JJ Redick watched the Lakers' season tick away in Oklahoma City. One specific decision in the final phases of Game 4 has left everyone confused. The Lakers fared a complete 4-0 sweep in the Western Conference Semifinals.

The main point of discussion was the decision to bench Rui Hachimura during the most critical moments of the game. When a reporter asked him about the current gap between his Lakers roster and a championship-caliber team, Redick chose not to focus on specific plays or officials.

He said, “That's what we've got to figure out this offseason. I will say for the things that we set out to do and build our championship habits, build our championship communication, and championship shape. Um, I thought we were darn close to doing that.”

With the Lakers trailing 115-110, the team needed a three-pointer to stay alive. Hachimura had been the best player on the floor for the team that night, scoring 25 points on 9-of-15 shooting. 

Instead, Redick made a game-time decision to substitute Hachimura for Maxi Kleber for the final offensive set. The play Redick drew up did eventually lead to an open shot for Austin Reaves, but the ball rimmed out, and the season ended. 

The Lakers faced a lot of hurdles this year, including injuries and constant changes to the rotation. Redick framed the elimination as a part of a larger building process. In his mind, the team is moving in the right direction. 

However, the head coach did not publicly explain his reasoning for benching Hachimura in that specific post-game press conference. 

The mystery of why the team's best shooter was on the bench during the final shot remains the biggest question.

Why Rui Hachimura's Substitution Changed Everything

He was arguably the most consistent player for Los Angeles across 2 rounds. Before facing the Thunder, the Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets in a six-game series. 

In the second round, Hachimura averaged 20 points per game in the series. In Game 4, he scored 9 of his 25 points in the 4th quarter.

He was 4-of-8 from the three-point line and seemed to be the only Laker capable of breaking down the Thunder defense. Taking a player with those stats out of the game in a "need-a-3" situation is a choice that is hard to ignore.

Redick appeared to prioritize the execution of a designed play over individual talent. It was a decision that favored a "team" look rather than a "star" look. 

Hachimura’s performance in these playoffs proved he is an elite player, yet he wasn't on the floor when it mattered most. The Game 4 loss shows that the gap between a good team and a championship team is often decided by these small, difficult choices.

What do you think about Redick's choice to bench Hachimura for the final play?

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Written by

Utsav Sinha

Edited by

Utsav Gupta