JJ Redick isn’t overly concerned about the Lakers’ on-court chemistry
Asked whether the Lakers are missing out on opportunities to practice more and build chemistry on the court due to their busy six-game preseason schedule, Redick was quick to question why reporters were so concerned about the situation.
“You guys are really pushing this,” Redick responded.
So, Redick was asked, is it a thing or not a thing?
“I’m not combative right now,” Redick said. “I just want to acknowledge that you guys, like the last four days, are getting a little obsessive with all these questions about missed opportunities. So, I’ll answer them again. These are the cards we’ve been dealt. I certainly wish everyone was healthy.”
Making the most of the situation, the Lakers held off the Golden State Warriors 126-116 Sunday night at Crypto.com Arena despite missing LeBron James (sciatica), Luka Doncic and Marcus Smart (Achilles tendinopathy).
Redick said the plan is for Smart to “get two games [in] this week.”
Read more: LeBron James will miss the Lakers’ opening game due to sciatica
The Lakers have three preseason games remaining: Tuesday at Phoenix, Wednesday in Las Vegas against the Dallas Mavericks and Friday against the visiting Sacramento Kings — four games in the span of six days.
Redick was reminded that the Lakers as an organization chose to play six preseason games, the maximum allowed by the NBA.
“It’s something to discuss, I think, moving forward,” Redick said. “I think it’s awesome. I really think that because we played in Palm Springs and I think it’s awesome that we get to play in Las Vegas and I recognize that there are Lakers fans all over the world that maybe don’t get the chance to see us play.
“You hope that we can find some sort of balance in the future to have more time for training and less time for travel. I’m sure at some point we will be one of the teams that goes abroad, so that adds another scenario.”
Redick said that for training camp purposes, practice tends to be more helpful in team building than preseason games.
“I think more practices would be helpful,” Redick said. “I think the exposure to a game situation and playing against an opponent is very beneficial. You no longer have many days left and try to put together six games [and] four games in six nights, it’s definitely difficult.”
Against the Warriors on Sunday, Austin Reaves (21 points), Dalton Knecht (16), Rui Hachimura (16) and Deandre Ayton (14 points, eight rebounds, five assists) were at the top of their games.
For Ayton, who was six of eight from the field and had a shot blocked, his joy came from the fans cheering him on. Sure, it was just a preseason game, but Ayton loved the atmosphere and positive energy he felt.
It was Ayton’s first time playing at Crypto.com Arena since signing a two-year, $16.6 million contract with the Lakers.
“It hit me in the whole arena today just hearing the fans and everyone cheering,” Ayton said. “It was kind of an unusual sound other than the booing. … It was everyone showing love and welcoming me to Los Angeles. I was playing so freely and having a lot of fun.”
Sign up for our weekly newsletter on all things Lakers.
This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.