After a very promising start to the season, Los Angeles Lakers (23-13) are going through a small slump and have had a pair of consecutive losses, just before entering one of the most demanding stretches of the regular season, with games almost every other day and two consecutive ‘back-to-back’ series before the end of January.
In total, to the team He still has 11 games left to play this month, which forces the coaching staff to prioritize the recovery and health of the players.
Given this scenario, the Los Angeles coach, JJ Redickrevealed that the Lakers have made an adjustment to their usual routine: There will be no more morning shootarounds on game days.
The decision, made almost two weeks ago, has largely to do with the workload management of a LeBron James who, at 41 years old, is facing his 23rd season in the NBA.
“12 or 13 days ago we made the decision to no longer do shooting practice in the mornings”Redick said Sunday. “Part of that reflection was that we have a 41-year-old player who shouldn’t have to travel twice a day.”
Redick recalled that in teams in which he played as a player, similar decisions were already made in the middle of the season, as is the case of Philadelphiawhere the schedule was adjusted to better suit Joel Embiid.
“That’s the reality,” Redick continued. “And I was on several teams that made that decision in the middle of the season. In Philadelphia we did it because that was good for Joel. It was good for our star player not to have to get up at 8 in the morning, drive, get to the facility and all that. It just suited him.”
And something similar happens with LeBron. The veteran forward has been carefully monitored all season and since returning in November from a sciatica injury, He has not played any consecutive games in the ‘back-to-back’.
The Lakers will test those adjustments immediately, as They start the week with two games on consecutive days: Monday on the road against the Sacramento Kings before returning home on Tuesday to face the Atlanta Hawks.
LeBron James has missed 17 games so far and in the 19 he has played he has averages of 21.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 6.9 assists in just over 33 minutes of play.
