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Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick praised Walker Kessler’s impact, the team’s defensive communication and Luka Doncic’s shooting range after Wednesday’s 127-105 victory over the Golden State Warriors.
Kessler scored 26 points without missing a shot, going 12-for-12 from the field in his Lakers debut. Redick said the center benefited from his teammates finding him on the move and from a spacing adjustment the coaching staff introduced shortly before the game.
“The guys did a great job of finding him as he sprinted down the middle of the floor,” Redick said. He explained that the Lakers added a spacing set two days earlier to keep Golden State’s Draymond Green and Al Horford out of the action.
“He was able to benefit from our dribble penetration with that spacing and scored at the rim a bunch out of that set as well,” Redick added.
Kessler had not played in a competitive game since last Halloween because of injury. Asked about the significance of such a strong first performance in Los Angeles, Redick said the center understood the expectations that come with playing for the Lakers.
“I think it was a good opening statement for him,” Redick said.
Redick also discussed the Lakers’ defensive response to Stephen Curry, who finished with 23 points. He said Los Angeles made minor halftime tweaks rather than major adjustments, focusing on limiting Curry’s off-ball movement and cuts when Green handled the ball.
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“He bends your defense, he bends your rules,” Redick said of Curry. “He really tests your off-ball rules.”
The coach felt the Lakers improved as the game progressed, despite allowing several early cuts. He also pointed to defensive communication as evidence that the team was building the connection emphasized during training camp.
“I thought we did things that I connected defense to,” Redick said, highlighting the team’s switches and group rebounding. He also praised players for talking through problems during dead balls and timeouts.
“When those guys are on the court talking and problem solving together, that’s being connected,” he said.
Redick praised another contributor whose impact extends beyond the box score, saying that confidence on catch-and-shoot three-pointers was an added bonus.
“We have a group of guys that do a lot of things to impact winning that don’t necessarily show up in the box score,” he said. “He’s a winning player.”
Redick also explained why Doncic’s half-court buzzer-beater at the end of the first half did not surprise him. The Lakers coach recalled losing money to Doncic during shooting contests when they were together with the Dallas Mavericks.
“When he shoots a half-court shot, especially when he’s set like that and there’s no defender in front of him, you almost expect it to go in,” Redick said.
Doncic finished with 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as the Lakers opened their season with a 22-point win. Los Angeles faces the Clippers on Friday.
