It has been a tricky preseason for JJ Redick and the Los Angeles Lakers.
They have not been in a position to paint a transparent image of their roster for subsequent season, with key gamers out and in of the lineup over the course of 4 video games.
Luka Doncic made his preseason debut within the Los Angeles Lakers’ ultimate recreation earlier than Opening Day, scoring a team-high 25 factors. The Slovenian missed most of coaching camp after Doncic performed in EuroBasket over the summer season.
This recreation marked the primary time Doncic and Austin Reaves performed collectively because the Lakers’ disappointing playoff loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Each scored 25 factors, however LeBron James remained sidelined with sciatica.
Marcus Sensible additionally made his debut with the Lakers, however performed 20 minutes with out scoring. JJ Redick took a fast jab at Sensible, who left his stat sheet clean with only one help left.
Not solely did Sensible maintain the Lakers scoreless for 20 minutes, he additionally did not make any photographs. Sensible was one of many Lakers’ key signings this summer season, introduced on to cowl for Doncic’s deficiencies in perimeter protection. However he wants to supply some offensive menace.
He confirmed his typical depth that does not present up within the field rating. Redick was joyful to see that, however needed slightly extra aggression on the offensive finish.
“Marcus was so bodily and so tenacious that I want he would have taken at the very least one shot each 20 minutes,” Redick mentioned after the Lakers misplaced 104-113 to the Phoenix Suns.
“I believe that is the place we fudged the sport slightly bit. I did not like a few of the no-pass possessions and shot choice.”
General, Reddick was happy with the play of the 2 gamers making their first appearances within the 2025 preseason. He added: “I preferred what I noticed from him (Luka) and I preferred what I noticed from Marcus.”
Doncic’s efficiency was a giant plus. Though the workforce misplaced by 9 factors, the +/- was +11. He wanted to be at his greatest, as he and Reeves could be carrying the burden whereas James recovered from his damage.
Sensible did not signal with the Lakers to attain. They’ve Doncic, arguably the NBA’s greatest scorer, with Reaves as his companion. They want physicality, defensive presence and management, and Sensible will present all of that on a nightly foundation.
The Lakers’ different perimeter defenders, Rui Hachimura and Jared Vanderbilt, didn’t play with Sensible in his Lakers debut. At this stage of his profession, they’ve confirmed to be more practical two-way gamers than Sensible, so count on some manufacturing from them.
What may very well be a priority for Redick is that Jared Butler had 35 RBIs, 9 RBIs, and seven RBIs for the Suns. Sensible could not let go of the guard who averaged 9 factors for the Philadelphia 76ers final season.
If Sensible cannot make an affect on a participant as proficient as Butler this season, what sort of affect can he actually have on both aspect?
