Lakers already feeling structure that JJ Redick is implementing – Orange County Register

EL SEGUNDO — Going into the Lakers’ first official training camp practice on Tuesday, being “organized” and having “structure” were keywords used by new coach JJ Redick and several players on the roster.

But what does that look like once the summer turns to fall and camp is underway?

Part of it means using time efficiently.

So instead of having a long meeting on Tuesday before or after the first practice, the Lakers met on Monday night in Beverly Hills to discuss the team’s values ​​and identity.

“Just setting the standard, setting the course of action and how we expect to play every single night – no matter who is playing,” star forward LeBron James said about the value of the meeting. “It’s not about who is playing, it’s about what we want to do every night. We want to play the same way every single night.”

Monday’s meeting was the first time the entire team got together in one setting, Max Christie said after Tuesday’s practice.

“The reason I did that … one of the things that I’m big on is using time efficiently,” Redick said after leading his first official practice on Tuesday. “I haven’t been around LeBron [James] a ton, but I know that’s big for him as well. As any NBA player will tell you, they really value their time.

“And I didn’t want to take time [Tuesday] to have some long meetings. So, I used [Monday] night as a meeting to just set the tone for who we are going to be on both ends of the floor and the things that we’re going to value as a group.”

A lack of structure and organization on both ends of the court were common grievances shared by players throughout last season.

Before being hired, those were attributes that Redick received praise for and that were expected to translate well as a head coach.

And according to multiple players, they were already being felt during voluntary workouts in the summer and in the communication Redick had with players during the offseason.

And they were present on Tuesday, too.

“The biggest thing is we’ve been super organized and we’ve been super good at kind of like upholding discipline at times,” Christie said. “Having a set amount of time for a drill – we’re not going long, we’re not going short. We’re being really efficient with our time.

“That’s kind of a keyword he’s been using for everyone throughout the whole offseason, just being efficient with our time that we’re in here, whether it’s a high day like [Tuesday] or a low day, making sure we’re still coming in and we’re focused and being efficient with the drills we’re doing.”

Christie, the third-year wing who signed a four-year, $32 million contract to return to the Lakers during the offseason, drew praise from Redick and James after the team’s first practice.