JJ Redick had questions to answer after the LA Lakers blew the lead in the fourth quarter with the Minnesota Timberwolves.))
It was a bold strategy in Game 4, when JJ Redick didn’t make any changes in the third quarter, but the LA Lakers appeared with a 94-84 lead and ran at halftime.
Reddick then doubled over the same five players throughout the fourth quarter, and the team ran out of gas and lost game 116-113.
The loss defeated the Lakers 3-1 to the series, with Reddick’s decision under the spotlight.
The Lakers kept five players in rotation throughout the second half. LeBron James, Luka Donsic, Austin Raves, Louis Hachimura and Dorian Finney Smith.
Jaxson Hayes, Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent all played in the first half, but were not called out in the second.
Speaking to ESPN LA, Kendrick Perkins pointed to Gave Vincent’s omission and pointed to his experience playing in the NBA Finals for the Miami Heat in 2023.
He explained:
“Vincent is the guy who actually went to the NBA Finals, where he helped his team. Eric Sporstra trusted him.”
Vincent didn’t score in the early 13 minutes against Minnesota, making it 0-2 from two three-point shots.
He scored 14 points in the series total, averaging 3.5 ppg in 18.3 minutes per game.
Perkins also felt that Vanderbilt could have been useful later in the Lakers game.
“You have a 10-point lead. I don’t believe he can do if Gave Vincent had two three-point attempts that he might have knocked one.
“The 6-9-inch Jarred Vanderbilt with a high motor doesn’t believe Minnesota can have some kind of defensive motor and get some stops before he runs that 9-0 and cuts the double-digit lead.”
Perkins warns how JJ Reddick’s decisions could affect the LA Lakers duo in terms of how they view his head coach and his opinions.
“If you’re going to ask, “damn” how they’re feeling, if they’re going to look at JJ all of a sudden, then they’re going to ask, “damn it,” how I feel, that’s not a good feeling.
“It teaches you a lot about these two guys, because even if he’s having a conversation with them, they speak more eloquent than words.”
Vincent and Vanderbilt are currently preparing for Game 5, and the Lakers hope to count their home advantages to save the season.
It’s not easy for fired Anthony Edwards, who has been lighting the series up until now to bring his team to a 3-1 lead.