited options, Redick’s lack of faith in the ten players sitting on the bench was evident. He asked his Favorite Five if anyone required a rest, but no one volunteered, as competitors typically do not want to step back in a playoff game. Finney-Smith remarked, “I don’t think nobody wanted to come out the game anyway.” James logged a game-high 46 minutes but struggled offensively in the fourth quarter, failing to score. He dismissed any connection between his heavy workload and the team’s struggles, stating, “We had some really good looks.”
Despite their fatigue, James and Doncic did not attribute their fourth-quarter woes to Redick’s coaching strategy. Doncic emphasized, “This is the playoffs. Fatigue shouldn’t play any role.” However, the fourth quarter saw the Lakers outscored 32-19 by the Timberwolves, a statistic that may suggest otherwise. As the Lakers prepare for Game 5 on Wednesday night, Redick will need to evaluate his options carefully. If he finds himself feeling hopeless again, he might be tempted to replicate his risky strategy, but the question remains: can he trust his bench moving forward?
