Lakers coach JJ Redick tries to find balance between analytics and instinct

Lakers coach JJ Redick at media day last month. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

JJ Redick, the Lakers new head coach, looked down at one set of the numbers to discover that one of his rookies, Bronny James had done more moving in the team’s first practice than anyone else on the roster.

“I went over to Bronny before practice and I was like, ‘Dude, you ran six miles.’ And he was like, ‘Yeah, I know.’ So somebody had already shared that with him,” Redick said Wednesday. “I think my experience as a player was very helpful because I got to come in at the tail end of all of this tracking stuff. And it was something, especially as I got older, that was important to me in terms of measuring just my capacity and my load. And if a guy has got a strong buildup, and he’s feeling good, that’s important information for him.”

But, it’s not important to everyone, a needle that Redick is going to have to thread with how he uses and disseminates information gleaned through wearable technology, high-definition cameras and sensors near the rims in the practice facility — all measuring different information and logging data.

“I don’t care about numbers,” Anthony Davis said. “Numbers aren’t anything. You could average 50. If you’re in last place, like, what do you get out of the season, ‘Oh, you averaged 50.’ You get nothing for that. I’m about winning, winning championships.

“So, that don’t matter to me.”

It clearly matters to his new head coach — everything does.

Read more: New voices help JJ Redick coach Lakers on Day 1, but LeBron James’ is not one of them

Redick is admittedly prone to getting way into the weeds on things big and small. Earlier this year, LeBron James told Redick he thought a live DJ would be a nice touch at practice. Through two days inside the facility, the team has had DJ Meel set up in the corner near their weight room. And Reddick has liked the vibe.

“If the players are happy, I’m good,” he said.

He’s not alone, though, when it comes to his passion for information. He said he wanted to make sure that as he formed his first NBA staff, he was surrounded by people who…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/lakers-coach-jj-redick-tries-222846029.html

Author : LA Times

Publish date : 2024-10-02 22:28:46

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