in Lakers We’ll follow 2-1 in the series Minnesota Timberwolvesand in the first round of the NBA playoffs, faced a 3-1 deficit (probably insurmountable) 3-1 deficit, manager JJ Redick made the decision.
That’s the only justification for why Reddick played starters LeBron James, Luca Donsic, Austin Reeves and Louis Hachimura throughout the final 24-minute game time, but he also benched the bench for Dorian Finney Smith’s nominal center Jackson Hayes (who played throughout the second half).
Because if it seemed like a bold and perhaps unprecedented decision for those watching the game, then that’s because. Like the NBA statistics, after Guru Keerthika Uthayakumar pointed out The Lakers’ 116-113 Game 4 lossRedick is the first coach to do this in the playoffs since the NBA began tracking play-by-play.
JJ Reddick became the first coach in a play-by-play era where he played five players in the playoffs.
James, Don Sic, Raves, Hachimura & Finney Smith played the entire second half today.
– Keerthika Uthayakumar (@keerthikau) April 27, 2025
Lakers box score As a result, it’s pretty wild along with Luka (I’m off the stomach flu It saw him in bed the whole day before! ) and LeBron finished in 46 minutes each, while Tamura and Finney Smith played at 41 each, while Reeves finished the game with 35.
By coaching strategic decisions, our collective memories are simple. If you win by doing something never before, you’re a pioneering genius. But if you do it and lose, you won’t be a second guess forever…but that’s because you’ve already decided that you’re an idiot who should have stole for Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt, or Hayes for a few more minutes.
Redick is clearly a clever man who did well on a precarious roster after Luka Donsic’s earthquake and unexpected trade, so that last bit is hyperbolic. But it’s safe to say he didn’t want his team to fall as a rookie coach, not as tied up 2-2, but as the first bench leader to try this in a game he lost in one basket to fall 3-1 in the series.
It is also He told reporters After the game, he wasn’t planning on going to the game, but on a call he made at halftime, I checked with the players entering the fourth quarter.
JJ Redick: “Not a planned thing to play 5 [guys] The whole second half… Those guys gave a lot. ”
– Khobi Price (@khobi_price) April 27, 2025
Ultimately, their efforts were in vain, but like Redick’s bold strategic call, it means that perhaps it’s unlikely that another coach will try it anytime -… Ah, wait, wait Tom Thibodeau He knows it’s physically possible and legal, so he’s definitely trying this next game, Haa?
Well, in that case, Redick might at least be able to comfort himself with the knowledge that he may not be alone at this club for a long time.
