Redick Calls Sideline Dispute With Vanderbilt ‘Normal’ After Lakers’ 123-87 Loss to Thunder
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LOS ANGELES — Lakers head coach JJ Redick described his second-quarter confrontation with forward Jarred Vanderbilt as routine after Los Angeles fell 123-87 to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night.
Redick signaled for a timeout just 16 seconds into the period and told guard Dalton Knecht to replace Vanderbilt. The forward confronted Redick near the free-throw line while the coach was drawing up a play. Injured guard Austin Reaves, wearing street clothes because of a Grade 2 left oblique strain, and assistant coach Nate McMillan stepped between the two to defuse the situation.
“It’s nothing personal with him. Normal stuff from my end,” Redick said postgame. “We’re undermanned, we have to scrap and claw, and we all have to be on the same page. I called a timeout to get him out, and he reacted.”
Vanderbilt did not return, finishing with three points, two rebounds, one assist and one steal in five minutes. He left the arena before reporters entered the locker room. Despite being healthy, Vanderbilt has been held out by coach’s decision in 17 games this season, including lengthy stretches in November, December and March.
Los Angeles played without five regulars: Reaves, Luka Doncic (left hamstring strain), LeBron James (left foot soreness), Marcus Smart (right ankle contusion) and Jaxson Hayes (left foot soreness).
Redick also yanked starting forward Rui Hachimura just 2:27 after tip-off, saying Hachimura “didn’t do his job.” The coach reinserted him late in the first quarter, and Hachimura led the Lakers with 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting. Hachimura declined to speak with the media.
“We’ve got to find nine guys who are all-in on fighting,” Redick said. “It’s a great opportunity over the next three games to identify those guys.”
The Lakers (50-29) sit fourth in the Western Conference with three regular-season games remaining, starting Thursday on the road against the Golden State Warriors. Redick acknowledged the club’s initial goal of retaining the No. 3 seed slipped after Sunday’s loss to Dallas and Tuesday’s rout by Oklahoma City.
“The seeding part probably went out the window after the OKC game,” he said. “Now it’s about figuring out who can play for us in the playoffs.”
Source: ESPN
