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Suns-Lakers: 5 takeaways as AD helps erase 22-point deficit

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1. Redick might be ready for the job

He arrived with a coaching resume lighter than the supermodels who sashay around Crypto.com Arena and yet, based purely on how the Lakers are performing in his system, JJ Redick looks, shall we say, experienced?

There is a noticeable chemistry and cohesion to the Lakers, especially offensively. The ball is shared and the scoring is balanced. The supporting players around LeBron and AD seem confident and purposeful.

“The other night we played his game plan to a T and trusted his defensive schemes. Tonight was a different type of game,” said Davis. “Down 22, that’s when the trust has to really kick in, the coaching has to kick in. J comes in at halftime, telling us ‘we’re alright, settle down, we know what we’re doing wrong.’

2. Davis looks unstoppable again

For the second straight game Davis was the power source offensively, scoring 35 points against the Suns after opening the season with 36.

Aggressive and forceful, Davis is option A and it’s a role both he and the Lakers are embracing.

“The positions where I’m getting the ball, it’s effective,” he said. “And when my teammates are playing well it opens the floor and opportunities for me.”

3. Suns and defense are still under development

Mike Budenholzer is coaching the Suns because the club constantly collapsed defensively last season under Frank Vogel.

Well, the Suns can change the coach, but until they either find better defenders or develop a better defensive mindset, that side of the court might still be problematic.

They surrendered 71 second-half points to the Lakers and a team with such certified scorers as Durant, Booker and Beal couldn’t keep up with that pace.

4. LA, the sports epicenter

Biggest cheer of the night came when the Suns hit a third-quarter 3-pointer. The reaction wasn’t for the shot, of course. It was at that precise moment when Freddie Freeman hit a walk-off grand slam for the Dodgers in Game 1 of the World Series.

5. Two Jameses still on the roster, for now

When the Lakers schedule was announced, it fell in place for Bronny James almost as neatly as the Draft. That’s because the road game in Cleveland would be early enough in the season — Wednesday, actually — to warrant him playing in his other “home” town.

So it’s very likely that after this upcoming six-game road trip and that stop in Cleveland that Bronny will likely get sent to the South Bay Lakers of the G League for developing.

Lakers listed as landing spot for $10.2 million Grizzlies sharpshooter

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Morant didn’t lead the Grizzlies in scoring, however, nor did Desmond Bane with his 24 points.

That honor belonged to Memphis’ sharpshooting forward Santi Aldama, who dropped 27 points in a scintillating 5-for-10 performance from downtown.

Aldama, 23, flew under the radar last year as he began to show signs of being a legitimate NBA scorer. With performances like Wednesday’s, though, it won’t be long before Aldama is well-known by the basketball world.

The seven-footer out of Spain provides elite shooting touch from the outside to go along with high IQ and rebounding.

He is a fourth-year player who didn’t reach an agreement on a rookie extension with Memphis, and Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus estimates that Aldama will demand a three-year, $40 million contract next summer. Pincus also listed the Lakers as a potential landing spot for Aldama.

“Santi Aldama has legit height at 7’0″ but is more of an offensive option than a defensive anchor,” Pincus said. “He can spread the floor but needs to improve his accuracy (34.9 percent from three last year).”

“He’s played significant minutes for the injury-ravaged Grizzlies and could stay longer despite the crowded frontcourt (Zach Edey, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Brandon Clarke).”

“Most teams potentially interested in Aldama would have up to the $14.1 million projected non-taxpayer mid-level exception.”

“Contract Prediction: $40 million, three years. Potential Landing Spots: Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings, Toronto Raptors, Memphis Grizzlies.”

Aldama is currently on the final year of the four-year, $10.2 million rookie deal he signed with Memphis.