Lakers coach JJ Redick tries to search out stability between analytics and intuition

JJ Redick, the Lakers new head coach, regarded down at one set of the numbers to find that certainly one of his rookies, Bronny James, had achieved extra transferring within the workforce’s first apply than anybody else on the roster.

“I went over to Bronny earlier than apply and I used to be like, ‘Dude, you ran six miles.’ And he was like, ‘Yeah, I do know.’ So any person had already shared that with him,” Redick mentioned Wednesday. “I believe my expertise as a participant was very useful as a result of I received to return in on the tail finish of all of this monitoring stuff. And it was one thing, particularly as I received older, that was essential to me when it comes to measuring simply my capability and my load. And if a man has received a powerful buildup, and he is feeling good, that is essential info for him.”

Nevertheless it’s not essential to everybody, a needle that Redick goes to have to string with how he makes use of and disseminates info gleaned by means of wearable know-how, high-definition cameras and sensors close to the edges within the apply facility — all measuring totally different info and logging knowledge.

“I don’t care about numbers,” Anthony Davis mentioned. “Numbers aren’t something. You possibly can common 50. If you happen to’re in final place, like, what do you get out of the season, ‘Oh, you averaged 50.’ You get nothing for that. I’m about profitable, profitable championships.

“So, that don’t matter to me.”

It clearly issues to his new head coach — all the things does.

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Redick is admittedly liable to getting means into the weeds on issues massive and small. Earlier this yr, LeBron James instructed Redick he thought a DJ can be a pleasant contact at apply. Via two days inside the ability, the workforce has had DJ Meel arrange within the nook close to their weight room. And Redick has appreciated the vibe.

“If the gamers are glad, I am good,” he mentioned.

He’s not alone, although, in the case of his ardour for info. He mentioned he wished to guarantee that as he shaped his first NBA workers, he was surrounded by individuals who wished to study the identical.

“Extra info is healthier,” Redick mentioned. “That is how I … each individual we have employed, that is been a key factor that I’ve instructed them. ‘Do you need to get within the weeds?’ ‘Yeah, I do need to get within the weeds. Yeah.’ In order a lot information as potential.”

However Redick, like all participant who has seen analytics enter the NBA sphere, is aware of that there’s a stability that must be struck, that informational overload could be simply as crippling as bodily overload. And there’s an artwork to sharing issues that matter to you with gamers who won’t care as a lot.

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“I believe that is a benefit of him being an ex-player. Clearly, the numbers do not lie. And there is plenty of reality within the numbers. However there’s additionally stream and really feel within the recreation,” guard Austin Reaves mentioned. “And for him to be an ex-player, I do know he is aware of the ups and downs in video games and the conditions to go away from the numbers. However such as you mentioned, he is a giant analytics-numbers man and I am very excited for myself to dive extra into that and see methods I could be higher as nicely.

“… Prior to now, I’ve flushed all that. Yesterday was the primary time I truly checked out how a lot I ran in apply. It was like 5 miles. I are inclined to play extra off of really feel and going with the stream. However I additionally assume there are conditions the place there are numbers that provide you with a leg up or a bit of enhance to essentially see what works and does not work.”

Notes

Davis shared a enjoyable back-and-forth story from dwell motion on Wednesday between LeBron James and Bronny. “It’s incredible to have the ability to be right here and witness it in apply,” Davis mentioned. “And Bronny hit a 3 over him right now. Everyone was speaking smack in Bronny’s favor. Then Bron got here down and simply bullied any person. Simply took it out on [him] — I forgot who it was — and received a layup. Bronny got here down and hit one other three, I believe over Austin. And Bron wished the ball. So you possibly can see, despite the fact that they weren’t matched up, the competitors is there. And that’s what we like to see.” … Cam Reddish remained a restricted participant with ankle soreness, however his harm has improved since Tuesday. … The Lakers have a plan on how they’ll use their veterans within the preseason, although they’re not sharing it as of but. … The workforce has an early apply scheduled for Thursday earlier than busing to Palm Springs the place they’ll play their first two preseason video games.

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This story initially appeared in Los Angeles Times.