Ugly Heated Confrontations With Stephen A. Smith Helped JJ Redick Land LakersJob, Says Paul George https://t.co/BCnf0NcWYv via @es_sportsnews
— LakerTom (@LakerTom) November 4, 2024
“He is very good at confrontations and you need a strong coach that’s built for confrontation,” the now Sixers forward revealed. Apart from their conversation, he could recall his short stint on ESPN. JJ Redick, even though a rookie, went “toe to toe” with Stephen A. Smith. Whether it was rebutting the famous analyst’s thoughts or engaging in a pressing debate, Redick prevailed with flying colors.
From above article:
JJ Redick is awaiting one piece to truly unlock the Lakers
Through heated debates, even Stephen A. Smith knew Redick had the bravado to take on a job such as the Lakers. “Anyone who knows anything about you knows that you have that coaching itch. Wishing you nothing but the best,” he wrote in his tweet. And it was almost instantly on show.
On opening night they took down a healthy Minnesota Timberwolves, a team considered to be contenders. Their offense has become motion-heavy. Moreover, he has done something no previous coach could. Redick has passed the keys on to Anthony Davis and allowed James to play a supportive role.
That has amounted to the Brow currently leading the league in scoring and being an early MVP favorite. The only area the Lakers have lacked is defense. JJ Redick wants to instill pace in the Lakers. However, in doing that, there have been some defensive inconsistencies. The Lakers have a 117.8 defensive rating in these first few games. But this is without an energizer that the head coach believes is necessary for championship teams.
JJ Redick is desperately awaiting Jared Vanderbilt’s return. “He can sort of … I call them energy shifters. He can change the energy of an entire game, and he doesn’t have to do it with scoring, which makes him really unique. I can’t wait to coach him,” he told Mike Trudell.
Playing as a hound, in his short stint with the Lakers, Vanderbilt has become a fan favorite. His defensive activity remains high and can set the make vital plays as a stopper that will give the defense time to settle once they have to transition. So far, Redick has given the Laker Nation every reason to believe in him.
His aim too aligns with the legacy of the Purple and Gold. He wants to hang banners and is taking bold steps to ensure the same.