LA’s new ‘genius’ should add fire to Warriors-Lakers rivalry

LA’s new ‘genius’ should add fire to Warriors-Lakers rivalry originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Perpetually scanning the globe in search of every nickel, the NBA put all four Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers games on national TV last season, repeating the pattern of the previous two seasons. Of course. It’s a rivalry of sorts, involving two teams with a lot in common.

Mostly, though, it’s smart business by the league.

Which is aware the matchups are about to get hotter. The arrival of JJ Redick as Lakers coach adds a dash of spice. Redick is, like Warriors coach Steve Kerr 10 years ago, a former NBA shooting guard taking his first steps into coaching and determined to prove he can handle the task.

While Kerr had to win over the Warriors – after Mark Jackson led them to back-to-back NBA playoff appearances for the first time in 20 years – the Lakers quickly are hopping aboard the Redick train. Perhaps because they realize it had LeBron James’ stamp of approval.

But Los Angeles guard Austin Reaves, assessing the offseason at the recent American Century Championship golf tournament at Lake Tahoe, takes his belief in Redick to the highest conceivable level.

“It’s been great,” Reaves told NBC Sports Bay Area on the latest “Dubs Talk.” “Hiring JJ, and then through the draft we got two really good players. I had a good conversation with JJ. I think he’s a basketball genius.

“He knows the game at a high level, has played for a long time, so he’s kind of been in the midst of the flow of games. I think he’ll be able to control games pretty well.”

Well, now. it seems the LA’s new sheriff has his troops aligned. The Lakers have done some light retooling, but the Warriors have done substantial reshaping of not only their roster but also their identity.

Klay Thompson, Golden State’s shooting guard since 2011, has left the scene. The Splash Brothers are no more, so the Warriors added two veteran guards, Buddy Hield and De’Anthony Melton, along with veteran forward Kyle Anderson.

Despite spending his teenage years in Southern California – and being a big fan of LA superstar Kobe Bryant –…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/las-genius-add-fire-warriors-144938513.html

Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2024-07-24 14:49:38

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