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Lakers vs Jazz Preview: How legit is this winning streak?

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The Lakers look to not only remain undefeated in the NBA Cup but also on their home floor when they host the Jazz on Tuesday.

It didn’t take long for the Lakers to put together a five-game winning streak this season. This is definitely an encouraging sign, especially since it took until March for Los Angeles to do that last season. And not to jinx it or anything, but the best part about this winning streak is that it’s sustainable given how the purple and gold have been playing as of late.

The Lakers will be at home — where they remain undefeated — for the next three games. Tuesday’s match will be an NBA Cup game, where Los Angeles also remains unbeaten dating back to last season. It’s nice to be on the right side of these winning streaks and, hopefully, contrary to the famous saying, they don’t intend to be broken.

In order for the Lakers to keep their winning streak — whether it’s their overall record, at home or in the NBA Cup — some aspects of their play must still improve. Let’s start by looking at it from the standpoint of their matchup against the Jazz:

Can the Lakers defense still improve?

This is what I’m going to pay most attention to in Tuesday’s game against Utah, who employ two speedy prolific scoring starting guards in Jordan Clarkson and Colin Sexton. Clarkson and Sexton are the exact type of guards the Lakers defense struggled to contain early in the season, specifically before they replaced D’Angelo Russell on the starting lineup for Cam Reddish.

Can the Lakers handle the Jazz early?

Maybe it’s the fact that the Lakers have had way too many nail-biters of late but it would be nice to see Los Angeles take care of Utah early. This isn’t to say the Jazz will be a walk in the park as no opponent is in today’s NBA, but it’s important to note that they’ve been struggling to start the year. They’ve only won three out of their first 10 games and were on a six-game losing streak to begin the season. They’ll also be on their third game in four nights.

JJ Redick has found perfect balance for LeBron James and Lakers

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A sustainably great season could be underway.

James has been nothing short of brilliant in 2024-25, stuffing the stat sheet and shooting the lights out. Roughly a month shy of turning 40, there are few who would argue against his inclusion on a far-too-early All-NBA team.

One of the primary reasons he and the Lakers have been mutually successful has been the unavoidable fact that Redick has cracked the code—thus far, at least.

Through 13 games, the Lakers are 9-4 and James is flirting with averaging a triple-double. He set a new personal best for consecutive games with at least 10, 10, and 10, and has already produced three different 30-point outings.

James’ quality of play can’t be praised enough, but far too little is being said about how brilliant Redick’s approach to his utilization has been.

JJ Redick proving less can be more from LeBron James in regular season

James is currently averaging 23.3 points, 9.2 assists, 8.6 rebounds, and 2.4 three-point field goals made on .514/.431/.758 shooting. A vast majority of players will never come close to hitting any of those marks, let alone posting them simultaneously.

One of the biggest takeaways from the way the Lakers are currently using James can be found in that first number—James’ lowest scoring average since his rookie season in 2003-04.

The reason for that startling fact is simple: James is averaging career-low 16.6 field goal attempts per game. For those who haven’t been watching, it’s likely baffling that Redick would have him attempting fewer shots when he’s converting at clips of 51.4 percent from the field and 43.1 percent from beyond the arc.

James has been playing as a part of the system rather than as the heart of it, however, which has made way for him to truly take over when the team needs him most—all without expending too much energy.

How JJ Redick has changed the Lakers — with the same roster

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Here are three ways the 2024-25 Lakers have changed under JJ Redick — and one way they remain troublingly the same.

1. AD as the ‘hub’

While it was Ham who bestowed the “Wilt Davis” nickname on Anthony Davis two seasons ago, referencing legendary big man Wilt Chamberlain, it is Redick who so far has unlocked the real-life comparison.

Through the season’s first nine games, Davis became just the second Laker in history to average 30 points, 55% shooting and 10 rebounds. The first? Chamberlain, in 1969-70.

Davis has averaged his most touches per game and dribbles per touch since player tracking data began in 2013-14. And once he gets the ball, he is executing, averaging 1.19 points per direct touch — his best in a season in the player tracking era.

2. LeBron’s reduced role

As Davis’ touches have increased, James’ have decreased. The 22-year vet is spending more time off the ball than he ever had. James’ 24.8% usage rate so far this season would be the lowest of his career.

Part of the strategy is to free James from expending energy initiating the Lakers’ offense; he has brought the ball up the floor 24.1 possessions per game, which would be his fewest in a season since 2015-16.

Redick has instead tasked James with using his 6-foot-9, 250-pound frame in ways other than pounding the rock. This season, James is averaging 7.4 off-ball screens per 100 possessions as the screener, significantly up from 4.4 last season and nearly double his 3.9 mark in 2022-23. And it’s working to spring his teammates for scoring opportunities. Lakers cutters are averaging 1.28 points per direct play when James is the off-ball screener, ranking 14th in the league among players to set 50 or more off-ball screens as the screener this season.

He’s also coming off screens more this season, cutting 10.2 times per 100 possessions using an off-ball screen, up from 8.2 last season and his most since 2015-16, when he was with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

On defense, the same energy-saving strategy has been implemented, starting with switching instead of fighting through screens on pick and rolls. He has switched 47% of the time he has been the screen defender against on-ball screens, the 13th-highest rate among players to defend 50 picks or more so far.

“We’re not going to rely on LeBron James iso fourth-quarter ball,” Redick said. “Like, that’s not who our identity is going to be. So, I think it starts with the thing that was presented to the team on the first day: Here’s our identity offensively; here’s our identity defensively; and then your system should help emphasize those things. And so that’s where we’ve been particularly deliberate.”

3. A new, innovative offense

After ranking 15th last season, the Lakers are No. 5 in offensive efficiency so far in 2024-25, scoring 117.0 points per 100 possessions.

The most striking difference is the way they are sharing the ball, ranking ninth in passes per game this season, up from 23rd last season. Their average touch length has dropped from the 19th shortest to the ninth shortest, while the average dribbles per touch have dropped from 14th fewest to fifth fewest. The ball is moving more and faster, player to player and side to side, forcing the opposing defense out of position.

And they are also using far more off-ball screens per game (47.8, which ranks 14th) compared with last season (27.3, which was last) to keep the offense in motion instead of constantly looking for mismatches in the pick-and-roll.

“Their execution stands out to me,” said Suns coach Mike Budenholzer, whose team played L.A. twice in the preseason and twice already in the regular season. “The force in which they’re cutting and screening and playing. Davis is bringing a lot on both ends of the court. So I think that’s a reflection of JJ as a coach, and I’m sure his staff. The players are obviously taking whatever they’re working on in practice and applying it.”

And there’s still major room for improvement beyond the arc, something former 3-point specialist Redick emphasized in the preseason and insists will come.

Last season, the Lakers ranked eighth in 3-point accuracy (37.7%), 24th in 3-pointers made per game (11.8) and 28th in 3s attempted (31.4).

The only one of those categories that has improved through 10 games is attempts (32.8), but Redick wants more.

“The thing as a coach is you can envision a certain thing and you can have a goal for things. It doesn’t mean you’re going to get there,” Redick said last week. “I think it’s important to always emphasize the things you want. That hopefully becomes part of your identity.

Redick is already getting more out of LeBron than Ham ever could

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How LeBron James has already begun to adapt in the JJ Redick era.

JJ Redick might be enjoying one of the most remarkable starts for a first-year head coach, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to their fifth consecutive win with a 9-4 record after last night’s victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. Despite lacking prior head coaching experience, Redick’s fresh approach and emphasis on a new mindset are already paying off—an area where Darvin Ham struggled during his tenure.

Redick has implemented a balanced system that prioritizes offensive involvement, defensive schemes reminiscent of the early 2000s, and a renewed focus on Anthony Davis. The most notable transformation, however, is in LeBron James, who continues to defy age in his 22nd season. Before last night, James posted his fourth consecutive triple-double, a first in his illustrious career. In an NBA Cup qualifier against the San Antonio Spurs, he tallied 15 points, 16 rebounds, and 12 assists, propelling the Lakers to a 120-115 win.

“He’s consistently able to make the right read and make the right play,” Redick said post-game, praising LeBron’s decision-making and versatility. “On a night where he’s not taking a lot of shots, he’s still out there getting 12 assists and 16 rebounds.”

For James, it’s business as usual. With 146 career triple-doubles and just weeks away from turning 40, he’s aiming to play all 82 games this season, a promise to Redick and Lakers fans alike. Last season, he played 71 games and shot over 40% from three and 54% from the field, marking his best efficiency since joining the Lakers in 2018.

While Redick is cautious about overextending LeBron, the Lakers’ offense is thriving through Anthony Davis, who is averaging 31.1 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks in 35 minutes per game. With their next three games against beatable opponents, the Lakers are poised to extend their winning streak, reinforcing that hiring Redick might be the franchise’s smartest move in years.

3rd seed

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Aloha,

Talk about a crazy year. When the schedule came out, it looked like the Lakers were going to be severely challenged. But we find ourselves the 3rd seed and 1. 1/2 games out of first with the 5th best record in the NBA.

I think JJ has proven that he is up for the job. Moving DLO to the 2nd unit has made a world of difference. It has balanced the team, giving us DLO and Dalton to go with LeBron. Now the bench is scoring.

There are defensive concerns but our offense has become one of the best in the league. Hopefully the return of Vando will help in that area. Adding Cam to the starters has helped our defense and it’s been pretty good during our 5 game winning streak.

JJ wants a 9 man rotation but I really think we should go 10 deep. I don’t think it’s wise to play LeBron and AD extended minutes every night.

Austin is shooting 36% from 3 but I think he will be better. If he can get it up to 38% or better he can be that 3rd star. He is flourishing in this offense and averaging 18 a game with nearly6 assists and 5 boards. The best of his career.

In Dalton we finally have that motion 3 point shooter. We have other guys that are good 3 point shooters but Dalton can shoot on the move which we didn’t have before,

Now if we can just get all our guys healthy at once perhaps we can figure out how good this team can be. Starting at the end of this month, through most of December most of our games are on the road. I think we only have 4 or 5 at home. That will be a real test. I hope we pass. If we get through that stretch on a positive note, this team might be contenders after all.