The Los Angeles Lakers have to remove Bronny James from the rotation in Game 2. Head coach JJ Redick only played him for four minutes in the Game 1 victory, and the 21-year-old produced just one turnover. LeBron loved sharing the floor with his son, but this is the playoffs. The Lakers can’t be gambling on Bronny minutes, especially with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves out.
Bronny is improving. He appeared in the Lakers' final ten regular-season games, where he averaged 5.6 points, 1.3 assists, and 0.8 steals in 15.3 minutes each night. The Lakers needed a ball-handling and shot creation boost after Luka and AR were injured. The younger James beat out Nick Smith Jr. and Dalton Knecht for the role, but he never fully earned Redick’s trust.
The Lakers have to trim Bronny from the rotation in Game 2 and beyond. Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard will assist LeBron in creating offense. King James wants to play with his son, but LA can’t risk it. Their margins are slim without Luka and AR. They can’t afford to play a 21-year-old who isn’t ready for the biggest stage.
JJ Redick must axe Bronny James from the Lakers playoff rotation
The Rockets were without Kevin Durant in Game 1, and he may miss Tuesday’s contest. The door is wide open for Los Angeles to take command of this series. Every win makes it slightly more likely that Doncic and Reaves can return. Lakers fans saw the team’s potential when healthy. That is even more reason not to mess around.
Credit to coach Redick. Luke Kennard led the Lakers with 27 points in Game 1 after instantly adapting to a more on-ball role when the injuries struck. The coach somehow got Deandre Ayton bought in for a dominant Game 1. LeBron James nearly had a triple-double, and Marcus Smart turned back the clock. Redick is doing everything right, and he can’t mess it up now.
This will be painful. LeBron wants to play with his son. Redick has known Bronny for years and wants to see the young player succeed. The 21-year-old wants nothing more than to play meaningful basketball. Bronny is a fan favorite, and everyone is rooting for him to grow into a rotation player. The second-year pro just isn’t ready for meaningful playoff minutes in a tightly contested series.
The Lakers can’t give the Rockets an inch. Los Angeles shot 61 percent from the field and 53 percent on their 3-point attempts in Game 1 and won by just nine points. Houston has an athletic edge and will continue to crash the glass. This series will be won on the margins. An awful four-minute stretch could be the difference in any game, which is why Bronny can’t see the floor.
JJ Redick gave Bronny James his first meaningful playoff minutes in Game 1. He appeared in two postseason contests last season, but it was only after the outcome was decided. The 6’2 guard played in the second quarter on Saturday night. It was a positive step, but now it is time to walk it back. Coach Redick knows this. He didn’t play Bronny in the second half of Game 1 for a reason.
The Los Angeles Lakers must remove Bronny James from the rotation ahead of Tuesday’s Game 2. LeBron won’t be happy, but the playoffs force painful decisions. Coach Redick has to do what is best for the team. That means playing eight in Game 2 and trying to take a commanding lead. Fans certainly won’t want to miss it, so stay tuned.
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