JJ Redick discusses how the Lakers will maximize Anthony Davis’ role, ensuring he remains a key player on both offense and defense.
In a recent interview, JJ Redick highlighted Anthony Davis’ exceptional skillset and emphasized how the Los Angeles Lakers can maximize his performance for the upcoming season. Redick spoke highly of Davis’ versatility on both ends of the floor, underscoring the importance of empowering Davis throughout the game and ensuring he remains an integral part of the team’s success. The conversation shed light on how the Lakers plan to unlock the full potential of their star forward and focus on positioning him as a key player.
“I know he wants that. We believe he is that. And it’s our job to empower him on both sides of the basketball to have a monster year. I thought he had a monster year last year. But I think the way we want to play, he’s going to be featured like he always is. But he’s also going to be, hopefully, perpetually involved.”
“It’s interesting, the Milwaukee game is a great example of that, where those first five, six minutes, we were getting some stops. We were doing a really nice job of throwing the basketball ahead. Rui got some stuff. He’s naturally underneath the basket, and he’s going to be trailing the play.”
“There are stretches of games where that’s going to happen. You have to be intentional. You make a substitution or whatever. We were really intentional for the rest of the quarter about having him involved in the half court. That’s sort of what I mean by the empowerment. We’ve got to make sure we ride our guy.”
“In some ways yes, but I think having two bigs on the floor just naturally gives you more size and length. And AD, like I said a few times now, is one of the most unique players in the NBA. The fact that he can play out on the perimeter, he can switch against guards, he can also play bigger players in the post, you can anchor a defense.”
“Again, we’re still experimenting with different combinations and lineups, and we’ll have something consistent. But yeah, we’re going to look for opportunities to have them out there with a number of them.”
Redick, in discussing Davis’ abilities, expressed his confidence in Davis’ potential to have another stellar season. He praised Davis for his impact last season but also conveyed that the Lakers are committed to further elevating his role in the team’s system. Redick noted that Davis will continue to be featured prominently in their game plans, with an emphasis on keeping him involved on both offense and defense.
A key aspect of Davis’ value lies in his versatility. His ability to play multiple positions, guard various players, and contribute on offense makes him one of the most unique players in the NBA. Redick pointed to a specific example from a preseason game against the Milwaukee Bucks, where Davis’ natural tendency to trail the play highlighted the importance of being intentional in getting him involved.
Redick explained how the team made a concerted effort to keep Davis active in the half-court offense throughout the quarter, ensuring that they “ride” their star player.
Davis’ defensive versatility is another area where the Lakers are looking to maximize his impact. When asked whether playing Davis at the power forward position allows the team to unlock more of his defensive potential, Redick acknowledged that playing two big men on the floor gives the team more size and length. “AD is one of the most unique players in the NBA.
The fact that he can play out on the perimeter, switch against guards, play bigger players in the post, and anchor a defense makes him invaluable,” Redick said. He also added that the team is still experimenting with different combinations and lineups but emphasized Davis’ defensive presence as a key component of their strategy.
Last season, Davis posted impressive numbers, averaging 24.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 2.3 blocks per game while shooting an efficient 55.6% from the field. His strong defensive performance earned him a spot on the NBA All-Defensive First Team, and he was also selected to the All-NBA Third Team. His contributions were pivotal in helping the Lakers remain competitive throughout the season.
Perhaps more importantly, Davis had his most durable season to date, playing in 76 out of 82 games—a career-high. Given his injury history, this level of availability was a promising sign for both Davis and the Lakers. Redick and the Lakers coaching staff are undoubtedly hoping that Davis can maintain this level of health and availability moving forward, as he remains the focal point of both their offense and defense.
With the Lakers aiming for a deep playoff run, Anthony Davis will continue to be the anchor on both sides of the ball. As Redick put it, ensuring Davis is “perpetually involved” will be crucial to the Lakers’ success this season. By fully embracing his unique skillset and maintaining his health, Davis is poised to have another dominant season, and the Lakers are counting on him to lead the charge.
JJ Redick Spoke On How The Lakers Are Getting Used To Offense
JJ Redick also discussed the progress the Lakers have made in implementing their offensive system during training camp and preseason. He expressed confidence that the team has not only grasped the concepts but has also embraced them wholeheartedly. Redick highlighted the structured approach to their offense, explaining that many of the same actions are repeated in different sets, making it easier for the team to adapt without having to introduce entirely new plays constantly.
“I mean we’ve introduced enough that we feel confident the group has not only grasped it, but embraced it. So, because of the way we’ve structured our offense, a lot of the same actions occur in different sets.”
“We haven’t even introduced the high-pick and role. We haven’t called one high-pick and role You know, it’s that that I’m not concerned like we’ll have that in but I think everybody has played in high-pick and role, right?”
“There’s other stuff that we still haven’t got to but I think the emphasis right now has been trying to play as much as we can in early offense, out of four-out spacing and then, you know what we are in the half court, you know the stuff we ran is really good.”
One key aspect Redick mentioned was the team’s focus on early offense and utilizing spacing. He emphasized how the Lakers have been prioritizing four-out spacing in their offensive sets, allowing them to create more opportunities for early and efficient offense.
Redick admitted that there are still some elements of the offense that have yet to be fully introduced, such as the high pick-and-roll, a staple in most NBA systems. But, he expressed no concern about it, explaining that players are already familiar with running such actions.