Luka Doncic on Lakers’ Evolving Frontcourt: ‘Drew Timme Just Fits This Team’
LOS ANGELES – As the NBA landscape shifts towards ‘positionless’ basketball and unconventional lineups, the Los Angeles Lakers have largely operated this season with a single traditional big man on the court. However, in a quest for consistency, head coach JJ Redick has recently experimented with a frontcourt featuring multiple bigs, and the results have been promising. Lakers superstar Luka Doncic has voiced his approval of the new approach.
The rotation now includes Drew Timme, who has seamlessly integrated alongside either Deandre Ayton or Jarred Vanderbilt. A particularly notable moment came during the Lakers’ victory against the Toronto Raptors last Sunday, where all three big men shared the court simultaneously. Following a tough loss to the LA Clippers on Thursday, Doncic shared his thoughts on the effectiveness of this expanded frontcourt and the positive impact it’s having on the team.
“Obviously, we’ve got some more post-up options now,” Doncic explained. “I feel like Drew has done an incredible job of playing the right way and playing his game – props to him. I think he just fits this team perfectly.” He also praised Vanderbilt’s relentless effort, adding, “And obviously Vando was unbelievable… he’s in every game fighting, so we just got to help him out.”
Lineup Flexibility Under Redick
Interestingly, during the Lakers’ win against the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday, Redick shifted away from the big man lineup in the fourth quarter, opting for a smaller, faster combination to secure a comeback victory after trailing by double digits. This winning lineup consisted of two guards – Doncic and Marcus Smart – and three forwards: LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, and Jake LaRavia.
Redick has consistently emphasized that lineups and rotations will remain fluid, adapting to matchups and the flow of the game. Therefore, the success of the smaller lineup against the Mavericks doesn’t preclude a return to the jumbo lineup in future contests. As Redick stated early in his tenure as head coach, adaptability is key.
Redick’s Initial Reaction to the Big Lineup
Following the win against the Raptors, Redick admitted to being initially surprised when he first saw Timme, Ayton, and Vanderbilt all on the court together. “You get the clipboard, and we had talked about it so I knew it was coming, but still it was a little jarring to see Vando, Drew, DA [Deandre], LeBron, that’s a big lineup,” Redick confessed. “They did a good job playing out of the post during that stretch, and we were also able to get some stops and run, so I thought they did a good job.”
This evolving frontcourt strategy represents a fascinating development for the Lakers, and Luka Doncic’s endorsement adds further weight to its potential. The team’s ability to seamlessly transition between different lineups will undoubtedly be a crucial factor in their pursuit of success this season.
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