It may only be their 9th game of the season but the #3 Los Angeles Lakers face the #2 San Antonio Spurs tomorrow night at Crypto.Com Arena in a key head-to-head battle that will test their championship aspirations.
Redick’s decision to save Doncic and Reaves for tomorrow night’s big game against Wembanyama and the Spurs paid off huge as the undermanned Lakers once again rode their ‘next-man-up’ mentality to another upset win. Last night’s win means the Lakers head into tomorrow night’s big game against the Spurs with a healthy and rested Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves looking to win their 5th straight game and take over #2 seed in the West.
Last night was the third time in the eight games played that the Lakers turned a ‘scheduled injury loss’ into a win. They won last night without LeBron, Luka, and Austin and twice earlier without LeBron and Luka.
LeBron’s injury serendipitously opened the door for Luka’s and Austin’s breakout and gave the Lakers a championship blueprint where Doncic and Reaves on-ball attacks unleash James’ off-ball jack-of-all-trades magic.
Redick has the Lakers buying into his championship culture, playing championship basketball, and proving that playing hard is still the ultimate cheat code as almost every player on the roster is exceeding expectations.
And don’t forget the Lakers are still missing LeBron James, Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber, and Adou Thiero plus have matching salary and draft capital to trade for a 3&D starting small forward and backup defensive center.
Were it not for the ‘play hard’ culture JJ got the team to buy into, the Lakers would be 3–5 right now, not 6–2 and seeking their sixth win in a row and #2 seed in the West. Lakers have now raised their ceiling to NBA champions.
Playing hard should not need to be a part of your team culture. For some it comes naturally (on our team I would put Vanderbilt, Hayes, Reaves and maybe Vincent in that category) and others they need a swift kick-in-the-pants (most NBA players). It comes with the 82 game grind that is the regular season, you simply cannot put forth the most supreme of efforts night in and night out at the pace and speed the game is played at today.
I would call it something else but if that’s what he’s labeling it as such, he might want to think again. If that’s what the media is calling it, same. Heart, Hustle & Hubris has a much nicer ring and flow to it. Hubris not in one’s self but in the team, city and culture you’re representing in that purple and gold jersey.
At any rate, I think it’s a lot more than just playing hard. It’s searching for quality shots inside and out. It’s being able to deploy multiple defensive schemes in a single game. it’s adapting to scheme teams vs. player talent teams. All of it is still a work in progress and the barometer for success won’t be tonight, or any other game during the regular season. It’ll be in the playoffs.
Redick navigated the 82 game grind and a massive trade well enough last season, I wouldn’t have considered it something he really needed to be graded on as long as the general result was similar. He dropped the ball mightily in the playoffs in terms of composure, strategy and overall coaching. SO, unless the team somehow falls into the playin tourney, his regular season status is fairly unimportant to me. Keep your cool, keep the team motivated and engaged (and honestly even that ought not need to happen but, hey, it’s the modern NBA so…).
Playoffs. The only test that matters.