LOS ANGELES — The Lakers’ first significant change to the starting lineup of this season – replacing D’Angelo Russell for Cam Reddish – was made, in part, to create a better offense-defense balance.
Their latest change, replacing Reddish with rookie wing Dalton Knecht ahead of Wednesday’s road win against the San Antonio Spurs, puts the Lakers in a position where they are relying even more on what is arguably their greatest strength: versatile offensive firepower.
Knecht started his second consecutive game, and the sixth in his last eight, alongside Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, LeBron James and Anthony Davis on Friday night in the Lakers’ NBA Cup Group Play matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Lakers were already fourth in offensive rating (points scored per 100 possessions) for the season before making the starting lineup change that reinserted Knecht back into first unit.
But by starting Knecht, the Lakers have further leaned into being an offensively-focused team.
“That conversation was had,” Coach JJ Redick said before Friday’s game when asked about the Lakers leaning into offense even more. “I can’t say that’s the primary reason, but we had that conversation.”
Redick provided more insight into what he likes about Knecht in the starting lineup.
Knecht is arguably the Lakers’ biggest offensive X-factor. The team scores 119.5 points per 100 possessions when he’s on the court and just 109.7 when he’s on the bench, the biggest individual swing on the team.
“A coach would say if you were to take an NBA team and go play a pickup game, and not call plays, the ball is just gonna naturally find the best offensive players,” Redick said. “When [Knecht] plays with that group, we don’t necessarily have to run a lot of plays for him. The ball is going to find him. You know, A.D. and Bron and AR, they all trust him.
“He’s really good at creating windows. He’s really good at cutting. Obviously, when he does have the ball or when we’re running action for him, like, he can score that way. But just really fits in with that group offensively.”
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Backup center Jaxson Hayes, who was missing his second consecutive game because of a bruised right ankle, was scheduled for imaging on Friday night.
Russell started the third quarter in place of Reaves on Friday after Reaves took a hard fall after getting fouled by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander late in the second quarter.
Reaves laid on the court for a few minutes before walking back to the bench under his own power, knocking down a pair of free throws after the stoppage.
He tried to stay in the game but asked to be subbed out a minute later, heading directly to the team’s locker room and not coming out with the rest of the team after halftime.