JJ Redick’s ‘non-negotiable’ message over Austin Reaves injury

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a major blow this week when it was announced he was the starting quarterback Austin Reeves would be sidelined for about a month due to a lower leg injury. Reaves originally suffered the injury following the Lakers’ loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Dec. 10, and apparently worsened again during the course their loss to the Houston Rockets on Christmas Day. But for the Lakers head coach JJ Redickit doesn’t change what he asks the team to do.

The The Lakers have hit a rough patch recentlylosing three straight games and six of their last 10 overall. While Austin Reaves’ injury certainly complicates matters, after the Lakers’ practice on Saturday, JJ Redick stressed that Reaves’ absence doesn’t change the overall message he’s been trying to drive home amid recent adversity.

“It doesn’t change the messaging. We’ve been dealing with this all season. I don’t look at it as any different. We got the guys out there. . . . I think the nature of this team sport is that we need everyone to give it their all at all times. If you can get that, you have a chance to win regardless.”

“We just need our guys to be stars in their roles,” Redick continued. “Certainly from a top talent standpoint, it detracts from that. But it doesn’t change the non-negotiables or the way we try to play.”

The reality of the situation is, as Redick said, the team has been dealing with a variety of injury-related absences since the start of the season. In addition to Reaves being out, Jackson Hayes and Gabe Vincent are also out. Without Reaves, the Lakers lose the 26.6 points per game he put up this year.

Redick admitted that since LeBron James returned from his own injury, some of the Lakers’ offensive possessions have been a little more disorganized as the team continues to build cohesion. But Redick also acknowledged that Reaves’ absence will, in some ways, simplify some of the offensive turnovers in the immediate vicinity.

But the Lakers will miss Reaves for now no doubt. So far, he has appeared in 23 games, with a little more than 35 minutes per game. Along with his career high in points, he also has second career bests with 5.2 rebounds and 6.3 assists while shooting 50.7 percent from the field. Simply put, he was probably the team’s most effective scorer.

And while the messages don’t change, Redick admitted things can be tough.

“I’m mad at him, I feel him,” Redick said. “When you have an injury that’s more long-term than just say a sprained ankle or a sprained hamstring where you know you’re going to be back in a week, there’s a little bit of a grieving process. I think it’s important to respect that grieving process. But I’m angry about him.”