JJ Redick got a little mean after the blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder earlier this week. A chunk of Los Angeles Lakers fans immediately found themselves in opposition to what their head coach was doing. The results have quickly said what Redick never needed to about his decision.
It all worked out.
The Lakers bounced back with a strong 119-103 win over the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night. Everyone who was at the receiving end of criticism from Redick following the Thunder loss put in a solid performance, in one way or another, during this game.
Rui Hachimura had 12 points, three steals, two rebounds, and two assists, finishing the night as an overwhelming positive for the Lakers. Deandre Ayton showed up big-time after being called out for his poor hands. Ayton gave Los Angeles 21 points, shooting 9-of-11 from the field.
Redick said it was never personal, just basketball, with Jarred Vanderbilt following the sideline theatrics during the Thunder game. The Lakers coach meant that. Vanderbilt got 26 minutes off the bench and delivered a solid all-around impact in the process. Everything went exactly as intended with the guys who Redick wanted to see more from.
JJ Redick's tough love brought out the best in openly-criticized Lakers
Redick has not backed down from accountability throughout the entire campaign. With the season hanging in the balance following the injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, now was never going to be the time to start doing so.
Redick said after the Warriors game: "I told the guys before the game, when we met right before they went out for warm-ups, tonight was a spirit game for all of us to have the right spirit, to be all in. And I thought we did that. ... Tonight was a step in finding that path with this group."
The Lakers certainly restored a lot of good faith on Thursday. The doomsday clock was temporarily shut off in the process.
Everyone understands the Lakers are going to have their backs against the wall with the missing bodies from the lineup. Redick may just know that better than anyone. That is why he has taken the approach that everyone has seen.
Sometimes Lakers fans just need to take a step back and allow their bench boss to do his job as a coach without questioning every approach by a man who has led the team to back-to-back 50-win seasons. Redick was clearly in the right on his decision of how to handle underperforming players.