JJ Redick caught himself earlier than the tenth sport of his teaching profession Sunday night time.
The younger Lakers coach was about to make use of an previous teaching saying, chuckling on the absurdity of providing a “back in my day” to anybody listening.
“There’s an old saying in coaching, ‘You are what you emphasize,’” he stated earlier than the Lakers performed the Toronto Raptors. “‘Your team becomes what you emphasize.’”
Since taking the job, Redick has repeatedly provided his gamers that recommendation. Crash the glass. Get again on protection. Keep in rhythm on offense.
And after getting back from a 1-4 journey, it’s as soon as once more turn out to be a spotlight for the Lakers. However in opposition to the Raptors, that model of the Lakers didn’t arrive. At the least behind schedule. They acquired crushed on the glass. They acquired overwhelmed in transition. And so they stagnated on offense.
Fortunately, it occurred early within the sport.
After a sluggish first quarter, the Lakers began to do the issues the teaching workers had been emphasizing, zooming previous the Raptors for a 123-103 win to remain undefeated at Crypto.com Area.
Lakers star LeBron James, middle, scores between Toronto Raptors guard Ochai Agbaji, left, and ahead Jonathan Mogbo in the course of the first half Sunday.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Instances)
Lakers middle Jaxson Hayes celebrates after a slam dunk in opposition to the Toronto Raptors within the second half Sunday.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Instances)
The group absolutely discovered its footing halfway by means of the third quarter, LeBron James barreling in transition, Anthony Davis anchoring the protection and Austin Reaves slashing by means of the paint.
James completed with 19 factors, 10 rebounds and 16 assists, his third triple-double of the season and his second in as many video games. Davis scored 22 in 26 minutes and Reaves led the Lakers with 27 whereas doling out six assists.
Davis, an enormous a part of the third-quarter run, made the largest defensive play of the sport when he met Raptors 7-footer Jakob Poeltl in entrance of the rim, rejecting a one-handed dunk emphatically.
However after the play, Davis fell to the court docket and writhed in ache, holding his face. Replays confirmed Poeltl poked Davis within the left eye together with his hand.
Davis didn’t return to the sport.
Redick stated Davis was having hassle seeing after getting hit.
“Obviously, take a little trauma to the eye, it takes a little bit of time to sort of get your clear vision back,” Redick stated. “But other than that, no update.”
Davis needed to depart a number of video games final season after being hit within the eye, even lacking the next sport on one event.
The Lakers have two days off earlier than internet hosting Memphis on Wednesday night time.
