The Los Angeles Lakers are preparing for the upcoming season after hiring a new head coach, concluding free agency, and finishing the draft (though not without controversy). However, one question still lingers: who will make up JJ Redick's starting five? When asked about this during his recent appearance on Zach Lowe's podcast, the rookie coach gave a candid response.
"It'll be the starting five that went 23-10 last year," he replied .
Lakers' starting lineup unveiled
The lineup that Redick , the former NBA sharpshooter turned head coach, is talking about played together for just under half of last season's 82 games for the Purple and Gold. The Lakers plan to start the new campaign with this exact group.
This means D'Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves will form the backcourt. The frontcourt will feature Rui Hachimura along with the superstar duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Redick's predecessor, Darvin Ham, who was fired after a 47-35 record and a gentleman's first-round sweep against the Denver Nuggets, couldn't always use this exact lineup for two main reasons: player injuries and his own choices. The latter often drew criticism from fans.
Defensive dilemma incoming?
When looking at the lineup mentioned by Redick, a few important points stand out.
First, it will be interesting to see how the Russell-Reaves backcourt will perform defensively, especially against some of the top offensive guard duos in the West. Remember, this conference features high-scoring pairs like Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving of the Dallas Mavericks and Bradley Beal and Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns. Since D'Lo and AR are mainly recognized for their offensive skills, they will face significant challenges on defense in these matchups. It will be up to their new head coach to assign the appropriate defensive responsibilities.
That said, Davis will once again anchor the Lakers' defense. As a three-time block leader, he ranks among the top big men in the league when it comes to defensive potential. However, as always, the key factor remains AD's frequently debated health.
Another important point to consider is that there have been ongoing discussions about the 6'10" player wanting to play power forward instead of the center position. His preferences aren't being accommodated with the current lineup.
Regardless, a season is long, offering many chances for the coaching staff to make changes if necessary. For now, it seems that the 40-year-old Redick has settled on the best lineup given the roster he has inherited.
Related: Shaq breaks down what JJ Redick needs to do to gain the Lakers players' respect: "You can't yell at everybody"
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