Lakers beat Suns behind rookie Dalton Knecht’s best preseason game yet
PHOENIX — The plan, at least how it was conceptualized, was for the Lakers to come to Phoenix on Thursday night and go through an exercise that mimicked a regular-season game.
They would prepare for the Suns by going through a scouting report and the kind of game-day routine they’ll adopt for the season. They would extend starters’ minutes and try to mimic real game substitutions.
But even before JJ Redick became the Lakers’ coach, he knew plans sometimes aren’t worth the paper they’re written on.
“You don’t often get to live in an idealized world in this league and that’s OK,” Redick said before the Lakers’ fifth preseason game. “…You don’t get to live out things exactly the way you want in this league very often, and that’s fine.”
Redick laid it all out. LeBron James, heading into Year 22, was going to get extra rest. Rui Hachimura, who felt a little tightness in his calf, was going to take the time to get right. Austin Reaves wasn’t going to push his sore ankle too much. Gabe Vincent wasn’t going to take any chances after missing almost all of last season because of a knee injury, and Max Christie’s minor hip soreness wasn’t worth any extensive minutes.
Good coaching requires flexibility and the key to that, says JJ Redick, is communicating with his players.
The Lakers’ dress rehearsal, which ended with a 128-122 overtime win, was going to take a backseat to caution.
The team, Redick said, still was able to go through its normal pregame routine, even if Cam Reddish and Christie needed to move into the starting lineup in the absence of James and Hachimura. James also is expected to rest in thepreseason finale Friday at Golden State.
Anthony Davis likely wrapped up his preseason, playing 34 minutes while scoring 35 points. He started incredibly hot from three-point range, making four from deep in the first quarter.
He wasn’t the only Laker to get hot from deep. Rookie Dalton Knecht had his best game of the preseason, scoring 25 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter and overtime — catching fire while the Lakers’ bench playfully fanned those flames.
After missing a game-winner against the Suns in Palm Desert earlier in the preseason, Knecht drilled a three over 7-foot-3 Bol Bol to force overtime, one of Knecht’s eight threes.
Devin Booker scored 22 for the Suns and Kevin Durant added 19.
There is more than one reason for the Lakers preseason road show, but that doesn’t make it a great way to prepare.
In addition to the Lakers not getting the ideal rehearsal, the team also won’t have its complete roster on opening night. Redick announced Jarred Vanderbilt won’t be cleared to return despite his continuing recovery from offseason foot surgeries.
“His rehab and return to play is going well and is progressing in a very positive direction. It’s very likely that we won’t have an update for you probably the next two weeks, so he will not be ready to start the regular season,” Redick said. “We are taking sort of a long-term approach. The coaching, medical staff, Jarred himself, we’re all on board. It’s a long season, and we want to make sure he’s right.”
Because even as the preseason is about to end, Redick and the Lakers know they still have time.
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