D’Angelo Russell, who JJ Redick moved to the Lakers’ second unit earlier within the day on Friday, responded with 18 factors for a bench that desperately wanted offensive punch and helped the Lakers beat Philadelphia 116-106.
“I just wanted to win,” Russell mentioned in his first response postgame. “So whatever it took, change of plans, whatever it is, whatever Coach needs, try to get the win and be a part of that.”
In every of his subsequent two solutions, he repeated the phrase.
“I just want to win,” he mentioned.
Russell, within the ultimate 12 months of two-year, $36 million contract, has gotten off to a gradual begin this season beneath Redick’s offense whereas taking fewer pictures per recreation than at any time earlier than in his profession. His utilization charge can be at a profession low.
“I think just trying to do me within what we’re trying to do. And that’s the adjustment. That’s what I’ve been trying to figure it out,” Russell mentioned. “But as far as taking all of this personal and giving ya’ll something, I don’t really have anything. My approach has been to be professional from day one. And I’m committed to it through not playing, through coming off the bench, through whatever it may be. I’m egoless.
“So I just want to win.”
Redick’s determination got here after he benched Russell for many of the second half within the workforce’s lopsided loss to Memphis to finish their five-game street journey. The Lakers misplaced 4 of these video games.
Lakers coach JJ Redick and Anthony Davis speak on the sideline throughout a win over the 76ers at Crypto.com Enviornment Friday.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Occasions)
He mentioned the lineup change was “fluid.”
Friday towards Philadelphia, Reddick began Cam Reddish. Reddish gave the Lakers extra measurement and physicality defensively and Russell responded with one in all his greatest taking pictures nights of the season.
“I thought both those guys starred in the roles that they had tonight. Cam took one shot in 27 minutes but had a huge impact on the game defensively. Paul George never got going at any point in the game,” Redick mentioned. “… And then for D-Lo, I thought he started in that role as well. Big-time pop for us off the bench. A really efficient night for him. And he just played really good basketball.”
The change mirrored strikes the Lakers made a 12 months in the past when then coach Darvin Ham benched Austin Reaves, and later Russell, in an effort to get extra protection within the beginning lineup and extra offensive juice with the bench.
The Lakers are twenty ninth within the NBA with 21.9 bench factors per recreation. They’re final in rebounds and assists by bench gamers as effectively.
Laker D’Angelo Russell thrived coming off the bench Friday evening at Crypto.com Enviornment.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Occasions)
After Friday’s win, Redick praised the group for the uptick in vitality and energy, two areas he referred to as out the roster following their loss to the Grizzlies.
In Russell, Redick has lengthy mentioned he’s solid a robust bond with the previous All-Star guard and obtained whole purchase in. Friday, that wasn’t any completely different.
“I’m not surprised that he approached the game the way that he did and that he had the performance he had,” Redick mentioned. “Again, we’ve asked him to do things. He’s been … accepting of the role. He has talked with me all the time. He has a really strong desire to win and he has a really strong desire to be coached. And our communication level from June 20th [the day Redick was hired] to today has been nothing but open, honest and transparent. And I would assume it will continue to be.
“But he was even just coming to our meeting today, just a professional, great attitude, all of the things that you want. And you see it all the time in the league where guys can take that the wrong way. Like it’s some sort of punishment — like play the victim — and D-Lo didn’t do any of that. And that’s part of the reason that he had the game that he had.”
