JJ Redick‘s new NBA gig started off with three straight wins over high-quality squads to kick off the season. Since then, the Lakers have gone 1-4, dropping games to the Detroit Pistons and, most recently, the Memphis Grizzlies along the way. Anthony Davis is playing at an MVP level, and LeBron James remains the hardest-working man on any court. Still, the Lakers old habits are kicking in, and ESPN Senior NBA Insider Brian Windhorst points out the obvious reason: the roster.
Lakers “Run It Back” Roster Quelling Progress, Per NBA Insider
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst Cites Last Years Lakers Roster As This Years Lakers Problem
Obvious isn’t an eye-roll at Windhorst’s remarks, only that the Lakers troubles are obvious to everyone, minus the Lakers. While Redick has generally done a fair job upgrading the Lakers playing style and impact on the offensive end of the floor, they’re cannibalizing themselves elsewhere. And surprise, surprise, it’s the same bullet they used to shoot themselves in the foot with last year—perimeter defense.
As Windhorst stated on ESPN’s First Take Thursday morning following the 131-114 loss to the Grizzlies, the Lakers are 28th in the league in defense, and it’s last season on repeat. He was asked if these Lakers are the same old Lakers, and his answer was telling.
“Yes, and these are two things I could have predicted: One, the Lakers having trouble on defense with the exact same roster they had a year ago… JJ [Redick] has done a very good job with the Lakers making their offence a little more dynamic, but they brought back the same roster guys, they brought back the same roster and the same problems that Darvin Ham had on defence, JJ Redick is now dealing with. They are 28th in defense and you can’t be a competitive team and be that bad on defense, and their problem is they don’t have perimeter defenders. They didn’t have them last year which is why you had Darvin Ham searching up and down his roster trying to find guys to do it.”
As I said, it’s the obvious reason and continuing circumstance the Lakers battled last year. Windhorst knows how to drive the obvious convincingly home, though.
Rob Pelinka Must Not Repeat Last Year’s Indecision
The Lakers unwillingness to make significant roster moves mid-season last year proved to be their eventual downfall. Subsequently, Rob Pelinka, the Lakers GM, repeated that decision this offseason after hiring Redick. As Windhorst stated twice over, the Lakers brought back the same roster, and we’re beginning to see the fruits of that mistake as the Lakers completed their five-game road trip.
It would be foolish for Pelinka to waste another season. LeBron is playing high-level ball, and Davis is having what could very well be an MVP-esque season. Of course, he needs to remain healthy and available. But in the case that he does—look at his numbers so far this season; they’re outstanding. They’re MVP-type numbers. The Lakers can’t go the entire season without change if they want to make the postseason and contend instead of exiting early. Shifting the roster is the only competitive route forward for Redick and his Lakers team. LeBron knows what to do with those draft picks. Here’s hoping Pelinka does, too.
