3 Facts that JJ Redick must keep in mind when creating Lakers rotations

One of the biggest reaasons for optimism among Los Angeles Lakers fans is how thorough JJ Redick has been in his evaluation of the team. He made a name for himself as an analyst with his deep-dive style of analysis, and projects to bring that same approach to coaching.

As such, Redick is likely aware of what has and hasn't worked for the Lakers in the past—and will craft his rotations accordingly.

From an outside perspective, however, there are three record comparisons that illustrate the importance of playing to the team's strengths. It's something that Los Angeles consistently failed to do for much of the 2023-24 season.

By acknowledging the disparity in team success under these specific sets of circumstances, however, a clearer picture can be drawn of what the Lakers can realistically achieve.

Many are of the belief that Los Angeles is far from contending, but there's ample evidence to the contrary. The Lakers looked the part of a true contender at times last season, and there are three shining examples of how that transpired.

If Redick opts to emphasize the contributing factors to these vastly different records, he could build an ideal Lakers rotation for the 2024-25 campaign.

3. 26-13 vs. 14-15

One of the most controversial decisions that Darvin Ham made in 2023-24 was to relegate Rui Hachimura to the second unit. There was some semblance of logic there, as Hachimura had the skill set to anchor the reserves as a go-to scoring option.

The harsh reality, however, is that the Lakers were 14-15 when Hachimura came off the bench and 26-13 when he started.

Perhaps the results would be different with Jarred Vanderbilt starting over Hachimura than when Darvin Ham prioritized Taurean Prince. Vanderbilt is, after all, the best perimeter defender on the roster, with the length, quickness, and instincts to take on a team's primary scorer.

The Lakers were thriving at a pace of 54.7 wins when Hachimura started, however, and it's difficult to justify benching him again with an elite record in mind.

It's also worth noting that Hachimura was noticeably better as a starter than as a reserve from an individual perspective. In 2023-24, he averaged 15.4 points on .575/.439/.727 shooting when he started, and 11.1 points at a clip of .475/.398/.754 when he didn't.

For both Hachimura and the team, his placement in the starting lineup seems to be the best path forward.

2. 20-9 vs. 27-26

One of the biggest questions facing the Lakers entering the 2024-25 season is how the backcourt will take shape. D'Angelo Russell has been named in trade rumors since he accepted his player option in June and there isn't a true point guard on the roster after him.

It may not be the answer to the point guard problem, but it's worth noting that the Lakers went 20-9 when Austin Reaves dished out at least seven assists in 2023-24.

Reaves is one of the more dynamic guards in the NBA, possessing the ability to work with or without the ball to create offense. He maintains intriguing efficiency in either scenario, shooting 55.5 percent on drives, 36.7 percent on catch-and-shoot threes, and 37.3 percent on pull-ups from beyond the arc.

More applicably, he averaged a career-best 5.5 assists per game in 2023-24, with the peaks in his production yielding compelling team success.

The Lakers posted a winning record regardless of whether or not Reaves produced at least seven assists last season. Despite that being true, it's clear that the team benefits from having the ball in his hands, primarily in a facilitating role.

As the Lakers look for ways to extend LeBron James' career, shifting Reaves into at least a secondary facilitating position could offer an ideal answer.

1. 23-10 vs. 24-25

Entering February of 2024, the Lakers were one of the most disappointing teams in the NBA. Less than a year removed from appearing in the 2023 Western Conference Finals, the Lakers were 24-25 and in serious danger of missing the playoffs.

Reaves returned to the starting lineup in early January and Hachimura joined him on February, however, and the results immediately changed.

Led by the starting lineup of Anthony Davis, Hachimura, James, Reaves, and Russell, the Lakers went 23-10 from February to the end of the regular season. Los Angeles ranked No. 3 in the NBA in offensive rating during that time and posted the fifth-best winning percentage.

After months of erratic results and a regular season effort that dampened the excitement of winning the first annual NBA Cup, the Lakers finally got it right by starting their five best players.

The five-man lineup of Davis, Hachimura, James, Reaves, and Russell outscored opponents by 6.6 points per 100 possessions over the course of the season. While Los Angeles lost in the first round of the playoffs, that group also outscored the Denver Nuggets by 9.9 points per 100 possessions.

There are obvious reasons to consider alternative options, especially after a disappointing first-round exit, but these records show that the Lakers can play top-tier basketball with the right rotation.