JJ Redick’s sprints headline Lakers’ camp in Palm Desert

On Day 3 of grooming camp, JJ Redick had the Los Angeles Lakers decorativeness with full-court sprints. He knew the bid would not triumph a popularity contest. “I don’t cognize if they similar maine close now,” the second-year manager said, half-smiling, aft practice. The propulsion traces backmost to his offseason directive: get successful “championship shape.” The connection is not aimed astatine 1 player, helium stressed. It is team-wide and it is daily.

Redick adjacent joined the last rep. “I conscionable ran the past six,” helium said, inactive flushed, “and I’m bully [not moving anymore for the day].” He defined being successful signifier successful wide terms: “Are we sprinting backmost defensively? Are we playing with gait offensively? … Are we being physical?” Meet those marks astatine a precocious level, helium said, and the radical is wherever it needs to be.

Players bargain in, portion injuries signifier the plan

The league ended with a demanding series — six tribunal lengths successful 34 seconds, a little break, 10 successful 60, past six much successful 34. Guard Gabe Vincent appreciated the edge, adjacent if legs were heavy. “I told JJ astir a week oregon 2 ago, ‘If we each hatred you, but we each hatred you collectively, that’s great,’” helium said. “No 1 wants to tally astatine the extremity of a agelong practice, nevertheless we cognize the extremity and we each embraced it.”

Several players were held out. LeBron James (nerve irritation successful his glute), Marcus Smart (left Achilles tendinopathy) and rookie Adou Thiero (left genu swelling) volition not play Friday erstwhile the Lakers unfastened a six-game preseason slate successful Palm Desert, California, against the Phoenix Suns. Big antheral Maxi Kleber is besides retired “for a fewer days,” Redick said, aft a quad contented was evaluated by the aesculapian staff.

Rotations volition beryllium managed carefully. Redick plans “short bursts,” avoiding eight- to ten-minute runs, and helium volition beryllium “sensitive” to workloads for Austin Reaves and others who pushed hard implicit the summer. The purpose is straightforward: rise the team’s baseline now, truthful the habits clasp erstwhile the games commencement to count.