In a surprising move, the Los Angeles Lakers have decided to shake up their starting lineup ahead of their matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers. JJ Redick, the head coach, has announced that D’Angelo Russell will start off the bench and promote Cam Reddish to the starting five.
Redick cited the need to improve the defensive presence in the starting lineup as the primary reason for the change. “At times, D’Angelo has been really good with his level of competition and attention to detail, but other times it just reverts back to certain habits,” the Lakers coach explained.
The decision comes on the heels of a frustrating 1-3 road trip for the Lakers, which culminated in Wednesday’s loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. During that game, Redick was visibly upset and slammed a chair to the court just after Russell missed a shot, leading to speculation about tension between the coach and player.
However, Redick quickly clarified that his outburst was a reflection of his general frustration with the team’s performance during the road trip, not a specific jab at Russell.
“It wasn’t like a punishment; we just felt that for us to have a chance to win this game, that was the route we wanted to take,” Redick said.
Russell has started 202 of the 244 games he has played for the Lakers since his trade to the team in February 2023. He was averaging 12.0 points and 5.8 assists in 30 minutes per game through the first eight games of the season.
Cam Reddish’s promotion to the starting lineup presents an opportunity for him to increase his impact on the team. Reddish has been working his way into the rotation in recent games, showcasing his potential as a two-way player.
With the Lakers struggling to find their footing in the early stages of the season, this lineup change could be the spark they need to turn things around. The team will be looking to capitalize on the 76ers’ own struggles as they enter the game with a 1-6 record and are missing key players Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid. How this lineup change affects the Lakers’ performance and coach-player relationship will be watched as they face early season challenges.