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Redick admits Lakers may adjust how team uses LeBron to keep him fresh

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With the Lakers still relying heavily on the oldest player in the NBA, JJ Redick discussed other ways to maximize his rest without completely removing him from the lineup.

“It requires communication and feedback from both parties,” Redick said. “Maybe it’s not sitting out a game, maybe it’s not necessarily, like I told him the night before the game, not necessarily less minutes but sort of shorter runs so that he’s not getting gassed and then quicker segments on the bench and then he’s back in. There’s different ways to do it than just to say, ‘We’re going to rest you and you’re going to sit out a game.’”

Under Darvin Ham, the Lakers tried to put LeBron on a minute restriction and he hated it, as seen on the Netflix show “Starting Five.” That plan lasted one game as LeBron immediately played over 30 minutes in the second game of the season and didn’t look back.

Finding ways to get LeBron to rest within games without being frustrated by any limitations will be tricky.

Currently, LeBron starts each game and takes his first break around the 6:30 mark, so having him head to the bench earlier could be a way to stagger his first-quarter minutes.

There are similar stretches in the second and third quarters that can be trimmed, so he’s fresh and available for most of the fourth. The problem is, this Lakers team at 14-12 isn’t exactly dominating their opponents.

If LeBron sits too long, it might not matter if he’s well rested if the team is trailing by double figures with 12 minutes left to play.

Redick will have to balance his strong need and desire to play LeBron as often as possible with his attempt to reign him in a bit so that he can focus on the long-term objective without dropping games.

This will be challenging, but in the coming matchups, let’s see if Redick can change LeBron’s usage to maximize efficiency and rest while winning games.

Alarming stat LeBron must correct if Lakers hope to contend in 2024-25

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James has produced an otherworldly collection of averages—whether he’s 39 or not. Through 24 appearances, he’s averaging 22.8 points, 9.1 assists, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.1 three-point field goals made on an efficient slash line of .492/.365/.743.

James is on pace to join Luka Doncic as the only players in NBA history to average at least 22.0 points, 9.0 assists, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.0 threes per game in multiple seasons.

For as impressive as that may be, James’ struggles on defense have all but neutralized his offensive value. It’s perhaps a reach to question his effort, but the results of what he’s put forth have thus far been wildly disappointing.

That all begins with the alarming statistic that the Lakers are allowing 11.3 fewer points per 100 possessions when James isn’t on the court.

Lakers allowing 11.3 fewer points when LeBron James is on the bench
Thus far in 2024-25, the Lakers are allowing 117.5 points per 100 possessions when James is on the floor. That’s, far and away, the worst mark of any player on the roster who has spent at least 65 minutes on the court this season.

When James is off the court, the Lakers are allowing 106.2 points per 100 possessions—easily the lowest tally for any player who has spent at least 65 minutes on the court this season.

The 11.3-point difference is reason enough to sound the alarms and question what the best path forward is. The more concerning element of the numbers, however, is the fact that the Lakers are at their worst on defense when James is present and at their best when he isn’t.

Hayes and Wood finally making some progress

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