J.J. Redick’s complaint out of Lakers’ opener: Why are we playing with brand new basketballs?

LOS ANGELES — J.J. Redick wants his Lakers team to shoot a lot more 3s than they did a season ago, and for a half of their opening night game against the Timberwolves they did that, taking 19. The problem? They made just two of those. For the game, the Lakers were 5-of-30 from beyond the arc.

One can argue that’s because it was an off night, or, more plausibly, the Lakers are not a team with great shooters so these nights are going to happen. Redick had another complaint he felt was throwing his team off: A brand new, not broken-in, basketball being used. And he’s going to let the league hear about it.

“I’m going to send in a request for the league tomorrow that we can play with worn-in basketballs,” Redick said postgame, drawing some laughs from the assembled media. “I’m not sure why we’re playing in real games — I’m being dead serious — I’m not sure why we’re playing in real games with brand-new basketballs. Anybody who’s ever touched an NBA ball brand new, it’s a different feel and touch than a worn-in basketball.

“I didn’t realize it until a timeout. There was a long rebound, I grabbed it. I was like, ‘What? Why are we playing with this ball? Give the guys the opportunity to pick a good basketball.’

“You think I’m joking — I’m neurotic.”

Redick isn’t joking — he was an elite shooter as a player who had his preferences in what he wanted in a ball — but I would love to see the face of the league officials when that complaint comes in. For the record, Minnesota was using the same ball and shot 13-of-41 (31.7%) from 3, not great but better than Los Angeles.

Redick’s neuroses worked for the Lakers on opening night. There was far more motion in the Lakers’ offense this season and a lot less LeBron James standing at the top of the key pounding the ball into the ground, trying to direct the show (LeBron was off-ball a lot more). Anthony Davis was put in much better positions to thrive and the result was a 36-point, 16 rebound dominant performance where he was the best player on the floor. The Lakers went away from the 3-point shot in the second half because, as Redick noted postgame, they were able to get…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/j-j-redicks-complaint-lakers-161958711.html

Author : NBC Sports

Publish date : 2024-10-23 16:19:00

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