The Los Angeles Lakers started an intriguing season under JJ Redick, a novice head coach whose 12-10 record paralleled the team’s 13-9 start under former boss Darvin Ham. Although the early season statistics through 20 outings were roughly the same, Redick now has a record of 31-19 in his first 50 games, providing him a significant advantage over Ham, who recorded 23-27 in the same number of games during his inaugural season.
Nevertheless, the narrative behind the numbers is just the opposite. Redick has relied significantly on speed and space, demonstrating enhanced offensive effectiveness with LeBron James directing play and Anthony Davis fortifying the defense. Not to mention, the acquisition of Luka Doncic provides Redick with the potential to achieve the unprecedented feat of winning a title in his first season as a coach.
The debate between Redick and Ham is diminishing due to the former’s current run, but to evaluate which coach has performed more effectively with the Lakers—considering Redick’s tenure of just 51 games against Ham’s 185 games, including playoffs over two seasons—let us examine the respective performances and do a thorough study.
Darvin Ham’s Regular Season Record (90-74)
Over two seasons, Ham had a commendable record of 90 wins and 74 losses, resulting in a .549 winning percentage. Ham’s tenure was characterized by periods of excellence, especially during the latter half of the previous season when the Lakers advanced to the playoffs. Ham’s regular-season record often indicated difficulties with finishing games, especially against higher-seeded teams, and his dependence on LeBron James’ exceptional talent sometimes obscured underlying structural deficiencies.
Ham’s reliability throughout two seasons has shown his capacity to stabilize the squad during challenges, while Redick still navigates his role as head coach.
We don’t have a regular season record for Redick yet, but as the all-star break starts, the Lakers, bolstered by their recent acquisition of Doncic, aim to impact the Western Conference rankings significantly. The Lakers concluded their last 15 games before the break with a record of 12 wins and 3 losses, and Redick now sits with a 31-19 record in his first 50 games, thus surpassing Ham’s first-season 50-game win percentage.
Following a lackluster beginning, the Lakers activated their performance and started a successful streak. Throughout this period, the Lakers have averaged more than 117 points per game and had a season-long six-game winning run. The Lakers’ defensive performance has been awe-inspiring, restricting opponents to under 100 points on four occasions and achieving a top-five defensive rating.
Lakers Playoff Odds
As we reflect during the All-Star Break, Redick’s clear improvements and current run have aligned the Lakers with an almost certain probability of making the playoffs on the best betting apps.
LA Lakers to Make the Playoffs/Yes: -1800
LA Lakers to Make the Playoffs/No: +800
Betting odds have also shortened regarding the NBA Championship winners. The LA Lakers are now the sixth favorites (+1300), behind the Nuggets, Knicks, Cavaliers, Thunder, and Celtics.
Reddick (TBC) vs. Ham (9-12) in the Playoffs
Having no playoff experience as a head coach, Redick remains an enigmatic figure in the playoffs. His previous experience as a player and pundit provides insight into his strategic prowess; nevertheless, guiding a club in the playoffs entails distinct hurdles. His ability to adapt to opponents in a series format will be essential to his career as a coach.
Ham’s 9-12 record in two playoff games indicates a varied performance. His most significant accomplishment was leading the Lakers to the Western Conference Finals in 2023, a campaign characterized by strategic modifications such as using Rui Hachimura as a defensive asset. Ham’s failure to implement mid-series changes against the Denver Nuggets has prompted inquiries on his playoff potential.
Ham has shown his ability to achieve extended playoff runs, although Redick’s playoff potential remains uncertain. Nonetheless, Redick’s diligent preparation and innovative offensive strategies may give the Lakers a new dimension throughout the playoffs.
If the Lakers secure a postseason berth, Redick must demonstrate his ability to manage the intensity and strategic complexity inherent in playoff games. His capacity to outmaneuver seasoned coaches will be key in assessing the Lakers’ championship potential.
Tactical Style: Redick vs Ham
Redick’s approach is grounded on contemporary basketball tenets, emphasizing ball movement and rapid decision-making. His approach reduces solitary plays, emphasizing organized off-ball screens and set plays to engage all five players. This strategy generates chances for backup scorers and has sometimes enabled the Lakers’ role players, such as D’Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura, to excel on crucial occasions. This method requires precise and constant execution, which the club has found challenging against great defenders.
Ham’s four-out, one-in-motion approach was designed to maximize LeBron James’s distinctive abilities. By distributing shooters over the floor and designating LeBron as the central figure in the paint, Ham’s system facilitated effective post-ups, drive-and-kick scenarios, and a consistent flow of open perimeter shots. This method, albeit successful, sometimes grew predictable, particularly when supplementary scorers missed their attempts, resulting in slow offensive periods.
Redick’s methodology presents a more equitable attacking philosophy than Ham’s star-centric plan. Although Redick’s ball movement may render the Lakers less predictable, it has sometimes hindered the exploitation of mismatches between LeBron and co. Ham’s style, albeit more straightforward, depended significantly on the prowess of his top players to produce offense, which was effective at times but rendered the club too dependent on their presence and well-being.
Redick’s Trajectory well Ahead
One of the most striking alterations first-year head coach JJ Redick implemented is the increased use of two big-man lineups. This was immensely helpful with Jaxson Hayes and Anthony Davis. With Davis no longer in Los Angeles, the Lakers are using Hayes as the only big man, and his performance has significantly improved. He has served as a lob threat for Dončić and LeBron James in the pick-and-roll scenario. As the second half of the season starts, anticipate Hayes to remain an essential contributor for the Lakers. The Lakers have just added Alex Len as the second significant addition to Hayes.
Redick is going for a Deep Run
Dončić has participated in two games for the Lakers after his comeback from injury. While operating under a minute limit, he averages 15 points, four assists, and almost five rebounds. The primary focus of the revamped Lakers will be their defensive performance. Dončić’s primary concern has been his defensive performance, as he has been seen as a liability. For the Lakers to achieve a significant postseason advancement this season, all players must elevate their efforts and fulfill their responsibilities without fail.
As we approach the break, the Lakers’ record is 32-20, placing them seventh in the Western Conference standings. So, as far as Redick and Ham’s comparisons go, we’re heading into territory where such comparisons will no longer be valid.
