Lakers coach JJ Redick has done much right this season at the helm, his first as a coach at any level. But a decision he made in the team’s 116-114 Game 4 loss to the Timberwolves has come under fire, as it might very well be the clearest reason why the team flopped in the fourth quarter against the young, hungry Minnesotans.
Redick said a decision was made at halftime by the Lakers to go full bore in the second half, which meant that the team would not sit stars LeBron James or Luka Doncic at all in the second half, keeping them on the floor for all 24 minutes.
In fact, Redick decided he would go with his best five–Doncic, James, Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves and Dorian Finney-Smith–for the entire second half.
“We just made a decision at halftime,” Redick said.
But that excess of minutes, especially for James and Doncic, was costly. It was risky from the get-go, considering that James is 40 years old and that Doncic was laid up for two days with a stomach virus on Thursday and Friday, and struggled badly in Game 3. Doncic had spent all of Saturday in bed, recuperating.
Besides which, Sunday’s game was an afternoon tilt, meaning the team’s clocks were already a bit off.
It showed in the fourth quarter. James was 0-for-2 from the field in the fourth quarter. Doncic was just 1-for-6. The Lakers were hampered by sloppy play late in the game from both players, and while L.A. led by 10 points to open the fourth, the Lakers were promptly outscored, 32-19.
As a team the Lakers shot 27.8% in the fourth, and were 4-for-12 from the 3-point line. They missed all four shots they attempted in the paint in the quarter. Redick has been criticzed in the time since, for exposing his players to an excess of fatigue. But Doncic said that should not be a factor here in the postseason, and defended Redick’s decision.
“This is the playoffs,” Doncic said. “Fatigue shouldn’t play a role.”
But the Lakers are down, 3-1, now and Game 5 will be on Wednesday in Los Angeles.
