Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick praised his team’s second-half adjustments after Thursday’s 143-135 win over the Utah Jazz at Delta Center. “Our offense, our defense in the first half was not good,” Redick said. “Another game where, you know, it’s becoming a theme with our team. They shoot 15 points over expected. They made five more threes than expected.”
Redick credited bench contributions for turning the game around. “The guys that came off the bench, Vando, Maxi, Jake in the second half really changed the game for us with their multiple efforts,” he explained. “Maxi had an amazing chase down block, got the rebound, drew a foul. Vando on the offensive glass. Jake had a big putback in the second half. Those guys were excellent.”
On Luka Doncic’s performance, Redick noted both consistency and stretches of off-ball engagement. “Yes, just like stretches of playing excellent and being engaged and executing our stuff defensively, and then stretches where he’s not as engaged,” he said. “He played certainly well enough to lead us to a win. Him and LeBron with 24 assists and three turnovers.”
Redick also highlighted the team’s use of hand signals to improve execution. “We’re using hand signals now like a third base coach in baseball,” he said. “I thought our ability to pick that up and execute, get the ball to the right guys… Luka being live on some stuff where he was off ball and then making plays once he got the ball was awesome.”
The Lakers overcame the absence of Deandre Ayton and Austin Reaves and a tough first half offensively. “Still a lot of work to do,” Redick said. “Getting guys to buy into maybe doing something that they’re not comfortable with… Luka, LeBron, they really just bought into the off-ball stuff and we milked a couple plays over and over again.”
Redick addressed Utah’s Keyonte George and defensive adjustments in the second half. “George gives a lot of people problems… it was more about doing our things better,” he said. “Maxi being on the floor, Nurkic being off the floor allowed us to go to 15, allowed us to switch one through five, and just kind of keep the ball in front of us.”
Regarding repeated high shooting from opponents, Redick emphasized accountability. “If we have to make an adjustment, we’ll make an adjustment. If you’re not doing the things we’re asking you to do, then that’s on you,” he said. “It’s very simple. We’ll make adjustments throughout the year at halftime. Other times we just show it… and it’s just do it better.”
On his gestures during a late third-quarter timeout, Redick kept it direct: “Do what you’re supposed to do. That wasn’t our defense and sensible ball is a laser on the laser board. Do what you’re supposed to do. After that, they were better.”
