JJ Redick doesn't hesitate to point out D'Angelo Russell's flaws after prolonged benching
JJ Redick was blunt about benching the LA Lakers' starting point guard D'Angelo Russell in the team's 131-114 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday. Russell had a mediocre outing. He wasn't engaged on either end, and Redick didn't tolerate the lack of effort.
As a result, Russell played only 22 minutes, exiting the game with 5:54 left in the third quarter. He had 12 points and three assists on 4 of 12 shots, including 2 of 9 from 3-point range. Russell took ill-advised shots and didn't defend well in transition, forcing Redick to trim his playing time.
The Lakers rookie coach didn't beat around the bush about why he took Russell out of the game for Gabe Vincent.
"Just a level of compete, attention to detail, some of the things we've talked with him about for a couple of weeks," Redick said (h/t Lakers reporter Dan Woike).
"And at times, he's been really good with that stuff. And other times, it's just reverting back to certain habits."
JJ Redick clarified it wasn't a 'punishment' for the Lakers guard. He felt giving Gabe Vincent those minutes gave the Lakers a better shot to win because of his defense in the first half. D'Angelo Russell was the better choice offensively, but LA needed to get stops to get back into this contest, and he wasn't the answer.
Russell was expected to play much better, especially with Anthony Davis and Rui Hachimura out, leaving a combined void of their 46 points per game production. LeBron James waged a lone war with 39 points, and with better support from a player of Russell's caliber, the Lakers may have edged the Grizzlies.
Austin Reaves reveals JJ Redick's message after Lakers drop 1-4 on road trip
JJ Redick's Lakers went from looking like legitimate contenders to a struggling mid-table team in the span of five games. LA was playing much better and organized. However, the Lakers drifted from that style too soon. Their offensive and defensive structure have both fallen apart, while the effort is close to non-existent.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves revealed Redick's message was on the same lines after the team's fourth loss in five games.
"'We have to be better with basically every aspect of the game, but the main thing is competing,'" Reaves narrated Redick's message in the locker room.
The Lakers stuck to these principles early on and overturned a 22-point deficit in only their second game of the season against the Phoenix Suns under JJ Redick, all behind their organized play and effort.
That seemingly has been non-existent ever since, and if the Lakers fail to attain that level of attention to detail, it may not be easy for them to get back on track.