Lakers are having fun with their forward drills – Orange County Register

LOS ANGELES. NBA teams rarely release practice footage, including drills.

So it was notable when the Lakers posted video clips on their X social media account pitting the guards against the bigs during Thursday’s practice before Friday night’s home game against the Phoenix Suns.

Especially since each player approached the practice with the same enthusiasm as football players approach the infamous Oklahoma practice.

“The way (it’s) structured, it’s really two things: We obviously work, and when we first did it, it was guards trying to score against a big (in) drop coverage, attacking the rim, had to score in the paint ,” comment=”(in drop coverage, attacking the rim, scoring in the paint” ) Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “And for the second time, the guards protected the big ones at the post.

“There are real situations in a live game, but it’s also just to get some juice in the gym.”

Redick even chipped in, guarding backup center Jackson Hayes at one point during training.

“It was ridiculous,” said forward Rui Hachimura, who noted he didn’t lose when the Lakers went through the drill. “Jackson said that he was fouled. He was grabbed by the legs or something. But in reality he missed. … JJ, he was (recently) a player as well. So he can still move and all that. So it was nice to see how the head coach just joined our training and just energized us.”

In today’s NBA, which has more frequent defensive changes, it’s important that guards know how to counter stronger players on post-ups.

Under Redick, the Lakers switched more to defense, which made the exercise even more necessary.

“It was well thought out,” guard D’Angelo Russell said. “Security has always included the big ones. Biggs turned on the guard for the entire run of the game, for the entire moment of the game. Create this atmosphere through practice. You have to let go and stop what matters. I thought that was pretty neat.”

But, Redick said, it’s also important to encourage the players during the marathon 82-game regular season.

“It just brings our group together,” Hachimura said. “We did it more for chemistry. It unites our chemistry. I think it was good, especially (LeBron James) vs. Bronny (James). It was so funny. And everyone said we can choose who we want to play against.”

BRONNY IN THE G LEAGUE

ESPN announced Friday afternoon that Bronnie James, the Lakers’ second-round pick in June’s NBA draft and son of future Hall of Famer LeBron James, will head to their G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, after the upcoming five – a road trip that begins Monday against the Suns and ends Nov. 6 against the Memphis Grizzlies.