Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick addressed several important areas following Tuesday’s 124-98 preseason loss to the Golden State Warriors, focusing on Quentin Grimes’ potential role, Adou Thiero’s development and the team’s disappointing start.
Redick was particularly encouraged by what he has seen from Grimes during the Lakers’ first two preseason games. Grimes started both contests and scored 12 points against Golden State after contributing 16 points in the preseason opener against Sacramento.
“I think he’s a guy that, if needed, can create some advantages and for that second side action can finish advantages offensively,” Redick said.
The Lakers coach also highlighted Grimes’ defensive commitment, which could be especially important given the number of versatile wings on the roster.
“I think his commitment to the defensive end has been really good throughout camp and in these first two games. We’re excited about him,” Redick said.
With players such as Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams also capable of defending multiple positions, Redick acknowledged that the Lakers have not settled on their exact wing rotation.
“That’s undecided,” he said. “I think we have really good depth with those wings, if everybody’s healthy. So we’ll figure that out. We still have two more weeks, whatever it is, till opening night. So there’s still time.”
Redick also discussed Thiero, who started Tuesday’s game and provided one of the Lakers’ few highlights with a powerful transition dunk. Thiero finished with seven points and four rebounds in 17 minutes.
Asked about the awkward landing after the dunk, Redick said: “It was kind of a goofy landing, but popped up, made the free throw. Yeah. I think he was fine.”
More importantly, Redick emphasized how valuable it has been for Thiero to have an extended period of health and development.
“Again, this is the longest sustained stretch where he’s been able to work and develop and practice and all that stuff,” Redick said. “So he just continues to get better, and that’s what he can control right now is when he is healthy, he’s getting better, and he’s working.”
Thiero’s development could help him compete for a place in a crowded Lakers wing rotation. Redick has previously praised the second-year forward’s progress after injuries limited him during his rookie season.
However, Redick was highly critical of the Lakers’ opening stretch against Golden State. Los Angeles fell behind 45-31 after the first quarter and trailed 81-53 at halftime.
“I thought the way we started that game was insane,” Redick said. “I’ll just say it was insane.”
He added that the first half was “unacceptable,” while praising the group that opened the second half for restoring the team’s defensive intensity.
“I thought that group that started the second half, they got back to our physicality defensively,” Redick said, specifically pointing to Thiero and Jake LaRavia as players who were “really good in that stretch.”
The Lakers played without Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler, Collin Sexton, Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams, among others, as they managed the preseason back-to-back.
