When it comes to the starting lineup, Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick is a believer in not being beholden to one grouping for the entirety of a season.
With how many injuries the Lakers have already endured during the 2025-26 season, Redick has had no choice but to experiment with lineups and rotations.
So far, Redick seems to have found something in Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia as starters, though Rui Hachimura’s pending return complicates matters.
Hachimura is on track to return against the Sacramento Kings on Monday, though Redick hasn’t made any decisions about the starting lineup outside of him likely coming off the bench for that game due to a minutes restriction.
“I haven’t made any decisions and he’s gonna be on a minutes restriction when he comes back, so he’ll likely come off the bench,” Redick said. “Similar to what we did with AR when he was on a minutes restriction, so his minutes are gonna be determined, if he is available whether it’s tomorrow, Tuesday, he’ll be available this week and figure it out but he’ll likely come off the bench given he’s gonna have a minutes restriction.”
As Redick noted, Hachimura’s minutes restriction could mean that a decision on the starting lineup might not be made for a bit. However, he also has to consider how well Smart and LaRavia have been playing with the starting group as they’ve provided some much-needed defense and toughness.
Hachimura is the most consistent offensive weapon out of the three, so there’s going to be some toeing the line when it comes to lineup combinations the rest of the season. However, the Lakers need all the help they can get as the upcoming schedule is brutal.
Redick also discussed what the forward brings to the team that they have missed in his absence.
“Shooting. Lots of shooting,” Redick said of Hachimura. “I mean, he’s our best catch-and-shoot guy, he’s one of the best guys in the league. We were talking this morning and this is the balance that we’ve been battling all year is we can play better defenders and our offense isn’t as good. We can play better offensive players and our defense isn’t as good, so we’re continuing to try and find that balance.”
Even if Hachimura can’t play a full complement of minutes, he’ll be of value as Los Angeles looks to navigate what lies ahead.
JJ Redick credits Austin Reaves for remaining engaged while out
The Lakers have also been without Austin Reaves who is nursing his own calf injury. While Reaves hasn’t been able to play, he’s been an active teammate on the sidelines and Redick credited him for remaining engaged.
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