FULL Lakers POSTGAME INTERVIEWS & ANALYSIS vs Jazz: JJ Redick, LeBron, Luka Doncic, Reaves, Ayton

FULL Lakers POSTGAME INTERVIEWS & ANALYSIS vs Jazz: JJ Redick, LeBron, Luka Doncic, Reaves, Ayton

Ally and Mike Trudeell down at the arena. The King returns. The Lakers get their third straight win over the Jazz. Big second half for the Lakers. They win that 40 uh 73- 54. They also had a 41 to7 extended run during that third and fourth quarters. Great balance tonight, James. 60% from the field, a season high 140 points, everyone involved. And did I mention um LeBron James’s 23rd season officially started? So, a lot of good things. Yeah, I I think the the the best thing they did was they kept their focus. uh coming home after a road trip. It’s so easy to let your guards down a little bit. Uh Utah coming in here uh with a great pace with some players that put the ball up quickly. Uh they didn’t mind shooting the three. I thought George was hard. Uh but they they they kept their poise and I think uh latter part of the the second quarter they started to pick up their defense and the offense started to jail and then the third quarter uh the Lakers started to play the type of basketball they’re capable of playing. Uh, great contribution. Like you said, LeBron came in uh really took his time. Didn’t really try to do too much, but uh the guy that I really thought for me, I mean, I know uh Luca did his thing, but I really like the way Aiden is really stepping in and starting to be consistent with this group. They’re going to need him most of all. You know, do uh everybody else is going to do their thing, but I think Aiden, I think, stepped up big tonight. 20 and 14, James. Yeah. Yeah. He was a guy I chose for shoot your shot. Take your shot. You look good tonight. Go ahead and stand on that hill. But yeah, I like what I saw tonight. 66% in the second half. Yeah. Second half. Second half it was a tale of two halves cuz the first half I think Utah kind of caught him off guard, punched him in the face and they were controlling the pace of the game. And I’m like if they stay at this pace, I don’t know if Lakers can keep up, especially with LeBron James gave Vincent Marcus Smart coming back and still trying to get their their legs back under him and LeBron trying to get his his lungs back. Um but you know second half you could tell the experience kind of took over. Yeah. Keep going. Yeah they just they they kind of out experienced him but Brian took his time settled in was aggressive but offensively was had a great floor game and didn’t force it. Got his double digits and then they also got double digits assist and again the guy that I chose DeAndre Aton played well. Austin Reeves Luca did what they did got to the free throw line. It was all around complete game for the whole crew and company. And I think the fun started happening when LeBron got everybody involved. Don’t ever let me take the ball from you. Just keep shooting. You’re the man. Uh, listen. So, you guys both nailed it before the game when I asked you expectations of LeBron. What do you How do you think he’ll play? What style? You both said, “Listen, we’re going to see the LeBron James we always see.” But you also said, “I think he’ll feel it out in that first quarter and then you’ll see him start to pick his spots.” And that’s exactly what happened. James, 11 points, four of seven from the field, two of three from three, but the 12 assists, reowns, but James, that added attack downhill that you talked about, it was on display. The ball just moves. The Lakers all of a sudden are faster in transition and it just looked good, but also big game. The smile was on that face. Well, he was having fun. You could tell he was happy to be out there. He’s happy to be back. Us absolutely right, man. He he brings a extra dimension that, you know, we’re just not used to on a on a nightly basis. He took his time. He let the guys flow. They’ve been playing well without him. He didn’t try to disrupt that. He came in, played his game, and when it was time for him to attack, he did exactly what he did mostly in the third, fourth quarter. But, uh, I think he loves this team, what he’s seeing. He’s always loves playing with, uh, you know, Austin Reeves and I think Luca here now. And, you know, the supporting cast, he feels really good about his teammates, and you can tell that in his performance tonight. The great thing about him is, especially with this group, he doesn’t have to score, but he’s a weapon that can score if you need him to. So, if he plays like this all year round and gets everybody involved, I I see a lot of success throughout the season. But in the playoffs, we’re going to know, we know we’re going to need LeBron James, especially if you match up with the Denver Nuggets or Oklahoma City Thunder. You need another threat to score. But the fact that you’re getting Jake Laavia, easy baskets, you know, Gay Vincent, corner three, DeAndre Aiden, like that is a fun team, fun season, you know, to play with. Um, if you get that type of LeBron James, it’ll make easier for everybody else around him, including Luca and Austin Reeves. But again, I know it’s going to take some time, but they’re going to need him to be that that weapon at some point. And we know he’s capable. He just has to prove it to himself um throughout the season at some point. Danny, I think you were the recipient of one of these crazy passes from LeBron. Might have been in a preseason game, but you said it was the most nervous you’ve ever been in the preseason because you have to hit that shot. Yeah, you he unbelievable pass wide open. There’s the most pressure in the world on a wide open shot from an unbelievable pass from LeBron James cuz the pressure on you to hit the shot. And it was preseason. I’ve got I’ve gotten a bunch of passes from him that were kind of crazy, but that one was the wildest one. The most pressure I felt in a in a game that didn’t count. I just felt like we saw a lot of like remarkable passes by him tonight. I The guy I think that you brought up, James DeAndre Aiden was probably just Yeah. just in heaven, right? He was coming back when he got some of those. He’s like a kid in a cookie store. I mean, he’s got he’s got Luca Don to throwing passes. He’s got AR to throwing passes. You’ve got LeBron. You know, a lot of guys can can make the pass, but I mean, LeBron is he’s a he’s a safety net because he can come in and just allow people to play their games and, you know, and then he can take over. I saw one play where I hadn’t seen in a long time, but he got it fast break. That’s something that they miss him getting the rebound, putting the threat on the defense by taking it full, you know, court. So, yeah, he’s he’s going to sit back, relax, and and and let it happen. And when he has to step up, he will. I think the most important thing is he’s allowing Luca to rest. He’s allowing AR to rest. Like they don’t have to carry the offensive load of bringing the ball up the floor, starting the offense. Luca can sit out in the second half and not have to worry about I have to get back in the game right away because we’re down or because we need offense. We need a ball handler. Same with Austin Reeves. When you have a third ball handler, a third quarterback that’s that good. Imagine having three Patrick Mahomes. It’s nice. It’s a luxury. It’s It is a luxury. It’s a good problem to have. I also want to credit kind of just the way the whole team played tonight. Obviously, when LeBron James comes back and it’s been over a month, it’s the first time he’s never started a season. Uh, there’s going to be a lot of talk of fitting in and all that stuff and the guys just played their game, but I love the energy they had in that second half. Off the bench, too. Whether it’s Marcus Smarter, Jake Larabia, everybody that was kind of involved, Gabe Vincent back in the mix, but they just played their game and let LeBron kind of figure out when he wanted to do his thing because there’s nobody better at figuring that out. Yeah. I mean, for me, I think you go look at some of the bench players. a guy that I love. Uh like you said, Jake, I think Jake is starting to really uh find the confidence of the coach. Yeah, he’s number one guy coming off the bench. But I take a look at Hayes. He picked up 15 pounds. That I mean, you don’t think about that that much, but 15 pounds, he’s stronger. He’s quicker. Uh he’s reliable. He’s he’s he’s a guy that can give you like second chance opportunities. We know what he does on the lob. I think his defense is better than it was last year as far as altering shots or affecting shots. He’s not a great shot blocker, but he does put a lot of pressure on some of those shots. If I’m a Lakers fan, I’m happy. I’m excited for what the future has to come and with this group. I know it’s going to be tough playing the Denver Denver and OKC’s. Uh but once you get certain guys rolling, I think everybody’s playing well right now, but if they can get Marcus Smart confident behind that three-point line, this will be a very dangerous team. And there’s not many teams outside of those two that I that I say that they they can’t beat. By the way, credit to uh Utah Jazz, Coach Hardy, who you know, man, they played hard, getting up and down, fast, driving, kicking, fun, and you know, marketing, everybody got involved. It was it was a good fun game to watch from both sides and I was impressed and I was even though I was watching Lakers, I was I was watching Utah side as well and seeing how well that they executed it. It didn’t look undisiplined. It looked very disciplined basketball and like they were coached well. By the way, uh Luca had 37 and 10. We haven’t talked about him yet. Quiet 26 from AR, but time to hear from coach JJ Reick. We’ll talk about those guys later. Brought to you by your Toyota dealers. JJ, there was that stretch to start the fourth. Al Clifton, Ron, starting with wind, rhythm, flow for you within the flow of everything with the team. How’d you feel? Uh win was a little shaky to begin. Obviously, I was that was expected, but um you know, as the game went on and on, my win got a lot better. Caught my second win, caught my third win. Um, rhythm is still coming back. Obviously, it’s first game in quite about almost 7 months. So, um, you know, everything that happened tonight was as expected. Um, I think the pace um, you know, versus a team like Utah who played with a lot of pace, a lot of movement, a lot of cutting and things of that nature, uh, tested us, tested me obviously. Um, I was happy the way I was able to, you know, keep up with the both the guys. Outside of the X’s and O’s, one thing about you is you’ve always prided yourself on being available. Just from a joy and fun standpoint, what was that like for you? Uh, it was just fun to be out there with the guys, man. Like I said, it’s been rough like mentally for me. Like, this is the first time I’ve started a a basketball season and not played since I’ve started playing basketball. Like 9 years old. I’ve never missed the beginning of a basketball season. And uh so you know just going through you know going through that uh you know physically, emotionally, spiritually and everything just tested me and um just keeping my keeping my head down you know with the work and then keeping my head up with faith and um you know it’s gotten me to this point today and uh it’s just great a lot of joy a lot of probably see me smiling and talking a lot on the court today. Just being out with those guys so fun. Being a willing passer is nothing new for you but what did you think of the early chemistry you saw with Jake? you found him on wing three and then obviously late in the game with DeAndre. Um it seemed like you guys had some early connections. Yeah. Um it was that yesterday’s practice, postpractice, I can fit in with anybody. I don’t even understand why that was even a question. What’s wrong with these people out here? I can fit in right away with anybody. So, you know, just watching the watching the guys their first 14 games that I missed the first 14. was watching them and seeing just I was just putting myself in position, you know, while I was watching the games of how I can help the team and how I could be successful to help those guys. And um you know, I still, you know, was able to gain a lot of eyes when I’m driving the ball or have the ball, you know, things of that nature. And uh you had big fella down there, big five down there and my guy Gabe right here obviously and Jake, you know, our second our second team, we we went out there and and kind of pushed the lead up. That was dope. LeBron, you scored more points than anybody, but along those lines, like you’ve always been a player who likes to create for other people. What kind of opportunities do you think are going to be there for for that part of your game with the kind of offensive firepower you have on this team? Um, yeah, it’s going to be whatever, you know, I think, you know, you have a MVP caliber player, uh, candidate like Luca who he’s doing this year. AR has, you know, jumped his game up to a whole another level this year. Um, I mean, it’s only it’s only so many defenders out there. There’s only so many eyes that can key in on so many guys. So, you know, our our biggest test is how we defend each night, how we how we defend and rebound. And then um, you know, not let teams off the hook offensively. You know, you got, like you said, when you have Luca doing what he’s doing on pick and rolls, his ability to and gravitate so many players around him. Um, I could just wait back and just when the ball swung to me, I can play the pick on game as well. You know, be able to play the numbers game, four on threes, threes on three on twos, and uh, you know, get my guys involved. As the season continues, what do you want to build on with yourself and what you get in shape? But yeah, what do I want to build on? Yeah. What do you want to build on? My wind. Uh, you know, that’s my wind is important, obviously. Um, I mean I don’t I don’t have to worry about chemistry wise. We we’re it’s a great group. Um, everybody Yes, sir. My guy Everybody enjoys being around each other, playing for one another, sacrificing for one another. So, um, I think my win get my rhythm back and I miss a couple chippies tonight that I’m used to making, but um, that that will come with more games and more flow. JJ said that over the summer you guys had multiple conversations about how important it is for you to be challenged. That’s how your brain works and you always want to be challenged. What do you view as your biggest challenge this season? Um, my biggest challenge this season, I don’t know, just just stay in the moment. Um, just stay in the moment. Obviously, you know, at where I’m at in my career and where I’m at, um, you know, year 23 and understanding that, um, you know, there’s not many more games for me. Don’t know when that is, but you know, just staying in the moment, just appreciating the opportunity to go out and play again. I love to play and be around a great group. Of that same, speaking of in that same vein, you’re entering this is this is year 23. You’re now in it. You hadn’t played basketball since April, and you come out and have 12 assists, one turnover against seven guys who weren’t even born when you debuted. I know that I’m sorry. I I I know that you’re taking this. It’s about the game and one at a time and getting your win back. But for all the fans that are looking at the history of this, can can you take a sit back and appreciate and see that in the moment? Um, no, not really. Um, I haven’t been able to do that throughout my whole career. Um, I think it’s something I I I will really enjoy once guys I was around, the coaching staffs I was around when I was playing the game. So, um, I can sit back and think about what you just said as far as seven guys not being born when I started this journey and, uh, yeah, that just made my back hurt. So, I do got a So, I got a few days before we play again, so I’ll be okay. 38 games you played before East Bailey was born. I see. Come on. Hold on. Cuz this is mean a Steph Curry was the guest on Mind the Game this week. Um I was just wondering if you could speak to sort of the evolution of that relationship and also what it was like to be able to sit down with someone you went to battle against and break down tape of those. Yeah. I mean when you when you’re trying to you know you know rise to the top of the mountain you have you know guys that that’s trying to stop you from getting there and vice versa. And Steph has been one of those guys throughout our career. We’ve been trying to get to the mountain top and we trying to knock each other off of it, you know, and uh you know that competition was was brewing for a long time and it still you know every time we play against each other you know it still bruise but when you get to a certain age and you get to a certain level and you understand that you know appreciating you know greatness and appreciating you know things that you won’t be able to have for a long time ever after when you’re done you get to look back on those moments. you don’t want to waste an opportunity to be able to build a relationship with somebody um that you kind of share some of the same I guess you know goals in life you know and us our families the way we you know go about our families the way we go about our profession the way we go about you know every day just trying to uplift people and things of that nature inspire people it’s so much mutual respect and now it’s like just even more respect just out of simple fact that we can hop on a phone call or text or whatever and just you know it It was great to us to talk basketball and just the most easy organic way, you know, with that episode or two episodes and to have that time. So, it’s been cool. These next few days will look like for you before Sunday in terms of both recovery work and on court work. Tomorrow’s our day off, so um I mean I’ll do a lot of you I’ll do some rehabbing in the morning just keep it going and uh a lot of recovery things of that nature. Um Thursday is practice. Um, Friday’s practice, Saturday’s, you know, probably practice before we get on the flight. So, you know, we will do what we need to do to to to to keep it going and not overdo it. Obviously, you know, we don’t want to overdo it right now, but I want to keep it going and and see what happens. But this this is a this doesn’t happen much where you get three four days in between the game, so we take full advantage of it. It was opening nights of sort for you uh this year. Last year, opening night, you come with Ronnie. In the time you were out, he helped the Lakers win some games, and then tonight you check out, he checks in, nails a three. Like, what have you seen about how has that chapter been satisfying actually seeing the tangible growth? Um, seeing his growth? Uh, I mean, it’s been great to to see and to watch. Um, and he’s still young. I mean, obviously just turned 21 not too long ago and he’s still learning and um you know, still getting better with each and every rep. Um I think he’s enjoying the process. I think you can obviously ask him, you know, more than than me. I don’t he’s not a um he’s not a resident anymore, so we don’t we don’t talk much. He has his own place. Um so I can’t just But uh he’s great. He’s great. Rody, how are you? There you go. There you go. There you go. Down here, guys. Austin Reed, what we call it a quiet 26. Yeah. Yeah. 26 with Ally. Was it as fun and as enjoyable as the eye test showed having him back out there? Yeah. I mean, I think he had 12 assists, one turnover. Um, this is not a bad ratio. No, not bad at all. It’s not as good as mine, one to four, but uh the opposite the opposite way. Um, but no, it’s just he he plays the game the right way. He um I think he talked about it yesterday, you know, trying to get his lungs back. He looked good. Um, getting up and down the floor well. Um, you know, it’s he’s good player. Um, you guys scored a season high. Part of that is their pace and different things like that, but what are the off like the offensive opportunities? Like there are times where it looks really easy. Is it as easy as it looks sometimes? Yeah, I think Yeah, I think uh you know just having the ability to uh you know we have two of the best passers you know to ever touch a basketball and with them you know making the right read I’d say 90% of the time uh you’re going to play advantage basketball and at that point uh the game should be pretty easy. Um, I thought we did a good job of that tonight when they went to those shocks and and um any type of pick and roll with Luca or even Bronn just um getting the ball in the right spot and people cutting in the right, you know, time, you know, finding the right area. Uh, we’re going to continue to grow in those aspects. But tonight it looked pretty good. You guys turn it over a lot in the first half. They scored. You turn it over a lot in the first half. Uh, they scored 70 points. What what changed um in terms of JJ said the word that he mentioned with his group was poise like kind of what did you see from your group kind of in the third quarter? What’s that? Um I think you know Keonte George was hot in the first you know half you know made a lot of shots uh was getting professional buckets and uh you know we kind of just you tweaked some things at halftime and just stayed kind of uh focused on the game plan. Uh we didn’t overreact to anything. We kind of just uh stuck to what we, you know, planned to do uh and adjusted a couple things here and there, but uh nobody panicked. I don’t think at any point anybody was, you know, freaking out uh that and didn’t think that we had a chance to win the game. Uh we just kept, you know, to ourselves and, you know, battled through it. DeAndre, more reaction ahead. Lakers 140 to 126 over the Jazz. Access Sportsnet Lakers is brought to you in part by Aiden’s last three games. Absolutely feasting. 20 points per 78 from the field. Good word with Thanksgiving coming up. Yeah. 13 and a half boards, 1.7 steals, one block. What? DeAndre at the podium. DeAndre, um, you were 5 years old when LeBron James to DeAndre Aiden or corners fills. DeAndre Aiden gets an easy mid-range. This one’s just transition. I’m pulling up in your face. I needed a shot attempt. I haven’t got many looks. I’m in transition and I’m feeling pretty good. So, I’m going to try this three ball and that’s what he did. This is him. Open course. What he does best, run the floor tonight. If you run the floor with him, you get a easy layup. Not only did Andre get easy, so did Austin Reeves, whoever ran in company because he was looking to share the ball. But LeBron is best when he’s at open court running the floor. Um, so yeah, that’s what he does, man. He continues to do it. If he continues to do that, it gives them a whole another dynamic for their group. Uh, for him to get easy baskets and for everybody else to get easy threes or layups. You seen DeAndre Aiden was on the other end of it getting layups. Austin Reeves got easy layups. And Luca, one of the best outlet passers in the game to give him give them another, you know, dynamic or another thing in their arsenal. Great breakdown. Everyone having fun, too. Yeah, that’s the thing that you see. So contagious. But LeBron, it’s like not only do you see his greatness cuz he’s great, but you see a simpler game. His intellect, it’s like he’s told those guys just keep running. Keep running. Don’t stop running. I’ll get you the ball. Like he gets he gets was just a spontaneous play like Danny said. Marcus Smart saw an opportunity. Nice back screen. Uh so you know just you just love the fact that he’s on the floor. All right, we are wrapping things up on the other side. 140 126 Lakers win. [Music]

FULL Lakers POSTGAME INTERVIEWS & ANALYSIS vs Jazz: JJ Redick, LeBron, Luka Doncic, Reaves, Ayton