JJ Redick has a gripe with the NBA about the use of brand new basketballs in games.
The Lakers had 19 shot attempts from three in their 110-103 win over the Wolves on Tuesday, but only made two of those. Could some of this form be attributed to the fact they were using brand new balls, and not worn in ones like at practice?
Redick thinks so.
“I’m going to send in a request for the league tomorrow that we can play with worn-in basketballs,” Redick said, with reporters laughing. “I’m not sure why we’re playing in real games — I’m being dead serious — I’m not sure why we’re playing in real games with brand-new basketballs. Anybody who’s ever touched an NBA ball brand new, it’s a different feel and touch than a worn-in basketball.
“I didn’t realize it until a timeout. There was a long rebound, I grabbed it. I was like, ‘What? Why are we playing with this ball? Give the guys the opportunity to pick a good basketball.’
“You think I’m joking — I’m neurotic.”
Redick explained that the team went away from three’s in the second half because they just couldn’t make them.
“The paint was open in the second half,” Redick said. “We took, I think, 19 3s in the first half, which is rate on pace to where we want to be for our season average in terms of a full game, and we got great looks. And there was even some 3s there in the second half that I thought were wide open and we just couldn’t knock ’em down.”
Anthony Davis was happy with the way Redick prepared the team, after previously questioning some of his methods in the offseason.
“The game plan, the schemes that he had on both ends of the floor, he trusts us,” Davis said “We trust him, as far as what he teaches us, what he wants us to do on the floor on both ends and it’s our job to go execute it. I think we were very prepared tonight.”