Calls Mount for JJ Redick Move Amid Lakers’ Game 5 Issues

The Los Angeles Lakers had a first half to forget as they face elimination vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night. They entered halftime down 59-49 despite getting multiple Timberwolves players in foul trouble, and also allowed Rudy Gobert to score 15.

The veteran center, who's averaging just 3.5 points this series, is taking advantage of the Lakers' deficiencies down low. Los Angeles head coach JJ Redick has yet to play former starting big man Jaxson Hayes after giving him just four minutes in Game 4, replacing him with Dorian Finney-Smith in the lineup. However, that leaves the 6-foot-9-inch LeBron James as their tallest starter.

Lakers fans don't approve of Redick's decision.

"JJ Redick refusing to play Jaxson Hayes when the Lakers desperately need size is weird," one fan said. "I think JJ’s been awful these past two games."

"I don’t care if Jaxson Hayes stinks. He is big and can run and jump," another one said. "Put him on the court. Your team is short and slow. It ain’t rocket science."

"The Lakers sitting Jaxson Hayes wasn’t the correct adjustment," another one said. "If anything, they should have played him 3x as much."

"Lakers are getting smashed on the boards and I know Jaxson Hayes isn’t great but Redick’s refusal to play him is kind of ridiculous…" another one said.

The seven-foot Hayes averaged 6.8 points on 72.2 percent shooting with 4.8 rebounds in the regular season, but is posting just 1.8 points with two rebounds in this series. He had five fouls across nine minutes in Game 2 and two in his four-minute Game 4 outing.

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