Monday means the Lakers are back on the hardwood, baby, and everything we’ve talked about all offseason is about to hit the court! Head coach JJ Redick is locking in a plan to generally stagger Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves this season. That’s smart, right? It’s common sense around the league, and honestly, after seeing how those two lit it up last year, it makes total sense to keep one of ’em on the floor at all times.
Last season, Dončić and Reaves shared the court for a wild 1,092 minutes over 41 games, and their net rating was a solid 8.9 with a plus-minus of +208. Now, with the Lakers getting some real depth and flexibility, Redick’s got the pieces to make sure one of his stars is always out there. The real question, though, is how you build out those lineups when one of those guys is taking a breather. We’re talking about optimizing when one star is off the floor, and trust me, Redick’s got some ideas that are going to get people talking.
Dončić’s Defensive Squad: Building a Wall Around Luka
Picture this lineup around Dončić: Grimes, Thybulle, Thiero, Kessler. This is your classic Luka setup, and it’s built to cause some serious trouble. You’ve got Grimes and Thybulle as your point-of-attack defenders, ready to space the floor and lock guys down. Then there’s Kessler, the defensive anchor and Dončić’s absolute go-to pick-and-roll partner. And Thiero? That dude is the freak athlete Luka needs around him, bringing that dynamism that just messes with opponents.
Initially, there was a bit of a debate about Thiero at the four versus LaRavia. Thiero’s athletic ceiling won out, and honestly, you gotta have Thybulle in this lineup. He’s too dynamic on defense to sit out when a star is playing. Offensively, the Dončić-Kessler action is going to be the main event. Grimes adds secondary scoring and is deadly in catch-and-shoot situations, just like Thybulle. Thiero might not be the best spacer, but his cutting and corner-crashing game? Underrated, and exactly what this unit needs.
Now, here’s where it gets wild. We ran this specific Dončić-Grimes-Thybulle-Thiero-Kessler lineup through Basketball Index’s Lineup Analyzer. The offense is projected to be slightly above average, which is fine, but the defense? Oh man, the defensive rating is a staggering 106.5. That’s 8.9 points better than the league average. Think about it: Oklahoma City led the entire league last season with a 106.5 defensive rating! Their most-played lineup, in 167 minutes, was even better at 102.3, but to project this Dončić lineup to be at OKC’s league-leading team defensive level? That’s insane. Grimes, Thybulle, and Thiero are all super versatile defenders, which means teams won’t be able to just isolate Dončić on defense anymore. That’s a game-changer.
Gritty Alternatives and Reaves’ Rotation
The coaching staff also considered tweaking that Dončić lineup a bit. What if you swapped Grimes for Collin Sexton? And then, if you also put LaRavia in for Thiero, you get a Sexton-Thybulle-LaRavia trio. These guys are known for their grit throughout their careers, and that kind of toughness is huge when you’re playing with Dončić and Kessler. It’s all about finding that perfect blend of skill and fight.
And what about Reaves? The plan doesn’t stop with Luka. We’re looking at a Reaves-Thybulle-Vanderbilt-Williams lineup to round out that rotation when Dončić is off the floor. The specifics for that fifth spot are still to come, but you can already see the vision: versatility, defense, and guys who are going to go all out every single possession. Monday is when we finally get to see some of this strategy in action, and you better believe it’s going to be must-watch basketball as Redick unveils his plans!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
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